Surely it’s a misunderstanding and it has nothing to do with his politics? He’s MAGA in case anyone was wondering, a huge Trump defender. Anyway, whenever I tell Grandpa (who I live with) that I want to see the world or go to Germany or Norway on a school trip, or see Norway when I get older with my dad perhaps, he says “Why can’t you just stay here?” or “Why can’t you visit this country first?”
Then he goes on about how people speak English in America and in Germany and Norway, they speak other languages when I want to learn another language. I want to be fluent in my second and heritage language Norwegian and in German, which I will hopefully become a polyglot in English, Spanish, German, Norwegian and Toki Pona by 2029.
Also, I’ve told him that I know several monolingual English speakers who went to other non-English speaking countries like Mexico, but he still won’t listen and help me save up. (I don’t have a job yet and I’m only 15).
Not only this, as much as I love him due to him being family, I don’t love his views. He doesn’t really like immigrants due to his thinking they all can’t speak English. If they speak accented English, he still tells them to “speak English”. Maybe he doesn’t want to “BECOME the immigrant” (in quotes, because well… we’re not Native). Also, I will forever not understand people’s hatred towards immigrants and their desire to embrace their home culture in a better country.
The speak English to those that speak with an accent can come about because some people have a very hard time with accents. Especially as they get older. My mom has a very hard time understanding a someone from the Middle East who is speaking English. It’s not that she is racist it’s that’s she older and her ears are wearing out. My dad is the same way. My mom is more patient when dealing with people who have a strong accent. My dad… less so.
I worked with my dad and got him to understand that it’s not that they aren’t speaking English… it’s that they have a strong accent. I at least got him to stop saying “speak English “ . It’s a small step.
My point is: talk to your grandpa and see if he has a hard time understanding the accent.
The rest of it, ask why he doesn’t like travel. Is he afraid of crime or what is it. Maybe you can show him the truth