go to...  |
post new... |
search/find |
notification... |
|
reply to this topic |
|
Admin |
New PM! |
|
|
Yeah man, I know exactly what you mean, I get that all over the place, everywhere, and I don't think it is really just Latinos or hispanics or any particular kind of people, but a general thing with many types of people from all walks of life.
I deal with the general public 5 days a week, and I get it all the time, most of them just cannot be bothered to be specific about anything, and yet I have to give information to them and be as specific as is possible, and if I'm not specific enough for them, they get all pissed off about it.
Some if not most people are just plain funny like that, and many are damned annoying with it.
We will just have to learn how to rise above it all, and practice being as precise & accurate as we can be.
Saludos
|
| |
| Posts: 698 | Location: Santander | Registered: 11 August 2003 | |
|
|
|
:jeje: :jeje: Yes, I agree TJGuy, there are less obsessive compulsive types in Spain and Latin America. Could it be too much Carpe Diem and Ma�anismo in these cultures, no s�?  If so, I am glad, I am so tired of the clock, ticking away, a tick closer to the grave :cry: there's no fun in that. Enjoy today because ma�ana comes too soon! :cheers:
|
| |
| Posts: 697 | Location: Florida | Registered: 24 August 2001 | |
|
"the man!"
|
Hey TJGuy, not much experience with Latin Americans but plenty with Spaniards so have that in mind when reading the following. quote: I hate asking for driving directions because it is always "por alla" or "sigue recto y luego gira a la derecha"
This not only with driving, it OFTEN aplies to asking for directions when walking around as well. At least in Spain, it is due to the fact that THEY HAVE NO CLUE WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT NOR WHERE THEY ARE!!!  They are too proud to just admit that they live (and probably have for decades) in the city and/or neighborhood and have NO CLUE as to where anything is aside from their apt. (if that)  quote: I want to know, "how much later", and I always get "pues, luego, ya veras.." Or is it that we Yanquis and Brits are too tight-assed and need to relax a bit?
No, it is the Spanish, THEY ARE VERY NON-COMMITAL and that leads to lack of specificity in this area. quote: Or is it that we Yanquis and Brits are too tight-assed and need to relax a bit?
Weeelllll... could be true to a degree but I think it is more the Spaniards who are just non-commital and lackadasical, slow and nonchalant. Funny that the same thing that is bugging ya here is also one of the major reasons that make Spain an attractive place to live (more mellow & carefree lifestyle). Saludos, jer...
|
| |
| Posts: 12254 | Location: ny, u.s.a. --> madrid, spain --> the plaza mayor ! | Registered: 30 June 1998 | |
|
"What's another word for Thesaurus?
Steven Wright"
|
In Mexico, if you ask for directions, you must be careful to "filter" what you are told, because culture dictates that just shrugging one's shoulders and saying "I don't know" doesn't cut it, you are expected to "be helpful" in such a situation. Most of the time, you will get accurate information, but there are times that people, in their quest to "be helpful", will give you directions even if they have no idea where to send you. They mean absolutely nothing bad in this, but sometimes it takes a number of iterations with different people (and a good measure of patience) to determine the right way to go. That just makes traveling interesting! :jeje: quote: Funny that the same thing that is bugging ya here is also one of the major reasons that make Spain an attractive place to live (more mellow & carefree lifestyle).
Well said, Jer!! 
"An honest man is always a child" - Socrates ...no wonder I'm so immature!
|
| |
| Posts: 974 | Location: Albuquerque, NM EEUU | Registered: 27 August 2002 | |
|
|
|
So Jer, Espa�a is too laid back ! :jeje: :jeje: I was reading a Spanish paper recently, which for the life of me I can't remember the name, anyway, it said that the Spain has an image problem of being too carefree and laid back, that in order to attract serious companies to Spain that Spain needs to be more business like...that will never happen! Or, if they ever break the spirit of these wonderful people, the world would be a much lesser place! :cheers: I applaud them!
|
| |
| Posts: 697 | Location: Florida | Registered: 24 August 2001 | |
|
"the man!"
|
Hey Booklady, it is just fine for me over here since 99% of my business dealings are with North Americans. It is the perfect situation as I am able to do business easily and also live like a Spaniard at the same time. Jejejeje, sometimes it is beyond the comprehension of my cell rental clients from USA that they can not get courier delivery of a phone on a Sunday here in Spain :jeje: You should see them, asking me but why, why? (over and over). I do know a lot of UK and US citizens living here however who get VERY frustrated when trying to do business with the Spaniards. Saludos, jer...
|
| |
| Posts: 12254 | Location: ny, u.s.a. --> madrid, spain --> the plaza mayor ! | Registered: 30 June 1998 | |
|
"What's another word for Thesaurus?
Steven Wright"
|
Blanca, I've have very similar experiences. For example, in Barcelona many years ago, a guy walked with us about 3 km to get to Parc Guell. We offered to pay his cab fare back to his original location, but he refused, saying "welcome to my city".  (And yes, Jer, this is a true story.) :jeje:
"An honest man is always a child" - Socrates ...no wonder I'm so immature!
|
| |
| Posts: 974 | Location: Albuquerque, NM EEUU | Registered: 27 August 2002 | |
|
"the man!"
|
Yes but for every one of those successful experiences (I too have had them), there are 100 of the other ones that are the other way around. You really only experience them if you LIVE in a place for a long time. Can't really judge if you have just been a tourist there. Saludos, jer... p.d. Blanca, come on gal!!! You Spaniards are an open book :jeje:
|
| |
| Posts: 12254 | Location: ny, u.s.a. --> madrid, spain --> the plaza mayor ! | Registered: 30 June 1998 | |
|
|
|
Well, what I really love about the Spanish lack of specificity is when it comes to age. One is cuarentona or cinquentona, a nice range here where you can slide  ...not a specific 49 or 51 :cheers: for the Spanish and their estimates!
|
| |
| Posts: 697 | Location: Florida | Registered: 24 August 2001 | |
|
|
|
Hey guys...there is no doubt that the latinos are more ambiguous than Spaniards, especially caribenos and i was really trying to make this a "who gives better directions" thread. I have always found that Yanquis have to have a great deal of information, "How long, How Far, When, How High, How Much...." before they (WE) feel we have sufficient information. I, myself, am guilty of it. I want to know if it is 1 mile or 1.5 miles or if it is as big as a bread box or huge like King Kong. Spaniards seem to be content (for the most part) with fewer desciptions. I'm not knockin' it...as Jer' said..how odd everyone would fall in love with a place that we find infuriating sometimes.
y desde el club de los humildes rescatar aquellos besos que he tirado sin amar
|
| |
| Posts: 308 | Location: Florida, U.S.A. | Registered: 17 August 2003 | |
|
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
|
|
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at 
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at 
