Cheryl J
techmanSometimes the small things make the biggest difference
July 19th 2009 13:52
Some people really restore my faith in the good in people. I work in a large office block and each evening a cleaning crew comes in to make the offices all shiny and clean for the following day.
A couple of months ago, a lovely Thai lady started cleaning on my floor. She could barely say hello and goodbye but she always had a beaming smile and tried hard to communicate. So each day we would try and say something new. Just a few words seemed to make her very happy.
A little time has passed now and she can speak, and understand, a little more English each week. We are now speaking in full sentences and if she stumbles I help her find the word.
Last week this wonderful woman came and told me how much it meant to her to talk to me each day as it's the only time she gets to practice English as everyone at home only speaks Thai. She said she had missed our chats while I was on holiday and then she did the most wonderful thing - to say thank you she had cooked me dinner for the evening and brought it to the office.
It was such a touching gesture. I really hadn't realised how much she had perceived our little chats were helping her. I was just speaking with her because she is a lovely friendly person.
Now I'm hoping to find some Thai to English spoken lessons I can load onto a small MP3 player so she can listen and practice while she works.
If anyone has any idea where I could get something like this I'd be truly grateful. It would have to be beginners English as she is still struggling with the basics but she tries so very hard. I'd like to do something nice for her just like she did for me. I won't cook her anything because I actually like her!
Sometimes we don't even realise that we are making a difference in people's lives just by being friendly. Many people look right through cleaning staff as if they are part of the furniture. Their jobs are just as important as anyone else's. So always smile at the people who clean your office, or the person at the checkout at the supermarket or anyone we don't give a thought to that we come across in our daily lives. They might be having a bad day and a smile might just make their day better. Plus it's free to give!
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Comment by Natalina
My Life My Muse
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It really is true that sometimes the littlest things that seem inconsequential make the biggest impact on people.
Comment by Waysouth
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Comment by Jason King
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Our cleaners are great at work - they don't speak much English but because I am always first person at work they always wave and say a big hello. There is one lady who is probably just turned 20 and she learns her English from her Ipod - she cracks me up - in an empty cinema belting out Pink tunes in broken English.
I just searched Google.
Type something in like "MP3 English to Thai Lessons" or other way around - plenty there, maybe add "Free" to the search and you maybe able to download something.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
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Great lilttle yarn!
Try Babelfish it's been a godsend to me.
Call me old - but one song immediately came to mind when I read your piece this morning see below.
Comment by Deanna B
I see there's another Deanna B on Orble. Just want to point out it isn't me.
Comment by Kristin Wolgemuth
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Comment by Dianna G
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Fictional Worlds
A very touching story. Interestingly enough, my great-grandmother was a cleaning lady when they moved to Canada, and she spoke German. Over time she learned English, but it's very true that cleaning staff are treated like furniture.
~Dianna
Comment by Cheryl J
Rhythmatism
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It's nice to think you can make a big difference with such a small action.
Comment by Janet Collins
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Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Lovely message, very sweet.
One of our cleaning ladies actually is helping a friend of mine, our HR advisor, with her Spanish, which is a bit rusty!
Michaelie
Comment by Cheryl J
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Budget Centsability