Thanks for coming back to check things out. I hope you've used this information to take respectful win-win action. Make it a Great Day! Emeric
Growing up, my first language was Spanish. If you didn’t know, I grew up in Southern California. Both my parents were born and raised in Mexico.
I have a brother, 3 years older than me and a couple of sisters, one 6 years older, the other 9 years younger than me.
My Mom’s English, when I was a kid, was pretty broken, but she tried hard and she has a great sense of humor.
Well, one day my Mom looks at my brother and says in her broken English “You are a Bob Hope”. “You are a Bob Hope.”
My sister and brother both had a puzzled look on their faces. I was only about 9 years old and confused.
And my 15 year old sister says, “What do you mean a Bob Hope?”
My Mom says in Spanish and I’ll translate: “You are always running around the house calling your brother a Bob Hope. And everyone likes Bob Hope.”
My sister, almost peeing herself, shouts “I’m calling my brother a butt hole! A butt hole! And no one likes a butt hole!
Then she told my Mom what a butt hole was. I think my Mom peed herself.
That was almost 40 years ago and I still laugh at it and I still remind my brother and sister, and Mom (the youngest sister was a newborn at the time-although she likes the story too).
The moral of the story is are you saying to, or doing something with your Hispanic workers just thinking you’re saying and doing the right thing?
Or are you pulling a “Bob Hope” move and crossing your fingers? I call it the Bob Hope Syndrome.
Lean on me my Sisters and Brothers.
Avoid the Bob Hope Syndrome.
Take advantage of the tips and strategies I provide on these pages.
To Your Success,
Emeric
P.S. Tell me your funniest “Bob Hope” story. If it makes me laugh, I’ll send you a cup of coffee.
Tags: interpreting, managing hispanics, mexican culture, right attitude, translating