Trader Joe's at Wisconsin & Stanford in Bethesda

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does this bother you? If they aren't speaking with you, what does it matter?

Because it's rude, that's why. I don't shop there anymore because the new one down the street is so much bigger and has parking. But yeah, you shouldn't be talking in another language in front of people who don't understand it, same as you shouldn't be whispering in front of others. Basic manners.

I've grown up my whole life in Bethesda and beyond with people speaking numerous languages. Never bothered me. It's one thing if you attend a party and no one speaks to you in the one language you speak. But at TJ where no one knows you?

Get over it, lady.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or, to PP (17:24): is it too much to ask from a customer to have a better shopping experience? No one said immigrants shouldn't speak their language and they may even need to speak only their language if they don't speak much English yet or because they simply prefer to. Loud staff could be a turnoff while shopping. If that is what is happening, maybe headphones is the way to go and/or grocery pickup.

I wish Tradeer Joe's did curbside pick up. I don't know why they don't. I didn't shop there for a couple of years after I discovered curbside pickup and Whole Foods/Amazon Fresh delivery.

+1 no pickup was reason stopped being a regular. And not many organic etc.. items. They want customers to come in and shop for that best new item. it's fun to go once in a while to find stuff you didn't know you needed to eat.

[Anonymous]

What language were they speaking?

[Anonymous]

They don’t have to speak in English just because OP’s delicate sensibilities are offended. Shop elsewhere if it bothers you so much.

[Anonymous]

Tell me you aren’t smart enough to speak many languages and have friends at work without telling me…….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What language were they speaking?

It's French. A lot of the workers there are African. I like it!

I'm all for normalizing not speaking English! I'm born here and speak English fluently, and I love speaking to my kids in another language. Some people act weird about it, and then when I flip to English they really are so confused. I can literally hear their world expanding.

[Anonymous]

I don’t shop there because of the parking. I can’t believe they haven’t closed it with the new one opened.

I don’t think it’s rude to customers but it might be rude to coworkers and potentially in violation of antidiscrimination laws. Can you imagine if all your coworkers were Salvadoran and insisted on speaking in Spanish and you were Vietnamese and couldn’t understand them? It can be potentially exclusionary and send a message to the monitory worker that they are not welcome in the workplace. I’ve seen that happen before.

But OP’s post reminds me al little of the Seinfeld repulsive where Elaine was convinced the nail salon women were making fun of her in Korean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell me you aren’t smart enough to speak many languages and have friends at work without telling me…….

LOL "many languages." Good one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t shop there because of the parking. I can’t believe they haven’t closed it with the new one opened.

I don’t think it’s rude to customers but it might be rude to coworkers and potentially in violation of antidiscrimination laws. Can you imagine if all your coworkers were Salvadoran and insisted on speaking in Spanish and you were Vietnamese and couldn’t understand them? It can be potentially exclusionary and send a message to the monitory worker that they are not welcome in the workplace. I’ve seen that happen before.

But OP’s post reminds me al little of the Seinfeld repulsive where Elaine was convinced the nail salon women were making fun of her in Korean.

Loud. As in volume. Maybe it was noisy in there with many customers as is usually the case at TJ's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What language were they speaking?

It's French. A lot of the workers there are African. I like it!

I'm all for normalizing not speaking English! I'm born here and speak English fluently, and I love speaking to my kids in another language. Some people act weird about it, and then when I flip to English they really are so confused. I can literally hear their world expanding.

Should have spoken to them in French. only if more people spoke more languages fluently around here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What language were they speaking?

It's French. A lot of the workers there are African. I like it!

I'm all for normalizing not speaking English! I'm born here and speak English fluently, and I love speaking to my kids in another language. Some people act weird about it, and then when I flip to English they really are so confused. I can literally hear their world expanding.

You certainly are impressed with yourself!

[Anonymous]

I was just about to post that it's probably French. We are French and love speaking to a couple of staff members in French. However we rarely go now, because the parking is terrible and the newer TJs in Bethesda is closer to our house.

I have lived in multiple countries, OP, and have been surrounded by Britishers, Germans, Spaniards, Japanese, etc. I attended an international private school in Paris. It's culturally and emotionally important for immigrants or foreigners to connect with others in their native language. When I hear Americans talking to each other in France, or in any other non-US country, I am happy that they found each other and can talk their own language together. Even if they're loud, even if there are others right there who cannot understand them. It's not rude. It's healthy.

You should extend some grace, instead of being xenophobic (and racist, because I know who you're thinking of).

[Anonymous]

It does not bother me. But I have no expectation of being included or privy to a strangers’ conversation even if it occurs in public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was just about to post that it's probably French. We are French and love speaking to a couple of staff members in French. However we rarely go now, because the parking is terrible and the newer TJs in Bethesda is closer to our house.

I have lived in multiple countries, OP, and have been surrounded by Britishers, Germans, Spaniards, Japanese, etc. I attended an international private school in Paris. It's culturally and emotionally important for immigrants or foreigners to connect with others in their native language. When I hear Americans talking to each other in France, or in any other non-US country, I am happy that they found each other and can talk their own language together. Even if they're loud, even if there are others right there who cannot understand them. It's not rude. It's healthy.

You should extend some grace, instead of being xenophobic (and racist, because I know who you're thinking of).

You don't know OP's background. OP could be like you who cherishes the many cultures in the greater DC area or has lived in various places around the world as many in greater DC have. Looks like you missed the point: it's the type of experience and customer service expected in a "typical" grocery store in the US. Employees were probably not doing anything offensive or saying anything offensive. If at a French store it is that kind of environment Americans soak up as being part of the experience of going into a store run by French speaking immigrants or French-Americans. Not necessarily at a Trader Joe's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was just about to post that it's probably French. We are French and love speaking to a couple of staff members in French. However we rarely go now, because the parking is terrible and the newer TJs in Bethesda is closer to our house.

I have lived in multiple countries, OP, and have been surrounded by Britishers, Germans, Spaniards, Japanese, etc. I attended an international private school in Paris. It's culturally and emotionally important for immigrants or foreigners to connect with others in their native language. When I hear Americans talking to each other in France, or in any other non-US country, I am happy that they found each other and can talk their own language together. Even if they're loud, even if there are others right there who cannot understand them. It's not rude. It's healthy.

You should extend some grace, instead of being xenophobic (and racist, because I know who you're thinking of).

Good for you.