In Tennessee, a certain car manufacturer based in Germany is setting up a manufacturing plant. The factory isn't set up yet, but a lot of people who originally worked for the company in Germany are moving to the area that I live. Now, it should be noted that I actually do have a fairly good grasp of German. I don't get a lot of slang that they use, but hey, I can communicate. Anyway, at the Wal-Mart that I work at, I've gotten quite a few German people come through the checkout lines and I have helped a few out in the departments. Most of them speak English pretty well because Germany (as well as quite a few other European countries) have wisely made it mandatory for students to learn a foreign language. There was, however, a man who spoke no English at all and was getting very upset because no one could help him.
One of the managers knows that I speak German, having walked in during a conversation I was having with a customer that was being held entirely in German. So, he finds me and asks if I can come translate. I say "Sure" and we head over to the hardware department where the guy needing help is getting upset.
(The following conversation was held in German, I'm translating)
Me: Hi, I speak German, can I help?\
Him: Why the hell doesn't anyone here speak German? The [Car Manufacturer] plant is coming here, so I'm thinking more people should know German.
Me: I'm sorry about that sir, what is it you are looking for?
Him: It doesn't matter anymore, I'm leaving. I'm never coming back until everyone who works here at least knows basic German. Tell your asshole boss behind you that he's going to lose a lot of business when more Germans move here to work.
He leaves and the manager asks what his problem was. I told him that he wouldn't tell me what he was looking for and then I told him about how he wanted us to teach all of our employees German.
Sigh...
One of the managers knows that I speak German, having walked in during a conversation I was having with a customer that was being held entirely in German. So, he finds me and asks if I can come translate. I say "Sure" and we head over to the hardware department where the guy needing help is getting upset.
(The following conversation was held in German, I'm translating)
Me: Hi, I speak German, can I help?\
Him: Why the hell doesn't anyone here speak German? The [Car Manufacturer] plant is coming here, so I'm thinking more people should know German.
Me: I'm sorry about that sir, what is it you are looking for?
Him: It doesn't matter anymore, I'm leaving. I'm never coming back until everyone who works here at least knows basic German. Tell your asshole boss behind you that he's going to lose a lot of business when more Germans move here to work.
He leaves and the manager asks what his problem was. I told him that he wouldn't tell me what he was looking for and then I told him about how he wanted us to teach all of our employees German.
Sigh...
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