Re: Re: the Mexican issue, how to handle?

August 15, 2008

Ok, so instead of risking embarrassment, let them know that you are just

learning. If you start to work through some lessons you may see if the mom

would be willing to tutor you a bit during a play date with the girls. Have

humility through all of the stuff, express your ignorance, and as long as you

are putting forth effort I am sure you wont offend them. The mom may be happy

to have someone who can help with idioms...I have come to realize that americans

speak in idioms, and boy sometimes they make you think when you have to explain

them, and then explain a cultural concept...thankfully, a lot of idioms are

fairly universal.

ex. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence....has been

shortened a lot of the time to...the grass is greener...My boyfriend had me

explain this and said, oh we have the same thing. and in his best attempt to

translate it was, " the neighbors chicken is not a chicken but a goose. " I swear

I should hold American Idiom classes for basic ESL grads!

I can't remember who said something about there being not nice people from both

the US and Mexico...PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE FROM. If you are

careful cultural things can be explained to each other, understood, and

overcome.

The other thing is that as long as she is ok with her daughter coming over to

your house, you don't have to learn any Spanish, you don't have to be anymore

that what you have been when you run into them around town.

Good Luck

Subject: Re: the Mexican issue, how to handle?

To: Autism_in_Girls

Date: Thursday, August 14, 2008, 4:34 PM

I try to read Spanish/English labels & compare like & unlike. I had

two years of French in high school & picked up on it really well. But,

here is my biggest fear. I'm so afraid I will miss a word by just a

fraction and intend to say something like, " We would love for you to

come to our house for a party " and in reality say something

like, " Your orange is worthy of murder " or something stupid like that.

Lol. I have thought about taking Spanish because I'm sure it would

well-serve me in nursing, but there again, that fear of being one word

off & missing an important symptom, give a wrong drug, etc. Just very

scary.

Debi

August 15, 2008

In a message dated 8/15/08 12:13:33 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

fightingautism@... writes:

your price has gone up! Pennie, how do you afford him?

Lol,

Debi

it to acount for the more expense of gas

eric gutter man

**************Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget?

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August 15, 2008

In a message dated 8/15/08 12:13:33 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

fightingautism@... writes:

your price has gone up! Pennie, how do you afford him?

Lol,

Debi

it to acount for the more expense of gas

eric gutter man

**************Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget?

Read reviews on AOL Autos.

(http://autos.aol.com/cars-Volkswagen-Jetta-2009/expert-review?ncid=aolaut000300\

00000007 )

August 15, 2008

That is good to know Don and others,

but I do have three different families that are my friends and they said that

they do not wish to be called Mexican. They said that they prefer to not have a

label and that they consider themselves Americans, but that if somebody is going

to label them, they prefer to be called Hispanic. But they are not from Mexico,

so maybe that is the difference. One of the families lives across the street

from me here in Portland, Oregon and maybe it is different depending on what

area one lives in. Sorry, If I offended anyone. I was trying to help do the

opposite. Thanks, for the info.

Esther

Subject: Re: the Mexican issue, how to handle?

To: Autism_in_Girls

Date: Friday, August 15, 2008, 2:15 AM

Hi Esther,

Just for perspective, my wife is half-Mexican and has never referred

to herself as " Hispanic " . Her family is all Mexican and refer to

themselves as " Mexican " . They don't consider it an insult to

be " Mexican " . I'm surprised to hear you say that, in fact. My

daughter just married a nice Hispanic young man and he refers to

himself as " Mexican " as he is from Mexico. Political correctness

aside, we are what we are. Is there a country called " Hispania " ? Are

Mexicans from Spain? I believe we call people from Spain " Spaniards "

and people from Mexico should be referred to as " Mexicans " , just as

we are referred to as " Americans " . LOL This country is so messed up

when it comes to race and national heritage, isn't it?

Don

>

> From: Debi <fightingautism@ ...>

> Subject: the Mexican issue, how to handle?

> To: Autism_in_Girls@ yahoogroups. com

> Date: Thursday, August 14, 2008, 3:09 AM

>

> Hey all. Allie is best buddies at school with a wonderful little

girl

> named Esmarelda. She's as sweet as she can be, I love her, too. My

> problem is, she's Mexican and her family. Well, last night Allie

told

> me for her birthday party on July 26, 2009 (LOL) she wants a slumber

> party with her friend Esmerelda. I would love to do that but how on

> earth do I communicate and befriend the parents, who speak no

English?

> It's so frustrating! I thought about trying to take a Spanish course

> if I have time this year, or maybe some of the learning software.

> Still, I know there is no way I'll be conversational by spring.

>

> I guess I should just jump out of my comfort zone & get Esmarelda's

> brothers to translate? Esmarelda cannot speak all that well, she has

> CP. I'm sure in order to allow a slumber party to go down the family

> would want to get to know us better, but I'm not sure how to get to

> know others better when I cannot communicate. I guess I just hate it

> that I cannot communicate directly with them, they are such a sweet

> family.

>

> Debi

>

August 15, 2008