Conversations on “Speaking English” I’ve Had with Racist Relatives

#mixedkidproblems #sehablaespanol

I would really enjoy more amor, but you being silent is the next best thing. Photo by MCML ➖XXXIII (steal my _ _ art) on Unsplash

(Confused Mexican tourists looking at a map in NYC)
Me: “Eso es el tren para la estatua…necesita downtown.”
RFM: “Why are you speaking to them like that? This is America. They need to learn English.”
Me: “They’re lost. I’m just helping them.”
RFM: “Help them in English!”
Me: “That…wouldn’t be helping?”

RFM: “I hate when the automated voice tells me to press 2 for Spanish. There shouldn’t even be a Spanish option!”
Me: “Pero porque no? Hay mucha gente que habla español.”
RFM: “I don’t know what you’re saying.”
Me: “That’s too bad. Because you can actually learn Spanish without forgetting English. See, I’m doing it right now!”

RFM: “How did the interview go?”
Me: “Good. The guy who would be my boss is actually from Spain, so we spoke in Spanish for a bit.”
RFM: “Spain? That’s good. So you can learn real Spanish. Not like, that Mexican Spanish.”
Me: “…What is that supposed to mean?”
RFM: “You know. Like proper Spanish.”
Me: “Sure, there are regional differences in the language…but the Spanish I speak is still Spanish.”
RFM…