Sunday, October 4, 2009

I have Mexican accent

I get a call two weeks ago by a women that have trouble with her computer, and somebody gave her my contact to fix it. After 20 min. phone interview while I was stacked on the Bay Bridge she agrees to hire me. She asked me about my background and experience, would I be able to fix it, price etc, I gave her low price as she explained to me that even she live in Kensington, she is not rich. I agree to go there two days later, after what she give me detailed instructions how to get there, but as she was explaining to two years old. I didn't get the thing at the moment.
Two days later I am at her door and ring the bell. When she came out she was all surprised
"You are blond!, I suppose there are blond people in Mexico" (????)
"I am not from Mexico"
"Sorry, I meant South America" (Mexico its in North America)
"I am not from South America"
"Sorry again, where are you from?"
"Macedonia"
"Where is that?"
"South East Europe, Balkan, just north of Greece"
"Nice, so your first language is Greek" (C'mon)
"No, its Macedonian, part of Slavic group of languages"
"Ooooo, Russian, nice I worked with lot of your people"
"My people, I consider all humans my people"
"I meant Russians"
"I am not Russian"
"I thought you told me you are Slavic"
"Yes, Slavic, but not Russian"
"That is OK" (What is OK?)
"I am fine with that"

Than during the time I was fixing the computer.
"You know, I was working as a teacher for accent reduction"
"Nice"
"I worked with lot of "your" people, "you" are so smart but people doesn't take you seriously because of your accent, so lot of "you" ask for this service" (your people, very smart, I need alcohol to be able to laugh to this)
"I like my accent, and if I need to change it I will practice British accent" (just to tease her)
"No, in US you have to have American accent to be successful" (c'mon)
"Maybe one day I will work on it"
"You should"
"And what is your full name, Antony?"
"No its a Toni, with i at the end"
"Why not Antony?"
"Because Antony is British name, if I had long name from Toni it would be Antonio"
"You know, you should change your name"
"Why!"
"Because when you told me your name its Tony, and with accent I was thinking you are Mexican, and I would not hire you"
"Why?"
"You know Mexicans are not good with technology, but if I knew it you are Russian I wouldn't think about it"
"My accent sounds Mexican?"
"Yes"
"OK, I don't mind, I believe that people should hire me for my abilities, not my name or ethnicity"
"Yes but that first step its difficult, I think with Antony will be easier"
"No, I like my name its fine"
The rest of conversation was how good she is in accent reduction and that now because of economy she lost her job, and that in bad economy high educated people like her first suffer. And also that she moved to California because she is open minded and likes the diversity! (but she still wouldn't hire Mexicans!!!)
C"MON!!!!!!!
She should not have a job ever!!!