Big City International Resources
by Sherra on March 29, 2010
in Finding the Funny
Continuing on our language theme from last week, I’m expanding and going a little international this week.
We’re still small town folk living in the suburbs of the Big City.
As evidenced by PhilBillPaul’s fascination with this sign he encountered while at a job last week.
He so kindly took a camera phone picture (forgive the glare) of the sign because he was sure my blog friends and I would enjoy it as much as he did.
I think it’s comforting to know that if your international friends come to the hospital in Atlanta, they can just point to their language from the list of 20 and an interpreter is called.
We’re still learning about all the amazing resources available after living in the Big City for almost 20 years…
I am sorry to see this trend spreading east. Here in San Jose, the “most diverse city in the nation,” less than half of the residents speak English at home. Every ATM machine is equipped with eight languages (though English is the first one listed) and our Home Depot stores display signs similar to the one PBP encountered at the hospital (and I can see it’s value at a hospital where an international traveler may need to make decisions with serious medical consecquences—but Home Depot???). Having such a diverse group of folks living in close quarters really ruins the concept of community. We do not even have Fourth of July parades and/or fireworks here because it might “offend.” No Easter egg hunts either—not even the churches. And the sad part is that nothing is taking the place of those celebrations. July 4th and Easter are just ordinary days here.
Okay, the it’s should be its. Don’t beat me with a comma, okay? And I also think I misspelled consequences—I was rushing, okay? Please read the message and forgive the failings of the writer. I’m not a professional like Sherra.