Knoxville News & Costa Rica Reflections

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Back in Tennessee, yet still somehow immersed in Costa Rica...

Here I was reading the Knoxville News Sentinal, not expecting any international news except maybe about terrorism, Iran or North Korea (and I was not disappointed there - only 3 international stories today), yet as I turned the pages of the local news I came across and article under "family moments." The title caught my eye "Fear conquered in 'bery fun' treetop adventure" I love conquering fear stories, so I read on. Turns out it is a story about how one woman and her family overcame their fear of heights on a canopy tour in COSTA RICA! Great, I thought, I can pass this on to one of my co-travellers who also conquered his fears and has decided he will be the wise man who passes on his next opportunity to fly through the trees. Once was enough for him. But quickly my excitement turned into disappointment.

In describing their guide, the author wrote, " 'Bery safe and bery fun' he said in broken English" And there it is, I thought. There is the difference between a traveler and a tourist. There is how I can differentiate my group doing this activity and other tourists. Maybe I'm over-reacting. Maybe as an educator I am too conscious of language, after all it was clearly not the point of the story to mock the guides' broken English. And yet...it is all too often the subconscious actions that are discriminatory. How many tourists try to use broken Spanish to communicate? Do their livelyhoods depend on being near fluent in a second, or third language? When people plan their trips to foreign "exotic" lands, is language even on the checklist? Sunscreen - check. Passport - check. Basic foreign language skills to try and communicate in their host country - ???? To tourists, I say, You do not have any right to mock someone in their home country trying to speak to you in your native language.

I don't mean to say I am the best traveler ever - because I make far too many cultural mistakes than I would like to admit. In fact, my vehemence on this subject comes from living in a country myself where I didn't learn enough of the language to do anything besides give directions. I was there, I thought it was funny too. Costa Rica was a good checkpoint for me. It has been awhile since I have traveled with a group. It is not normally my preferred way of moving about the world. It was a great lesson to teach me to practice what I preach - to remember that everyone is starting from a different point, and will end up at a different point. Our group consisted of those who are well traveled, and those who were less so. Where some made a conscious effort to try to use long-forgotten high-school Spanish, even where it wasn't necessary; others were experiencing the shock of needing to rely on others for everyday tasks. One group member commented on his embarassment on feeling like he was being served, of not blending in. Every person on our sojourn was consciously trying to learn something on this trip - they were just focused on learning something different about Costa Rica based on where they were at.

Back to the lady in the paper...I do recognize that her learning at that point was personal growth, combatting fear and all. But to me, the humor was in bad taste, and letting it slide by would contribute to others thinking it is ok to mock immigrants in this country for their efforts to learn a second language. Not cool. Not when we have a long way to go in meeting the rest of the world halfway...

Just my few cents...sorry for any incoherence!

Peace out.

K.

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Comments

[Just Jen]

Hi from Costa Rica
We, hubby, 10yr old daughter and dog moved to Costa Rica in Jan 06 not speaking a word of spanish. It has been learning experiece. I believe it is my responsiblity to learn their language because I choose to live in their country. I felt the same living in Arizona, if you live in 'my' country you should speak my language. I will never again tease someone trying to learn a new language. There is no way to know the inner turmoil someone is going thru just to communicate. I appeciate all the kind ticos for politely correcting me and not letting me get away with improper use of words. Check out my blog sometime if miss Costa Rica... sheridan's of sesame st, Just Jen