Cross Culture

            Cross cultural communication is something that I have learned to really enjoy over the past couple of years.  In my letter to our recent speaker, I mentioned several instances in where I have been in cross cultural communication settings, mainly at work.  I work on golf course, where many Hispanics have working visas and work for eight months of the year in the US.  My background in Spanish consists of 4 years of high school education, which was followed by several years without much practice once graduated.  Once re-introduced to the Spanish language, I began picking up the language again.  As I learned more, I became more and more likeable by the Hispanic crew members.  I found out that because I was able to speak some of their language they were more willing to work with me and help me out.  After becoming more familiar with their circumstances, I realized that very few of them pick up English because they are always surrounded by Spanish, and rarely is English necessary for them in their everyday life.  Knowing this, they all still made attempts to make sense of the English language, while they then appreciated my attempts at their language.  Very seldom is this reciprocated, and often they are expected to pick up English since they live here, but I found out a lot about their culture by just being around them and communicating with them.  I guess this is just my background in cross cultural communication, and how sometimes minorities are given the short stick.