Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

They aren't talking to you. They have no obligation to include you in their conversation. Stop policing their language.

No one said they want to be included. The OP did say maybe not loudly. That could go for English too I suppose. You expect staff speaking to one another in their language when in an ethnic store but not necessarily at Trader Joe's. Have not encountered it at the route 29 Woodmoor Trader Joe's though they could be at hours when we do not shop there.

Hearing other languages is one of the great pleasures of living in a diverse, international metropolitan area.

Speaking one’s primary language is a pleasure that people from other places get to enjoy in a life where the majority of things are centered toward people not like them, and it’s a connection to their culture.
Is it slightly unsettling because you’re afraid they’re talking about you? If that’s true, I think you just get over it. The slight discomfort you feel about that hypothetical is the cost of not being the center of everyone else’s universe.

Why not learn a greeting and a couple of words in whatever that language is? Expand yourself.

Or how about....not speak loudly while customers are around? You seem to only want to talk about expanding cultural horizons. This thread is in Foods forum. Why don't you start a thread in a different forum to lecture people in cultural stuff. FYI- many in DC suburbs are already "cultural."

You seem confused. Bless your heart.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

They aren't talking to you. They have no obligation to include you in their conversation. Stop policing their language.

No one said they want to be included. The OP did say maybe not loudly. That could go for English too I suppose. You expect staff speaking to one another in their language when in an ethnic store but not necessarily at Trader Joe's. Have not encountered it at the route 29 Woodmoor Trader Joe's though they could be at hours when we do not shop there.

Hearing other languages is one of the great pleasures of living in a diverse, international metropolitan area.

Speaking one’s primary language is a pleasure that people from other places get to enjoy in a life where the majority of things are centered toward people not like them, and it’s a connection to their culture.
Is it slightly unsettling because you’re afraid they’re talking about you? If that’s true, I think you just get over it. The slight discomfort you feel about that hypothetical is the cost of not being the center of everyone else’s universe.

Why not learn a greeting and a couple of words in whatever that language is? Expand yourself.

Or how about....not speak loudly while customers are around? You seem to only want to talk about expanding cultural horizons. This thread is in Foods forum. Why don't you start a thread in a different forum to lecture people in cultural stuff. FYI- many in DC suburbs are already "cultural."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

They aren't talking to you. They have no obligation to include you in their conversation. Stop policing their language.

No one said they want to be included. The OP did say maybe not loudly. That could go for English too I suppose. You expect staff speaking to one another in their language when in an ethnic store but not necessarily at Trader Joe's. Have not encountered it at the route 29 Woodmoor Trader Joe's though they could be at hours when we do not shop there.

Hearing other languages is one of the great pleasures of living in a diverse, international metropolitan area.

Speaking one’s primary language is a pleasure that people from other places get to enjoy in a life where the majority of things are centered toward people not like them, and it’s a connection to their culture.
Is it slightly unsettling because you’re afraid they’re talking about you? If that’s true, I think you just get over it. The slight discomfort you feel about that hypothetical is the cost of not being the center of everyone else’s universe.

Why not learn a greeting and a couple of words in whatever that language is? Expand yourself.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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).

I'm picturing in a cafe or running into each other on the sidewalk. No one would object to people speaking any language they want then. Don't pretend this is about racism or xonophobia because it's not. It's about basic manners, where the people around you feel included.

You do not need to be included in their conversation. Are you so lonely that you’re looking for inclusion just anywhere, including in TJ employee banter? Work on your own social skills and build your own circle so that you’re not looking for inclusion in random places.

OP didn't seem to want to be included in their conversation, rather was complaining about a less than optimal shopping experience due to it being loud (OP describes what/why it was loud). If the employees were blasting music on their personal phones during the time OP was shopping, OP might have also described how loud it was when shopping (regardless of what type of music).

I suspect that OP would not have been so excited if the noise was American.

Also, just to be very explicit, the staff member I know who speaks French is black. Let's be very clear about what this thread is really all about. OP is probably racist.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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).

I'm picturing in a cafe or running into each other on the sidewalk. No one would object to people speaking any language they want then. Don't pretend this is about racism or xonophobia because it's not. It's about basic manners, where the people around you feel included.

You do not need to be included in their conversation. Are you so lonely that you’re looking for inclusion just anywhere, including in TJ employee banter? Work on your own social skills and build your own circle so that you’re not looking for inclusion in random places.

OP didn't seem to want to be included in their conversation, rather was complaining about a less than optimal shopping experience due to it being loud (OP describes what/why it was loud). If the employees were blasting music on their personal phones during the time OP was shopping, OP might have also described how loud it was when shopping (regardless of what type of music).

I suspect that OP would not have been so excited if the noise was American.

Also, just to be very explicit, the staff member I know who speaks French is black. Let's be very clear about what this thread is really all about. OP is probably racist.

Anonymous wrote:Frankly, at that TJ’s, I’m just happy to have survived the parking lot.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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).

I'm picturing in a cafe or running into each other on the sidewalk. No one would object to people speaking any language they want then. Don't pretend this is about racism or xonophobia because it's not. It's about basic manners, where the people around you feel included.

You do not need to be included in their conversation. Are you so lonely that you’re looking for inclusion just anywhere, including in TJ employee banter? Work on your own social skills and build your own circle so that you’re not looking for inclusion in random places.

OP didn't seem to want to be included in their conversation, rather was complaining about a less than optimal shopping experience due to it being loud (OP describes what/why it was loud). If the employees were blasting music on their personal phones during the time OP was shopping, OP might have also described how loud it was when shopping (regardless of what type of music).

Anonymous wrote:I am a polyglot and speak 18 languages.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

They aren't talking to you. They have no obligation to include you in their conversation. Stop policing their language.

No one said they want to be included. The OP did say maybe not loudly. That could go for English too I suppose. You expect staff speaking to one another in their language when in an ethnic store but not necessarily at Trader Joe's. Have not encountered it at the route 29 Woodmoor Trader Joe's though they could be at hours when we do not shop there.

Anonymous wrote:It's cultural. They are speaking Romanian.

Anonymous wrote:Op should learn their language on babble and start practicing with them

Anonymous wrote:Op should learn their language on babble and start practicing with them

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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).

I'm picturing in a cafe or running into each other on the sidewalk. No one would object to people speaking any language they want then. Don't pretend this is about racism or xonophobia because it's not. It's about basic manners, where the people around you feel included.

You do not need to be included in their conversation. Are you so lonely that you’re looking for inclusion just anywhere, including in TJ employee banter? Work on your own social skills and build your own circle so that you’re not looking for inclusion in random places.