Can someone tell me the truth about Miami?? What is it Really like!!! (Miami Beach: construction, school)

[Daniel_T]

Originally Posted by burgler09

enjoy miami! no more worrying, i just made your decision for you. now get out of that desert and enjoy life here

I think I have made my choice. Miami is where I want to come. I won't find out what kind of Financial aid I will get until Mid June which is really going to determine whether or not I'll be able to come. Hope it works out!!

[somebodymiami]

Originally Posted by Daniel_T

I don't speak spanish which I know is not a good thing to not do in Miami. I could do a service type job if I had too. I work for a library now, but will be starting college as a transfer student.

honestly you dont need to speak Spanish to get around miami, its only if you need to find a job. i don't speak Spanish and most of my friends from school dont like speaking it either. cause they believe you should speak english in the U.S

[Leovigildo]

They should speak the language that the employer wants them to speak. Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, whatever. Now I live in Spain and if you don't speak at least 3 languages, you are out.

Spanish had a similar attitude to foreign languages that many Americans. For many Spanish was the only valid language in Spain. "The language of the Empire". Until not long ago, English was considered a "heathenish" gibberish spoken by heretics.

Of course, such a frame of mind was idiotic and suicidal.

Now there are four official languages and English, not French, is taught in every school. Some are learning Chinese, Russian, whatever the market requires.


I guess that for those Americans, speaking Spanish amounts to "bowing their heads to invaders". Quite curious for newcomers that descend (some) from illegal settlers in a Spanish province.

[Leovigildo]

Daniel

I attended that Junior College many years ago.
Are you referring to MDCC Downtown Campus?
Somebody here pointed an area around Coral Way.
I believe it was around Coral Way and 35 avenue.
Such an area is very near your college and you can walk to many places.

[Daniel_T]

Originally Posted by Leovigildo

Daniel

I attended that Junior College many years ago.
Are you referring to MDCC Downtown Campus?
Somebody here pointed an area around Coral Way.
I believe it was around Coral Way and 35 avenue.
Such an area is very near your college and you can walk to many places.

yesbut now it is called the wolfson campus

[flyers29]

Originally Posted by Leovigildo

They should speak the language that the employer wants them to speak. Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, whatever. Now I live in Spain and if you don't speak at least 3 languages, you are out.

Spanish had a similar attitude to foreign languages that many Americans. For many Spanish was the only valid language in Spain. "The language of the Empire". Until not long ago, English was considered a "heathenish" gibberish spoken by heretics.

Of course, such a frame of mind was idiotic and suicidal.

Now there are four official languages and English, not French, is taught in every school. Some are learning Chinese, Russian, whatever the market requires.


I guess that for those Americans, speaking Spanish amounts to "bowing their heads to invaders". Quite curious for newcomers that descend (some) from illegal settlers in a Spanish province.

It makes sense in some industries, but it's much different when you "need" to speak Spanish because no one at the Burger King IN THE UNITED STATES speaks English. Not our fault that the world's lingua franca happens to be English.

[cesar79]

Originally Posted by Daniel_T

I have always wanted to move to Miami and am considering just packing up and moving there to go to college. All I ever hear though is that Miami is dirty, trashed, and full of crime. I never really hear and good about the city and would like to get both sides of the story.

In your opinion, can you tell me both good and bad things about Miami. is the crime really that bad? Is the city really so dirty? I'd like to get somewhat of a clear picture as to what Miami and environs is like! Thanks,

Hey, if you are one of those guys that can't wait to leave your hometown Miami is the place for you. If you are going to college in Miami (just college) be ready to study and party, the when you leave miami you will start your life. Miami is very clean (there are bad and dirty hoods, you will find out about that later on) is one of the "hottest" cities in the world. I moved out Miami, because is not a good place to raise a family. (I made an excellent choice, now I live in the midwest). Crime, yes a lot. sometimes your "friends" are going to be your enemies. If you are a youg man who like to live a clean life, graet for you, just be carefull, living in miami and driving a BMW, MB, ACURA or one of those does not mean their are clean guys (i am talking about people you are going to meet in college). Just good luck if you are a clean guy, if not welcome to first day of the end of your life.

[Leovigildo]

Flyers

Well, what the heck, Spanish is the "lingua franca" in Miami.

There you go again, in the UNITED STATES....

There's no official language in the UNITED STATES. The business of America is business and the language of business in Miami is Spanish.

There are no sacrosanct rights tied to a language, that's all Fascist and Nacionalistic mumble jumbo to get us killed.

We have exactly the same discussion here, our language is Catalan and local "politicos" always declare that "Catalan is the language of the land", "the language of our culture", "the language we speak since the 9th Century...blah, blah...

Of course, pure nonsense.

The language of the streets here is Spanish, were are packed with Spanish migrants and they are a majority. What are we to do, kill them? Force them to speak Catalan, just like they do now?

You can't fight it.

People will always talk the language they need.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by burgler09

Why do you say that? From what I've heard Cartagena is one of the most beautiful cities. haha Cartagena is one of the cities on my list, we'll see

Mine too. I spent 10 months in South America...and bypassed Colombia - ran out of time, and accumulated too much debt from trying to live/work in South America...but missing Cartagena was one of my biggest regrets. I plan to go back to South America specifically to SEE Cartagena, Colombia!

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by Leovigildo

They should speak the language that the employer wants them to speak. Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, whatever. Now I live in Spain and if you don't speak at least 3 languages, you are out.

Spanish had a similar attitude to foreign languages that many Americans. For many Spanish was the only valid language in Spain. "The language of the Empire". Until not long ago, English was considered a "heathenish" gibberish spoken by heretics.

Of course, such a frame of mind was idiotic and suicidal.

Now there are four official languages and English, not French, is taught in every school. Some are learning Chinese, Russian, whatever the market requires.


I guess that for those Americans, speaking Spanish amounts to "bowing their heads to invaders". Quite curious for newcomers that descend (some) from illegal settlers in a Spanish province.

Agree about the language thing. I've taught English in a few places in the world, and English is necessary for many people. As they study English, they get exposed to another culture that is different from their own, and become more knowledgeable and informed about the world.

When I see my own American countrymen from the U.S., they are some of the most insular almost paranoid frightened people in the world.

To me, as a white American, learning another language as essential as Spanish is very important. No matter what, the United States WILL become a nation that is familiar with two languages and that is a GOOD thing. It is almost essential.

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However, I'm gonna disagree about the SPAIN part...I lived in Spain and studied for a MA degree there...and the mass majority of people in Spain ONLY speak Spanish. They also are quite racist against the Chinese - burning down Chinese shoe factories and the like as they were competing too well against local shoe factories.

Maybe your employer is in Barcelona though...which would speak a different language to itself, would know Spanish as well, and more connected France, etc. as well and rejects the 'traditional' stuck in their way ways of the more monolingual Spanish speakers of Spain.

There are kind of TWO Spains...the Spanish-only speaking Spain...and then all of the more forward-thinking 'other' Spains who actually have a different native first language than Spanish.