Proud,
American Indians All around us here in D.C.! They Just Appear To most as Spanish/south American decent! Just Goes To show, Don't Ever Speak Spanish Words To Those That "Appear" To be Spanish/South American Decent! Allot are American Indian, Philippines, Etc. I Am Deeply embedded Into knowing only because Of my Friends Diversity to culture here! Proud Maam, Sooo Many people Here no Clue, as to origin! Only Assume Because Of Appearance! People From Philippines Speak Spanish, people from American Indian Cultures Also know Spanish, Only because Live HERE! Work with so Many Spanish Speaking Americans and Otherwise! Sooo Many Here Would Be so Amazed at Origin of Those Here! look Spanish/South American etc. BUT NOT!

Again! American Indians Are All Over Fairfax County! Washington D.C.! Most Just assume They Are Spanish!
My Rule so as not to inflict Stereotypical Thinking, Speak English To all!!! I have Become accustomed To Being Able To tell Only because I Look For The Differences Before Speaking! nobody's Fault, Some Are Just Able To tell The difference. only Because I So Many friends, Aqaintences From All Over! Most Don't have this Ability.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: dcwtech,

quote:

Again! American Indians Are All Over Fairfax County! Washington D.C.! Most Just assume They Are Spanish!

I guess I haven't run into any American Indians around here. I know there are a few reservations in Virginia, but not close by. I will try to be more observant in the future - lol!

That's one of the ultimate measures of America's greatness: unity in diversity.

Proud maam,
Is Hard To Distinguish, Unless Lived With and interacted With So Many.

Advice, Just Speak English to All! And Never assume Origin!
American Indian will Just Speak Spanish Back, Never Letting On That They are American Indian. Same With Filipinos! I Guess They Figure Is Just Easier To accept The Perception They Are Spanish.

Me, Myself 100% ENGLISH TO ALL! Unless I know Without a Doubt Where There True Heritage/Origin Is!

I'm So sorry To say, Most Filipinos Do Not like Spanish! I Am soo Very Sorry To Generalize. American Indians Just Take The easy way Out Also! just Reply In Spanish and Move On! Ignorant Americans!

They Deal with Alot!

I Just Feel Is Necessary To Share My Understanding and Experience Because So Many Dont Have The Opportunity To Truly Understand!
Proud Is one My Favorites!
Our System trying So very Hard not to be Racists, prejudice Etc. Nice Thought. However It Also Prevented The Ability To Learn and Understand The Sooo Many various Cultures We Have Here! We Screwed Ourselves By Trying To Be Fair!

quote:

Advice, Just Speak English to All! And Never assume Origin!

Very good advice, since English is basically the only language I speak!

Is Ok,
All American Indians Speak English! All Filipinos Also Speak English " Mandatory In Philippines".
We Live In USA, English Is best! prevents misunderstandings Also.

Amazing Thing!

Most American Indians Speak 3 Languages! native Tongue, English, Spanish.
Philippines = Tagalog, Visayan, Otherwise Older Dialect. English 'Mandatory Teaching" and Spanish!

Most Americans Speak Only English! Me Included Until I Made It Important In My Life To Learn Other Languages!

Nice discussion, but why is Philippines always dragged along?

DCW, yes my son is lucky to live here, and that is why I am so determined to stay around my community.
My son has lived half his life around a suburb of a large city (London) and has traveled around the world, and then half living here in this community.

I am glad that he has seen and learned a lot in his life already, I wanted him to have opened eyes, and see what life is really about, and what cultures from around the world is really like.

He is somewhat different to the other kids in his school though. They do see my son as someone different, not only because of his accent but because my son knows a lot or many things does not shock him having lived in Europe, everything goes there! lol
I live in the country here, so many kids are somewhat naive, and most of them have never even gone out of this part of the State let alone out of the State.
You could say I have hicks around here(lol) but lovely ones at that.
There is a bad side which comes anywhere really, he does sometimes gets bullied for being British. When the talk history comes up, that makes it worse, calling him a murderer and many other names, and it really hurts my son's feelings.
These kids don't even know what they are talking about, and some of them are jealous (mainly the boys) because my son is popular with the girls (as a good friend), so they pick on him.
He also has a stutter but luckily not as noticable here as his accent disguises mostly, and they don't always understand him anyway, so they don't always know he is stuttering or having pauses.
To them, my son is different, unusual and yet interesting. There can be down sides living in the country and yet good sides like a good community.

There used to be major problems in the schools here between Hispanic and African American kids (reminds me of Beverley but wait)...
A few years ago the schools got together and decided to stop this gang thing and ethnic prejudice between them.
Remember the book and movie Freedom Writers?
Well they brought it into our schools and educated the children in similar ways and did a big thing with it, and guess what...it changed big time. It is quite amazing what children can change in our lifetime. Hopefully in my area, this generation will change for the better for the future regarding racism.
I know in the past there were huge problems with American Indians, but thankfully that has passed now, and no way near as bad as before.

I see people in the community reach out to each other more, and like today, everyone came together for me and my son

Do you know what everyone keeps saying to me....
they are embarrassed how I have been treated in their country since I arrived. They say..all what has happened to you and what is happening to you isn't a great welcoming to the USA is it. They wanted to change that for me and show me that it is great to live here and that not all Americans are like my soon to be ex.
I know that of course, but this past year since separation, I finally felt at home and part of this country and especially belong to a community.

Sorry if all that sounded deep, but even after all what we have been through we finally feel wanted, and belong here.

Fact is, most English speaking countries are too lazy to learn another language as they expect everywhere in the world will speak English and also think another language isn't necessary.

You go to some African countries, wow they speak several languages. A lot of them learn from just watching television.

I only speak fluent French other then English of course, but can say some sentences in a few other languages. I love learning, and enjoy speaking the countries language when I go traveling, if anything out of respect.

Sprint,

How old is your son?

Jealousy Is normal, If Your Son Stays here Long Enough The Accent Will disappear. American Children Do Not Understand Either.

I Am So Happy To Hear That The Ones In Your Community Are Trying To Make You feel At Home and Comfy. Really This Is How Most Of America Used To Be! Unfortunately It Has Changed To Something I Am Ashamed Of! Different Areas Here Are So Very Different In Thinking! Sounds Like You Are In A good Place.

Compared To so Many Places Here!

I Wish You And your Son, Especially Your Son! A Very Happy Life Here! With Good memories! Our Children Are the Future! Maybe They Can Change What we weren't Able to?

Actually I am learning the local language drool here, does that count? LOL

Howdy y'all

I think a British accent (much like a southern one) is hard to lose - lol! I love hearing British accents. I would think the girls would be very charmed by the way your son talks, Sprint.

As for southern accents, my mom is from North Carolina and has lived in the DC area for 60 years - she's never lost the southern accent! I love southern accents too!

He is 14 in 2 weeks..growing up fast! lol

I think my son will be one of those who wants to change things in life, he already has debates in certain classes because he doesn't believe in narrow mind thinking and would like to see change, you know move with the times so to speak but at same time with respect.
His teachers love him in their classes, and often asks him what his thoughts are, and I guess because he grew up in Europe, he has a wider range of knowledge about certain things or his attitude is somewhat different as what may not be normal here or not as accepted here, is quite normal and very accepted in Europe.
And of course vice versa, so teachers want the children to hear both sides of the spectrum and in a way use my son to help in a debate lol

quote:

Originally posted by Rough Neighbor:
Nice discussion, but why is Philippines always dragged along?

Nice discussion, but why is Philippines always dragged along?
Give Me a Break RN!
I Have Experienced so very Much of the Philippines!
Alot Is Withheld, Secret Rules And Agenda. Most will Never Know the real truth!

Not For Americans Or otherwise To Know!
My Very Special Filipino Friends Disagree With The embedded rules For The Future Of The family! Lived Here and Adjusted To Out Of The Box Thinking! Please Don't Ever Think I Am Against Filipinos. My Posts confusing I Know!

You appear To Have Philippines On The Mind as Much as me! Como Sta Ka My Friend! How I Think You See Me Is Not What Is Actual!

PEACE!

quote:

Originally posted by Sprint_girl07:
Actually I am learning the local language drool here, does that count? LOL

Howdy y'all

Howdy Yall??? Crazy Panda! LOL! just Remember USA Is HUGE! you can Go 200 Miles In Any Direction From Where You Are Now And Experience A Totally Different Atmosphere and Way Of Thinking!

LOL I know Dcw, I have luckily had the opportunity to travel across the big USA. Been to around 30 of them now, all so very different.
In fact north and south of a State can be very different too, even the accent.

Proud me dear...you have a lovely accent

quote:

Proud me dear...you have a lovely accent

So do you, my friend! Thanks for the compliment. Definitely not Californian, right? Lol!!!!!

LMAO Noooo nothing like a Californian! lol

You are more East coast with Southern

They have hearing problems lol

Thanks, Sprint. They must have hearing problems because I was only in California once during a layover at an airport - lol! I'm sure I didn't catch the accent during that brief time!