I believe that languages can connect and isolate people.
One day, sometime in the middle of October, my mom and I went to a frozen yogurt shop called “Yopop”. It was quiet, as usual, with just the hum of the machines and smell of frozen yogurt filling the air. I filled up my cup with the flavors I usually get, and put on the toppings. I put my cup onto the scale, and my mom attempted to make conversation with the cashier, as she normally does. But this time was different, as it wasn’t the usual cashier, neither the young girl or the older woman, this time it was an older man. He was quiet, and didn’t initiate a conversation, so my mom asked him where he was from, he replied proudly, and said he was from Korea. My mom asked how long he had been here, and he said about eight months. She then inquired if he liked it here, and he replied with a frown and the shake of his head, “No,” he said, “I prefer my country. My son is at the university,” he motioned with his hand behind him, “I am staying until he is finished.” Time passed, my yogurt slightly melted. I stood there quietly while the two talked, wondering if his son would stay and he would go back home, or if the two would go back together. My mom then said cheerfully, “Have a nice day!” and the man looked at her with confusion. My mom explained the phrase piece by piece, yet the cashier gave her a blank look, she then proceeded, and somewhat succeeded, with teaching him the phrase. She turned to me and asked me if I knew how to say have a nice day in Korean, which I did not. I squished up my face and mumbled, “Well… not exactly… I… uh… know how to say thank you, though,” looking down at my feet. My mom turned back and smiled at the man, I thought that she could’ve pulled out her phone and googled how to say it. The battle between languages continued until another customer wandered into the store, so it went on for a few minutes. My mom said, “Good night!” or another farewell to the man. I smiled an awkward smile, and the man leaned over the counter and smiled, “You too.” We walked out of the store and to the car, and I began eating my frozen yogurt. I thought about the wall of language that was dividing us from the man. If we had been able to communicate with him in Korean, would that have made him happy? He was the only one in the store all alone, in a country he wasn’t too fond of. I don’t want people to be in the position of the man, nor my mom and I. I want everyone to be connected somehow, this is why I believe that languages have the ability to connect or isolate people.
2 Comments
Pipes
11/7/2017 08:29:36 pm
I loved this Essay, it really connected with me. Honestly, it makes me think about how hard it would be to move to another country and not know the language at all! Good job with tying this whole essay together, I really enjoyed it!
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