The story below has been making the rounds on social media and although we’re not sure if it really happened, it’s a good lesson to learn. In the United States, unless someone grew up in a home where a second language was spoken, most Americans don’t speak a second language. We’re pretty geographically isolated, so we’ve just not been forced to learn. Also, the world of business is conducted in English, so that makes it easy for us. I speak Spanish because I studied it in school and also because I married into a Spanish-speaking family. While I don’t look like the “typical” Spanish-speaking person, I admit that knowing this language, which is commonly spoken in Texas where I live, has given me a definite edge in life and in work. On one occasion, I was shopping at our local thrift store, and I asked an employee in English how much an item was. Her supervisor walked by and told her, in Spanish, to charge me double the regular price because they were having a “buy one get one free” sale and didn’t want to lose too much money.
To my surprise, the young lady who was preparing to answer my question laughed and then relayed to me what her supervisor had told her to relay. I was so offended by this, but I decided to have a little fun with it. When I went to check out and leave with my items, the young lady who had told me the inflated price was working the register. I had already written out a brief note that said, “I heard her tell you to inflate the price. I expect you to give this to me for the lower price, and also, don’t assume no one can understand you when you’re speaking Spanish.” When she read it, the blood drained from her face and she couldn’t meet my eyes. Needless to say, I got my items at a fair price. The story we’ve shared below is the perfect example of how not to act if you think no one around you can understand you.
So I’m a white Caucasian female, but I am fluent in Mandarin Chinese and English. Now, looking at me, you wouldn’t know I can speak Mandarin, which is why I find it absolutely hysterical to mess with people. Especially when they come through my line at work speaking Chinese, and I understand every word they’re saying. My coworkers find it especially hysterical.
Okay, so the other day this Chinese couple came through my line, and I asked them (in English) all of the usual questions about bags and if they had their rewards cards, all of that fun stuff.
Anyway, I started ringing up their stuff, and the wife said to her husband, “Tell her not to bruise the bananas,” in Chinese and I didn’t say anything. Then the wife said, “Tell the stupid girl to go faster,” in Mandarin. I smiled at her and pretended like I had no idea what she was saying.
She kept commenting on how my hair was like a boy’s (I have short hair, it’s honestly not even that short) and how her grandfather would have gone faster than I was going, all of this in Chinese.
And then she said, “Make sure she doesn’t forget the water,” in Chinese.
I replied in English, “I won’t forget the water.”
And I watched with enjoyment as a look of sheer terror spread across her face, as she realized I understood everything she had said before. She just stood there with her mouth open and her husband said (in Chinese), “This is why you shouldn’t trash talk employees while they’re standing right in front of you!”
I replied (in English), “He’s right, you know.”
They paid, then the husband apologized and left. After they walked out the door, my manager and coworker and I were laughing so hard.
Even though being a cashier sucks, it sometimes makes my day a little brighter when something like that happens.