Re: Press "1" for English

["Robert L Bass" <robertbass1@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

>> Sure you do.  Canadian firms frewquently
>
> I told you that you shouldn't post while you are
> on drugs, your slurring your words!

USNET is a text medium.  One can't "slur" one's words although you do show a propensity to post slurs.

Note: I can spell.  I just can't tpye.

>> What amazes me is that there are people dumb
>> as Cracker who think this is a problem for them.
>> It goes to show how ignorant he is.
>
> You didn't take time to ask him what countries he
> has been to. He specifically said in his post, "at
> least not the ones I've been to." We should start
> calling you "quick draw."

Although I was replying to Crash, I was referring to Cracker regarding ignorance.  Everyone knows he's never been anywhere.

> Having a travel agency, I have had the good fortune
> to travel quite extensively. The general population of
> most foreign speaking countries either do not or
> choose to not speak english. Businesses that want
> to do business with english speaking companies will
> make the effort....

I believe that is what I said.

> Although english is taught in most schools, between
> their culture and the fact that they leave school at a
> very early age, what little english they have learned
> leaves them quickly when they never have the
> opportunity to leave their communitys. The kids, still
> in school, will speak in english, if asked to, and even
> translate for their parents. I can just see you down
> there trying to talk to all the little boys of Brazil...

The only "little boys" from Brazil whom I know are a few of my nephiews.  I speak just enough Portugues to get by but I'm nowhere
near fluent yet.  When I'm there for more than a few weeks my skills get better.

> By the way, why is it that you never responded back
> to me when I posted to you in Portuguese?...

I don't recall the post.  Resend it and I'll try to answer you.

> You staying at an all english compound down there,
> and haven't learned the language?

Nope.  Our second home is a condo in a Portugues speaking neighborhood.  Some of my wife's family speak a little English but most
don't.  We have a lot of Brazilian friends and family members who live near us in the USA, too.  Most of them speak fair to good
English.  One is a college English professor.  She teaches ESL to immigrants.  She speaks fluent Portuguese, English, Spanish,
Italian and French.  Her English grmmar is better than many Americans.

I have a brother-in-law who speaks Portuguese, English, French, German and (if I recall correctly) Italian.  We're all planning to
take a trip to Spain, Portugal, Italy and England sometime in the next year or two -- probably about 6 weeks total.  That will be a
challenge for me since my Spanish is a little rusty and I don't speak French or Italian.  Fortunately, Italian is closer to
Portugues than most other romance languages so I should be able to at least understand somewhat.

> Letting your wife do all the translating?

Nah.  I usually end up translating more for her than the other way around.  Her English has improved a lot in our five years
together though her accent is very strong, making it difficult for some folks to understand her.  We speak about 50/50
English/Portuguese at home.  When we're visiting Brazilian friends we try to speak exclusively Portuguese but it's a challenge for
me.

> Hey hey hey, we're back to some good ole
> kicks and giggles or do you have me back
> on ignore already?

Nope.  As long as you don't get too nasty you're in view.  If I get bored with your BS I'll simply bozo-bin you.