We took my mom out for breakfast to our local IHOP last weekend. All was fine and dandy until the waitress decided to inform me that the kitchen confused my order such that my seafood omelet would be delayed.
The waitress came to our table and then looked at the husband, who had earlier given the waitress all of our orders while mom and I were busy chatting. She glanced at me and then switched back to Jeff. "Does she speak English?" she asked, referring to me.
I guess, somehow something about me said "I do not speak English." Or was it maybe my earlier chatter in Arabic with mom? Oh well!
Aghhhh.. That makes me wonder.. What would she have lost if she had asked you first? What exactly? I mean if infact you did not speak English, all she would have had to don is repeat the question to your husband maybe. But people just make assumptions based on whatever…
I have been in your situation a couple of times, and I grew up in the south. And I am not a very pleasant nor patient person, but as someone stated earlier, you get used to it, and more importantly you need to make the best out of it. In similar situations, I said “Are you actually asking him/her whether I can speak English? Yes dear, I can. Now, can we please go ahead and order? I’m starved”..
My favorite is when people first meet me after hearing i’m from Jordan. They come up to me, shake my hand really slow, and then slowly mouth and loudly pronounce the words “Hi, NICE TO MEETTTT YOOOOOUUUUU, MY NAME IS JOHN”. Cuz somehow saying i’m from Jordan, qulifies me as hearing impaired and or mentally challenged.