h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Drove me to flounce out complaining that I'd wait for some who spoke ing English to get to work.

So sick of it, it's not the first time I've been completely unable to make myself understood in there, nor is it the first time I've had no idea what the other person is saying. What makes it worse is when someone else behind the counter moves over to 'help' and they have no clue either.

Now I'm torn between putting in a complaint, and thinking what a complete bitch I am. They are the ONLY garage in my town who sell LPG, but asking about it seems to completely throw the staff every single time. When they finally work out I'm saying 'LPG' they tell me what pump number I need. So I point out I'M ALREADY PARKED ON THE PUMP THE QUESTION I ASKED WAS WHY ISN'T IT WORKING. Which got me a different answer, of which I understood '9 o'clock'. So I said I'd come back, thinking they meant the delivery was at that time (it was about 8am at the time). So then she said they didn't sell *unintelligible word*, so I repeat the question (Is it the pump that's not working so I can move to another one or has it run out and if so when will it be in), the other staff member came over and still had no clue what I was asking so that's when I flounced out.

It should be law that anyone who moves to another country and gets work should have to learn the language of the country and also the ACCENT of the area they will be living in, speaking *and* understanding. And yes, that includes my Aunt who has been living in Spain for years and still can't say more than about 3 words.

It's bloody frustrating. Do you complain and risk being labelled a cow and a racist, or do you put up with it?

Ultimately it's up to the company to employ people who have a good grasp of the English language. A lot of companies these days ask people to get one of those English as a Second Language certificate thingies, which in my view should be compulsory in any job. I'm getting quite tired of speaking to someone in a shop or on the phone who can't understand me and end up getting a native English speaker to deal with me

do you speak any other language????french or spanish

if they think you are a forigner they might put more effort into their english

T A L K I N G - L O U D E R - A N D - S L O W E R -! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

I think some of it is the rhythm they use when they speak - it suits whatever language they speak, but doesn't really suit English. Perhaps them speaking slower would have broken that sing-song and helped.

And I know I can speak quite fast, so I try speaking slower too. Sometimes I think I got on better in France when I struggled with schoolgirl French, but at least came away from a counter with what I'd gone to buy, even if it did take a lot of effort and embarrassment on my part and I had to put up with a certain standing behind me with a much better grasp of French but was far too shy to speak any (or indeed, help me out later with some pronounciation).