Native Spanish speakers breaking language barriers for city businesses
Every day on the streets of Georgetown, Cuban shoppers can be seen carting along garbage bags full of clothing and other items. They wade in and out of stores, mainly along Regent and Robb streets, and travel in groups, both large and small. Very few of them speak English, and so transacting business usually proves difficult—though not impossible—for both shopper and salesperson. But the local proprietors are adapting.
Many have long moved passed mere gesticulation and dependency on the calculator display as a means of communicating with their Cuban shoppers. They are now hiring Spanish speakers, and more often than not, those being hired are Cubans themselves.
The signs are there—strat gically placed in the store win dows, or scotch taped to th walls and doors of the estab lishments. They are also clea Spanish salesmen and wome are in high demand.
“Wanted. Sales girls o boys [Speaking Spanish],” on reads. “Se solicita Cubano says another, and “Se solici una mujer y un hombre par trabajar.”
Electronics store Gizmo and Gadgets has boldly di played on its window a sig reading, “Hablamos Espanol an announcement that the sta there speaks Spanish, an hence, can provide service t Spanish speaking customers.
Sophia Dolphin, a manag at Gizmos and Gadgets, sa that the Cubans usually com into the store in large batche with around 20 to 25 comin