Etiquette-Please explain!
So one thing I've noticed as a white girl approaching people when attempting to practice my spanish outside of my work place is either the person I'm speaking to will be impressed that I've taken the time to learn spanish so I can speak to them in their own language or I get cut off really abruptly and told, "Mam, I'm not ignorant, I can speak English too." I always apologize in this situation. And say something like. "I didn't mean to offend you. I am learning spanish and I like to practice it." But since I'm already a really shy and non-confrontational people-pleaser type of person, I turn really red. It is really kind of a set-back for me because it's really discouraging me to interact with others. And I do understand that not every hispanic person speaks spanish so I always make sure that whoever I am approaching is speaking to someone in spanish first to avoid the afore-mentioned situation as much as possible. (I'm really sensitive) I really just kind of want to know why exactly this is offensive to some people if spanish is their first and preferred language? I don't mind if a hispanic person speaks to me in English??? Or is greeting someone in spanish improper etiquette if you don't know them?
