When Esperanza was expanding into Esperanza International John was conducting a meeting involving the California Board, the Tijuana Board. At the time John’s provincial from Canada was visiting and attended the meeting. John was smoothly running the meeting going from English to Spanish with pauses in between to translate what was happening into French for his provincial. At one point in the meeting John was presenting some information to the Anglo group when everyone in the group looked very confused. Someone in the group finally asked John to stop. He now looked confused and asked what the problem was. The answer was simple, “We can’t understand what you are saying”. “Why not?” ask John. The group responded, “Because you are not speaking English!” John then got a puzzled look on his face and asked, “What language am I speaking?” Collectively the group responded “FRENCH”. “Oh” said John and he smoothly switch to English.
Patti Lynn
