Diana
Full Version: Strange things you're not used to
I know, I never understood that. I thought race was the physical appearance, skin tone, that kind of thing. But isn't Hispanic a culture more that anything? I'm white but was born in Colombia, so I guess I'm not caucasian, even though I'm whiter than vanilla ice cream, but I'm Hispanic/Latina because of my culture. Ok, I just gave myself a headache.
Diana
Diana
QUOTE(Mononoke28 @ Jan 23 2008, 02:24 PM) 
I know, I never understood that. I thought race was the physical appearance, skin tone, that kind of thing. But isn't Hispanic a culture more that anything? I'm white but was born in Colombia, so I guess I'm not caucasian, even though I'm whiter than vanilla ice cream, but I'm Hispanic/Latina because of my culture. Ok, I just gave myself a headache.
Diana
Diana
exactly. same with me, but with the exception i don't come from a hispanic country. I have no spanish in me whatsoever, which is the only thing that could put me in the hispanic race category, so I'll just keep answering that I'm caucasian cuz that's what I am. I'm white, I come from a country with no hispanic afiliation and my family came from Germany, so no reason to put hispanic just because they think everybody who's not from North America, they're from ''down there'' should be hispanic
QUOTE(Nessa @ Jan 23 2008, 03:33 PM)
QUOTE(Mononoke28 @ Jan 23 2008, 02:24 PM)
I know, I never understood that. I thought race was the physical appearance, skin tone, that kind of thing. But isn't Hispanic a culture more that anything? I'm white but was born in Colombia, so I guess I'm not caucasian, even though I'm whiter than vanilla ice cream, but I'm Hispanic/Latina because of my culture. Ok, I just gave myself a headache.
Diana
Diana
exactly. same with me, but with the exception i don't come from a hispanic country. I have no spanish in me whatsoever, which is the only thing that could put me in the hispanic race category, so I'll just keep answering that I'm caucasian cuz that's what I am. I'm white, I come from a country with no hispanic afiliation and my family came from Germany, so no reason to put hispanic just because they think everybody who's not from North America, they're from ''down there'' should be hispanic
Hispanic is a race made up by the US census bureau so they could further pigeonhole the people from Spanish speaking cultures this side of the atlantic - they're from South America, they couldn't possibly be white!
And I agree Brazil is not a Hispanic country - I know some Brazilians who only called them Latina for this reason (which I guess would make a little more sense, as descending from a Latin based language, but then you could call French people Latina too or Romanian ... and uh, they're not. I know Brazilian culture can be very similar to some of the other South American cultures, but then I just refer it to South American culture when I am including Brazil.
My husband is mestizo and doesn't want to be confused for a cholo, so I think he is happy putting hispanic, but he still says it doesn't make any sense. I think this country did themselves a huge disservice by inventing a race based on a culture only to further pigeonhole people.
I have friends who've said some stupid things - some of M's sisters and brothers look very white, and his dad was very white, and upon seeing pictures said stuff like, they can't be from South America! They're white. It just fuels stupidity, imo, to, like I said, develop a race of "Hispanic" when it's not a race.
I gave myself a headache too. But this is one of those things that upsets me, as an American.
I thought we were all considered Latinos since we come from Latin America, and that includes Brazilians as well. I'd much rather use that word than Hispanic, it makes more sense since it's based on geography and not "race".
Diana
Diana
QUOTE(Mononoke28 @ Jan 23 2008, 05:36 PM)
I thought we were all considered Latinos since we come from Latin America, and that includes Brazilians as well. I'd much rather use that word than Hispanic, it makes more sense since it's based on geography and not "race".
Diana
Diana
Hm. I thought it was called Latin America because they call you Latino.
I knew I never should have listened to that Spanish teacher. (Seriously, she was a tool. And they fired her when she forged all the evaluations for the class )In that case I'll just use Latino. M prefers Latino over Hispanic but doesn't really care. But I still have an issue with the whole race issue.
QUOTE(Nessa @ Jan 23 2008, 03:33 PM)
I'm white, I come from a country with no hispanic afiliation and my family came from Germany, so no reason to put hispanic just because they think everybody who's not from North America, they're from ''down there'' should be hispanic
South American.
I reserve "hispanic" for people who seem to be from Mexico, Puerto Rico, etc.
I've never liked "Latino". Do y'all speak Latin? Then where the hell did Latino come from? lol
I tend to call people what they are.... Mexican, Columbian, Shoshone, Blackfoot, American, Canadian, etc.
All-encompassing labels (such as hispanic) tend to encompass no one, really.
QUOTE(JoeCanuk @ Jan 19 2008, 11:13 AM)
QUOTE(Reba @ Jan 19 2008, 12:03 PM)
I recall having to put my race on our application for the marriage license, and many job applications also ask for race. In Canada, this is illegal. btw, I put "white" on the marriage license application, the lady behind the counter looked at my passport, scratched it out and put "Canadian" under the "Other" checkbox! 
We tried to explain the difference between nationality and race, and she would have none of it! *snarf*
Lots of labour laws (labor) in the US are a lot different than in Canada and take some getting used to.
We tried to explain the difference between nationality and race, and she would have none of it! *snarf*Lots of labour laws (labor) in the US are a lot different than in Canada and take some getting used to.
LOL I don't know how you didn't pass out laughing right in front of her.
Yeah, race is illegal in Canada. It should be here too. I think I better get up to snuff on labour laws here in the states. I want to start my own business.
I had a call about an application I put in somewhere the other day; they're going to do interviews. The lady says, "you're from Canada right?". So I said, "yes I am". She then asks, "how old are you?". I was thrown for a loop and responded, "I'm old ENOUGH". I don't know if that's illegal here but I know it is in Canada. I was just floored.
QUOTE(Jeraly @ Jan 19 2008, 12:09 PM)
OMG she did that?! You mean you can't be white if you are from Canada?!?! Sounds like she had a screw loose
She probably thought only Eskimoes come from Canada.
that's crazy...even for for me as an american. it is illegal for any american company to ask those questions. i'm not even sure why that question was asked, but it should not have been allowed.
I've enjoyed reading this (I'm the USC), and after hearing some of the "normal" things in Canada - sounds like I should take another trip there.
Our SSNs used to be top secret - now we use it for EVERYTHING. And people wonder why we have so much identity theft....hmmmmmm...let me see....
My husband used to get mad when they'd call him Hispanic since he says he is not (which is true). I tell him it's the closest thing and that Americans don't know the difference.
Our SSNs used to be top secret - now we use it for EVERYTHING. And people wonder why we have so much identity theft....hmmmmmm...let me see....
My husband used to get mad when they'd call him Hispanic since he says he is not (which is true). I tell him it's the closest thing and that Americans don't know the difference.
QUOTE(Nessa @ Jan 23 2008, 01:48 PM)
- not having bakeries everywhere with fresh bread and yummy pastries
- not having people filling up the gas for me (i hate having to leave my car for that)
- not having alcohol at the same aisle as the beverages, I have to go to a different store for that
- having to see 1 doctor to get a referal to another doctor and having to wait months for the 1st appointment
- not being able to schedule my therapy weekly for several weird reasons
- pay taxes, the price you see on the product isn't the price you pay to the cashier
- clothing sizes, not being able to find my size cuz they just don't have more than 1 pair of pants that size (if they sell all size 2 on the day it arrives, just order twice as much instead of having a whole bunch of size 18 nobody buys)
- not being able to air the house by opening the windows cuz there's A/C and heating so we're always closed like in a prison
- trying to figure out how many gallons/mile when I'm used to liters/km
- no metric system
- even though i was causasian in brazil here they have a special race if you're white and not born in america but I still haven't figured out which one am I
- tipping everybody
- not finding a seamstress (we would find one every corner in Brazil) to fix my clothes and the one I found is highly expensive
- the absurdly high prices they charge for services that are cheap like manicure, pedicure
I could go on and on with weird things here
- not having people filling up the gas for me (i hate having to leave my car for that)
- not having alcohol at the same aisle as the beverages, I have to go to a different store for that
- having to see 1 doctor to get a referal to another doctor and having to wait months for the 1st appointment
- not being able to schedule my therapy weekly for several weird reasons
- pay taxes, the price you see on the product isn't the price you pay to the cashier
- clothing sizes, not being able to find my size cuz they just don't have more than 1 pair of pants that size (if they sell all size 2 on the day it arrives, just order twice as much instead of having a whole bunch of size 18 nobody buys)
- not being able to air the house by opening the windows cuz there's A/C and heating so we're always closed like in a prison
- trying to figure out how many gallons/mile when I'm used to liters/km
- no metric system
- even though i was causasian in brazil here they have a special race if you're white and not born in america but I still haven't figured out which one am I
- tipping everybody
- not finding a seamstress (we would find one every corner in Brazil) to fix my clothes and the one I found is highly expensive
- the absurdly high prices they charge for services that are cheap like manicure, pedicure
I could go on and on with weird things here
Really, besides the litre/gallon issues, etc. almost all of those problems you listed just come from you not living in a very big city. Also, you're white. We don't have a special race for foreigners; we actually do have an official government way of calculating race, and it's based on the country/ies you feel is/are most dominant in your ancestry. So you are officially white here.
Sales tax always gets me. Fortunately I've not been embarrassed yet as I've always paid by card...but I just know that one day I'm going to be using cash, and not have enough on me to cover sales tax.
QUOTE(La_Giovanni @ Jan 23 2008, 10:03 PM)
QUOTE(JoeCanuk @ Jan 19 2008, 11:13 AM)
QUOTE(Reba @ Jan 19 2008, 12:03 PM)
I recall having to put my race on our application for the marriage license, and many job applications also ask for race. In Canada, this is illegal. btw, I put "white" on the marriage license application, the lady behind the counter looked at my passport, scratched it out and put "Canadian" under the "Other" checkbox! We tried to explain the difference between nationality and race, and she would have none of it! *snarf*
Lots of labour laws (labor) in the US are a lot different than in Canada and take some getting used to.
We tried to explain the difference between nationality and race, and she would have none of it! *snarf*Lots of labour laws (labor) in the US are a lot different than in Canada and take some getting used to.
LOL I don't know how you didn't pass out laughing right in front of her.
Yeah, race is illegal in Canada. It should be here too. I think I better get up to snuff on labour laws here in the states. I want to start my own business.
I had a call about an application I put in somewhere the other day; they're going to do interviews. The lady says, "you're from Canada right?". So I said, "yes I am". She then asks, "how old are you?". I was thrown for a loop and responded, "I'm old ENOUGH". I don't know if that's illegal here but I know it is in Canada. I was just floored.
QUOTE(Jeraly @ Jan 19 2008, 12:09 PM)
OMG she did that?! You mean you can't be white if you are from Canada?!?! Sounds like she had a screw loose
She probably thought only Eskimoes come from Canada.
that's crazy...even for for me as an american. it is illegal for any american company to ask those questions. i'm not even sure why that question was asked, but it should not have been allowed.
Again, it is not illegal to ask the questions. You don't have to answer them.
QUOTE(athena_ny @ Jan 24 2008, 07:38 AM)
Again, it is not illegal to ask the questions. You don't have to answer them.
It is, however, illegal to ask most of these questions at a job interview. Questions such as age, race, ethnicity, religion, immigration status (although you can ask "are you legally allowed to work?"), gender (seriously!), country of origin (including where you were born), marital status, and disabilities are all illegal questions. The interviewer cannot ask these questions at all, even if they say "you don't have to answer that." Some of the answers may be obvious (e.g., the interviewee shows up in a wheelchair), and the interviewee can of course volunteer any information they want, but they can't be asked.
When we got married, the clerk put my husband's race into the computer as "Arab," without asking us, just because he is Moroccan. First, Arab is not a race. Second, my husband is not an Arab! Most forms we've seen that request race have people originating from MENA grouped as white, so that's usually what we go with, if we put anything at all. The whole race thing here has surprised my husband. There are people of every skin color in Morocco (a little girl in northern Morocco was mistaken for Madeleine McCann for a few days, and my husband was blond as a child) but he's not used to people being pigeonholed by skin color.
Some people are just beyond moronic status. I have a very good friend from Iceland who is incredibly white, almost albino looking and her husband is an American but his whole family is from India. So she's really pale and he's really dark. Then they to go to Immigration and the guy at the window was all confused about their forms, changed her as the petitioner and him as the beneficiary without asking. Once my friend's husband saw he went nuts. He kept saying "I'M the AMERICAN citizen, SHE'S the FOREIGNER!!!!" But the Immigration guy was just baffled and almost didn't get it. It's funny now when they tell the story but it sure wasn't funny back then.
Diana
Diana
QUOTE(Mononoke28 @ Jan 24 2008, 11:43 AM)
Some people are just beyond moronic status. I have a very good friend from Iceland who is incredibly white, almost albino looking and her husband is an American but his whole family is from India. So she's really pale and he's really dark. Then they to go to Immigration and the guy at the window was all confused about their forms, changed her as the petitioner and him as the beneficiary without asking. Once my friend's husband saw he went nuts. He kept saying "I'M the AMERICAN citizen, SHE'S the FOREIGNER!!!!" But the Immigration guy was just baffled and almost didn't get it. It's funny now when they tell the story but it sure wasn't funny back then.
Diana
Diana
I have no words.
That's so disgusting.
QUOTE(Mononoke28 @ Jan 23 2008, 04:36 PM)
I thought we were all considered Latinos since we come from Latin America, and that includes Brazilians as well. I'd much rather use that word than Hispanic, it makes more sense since it's based on geography and not "race".
Diana
Diana
well I have no problem with people calling me latina, after all, I'm from a latin country, it makes sense. I do have a problem with ignorant people trying to convince me I'm hispanic.
Hispanic
It now refers to the Spanish language, its speakers and its geographical distribution the same way Latin (Latino) refers to Romance languages in general. The corresponding term referring to Portuguese is Lusitanic.
QUOTE(Alex+R @ Jan 23 2008, 11:27 PM)
Really, besides the litre/gallon issues, etc. almost all of those problems you listed just come from you not living in a very big city.
maybe so, but then again, I can't find those things in Kansas City neither. And I know I have to get used to it cuz I'm not moving to any city like those in NY, FL, CA that has lots of brazilians and you can find lots of the same stuff you find in Brazil. Still, doesn't make them less weird to me. Same way I'm sure Charles would have an infinite list of weird stuff in Brazil specially if we went live in the interior, God forbid.
QUOTE(Nessa @ Jan 24 2008, 01:09 PM)
QUOTE(Mononoke28 @ Jan 23 2008, 04:36 PM)
I thought we were all considered Latinos since we come from Latin America, and that includes Brazilians as well. I'd much rather use that word than Hispanic, it makes more sense since it's based on geography and not "race".
Diana
Diana
well I have no problem with people calling me latina, after all, I'm from a latin country, it makes sense. I do have a problem with ignorant people trying to convince me I'm hispanic.
Hispanic
It now refers to the Spanish language, its speakers and its geographical distribution the same way Latin (Latino) refers to Romance languages in general. The corresponding term referring to Portuguese is Lusitanic.
QUOTE(Alex+R @ Jan 23 2008, 11:27 PM)
Really, besides the litre/gallon issues, etc. almost all of those problems you listed just come from you not living in a very big city.
maybe so, but then again, I can't find those things in Kansas City neither. And I know I have to get used to it cuz I'm not moving to any city like those in NY, FL, CA that has lots of brazilians and you can find lots of the same stuff you find in Brazil. Still, doesn't make them less weird to me. Same way I'm sure Charles would have an infinite list of weird stuff in Brazil specially if we went live in the interior, God forbid.
What is the problem with being hispanic anyways?
I love it.
QUOTE(Reynaldo @ Jan 24 2008, 02:09 PM)
QUOTE(Nessa @ Jan 24 2008, 01:09 PM)
QUOTE(Mononoke28 @ Jan 23 2008, 04:36 PM)
I thought we were all considered Latinos since we come from Latin America, and that includes Brazilians as well. I'd much rather use that word than Hispanic, it makes more sense since it's based on geography and not "race".
Diana
Diana
well I have no problem with people calling me latina, after all, I'm from a latin country, it makes sense. I do have a problem with ignorant people trying to convince me I'm hispanic.
Hispanic
It now refers to the Spanish language, its speakers and its geographical distribution the same way Latin (Latino) refers to Romance languages in general. The corresponding term referring to Portuguese is Lusitanic.
QUOTE(Alex+R @ Jan 23 2008, 11:27 PM)
Really, besides the litre/gallon issues, etc. almost all of those problems you listed just come from you not living in a very big city.
maybe so, but then again, I can't find those things in Kansas City neither. And I know I have to get used to it cuz I'm not moving to any city like those in NY, FL, CA that has lots of brazilians and you can find lots of the same stuff you find in Brazil. Still, doesn't make them less weird to me. Same way I'm sure Charles would have an infinite list of weird stuff in Brazil specially if we went live in the interior, God forbid.
What is the problem with being hispanic anyways?
I love it.
Nessa already detailed her reasons that she doesn't want to be referred to as Hispanic. What's the problem with someone feeling differently than you anyway?
QUOTE(Nessa @ Jan 24 2008, 01:09 PM)
QUOTE(Mononoke28 @ Jan 23 2008, 04:36 PM)
I thought we were all considered Latinos since we come from Latin America, and that includes Brazilians as well. I'd much rather use that word than Hispanic, it makes more sense since it's based on geography and not "race".
Diana
Diana
well I have no problem with people calling me latina, after all, I'm from a latin country, it makes sense. I do have a problem with ignorant people trying to convince me I'm hispanic.
Hispanic
It now refers to the Spanish language, its speakers and its geographical distribution the same way Latin (Latino) refers to Romance languages in general. The corresponding term referring to Portuguese is Lusitanic.
QUOTE(Alex+R @ Jan 23 2008, 11:27 PM)
Really, besides the litre/gallon issues, etc. almost all of those problems you listed just come from you not living in a very big city.
maybe so, but then again, I can't find those things in Kansas City neither. And I know I have to get used to it cuz I'm not moving to any city like those in NY, FL, CA that has lots of brazilians and you can find lots of the same stuff you find in Brazil. Still, doesn't make them less weird to me. Same way I'm sure Charles would have an infinite list of weird stuff in Brazil specially if we went live in the interior, God forbid.
I live near a rather large city in FL and I think you'd have the same issues you're having now - therapists are overbooked, and you can't schedule it weekly, no fresh breads and pastries on every corner, etc etc etc. The stuff is THERE but you do have to look for it. Obviously downtown Miami is a little different from the rest of the world, but even in downtown Tampa you have to look for stuff. The Peruvian and Colombian and Cuban and Brazilian restaurants tend to be a bit more hidden (other than La Teresita, which is Cuban, but meh they are the exception to the rule, I find).
But if you move to Florida (I know you aren't
) you'd find at least wine in the grocery store - and hard liquor is sold at one of the grocery stores, they just have to have a separate entrance to the "liquor store". When I moved here from NY, I found that so salacious. Now when I go visit my parents in NY, I spent a half hour looking for the wine aisle at the grocery store only to remember there is no wine at the grocery store.Regardless, big city or not, things are way different here. My husband is constantly telling me "well in my country...well in my country" and not in a bad way because while there are similarities at times, there are way more differences
QUOTE(athena_ny @ Jan 24 2008, 02:49 PM)
Nessa already detailed her reasons that she doesn't want to be referred to as Hispanic. What's the problem with someone feeling differently than you anyway?
It's a free country...
She has the right to be upset.
And I have the right to say that I think she is wrong for being upset...
QUOTE(Reynaldo @ Jan 24 2008, 03:00 PM)
QUOTE(athena_ny @ Jan 24 2008, 02:49 PM)
Nessa already detailed her reasons that she doesn't want to be referred to as Hispanic. What's the problem with someone feeling differently than you anyway?
It's a free country...
She has the right to be upset.
And I have the right to say that I think she is wrong for being upset...
And I have a right to say that I think you're wrong for saying she's wrong...?
QUOTE(athena_ny @ Jan 24 2008, 03:04 PM)
And I have a right to say that I think you're wrong for saying she's wrong...?
Sure...
What Brazilians fail to see is that we have a lot in common with all the other Latin-American country. The only thing we don't share is a common language.
I really don't mind being called a Latino, specially because we call ourselves Latin-Americans down there, why would it be different here?
I don't know if you share this with me or not, but outside of the US Brazilians are more isolated from the rest of Latin Americans than when we're here in the States. I know that when I meet someone from Brazil here we try to communicate by speaking slowly and have found a lot of similarities. I don't see them as not being another latino.
Diana
Diana
QUOTE(PlatyPius @ Jan 20 2008, 08:36 AM)
QUOTE(Anna C. @ Jan 19 2008, 02:29 PM)
-I never cross any race on any applications... It is not mandatory to cross a box, so we did not do it at all.
-The SSN thing is super weird, also background checks for work??? (you don't want a mass murderer working in the nursing home caring for your grandma do you?)
-I find it weird that health insurance is tied to work, and that doctors always want to perform 5 zillion tests that are obviously unnecessary just to make sure they won't get sued....its called liability. the u.s. is notorious for frivolous law suits (google the lady that sued mcdonalds for serving her hot coffee)
- Speed limits on highways! Terrible!
-The SSN thing is super weird, also background checks for work??? (you don't want a mass murderer working in the nursing home caring for your grandma do you?)
-I find it weird that health insurance is tied to work, and that doctors always want to perform 5 zillion tests that are obviously unnecessary just to make sure they won't get sued....its called liability. the u.s. is notorious for frivolous law suits (google the lady that sued mcdonalds for serving her hot coffee)
- Speed limits on highways! Terrible!
(how else will you know how fast to drive or how can the government regulate the traffice and the citizens obey, if it were not posted.)
Actually, it isn't just background checks for work....CREDIT checks also. If you have bad credit, they assume you'll steal money, or not be able to do your job properly, or something. For most jobs that I've had (contract) recently, I've had to have a credit check, background check, and drug test. These are just jobs moving computers around and/or fixing them.
Pay-At-the-Pump: This has been a godsend for me since it became common. I hate having to go into the store to pay. Mainly because I have no willpower and I'll buy stuff that I shouldn't. Also because I want to pay and get the hell out of there most of the time....I'm habitually late.
If a prospective employer requires your SSN, then they will probably be doing a background check. Of course, they have to make sure you're legal, too. That doesn't come until after they've made you an offer, though....
And asking race or age is illegal, unless it has the "voluntary" box around it. Of course, many employers throw the ones that aren't filled out in the trash.... we have a quota-system here, ya know. We have to have a certain percentage of men, of women, of whites, of blacks, of Latino, etc. It's a fun system.
the reasoning for employment "credit" checks has to do with the following, if you have bad credit, you have bad character. meaning you don't pay your bills, and you are not honorable. it has nothing to do with stealing, (at least not "theft" in the literal sense). it also verifies where you live and how long you've been at your current resident (i.e. the same address you put on your credit card application, oh say, 5 years ago, is most likely the same address you've put on your job application).
the background checks have to do with not hiring "crooks" or felons (what a joke, the people they should discriminate against they don't, look at Enron). and most jobs do not wait until they hire you to do this, they do it on an as needed basis, why do you think some people wait 2 weeks and still never hear anything concerning their job applications, its because as soon as you fill it out/in (depending on what is grammatical for you), they "run" your social security number and see all of those beautiful marks against you.
QUOTE(Udella&Wiz @ Jan 22 2008, 09:30 AM)
I am most offended by questions of race, age or sexual preference
SSN - had a question about race, optional, but still. I chose not to answer it
Marriage cert - race? Is this 1960 or what?
Dr's office - wanted my SSN...told them I didn't have it yet...what the hell do they need that for? Never asked for it in Canada
Dr's office - asked my sexual preference...wtf? My husband said, if you put homosexual, they would be concerned about AIDS
Sorry -each of these situations has made the hair on the back of my neck bristle......and also makes me jump to the conclusion that Americans are racist/ prejudice etc....
Not true of course...but I begin to wonder what's up. ...they need revisit some of these antiquated laws
SSN - had a question about race, optional, but still. I chose not to answer it
Marriage cert - race? Is this 1960 or what?
Dr's office - wanted my SSN...told them I didn't have it yet...what the hell do they need that for? Never asked for it in Canada
Dr's office - asked my sexual preference...wtf? My husband said, if you put homosexual, they would be concerned about AIDS
Sorry -each of these situations has made the hair on the back of my neck bristle......and also makes me jump to the conclusion that Americans are racist/ prejudice etc....
Not true of course...but I begin to wonder what's up. ...they need revisit some of these antiquated laws
the doctors office needed your s.s.# just in case your insurance doesn't cover everything and you chose not to pay the balace of your bill, it would go on your credit, negatively. and if a company has enough information about you, they can still obtain your s.s.#.
sexual preference = just because you are married, does not make you heterosexual, welcome to the U.s.A.
I suppose credit checks are useful if an employee has any responsibility for a budget. I suspect people who can't run their own personal finances do less well with someone elses.
QUOTE(Reynaldo @ Jan 24 2008, 03:10 PM)
QUOTE(athena_ny @ Jan 24 2008, 03:04 PM)
And I have a right to say that I think you're wrong for saying she's wrong...?
Sure...
What Brazilians fail to see is that we have a lot in common with all the other Latin-American country. The only thing we don't share is a common language.
I really don't mind being called a Latino, specially because we call ourselves Latin-Americans down there, why would it be different here?
I believe the word in question was Hispanic.
Well, the previous given definition of hispanic is true for all places but the US, and there's the root of the misunderstanding, and maybe shock if you are not from the US. From wikipedia:
Definitions in the USA
During the 1970s, the United States Government defined the term "Hispanic" to identify Latin American individuals, and their descendants, living in the U.S., regardless of race.[4]
The ethnic label Hispanic was the result of efforts by a New Mexican U.S. Senator, Joseph Montoya, who wanted a label that could be used to quantify the Spanish-speaking population for the US Census. The label Hispanic was chosen in part because in New Mexico, people of Spanish descent such as Montoya referred to themselves as hispanos which was anglicized as "Hispanic".
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget currently defines "Hispanic or Latino" as "a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race".[5]
I feel weird too with the term hispanic. Argentina census shows that 86.4% to 97% of the population is european descendant (source)
(I'm 3/4 spanish, 1/4 italian). I always considered myself white
But, I'd still rather not be labeled. race is such a weird label at that. I'm not hispanic or white, I'm 100% Caro
Saludos,
Caro
Definitions in the USA
During the 1970s, the United States Government defined the term "Hispanic" to identify Latin American individuals, and their descendants, living in the U.S., regardless of race.[4]
The ethnic label Hispanic was the result of efforts by a New Mexican U.S. Senator, Joseph Montoya, who wanted a label that could be used to quantify the Spanish-speaking population for the US Census. The label Hispanic was chosen in part because in New Mexico, people of Spanish descent such as Montoya referred to themselves as hispanos which was anglicized as "Hispanic".
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget currently defines "Hispanic or Latino" as "a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race".[5]
I feel weird too with the term hispanic. Argentina census shows that 86.4% to 97% of the population is european descendant (source)
(I'm 3/4 spanish, 1/4 italian). I always considered myself white
But, I'd still rather not be labeled. race is such a weird label at that. I'm not hispanic or white, I'm 100% Caro
Saludos,
Caro
QUOTE
I am finding some things very strange here that I am not used to
They have driveup everything here,you barly need to get out of the car for anything.
If they had drive through supermarkets I bet the people would love it here LOL
QUOTE(DakotaK1 @ Jan 24 2008, 05:14 PM)
QUOTE
I am finding some things very strange here that I am not used to
They have driveup everything here,you barly need to get out of the car for anything.
If they had drive through supermarkets I bet the people would love it here LOL
yaeh, they even have drive thru pharmacies
QUOTE(athena_ny @ Jan 24 2008, 07:21 PM)
I believe the word in question was Hispanic.
Does it really matter?
Bad credit score does not always mean bad character... It can mean that someone had a hard time recently in which they were unemployed or underemployed and couldnt pay their bills. It happens to good people too. Bad credit is very easy to get, and extremely difficult (and lengthy) to repair. And often no credit is seen as the same as bad credit which isn't fair either.
QUOTE(de_sjiem @ Jan 24 2008, 11:48 PM)
Bad credit score does not always mean bad character... It can mean that someone had a hard time recently in which they were unemployed or underemployed and couldnt pay their bills. It happens to good people too. Bad credit is very easy to get, and extremely difficult (and lengthy) to repair. And often no credit is seen as the same as bad credit which isn't fair either.
I know that, I was merely explaining what/why employers perform certain screening activities and how the results are interpreted by employers. What it can mean "only applies to a persons peers," how it is interpreted by employers and used as a judgement criteria is at the descretion of a potential employer. And don't think an employer wont ask you "could you please explain such and such descrepancy on your credit record?". Some government jobs, as well as high end dept. stores will not higher you based upon your credit score.
QUOTE(JVKn @ Jan 24 2008, 07:47 PM)
Well, the previous given definition of hispanic is true for all places but the US, and there's the root of the misunderstanding, and maybe shock if you are not from the US. From wikipedia:
Definitions in the USA
During the 1970s, the United States Government defined the term "Hispanic" to identify Latin American individuals, and their descendants, living in the U.S., regardless of race.[4]
The ethnic label Hispanic was the result of efforts by a New Mexican U.S. Senator, Joseph Montoya, who wanted a label that could be used to quantify the Spanish-speaking population for the US Census. The label Hispanic was chosen in part because in New Mexico, people of Spanish descent such as Montoya referred to themselves as hispanos which was anglicized as "Hispanic".
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget currently defines "Hispanic or Latino" as "a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race".[5]
I feel weird too with the term hispanic. Argentina census shows that 86.4% to 97% of the population is european descendant (source)
(I'm 3/4 spanish, 1/4 italian). I always considered myself white
But, I'd still rather not be labeled. race is such a weird label at that. I'm not hispanic or white, I'm 100% Caro
Saludos,
Caro
Definitions in the USA
During the 1970s, the United States Government defined the term "Hispanic" to identify Latin American individuals, and their descendants, living in the U.S., regardless of race.[4]
The ethnic label Hispanic was the result of efforts by a New Mexican U.S. Senator, Joseph Montoya, who wanted a label that could be used to quantify the Spanish-speaking population for the US Census. The label Hispanic was chosen in part because in New Mexico, people of Spanish descent such as Montoya referred to themselves as hispanos which was anglicized as "Hispanic".
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget currently defines "Hispanic or Latino" as "a person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race".[5]
I feel weird too with the term hispanic. Argentina census shows that 86.4% to 97% of the population is european descendant (source)
(I'm 3/4 spanish, 1/4 italian). I always considered myself white
But, I'd still rather not be labeled. race is such a weird label at that. I'm not hispanic or white, I'm 100% Caro
Saludos,
Caro
And THAT is exactly the reason *I* have a problem with it. It came into popularity only so we could further marginalize people.
QUOTE(Reynaldo @ Jan 24 2008, 10:16 PM)
QUOTE(athena_ny @ Jan 24 2008, 07:21 PM)
I believe the word in question was Hispanic.
Does it really matter?
Yes. There is a difference between the two (as we've discussed, Latino/a encompasses more people), and a lot of people prefer one over the other.
QUOTE(Jeraly @ Jan 20 2008, 09:52 AM)
Sounds like I am lucky - Jeremy gets med insurance through work and when we get married I am entitled to his insurance as well - he has good benefits with his job even if it is just in a fast food restaurant 
I think we will struggle to get by at first but things will even out
And yeah - I can't believe the two weeks holiday thing either - I think it is disgusting!! Will defo be looking at teaching jobs over there I would love to set up my own business that can eventually justify employing people with decent wages, holidays etc Who knows what lies in store for me?!?!?!
I think we will struggle to get by at first but things will even out And yeah - I can't believe the two weeks holiday thing either - I think it is disgusting!! Will defo be looking at teaching jobs over there
I would love to set up my own business that can eventually justify employing people with decent wages, holidays etc Who knows what lies in store for me?!?!?!I "get" insurance thru work as well. But I have to pay $400+ for premiums per month for me and my husband. If I only had to pay for myself, my premiums would only be about $70 per month or so. And my deductible would only be $500. For the two of us however, the deductible is $1500, so we still pay for every doctor visit until we've paid the deductible. Having to pay for doctor visits is foreign to me, I never had to in Canada (except for "alternative care" like chiropractor or accupuncture, which was only partly covered by provincial plans). I'd have a whole lot more money every month to keep up with bills if I didn't have to pay so much for insurance and still have to pay for doctor visits I tell ya!
You may want to get your husband to check and find out how much it'll be to add you to his insurance. With most employer subsidised packages it costs a few hundred dollars per month to add a spouse.
As to the race questions prominent on a lot of US forms (employment, marriage licenses, bank accounts, etc etc) it is strange to us foreigners because in our countries it is illegal to even ASK those questions on a form, whether or not its optional to answer it. Just the fact that its even there is strange to us. Which is after the all the title of the thread. We're not used to seeing it, so therefore we posted it here.
QUOTE(Reba @ Jan 26 2008, 10:24 AM)
QUOTE(Jeraly @ Jan 20 2008, 09:52 AM)
Sounds like I am lucky - Jeremy gets med insurance through work and when we get married I am entitled to his insurance as well - he has good benefits with his job even if it is just in a fast food restaurant I think we will struggle to get by at first but things will even out
And yeah - I can't believe the two weeks holiday thing either - I think it is disgusting!! Will defo be looking at teaching jobs over there I would love to set up my own business that can eventually justify employing people with decent wages, holidays etc Who knows what lies in store for me?!?!?!
I think we will struggle to get by at first but things will even out And yeah - I can't believe the two weeks holiday thing either - I think it is disgusting!! Will defo be looking at teaching jobs over there
I would love to set up my own business that can eventually justify employing people with decent wages, holidays etc Who knows what lies in store for me?!?!?!As to the race questions prominent on a lot of US forms (employment, marriage licenses, bank accounts, etc etc) it is strange to us foreigners because in our countries it is illegal to even ASK those questions on a form, whether or not its optional to answer it. Just the fact that its even there is strange to us. Which is after the all the title of the thread. We're not used to seeing it, so therefore we posted it here.
Understandable. I know I just wanted people to know they didn't have to answer if it made them uncomfortable.
well you know america wants equal right for all races and as the canadians said it should be illegal to even ask that question it shouldnt matter. but with the discriminations that goes on in america it is there. alot of appl. are just round filed because of that part of appl.
QUOTE(athena_ny @ Jan 26 2008, 10:47 AM)
QUOTE(Reba @ Jan 26 2008, 10:24 AM)
QUOTE(Jeraly @ Jan 20 2008, 09:52 AM)
Sounds like I am lucky - Jeremy gets med insurance through work and when we get married I am entitled to his insurance as well - he has good benefits with his job even if it is just in a fast food restaurant I think we will struggle to get by at first but things will even out
And yeah - I can't believe the two weeks holiday thing either - I think it is disgusting!! Will defo be looking at teaching jobs over there I would love to set up my own business that can eventually justify employing people with decent wages, holidays etc Who knows what lies in store for me?!?!?!
I think we will struggle to get by at first but things will even out And yeah - I can't believe the two weeks holiday thing either - I think it is disgusting!! Will defo be looking at teaching jobs over there
I would love to set up my own business that can eventually justify employing people with decent wages, holidays etc Who knows what lies in store for me?!?!?!As to the race questions prominent on a lot of US forms (employment, marriage licenses, bank accounts, etc etc) it is strange to us foreigners because in our countries it is illegal to even ASK those questions on a form, whether or not its optional to answer it. Just the fact that its even there is strange to us. Which is after the all the title of the thread. We're not used to seeing it, so therefore we posted it here.
Understandable. I know I just wanted people to know they didn't have to answer if it made them uncomfortable.
Answering it isn't what makes me uncomfortable. The fact that they ask it is what makes me uncomfortable.
QUOTE(JoeCanuk @ Jan 28 2008, 09:00 PM)
QUOTE(athena_ny @ Jan 26 2008, 10:47 AM)
QUOTE(Reba @ Jan 26 2008, 10:24 AM)
QUOTE(Jeraly @ Jan 20 2008, 09:52 AM)
Sounds like I am lucky - Jeremy gets med insurance through work and when we get married I am entitled to his insurance as well - he has good benefits with his job even if it is just in a fast food restaurant I think we will struggle to get by at first but things will even out
And yeah - I can't believe the two weeks holiday thing either - I think it is disgusting!! Will defo be looking at teaching jobs over there I would love to set up my own business that can eventually justify employing people with decent wages, holidays etc Who knows what lies in store for me?!?!?!
I think we will struggle to get by at first but things will even out And yeah - I can't believe the two weeks holiday thing either - I think it is disgusting!! Will defo be looking at teaching jobs over there
I would love to set up my own business that can eventually justify employing people with decent wages, holidays etc Who knows what lies in store for me?!?!?!As to the race questions prominent on a lot of US forms (employment, marriage licenses, bank accounts, etc etc) it is strange to us foreigners because in our countries it is illegal to even ASK those questions on a form, whether or not its optional to answer it. Just the fact that its even there is strange to us. Which is after the all the title of the thread. We're not used to seeing it, so therefore we posted it here.
Understandable. I know I just wanted people to know they didn't have to answer if it made them uncomfortable.
Answering it isn't what makes me uncomfortable. The fact that they ask it is what makes me uncomfortable.
So ignore it. Maybe it'll make you more comfortable.
Oh, health care in the United States....don't get me started .
.
QUOTE(athena_ny @ Jan 29 2008, 03:21 AM)
QUOTE(JoeCanuk @ Jan 28 2008, 09:00 PM)
Answering it isn't what makes me uncomfortable. The fact that they ask it is what makes me uncomfortable.
So ignore it. Maybe it'll make you more comfortable.
I know what you mean, Joe... and I don't think that's the answer, athena
I think part of it is, if you're used to things like that being big no-nos, you just get uncomfortable anyway, but then there's the personal reaction of 'WHY is this important?!' and if it verges on racism, then ignoring it won't do anything, just like in general conversation...
mind you, an implication of the recent anti-Age Discrimination law here in the UK is that you can no longer advertise (or give, as far as I know) bonus holiday for longer service
some things just go too far...
QUOTE(bora bora @ Jan 28 2008, 08:25 PM)
Oh, health care in the United States....don't get me started .
.It is the best health care in the world that money can buy, you just have to have the money! That is what pisses you off.
as far as the Gas pumping and the sales tax, come to Oregon we have no sales tax and we do not have self serve gas. You sit in your car give the guy your credit card and in a min. he gives it back. Then when he is done he puts the nozzle back and away you go.
Yeah - Oregon *does* have sales tax, it is just included in the shelf price - so if something says $2.99 then that's what you pay - it was brilliant when we went up to visit Jeremy's family!!
Of course the only thing putting me off moving up to OR is the fact that Jeremy's family live there
And will defo have to check on the med insurance thing
Of course the only thing putting me off moving up to OR is the fact that Jeremy's family live there
And will defo have to check on the med insurance thing
QUOTE(MarilynP @ Jan 24 2008, 09:18 PM)
QUOTE(DakotaK1 @ Jan 24 2008, 05:14 PM)
QUOTE
I am finding some things very strange here that I am not used to
They have driveup everything here,you barly need to get out of the car for anything.
If they had drive through supermarkets I bet the people would love it here LOL
yaeh, they even have drive thru pharmacies
The other day I even came across a Drive-Thru Gas Station. Whatever next?
QUOTE(Emancipation @ Jan 22 2008, 08:02 AM)
You need to move to New Jersey.. Full Service is the law.. no self serve there at all!!
I LOVE NJ!! I am from NJ and my mom came out to Chicago with me to look for apartments. Neither one of us had ever pumped gas before (I lived in the UK for last 6 years with no car - She always had my dad do it out of state). We just stood at the gas station asking people.
Can you help us pump gas? We are from NJ and don't know how to do it!! People thought we were nuts!
Haha - that is pretty funny
QUOTE(pucklechurch @ Jan 29 2008, 04:08 AM)
QUOTE(MarilynP @ Jan 24 2008, 09:18 PM)
QUOTE(DakotaK1 @ Jan 24 2008, 05:14 PM)
QUOTE
I am finding some things very strange here that I am not used to
They have driveup everything here,you barly need to get out of the car for anything.
If they had drive through supermarkets I bet the people would love it here LOL
yaeh, they even have drive thru pharmacies
The other day I even came across a Drive-Thru Gas Station. Whatever next?
No Kidding!
I still have a hard time getting used to the many windows that don't open!
QUOTE(Converse34 @ Jan 29 2008, 05:01 AM)
QUOTE(Emancipation @ Jan 22 2008, 08:02 AM)
You need to move to New Jersey.. Full Service is the law.. no self serve there at all!!
I LOVE NJ!! I am from NJ and my mom came out to Chicago with me to look for apartments. Neither one of us had ever pumped gas before (I lived in the UK for last 6 years with no car - She always had my dad do it out of state). We just stood at the gas station asking people.
Can you help us pump gas? We are from NJ and don't know how to do it!! People thought we were nuts!
I did the same thing once in Seattle. The clerk behind the counter tried to say that I already got my gas because I messed it up the first time with no gas pumped. I had to get a little "strong" with the gentleman to get the pump turned back on. Then once in Idaho I tried it outside with the credit card and pumped only 1 penny worth of gas and had to swipe the credit card again.
We pay income taxes and property taxes, no sales tax in Oregon. They have tried some 23 times or so to get a sales tax approved on the ballot, only to be resoundingly defeated each and every time. I am not saying income tax is better though. It's just the way it is. So better not add another tax we would end up like California, and that would be a real tragedy!
The soda fountain free refills are only a gimmick to get you to come to their fast food establishment. It was driven by competition, it did not used to be that way, back in the 70's only one soda. But in the 80's once one fast food outlet started it all the others had to follow suit. You do not have to drink it. I drink only water.
The pay before you pump is weird. James laughed himself silly the first (and only) time I ever put (or tried) "petrol" in the truck (Ute)
Sizes of clothing has me stumped most of the time. I now take a list of my measurements with me and ask if this looks about right before trying on clothes.
How unsafe using a credit card is here. I have yet for anyone to even check the signature on my card let alone see if it is even my card. Im horrified that so often, you can just hand a card over, any card and it is ok.
Different family members, going to the shops will ask if anyone needs anything and anyone who does will give over their card. In both Australia and New Zealand, When the receipt is signed, you check the name and the signature. If it does not match in any way, you ask for ID and make a note on the receipt. If you still have concerns you ph the hotline and get approval for the transaction. No wonder there is so much CC fraud here.
The refills at fast food places, I still feel uncomfortable with that, it does feel like stealing.
Paying for healthcare. Thankfully James company has a great plan for both of us.
The short holidays given and less public holidays.
Sizes of clothing has me stumped most of the time. I now take a list of my measurements with me and ask if this looks about right before trying on clothes.
How unsafe using a credit card is here. I have yet for anyone to even check the signature on my card let alone see if it is even my card. Im horrified that so often, you can just hand a card over, any card and it is ok.
Different family members, going to the shops will ask if anyone needs anything and anyone who does will give over their card. In both Australia and New Zealand, When the receipt is signed, you check the name and the signature. If it does not match in any way, you ask for ID and make a note on the receipt. If you still have concerns you ph the hotline and get approval for the transaction. No wonder there is so much CC fraud here.
The refills at fast food places, I still feel uncomfortable with that, it does feel like stealing.
Paying for healthcare. Thankfully James company has a great plan for both of us.
The short holidays given and less public holidays.
Kim - you'd find New Zealand has changed a bit since you left. It now seems far more like the USA.
We have pay before you pump petrol as a result of the petrol prices going up so much and people driving off without paying. Only one gas company has put in the creditcard swipe pumps though (which I love, I hate lining up inside to pay first).
All the fast food places are installing drink machines in the restaurants now, to let people do refills. NZ is like a mini USA, thankfully healthcare is still subsidised but the waiting lists for any type of surgery are atrocious.
We have pay before you pump petrol as a result of the petrol prices going up so much and people driving off without paying. Only one gas company has put in the creditcard swipe pumps though (which I love, I hate lining up inside to pay first).
All the fast food places are installing drink machines in the restaurants now, to let people do refills. NZ is like a mini USA, thankfully healthcare is still subsidised but the waiting lists for any type of surgery are atrocious.
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