Travel fatal to prejudice

If you lived in China, would you speak Chinese and never speak a peep of English?

Some people get upset when folks from other countries speak their native tongue while on American soil. But would we do the same if the tables were turned?

This topic came up when a loved one said she doesn't like it when employees at ethnic restaurants speak their native tongue when talking amongst themselves.

It's easy to say that we would speak only Spanish in Spain, but then we actually get there and find ourselves struggling for expression. I felt this the first time I ventured deep into Mexico and quickly learned how it feels to need the language you obviously know the best. I also learned the guilty pleasure of hanging out with fellow Americans and speaking delicious English.

Mark Twain was right about travel being fatal to prejudice. It helps us understand our fellow man when we walk a mile in their “zapatos.”