Speaking English in America?

[Soledad]

If people are going to get defensive over what I've said, perhaps there is a reason they're feeling so guilty? I don't know...

I know that I did qualify my statements with "most Americans" and "many of us." I don't recall saying "all Americans can travel and they're just lying to themselves if they think otherwise."



But, whatever, moving on...

We have a seriously beautiful country and I hope to be able to explore every bit of it as possible. But I will still always want to see how people outside of it live and think. That's truly thrilling to me.

[KYS]

Ok! I wasn't going to get involved with this, because
it is off track of the original thread.

But....

America is HUGE, and their is so much to see.....


American is so vast and and humungus compared to
many other countries. I have only traveled twice
over seas. I HATE to fly, and I also get sea sick.
I prefer to do my traveling by ground, except for
one of my favorite vacation spots, beautiful HI
because it is only a 4.75 hour flight from CA.

I have visited Canada and Mexico a few times, because
I can get their by ground transportation.
I have not even traveled thought out my country yet,
which when I retire, I would love to do.


My friend whom lives in England, travels easly to
other European countries, because most everything is a drive
away once she crosses the channel.
When she visited the states, she went to
one state only, Texas. She could not believe how big that one state is compared to traveling in Europe.
One of our states is as bit as many countries.

Yes it is very nice to see, and experience other countries,
but at the same time, it is also nice to see and experience your
own. When I retire, I would love to just travel
and see my own beautiful country.

One of my must do's on my lists is to see beautiful Alaska.



JMHO

[2kitties]

I def. think there is so much to see in America. Seeing you own country is wonderful. I hope to be able to say I've been to all 50 by the time my traveling days are over.
But experiencing other countries is completely different. America, with all it's wonders, is just too young to provide the history of other countries. Seeing Europe is like being right inside the history books. IF a person can, then it is a truly humbling experience to stand in front of the Louvre and know you're going to come face to face with Mona Lisa herself.

One of the main reasons I haven't had children yet is because I'm not yet financially prepared to be sure I can show them these things as a part of their education. I was in college before I traveled abroad. I read about the ruins and the art and the history in high school, but it wasn't real until I saw it. I hope and pray my future will allow me to share those things with my children. For that reason, I've made the personal choice to be financially secure before having kids. I want them to have the options of studying abroad and becoming fluent in any language they choose. I pray to God I never have to close a door for them.

Okay, now I'm way off track. I wax on and on when I start talking about what I want for my kids.

In 2000, I was fortunate enough to climb the Sydney Harbour bridge in Australia and it was one of the most incredible experiences I can imagine. My dream trip at this point is Thailand. I've seen photos and have friends who visited. They all say it is an amazing place.

[Logan]

Colorado is beautiful. I only had one chance to visit there, went to Vail, and loved the Rocky Mountains!!! I also want to go to Alaska, one day. (Fingers crossed)

[popcornbird]

Seeing our own country is definitely wonderful, but seeing other countries is a totally different experience. I know, because I've done both. Other countries are *different* in pretty much everything. Its very interesting to get out and see them, and get to know how life is in other parts of the world. America is a beautiful country, and I would definitely LOVE to see more of it, but at the same time, I still like to travel overseas, and see other countries too. I do get sick from flying, but if I take my medicine before going, I sleep in the plane, and the experience in another land is, in my opinion, worth the few.......or many hours of travel. Its true about seeing *history* in places like Europe. I remember reading so much about Yorkshire, the Vikings, all of that stuff in history, for years after years in school. I never took much interest in it, until I saw it in real life. When we last went to England, my uncle took us to see York. Its amazing, because it feels like you went many centuries back in time. The city is still old and *ancient*, the buildings 800-900 years old. I thought it was cool to get to see that in real life. Its not something I could see here at home.

So, personally, I love to travel in my own country and see different places here, but along with that, I still like to travel to OTHER countries, because they are just so different and its a totally different experience going abroad.

[amoore]

Popcorn, I love stuff like you just described. I would love to see all that. England is a place I have longed to visit. I have also, wanted to see the beautiful gardens there.

[carole]

I think if you shift to another country you are duty bound to learn the language, correct me if I am wrong here, but the French in particular get annoyed if you don't at least try to speak their language.

What really bothers me here, is we have some foreign doctors, who speak such poor english, We are unable to understand them, this happened to my mother when in hospital a few yrs ago, I was appalled , something like that is important to understand what he was telling us, to beable to practice medicene in NZ their is tough criteria, but apparently the language doesn't count for much.

An example, the other day two Indian men were selling the American express cards, I was interested, then this guy starts talking and I can not understand hardly a word he is saying , to top it off two young Asian men were beside me, laughing and talking very loud in their language, so hence I just said NO thanks and walked away in fustration, surely it would be more sensible to employ people who speak English better. Just MHO

[Soledad]

Carole, NZ barely has enough doctors for its population. I think the health care system there is in such crises that they have to take in doctors who are qualified but perhaps lacking in English skills. But it doesn't seem as though NZ has the luxury of being too discriminating.

[carole]

To be honest Soledad if I lived in USA, I would want to see as much of my own country first before venturing overseas, it is such a vast huge country, it could take some years to do that, then perhaps I would take the plunge.

I have tried to see most of my own country first, granted its very small by comparison, but there are still some beautiful parts of NZ I have yet to see.

Soledad is right, New Zealanders in general are big on Travel overseas, its not just the upper middle class, and the rich, alot live on modest incomes in NZ and still manage the big OE., travel just becomes a priority on a lot of NZer's lists.

For me now its low on the list, because we have a modest income, kids, cats a mortgage, but its high on the list when my daughter leaves home.

Infact my son is just about to embark on his big OE details at a later date lol. will keep you all posted he he.

Soledad I donot think our health system is great, but I was not aware it was in that much of a crisis, perhaps I have been going around with the wool pulled over my eyes.however I do have private medical insurance, so that makes a difference , well at least for surgical anyhow.no waiting time,etc etc.

Maybe we cannot afford to discriminate, but geez its really hard when you cannot understand your doctor who is going to operate on you. believe me.
p.s.
On a lighter note is hubby getting all prepared to watch the Cricket?

[Soledad]

Ah, private insurance! How nice. I didn't have insurance when I was there and I was constantly fed up with the amount of time it would take me to get elective surgery and specialists visits. Blasted! Not that the system over here is perfect, either.

Carole, traveling thru the States is a great experience, but it really isn't comparable to going to another country. It is a different life not just different scenery. Ya know?

And I think Sam is trying to secure some sort of channel through the cable company that will allow him to get some cricket for his fix.

[cocker_luva]

in my opinion, everyone who comes to live in america should have to speak english BEFORE they get here.

not to be mean or anything, i have many friends from other countries (mexico, germany, thailand, dominican republic).
but i think its ridictulous that we should learn other languages for them, when they're in OUR country.

[2kitties]

Originally posted by cocker_luva
in my opinion, everyone who comes to live in america should have to speak english BEFORE they get here.

not to be mean or anything, i have many friends from other countries (mexico, germany, thailand, dominican republic).
but i think its ridictulous that we should learn other languages for them, when they're in OUR country.

Which would make sense if OUR country had a NATIONAL LANGUAGE. But Congress has never declared English as the National Language of the United States.

[Soledad]

Yeah, what a great idea. Have language tests before anyone can come over. I'm sure American's would just ace those tests if things were reversed.


Even funnier that you have a "fight racism" thing on your tagline. Irony, anyone?

[Kfamr]

I don't see how animal racism has anything to do with speaking languages, but I don't agree that she should have to take a test before coming.

I think everyone who comes here should know the basics, like Everyday things we say in English.

[2kitties]

Originally posted by Soledad
Even funnier that you have a "fight racism" thing on your tagline. Irony, anyone?

Soledad, it reads "rascism" on my browser. I guess that speaks volumes for how well cocker-luva would do on her English test.
I'm going to get yelled at for that, aren't I?