Tempted to ask strangers 'where they are really from?' Here's why you shouldn't

[usedtobedemgurl]

21. I have this many times over....

for me it is to find out where they are from so I can either thank them in their language (if I know it already) or if I do not know their language I will then proceed to ask by saying, "I like to show people respect my thanking them in their native language. Would you please teach me how to say thank you in your language?" After they teach me I put it on my note pad so I can remember for the next time.

Many good things have come from this practice. My kids were chosen as ambassador for the day at China Epcot since they thanked the employees by saying "Shay Shay". Hope I got the spelling right but it is the respect that counts, right? Anyway, they were brought up in front of a big group of people and introduced and they taught the audience how to say thank you in Chinese.

One a cruise ship a restaurant manager rushed over to introduce himself and asked what part of Malaysia I was from. He explained that my server told him I was visiting from Malaysia. I said I had never been. He was puzzled and said I said thank you so well that the server was sure I was from there.

A Korean man who worked in a nail salon was so impressed that I thanked him in his native language that he rushed over to give me a discount card.

When I was in L.A. I thanked our Chinese waiter in his native language and he actually asked if he could hug me.

I guess I run in the same circles over and over since I only know 15 different languages to thank people in (or languages overlap in many countries). I taught my kids that this was a very important thing to do. I thought it was very cute when they said they knew how to say thank you in Canada. I told them of course I knew because I am from there. I told them 'thank you' or merci. They said no and that it was, "Thank you, eh?" I love my kids!