I just arrived in Miami (a little detour before my senior year starts at Boston University). To my greatest surprise, the first words I heard were in Spanish… and so were the second and the third.
The staff at the airport greeted me in Spanish and so did the lady at the road toll, every street sign is translated both in English and Spanish, and apparently there are only Spanish radio channels in the car. Everyone just assumes that you speak Spanish! Luckily, I do, but how strange must it feel like to the Americans who don’t?
It sounds funny, but it seems that English is like a second language here.
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September 2, 2011 at 7:24 pm
Katley
South Florida was settled by the Cubans after Castro took power in 1959. Many of them left the country, settled in Miami, and outnumbered the English speaking residents. That is why everyone speaks Spanish.
My mom lives near Orlando, and that part of Florida is bilingual, but not as much as Miami. Many Puerto Ricans moved down there from New York to retire (my parents, for example).
Florida was first settled by the Spanish in the early 1500’s and they left their legacy all over the state, in place names and a fortress in the city of St. Augustine, Castillo de San Marcos.
Enjoy your stay in Florida! It’s wicked hot this time of year, but there is a lot to see and the beaches are beautiful.