How to communicate with an immigrant who comes from a developing country? Mostly, the attitude towards these people is belittling and assumed that they are behind western civilization. Sure, this attitude itself is very likely to be considered as ignorance. If you are interested in a better understanding of a person who is from a different culture, here are some tips.I might add more later, but this is all what I can suggest for now:
1. When you talk to a foreigner who doesn’t speak fluent English; don’t shout, keep your voice at a normal conversational level. Remember, she/he is not deaf, just can’t speak good English.
2. When you talk to an adult foreigner who doesn’t speak fluent English or speaks in a limited vocabulary and therefore may sound childish; don’t think that he/she has got a child’s brain too. Remember, that person has already gained a life experience in a different country and now is challenging him / herself by living in another country and learning a second or third language.
3.When a foreigner speaks with a limited vocabulary in English, don’t say he/she is cute. That’s really annoying and actually that person probably wants to be taken seriously like everybody else.
(I know, people say it as a complement but when it’s used as a way of describing my level of English, it makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. However, it depends on who says it:))
4.If a foreigner apoligises for their lack of English and mis-pronounciation, don’t say that ‘his/her English is better than your Spanish / French / Greek etc. (wherever the foreigner comes from)-’. That’s really insulting and usually dissuades the person from being friendly.
(Again, another supposed complement. But look at this way, you are comparing my level of English to your level of my native language, which you can’t even speak a word of . Am I being unfair? I just look at it from a different angle or is it me who should look at it from a different angle?)
5.When you meet a foreigner, don’t panic. Don’t worry that she/he may not understand you or you may not understand her/him. Just act normal, this way you both will understand each other better.
6.When you meet a foreigner, don’t assume that he/she is ignorant. It’s the opposite, they have already experienced lots of things, and now are finding out about your culture also! Keep your mind open, you will learn some interesting things from him/her as well as that person learns from you.
7.When you employ a foreigner, don’t treat her/him differently than the native British employees. Even though they may generally keep quiet, they will see what is going on. As a result the person is likely to build up negative feelings that will demotivate them in their post.And so, as a result, it is very likely that you will lose a hardworking employee and possibly be challenged in court due to breach of equal opportunity laws. Plus, it really hurts.
8.If a foreigner doesn’t use the words ‘thank you’ or ‘please’ as much as you use, it doesn’t mean he/she is being rude. Remember, he/she comes from a different culture and lacks the expertise in English Language and not judgement of good manners. This is how they can communicate until realising and applying the English manner to their life. It is exactly the same when you are abroad, word for word translation of English manners sometimes doesn’t make any sense in another language.
9.If you want immigrants to adapt to your culture, don’t treat them as cheap and easy workers. Show interest in understanding them and their needs and create opportunities for them. Especially in cultural and financial needs. Remember, you harvest what you sow.
25 May 2008
24 May 2008
'What are you doing here?'
That's the question which makes me feel uncomfortable lately. People who traveled to my original country and had a nice holiday, come back and ask me this question:
-Your country is so beautiful, your people are so friendly. What are you doing here?
Well... I know, it is a kind of compliment, a good comment about the place where I come from. But, when you hear it as often as I hear, you think 'God, why I have to answer this question several times?'.
Why people don't realise that holidays are different then the normal daily routine. You feel more optimistic, more adventurist and open minded when you are on holiday. You are in a mood that you can accept anything different with a positive attitude. When you enjoy your holiday in a country, it doesn't mean that native people in that country live like that 365 days a year.
I like living here. Because, it's always green and rainy. I love the rain and going for a walk in the countryside when it rains. I had enough dry and boiling hot summers in my life that an ever green, rainy and misty country is a nice change. To an addition to that, I also like changes in my life; I like adventure, I like to getting know the different cultures. I wish I had a long enough life (or money or a suitable job) that I could travel around the world and experience all the differences.
Anyway, I just wanted to underline some points that, some people like having changes in their lifes instead of spending all of it in a village or in a country. I am one of them and I am sure it doesn't mean I don't like my country.
-Your country is so beautiful, your people are so friendly. What are you doing here?
Well... I know, it is a kind of compliment, a good comment about the place where I come from. But, when you hear it as often as I hear, you think 'God, why I have to answer this question several times?'.
Why people don't realise that holidays are different then the normal daily routine. You feel more optimistic, more adventurist and open minded when you are on holiday. You are in a mood that you can accept anything different with a positive attitude. When you enjoy your holiday in a country, it doesn't mean that native people in that country live like that 365 days a year.
I like living here. Because, it's always green and rainy. I love the rain and going for a walk in the countryside when it rains. I had enough dry and boiling hot summers in my life that an ever green, rainy and misty country is a nice change. To an addition to that, I also like changes in my life; I like adventure, I like to getting know the different cultures. I wish I had a long enough life (or money or a suitable job) that I could travel around the world and experience all the differences.
Anyway, I just wanted to underline some points that, some people like having changes in their lifes instead of spending all of it in a village or in a country. I am one of them and I am sure it doesn't mean I don't like my country.
20 May 2008
My Book Club
It is one of the a few good things that happened to me in England so far, being a member of the local book club. But hey, this is not an ordinary one. Full of wise, understanding, caring and witty women with a good sense of humor. They are not just a book club members, they also are good friends. I think, this is what makes it special.
I love them, I love being with them. Not just talking about the books we read, talking about anything makes this book club more attractive for me. Being with them is just like a reading a book itself.
Thanks girls for existing and giving me the chance to join you.
I love them, I love being with them. Not just talking about the books we read, talking about anything makes this book club more attractive for me. Being with them is just like a reading a book itself.
Thanks girls for existing and giving me the chance to join you.
18 May 2008
A Visa Story
My brother will be visiting me soon. I am very excited and really looking forward to see him here. His visit will last only 10 days but I arranged a tiny country tour for him. We will go to see the London, York, Edinburgh and a few local museums. Finally a happy end...
Why I said this 'a happy end' thing? Because, his visa application process was rather upseting, in fact annoying. The country I am coming from is not a member of the EU. So, whoever from my family and friends wants to visit me, has to go through this visa application process which is something that puts people off at the beginning. They have to prepare lots of documents that takes ages and costs fortunes before they buy their flight tickets. Plus, they have to speak a very good English to fill the forms that arranged in English by the British Counsulate and also have to prepare all the documents (from the bank, from the employer, from the local authority) in English. In another word, If they can't speak English they have to pay to a translator to fill their forms or I have to do it from here which is very time consuming.
First of all, my logic says that if a consulate registered in a country, they have to have interpreters and translators that translates the paperworks of the applicants of that country's, instead of forcing the people to speak English. It shouldn't be the applicant's responsibility.
Anyway, to avoid all the possible delays and rejections, I had to prepare most of the documents here, including the ones that I had to sent him as a proof of my financial situation to persuade the consulate that he can stay with me and I can efford it. There was questions like 'how much money you will have for your food', 'who will pay your travel expenses' and etc...
My brother and I had to have a lot of long telephone and MSN conversations after the work to fill the visa application form. When we finished it and completed the rest of the documents, he applied. A nervous waiting time took a start.
After a couple of the weeks of the application, while my brother was at work, his boss received a phone call from the British Consulate. They were questining the boss that 'why his employee wants to go to England? How long he was going to stay there? Who he was going to visit?' As if, my brother's boss wasn't his boss but his owner. As if, all the documents I sent from here wasn't existing, as if my brother was a liar...
First of all, any people in a western country (even an unemployee) can buy a ticket and fly to my country (and to the all developing and third world countries) with no trouble. No stressful visa applications and no patronising and belittling phone calls from the consulates.
Secondly, while western countries trying everything to stop these people to come to the their country, they can invade and destroy these people's countries as if it's their backyard.
I am aware of the politics and the state of the world of course. But, it doesn't stop me that I hate injustice and double standard.
That's why I said 'a happy end'. Aren't I right?...
Why I said this 'a happy end' thing? Because, his visa application process was rather upseting, in fact annoying. The country I am coming from is not a member of the EU. So, whoever from my family and friends wants to visit me, has to go through this visa application process which is something that puts people off at the beginning. They have to prepare lots of documents that takes ages and costs fortunes before they buy their flight tickets. Plus, they have to speak a very good English to fill the forms that arranged in English by the British Counsulate and also have to prepare all the documents (from the bank, from the employer, from the local authority) in English. In another word, If they can't speak English they have to pay to a translator to fill their forms or I have to do it from here which is very time consuming.
First of all, my logic says that if a consulate registered in a country, they have to have interpreters and translators that translates the paperworks of the applicants of that country's, instead of forcing the people to speak English. It shouldn't be the applicant's responsibility.
Anyway, to avoid all the possible delays and rejections, I had to prepare most of the documents here, including the ones that I had to sent him as a proof of my financial situation to persuade the consulate that he can stay with me and I can efford it. There was questions like 'how much money you will have for your food', 'who will pay your travel expenses' and etc...
My brother and I had to have a lot of long telephone and MSN conversations after the work to fill the visa application form. When we finished it and completed the rest of the documents, he applied. A nervous waiting time took a start.
After a couple of the weeks of the application, while my brother was at work, his boss received a phone call from the British Consulate. They were questining the boss that 'why his employee wants to go to England? How long he was going to stay there? Who he was going to visit?' As if, my brother's boss wasn't his boss but his owner. As if, all the documents I sent from here wasn't existing, as if my brother was a liar...
First of all, any people in a western country (even an unemployee) can buy a ticket and fly to my country (and to the all developing and third world countries) with no trouble. No stressful visa applications and no patronising and belittling phone calls from the consulates.
Secondly, while western countries trying everything to stop these people to come to the their country, they can invade and destroy these people's countries as if it's their backyard.
I am aware of the politics and the state of the world of course. But, it doesn't stop me that I hate injustice and double standard.
That's why I said 'a happy end'. Aren't I right?...
8 May 2008
Living Language
I want to keep a record of the words that I find amuzing. I will try to update it as I hear new ones. Here are some of them:
Chav: Poor people with no taste.
Posh: Rich people with no taste.
Pram face: Teenager mothers.
Muffin top: A fat belly that hangs over the low belly trousers.
Hoodies: Gang of youngsters who wear hoody tops.
Gregg's Dummy: Guess what it is? This one is a really good one. Made me laugh a lot.
Croydon Face Lift:
Chav: Poor people with no taste.
Posh: Rich people with no taste.
Pram face: Teenager mothers.
Muffin top: A fat belly that hangs over the low belly trousers.
Hoodies: Gang of youngsters who wear hoody tops.
Gregg's Dummy: Guess what it is? This one is a really good one. Made me laugh a lot.
Croydon Face Lift:
6 May 2008
British Lamb? Or New Zealand Lamb?
I was shopping in a supermarket the other day, buying lamb liver and asked to the shop assistant to reserve some of the liver for me to buy later. He replied:
-Which country's lamb liver you prefer? New Zealand or British?
Me:
-What is the difference?
Shop assistant:
-Well, New Zealand lamb liver is cheaper.
What do you think my choice was? Of course New Zealand one. If both of them available in front of me and one is cheaper than the other, of course I will go for the cheaper option (Yes, they were both equally similar). If somebody wants me to consider on for some environmental issues and go for the 'local' product, my opinion is, it shouldn't be left to the consumers at first place. It should be worries of government's with the regulation on importing/exporting subject. That's the one thing about this ridiculousness (I guess this word doesn't exist).
Second thing is, how come NZ lamb is cheaper than the British lamb? It's produced in a country that at the other side of the world. What about the cost of the transport, what about the cost of production? And it means that they can make some profits despite to all of these.
If it is possible to produce cheaper farm products and still make profits, what is wrong with the farmers in England or shall I say with the goverment?
Any answer to these questions?..
-Which country's lamb liver you prefer? New Zealand or British?
Me:
-What is the difference?
Shop assistant:
-Well, New Zealand lamb liver is cheaper.
What do you think my choice was? Of course New Zealand one. If both of them available in front of me and one is cheaper than the other, of course I will go for the cheaper option (Yes, they were both equally similar). If somebody wants me to consider on for some environmental issues and go for the 'local' product, my opinion is, it shouldn't be left to the consumers at first place. It should be worries of government's with the regulation on importing/exporting subject. That's the one thing about this ridiculousness (I guess this word doesn't exist).
Second thing is, how come NZ lamb is cheaper than the British lamb? It's produced in a country that at the other side of the world. What about the cost of the transport, what about the cost of production? And it means that they can make some profits despite to all of these.
If it is possible to produce cheaper farm products and still make profits, what is wrong with the farmers in England or shall I say with the goverment?
Any answer to these questions?..
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