Yes, there seemed to be plenty of sand. The landscape was monotonous.
In the film, the US Border Guards spoke in English to all incoming travellers to the United States. Is it common practice that customs officials do not even have a cursory knowledge of a neighbouring language when they are sent to the border?
I remembered it was the same in Hong Kong where the customs official at the crossing between HK and mainland China couldn't speak Cantonese at all. _________________ Hillary Clinton is an acquired taste which I have clearly yet to acquire.
No, a large percentage of border patrol agents are hispanic, and fluency in Spanish is actually an entrance requirement.
Many people in service industries who deal with the public here are bilingual, and they usually take a look at you and address you in whichever language it seems like you would speak. I see this phenomenon whenever I stand in line at the grocery store, for instance: the checker will address one customer in Spanish, greet the next one in English, switch back to Spanish for the one after that. Sometimes they guess wrong, but usually it gets sorted out pretty quickly in the transaction. They get good at reading that faintly smiling but uncomprehending stare that means the customer didn't understand them, or notice quickly that they reply in the other language and change accordingly.
Let me amend that: Spanish is a job requirement, but not required up front:
Quote:
TEST REQUIREMENTS
Refer to Section V of this Manual for information about test requirements. Also, since all Agents must learn the Spanish language, applicants must successfully complete a language test (in addition to the written test requirement for competitive appointment at grades GS-5 and GS-7). Those who do not speak Spanish will undergo an artificial language test (ALT) designed to assess their ability to learn Spanish. Those who are fluent in the Spanish language will be given the choice of taking the ALT or a Spanish proficiency test. Both tests will be administered on a pass/fail basis.
BILINGUAL ABILITY
Border Patrol work requires the ability to speak and read Spanish as well as English. All persons appointed are instructed in speaking and reading Spanish as part of the basic training for Border Patrol Agents, and must be proficient by the final probationary examination (usually 10 months after entry on duty).
I went back to check out more on Babel and it seems that the actors who played the border guards were Hispanics in real life. But then again, it seemed odd that the director did not show them to be capable of speaking Spanish.
But then again, what do I know? The film is called Babel - there is supposed to be misunderstanding due to language differences. So a bit of creative licence was probably exercised here. _________________ Hillary Clinton is an acquired taste which I have clearly yet to acquire.
So sadly you don't have the dark eyes and the toasty brown skin and the black hair, either ... and yet you have that horrible gene that makes you tolerate chihuahuas (evil little beasts -- Satan's little helpers, I called 'em when I worked for the vet). Ah well -- nobody's perfect.
Actually, I do have those sultry dark brown eyes. The black hair and toasty brown skin, I can't claim however.
And I hate chihuahuas! I simply refer to them as "ratones". And I frequently remind them of my recipe for "tacos perritos". I myself have a Rottweiler, and I intend on later getting either a mastiff or a Rhodesian lion dog. _________________ Operation Northwoods - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Northwoods
Favorite languages = English/Spanish
Followed by Italian/French/Dutch
It seems that our original discussion has meandered off the track and has taken a life of its own. I have since moved the relevant input to the Politics forum. _________________ Hillary Clinton is an acquired taste which I have clearly yet to acquire.
I'm now planning a trip to Mexico in April. Although I know some places in latin-America I've never been to Mexico.
I'd like to see Mexico city and its region, and also maybe Yucatan
I'd like to make both intinerant visits to discover the country and its people, and in the same time to have some rest !
If some of you know well Mexico, could you give some advices - what regions do you prefer ? What is the best to see in only one week of holidays ?
I recognise that I spend most of the money I earn in trips. I think I just can't stay in one place for a long time...
I know what you mean. I've been going away on trips rather a lot recently, and will be going on even more this year... I actually feel rather guilty about using aeroplanes so often.
I recognise that I spend most of the money I earn in trips. I think I just can't stay in one place for a long time...
I know what you mean. I've been going away on trips rather a lot recently, and will be going on even more this year... I actually feel rather guilty about using aeroplanes so often.
If you feel so guilty, cancel all your trips scheduled for this year and put me on them instead, I'd love to go to a foreign country.
I'm now planning a trip to Mexico in April. Although I know some places in latin-America I've never been to Mexico.
I'd like to see Mexico city and its region, and also maybe Yucatan
I'd like to make both intinerant visits to discover the country and its people, and in the same time to have some rest !
If some of you know well Mexico, could you give some advices - what regions do you prefer ? What is the best to see in only one week of holidays ?
No idea -- I've only been to the border part.
I think Mexico City is still the biggest city in the Americas, though -- that should be something to see!
Perhaps you should rent Y Tu Mama Tambien as a handy reference. _________________ An apple a day....
Go to the Yucutan/Quintana Roo/Chiapas area for the exotic rain forsest-Mayan native experience. Go out to the rural areas for a native-American experience, and stay in the resort areas for a Hispanic experience. These regions are home to glorious architectural ruins and ancient Mayan cities, as well as beautiful resort beaches.
Acapulco is another place like this, but without the adventure of the rainforest and Mayan Indians.
Mexico City of course is a major destination as it's home to 20 million people and the nation's capital in just about every sense (poltical, economic, cultural, etc.), and it has a little bit of everything. The areas where I have family are a bunch of arid deserts and they're boring.
Pienso que voy a buscar algo mas en la region del yucatan, y me voy a passar algunos dias en la ciudad de mexico si tengo bastante tiempo.
Quisiera ir tambien en otros lugares, en la costa pacifica o en baja California, pero no tengo ni bastante tiempo ni dinero para viajar durante dos semanas...
Pienso que voy a buscar algo mas en la region del yucatan, y me voy a passar algunos dias en la ciudad de mexico si tengo bastante tiempo.
Quisiera ir tambien en otros lugares, en la costa pacifica o en baja California, pero no tengo ni bastante tiempo ni dinero para viajar durante dos semanas...
De nada amigo mio! Bueno, debe hacer lo mas mejor posible con el tiempo que tiene. Porque no puede lograr todos en una visita, quizas debe viajar a Mexico en otra ocasion. Para ahora, le recomiendo ir a un area del recurso como Cancun, y posiblemente volar en avion al capital por algunos dias. Whatever you do, make sure and visit the Aztec and Mayan ruins, and climb the same towering pyramids the ancients once did. _________________ Operation Northwoods - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Northwoods
Favorite languages = English/Spanish
Followed by Italian/French/Dutch
Location: San Francisco, Noord-Kalifornië, Noord-Amerika
Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 4:31 am Post subject:
I haven't been there, but I think Chiapas looks interesting, both culturally and scenically. My Mexican source agrees.
My Spanish teacher spent some time in Mexico over the Christmas holidays and had a wonderful time. I'll try to remember to ask him tonight if he has any recommendations.
(Why am I not writing in Spanish, since we're talking about Mexico and I study Spanish? Because I'm in a big hurry.)
Location: San Francisco, Noord-Kalifornië, Noord-Amerika
Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 11:24 am Post subject:
fab, mi professor de español recomendó México D.F., Yucatán, Oaxaca y Chiapas, pero el primer lugar que mencionó era Guanajuato. Creo que dijo que Guanajuato era un poquito triste, pero no elaboró.
fab, te envidio, entre otras razones, por la comida riquisima que vas a probar!
Ha.... me falta la comida de America central que tuve la occasion a probar el ano passado en Costa Rica.
En facto, aqui en Paris no hay mucho restaurantes centro-Americanos - No es muy conocido como lo es en EEUU. Pero yo conosco un muy bien, muy familial y tradicional, ubicado en proximidad de mi casa...
Location: San Francisco, Noord-Kalifornië, Noord-Amerika
Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 1:22 am Post subject:
fab wrote:
Ha.... me falta la comida de America central que tuve la occasion a probar el ano passado en Costa Rica.
En facto, aqui en Paris no hay mucho restaurantes centro-Americanos - No es muy conocido como lo es en EEUU. Pero yo conosco un muy bien, muy familial y tradicional, ubicado en proximidad de mi casa...
Hablar de eso me da hambre !!
La comida Mexicana no es la comida Centro-Americana.
"Como México no hay dos." (Como la comida Mexicana tampoco.)
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