Yesterday I took my 93 year old Mother to a local medical center for an appointment. The facility robot called and asked us to confirm appointment, and then directed us to a patient portal to check in online. Both the robot and portal ask if an - interpreter was needed? No. That was a mistake. I assumed the interpreter service was meant for our non speaking English visitors/migrants. No - almost everybody at facility: patients, staff were non English speakers. We (Mom and I) were the minority and the interpreter/translator service was offered to the few people like us left in this area who still only speak English. Today she has another appointment. I have requested a translator so we can speak to our health care provider and fellow patients. Isn't this a great country, where else would they do that?
While we don't technically have an official language, I feel everyone should at least know the language that the laws of our land are written in.
