They speak French in France.
An American tourist who took a trip to France was left in tears as she said she felt “isolated” during her trip, despite wearing a pink beret.
I’m surprised and disappointed. After all, all the French wear berets, don’t they? Maybe she should have worn a striped top as well, you know, go the whole Breton fisherman or onion seller look.
Unfortunately, Angela did not have the best experience and even told her followers she wouldn’t recommend visiting the city to anyone else who doesn’t speak French.
Damn those frogs! Speaking French in France. Outrageous.
Among other problems she had with the “City of Love” were her unsuccessful attempts to find an open restaurant on New Year’s Eve and her criticisms of McDonald’s for also closing to customers.
Les vacances are taken seriously in France. They don’t like opening on Mondays very much, either. You just get used to it and do in France as the French do.
People make you feel bad for not knowing their culture or speaking their language.
Try speaking very loudly and slowly to them in English. I’m told that works.
I even bought a French hat.
Which made no difference whatsoever. Well, I’m blowed.
Don’t you travel to other countries to experience their cultures?
No. If you are an influencer, you go to make content for your social media presence.
And embarrass yourself for the whole interwebs to see.
“Try speaking very loudly and slowly to them in English. I’m told that works.”
Naughty! ??
Don’t forget the exaggerated mimeing. With an ‘Ello, ‘Ello accent.
Funnily enough, if you have even basic tourist French, they are far more willing to accommodate you and meet you halfway, even discovering that they do, in fact, understand at least some English. This is even true of Parisian waiters, a notoriously stiff necked breed; the secret is to be seen to make the attempt. May not work for gobby dickheads or Americans (some overlap here)
That’s always been my experience.
Worked for me too. I just said ‘Parle Anglais’, using my dreadful Aussie accent, and I had no trouble.
My less than basic French was tested by a waiter at a fairly posh hotel near Sophia Antipolis when he suggested the menu item was scampi so I ordered pommes frites to go with it.
He looked pretty disdainful at the order, but chips and grilled king prawn skewers still worked for me.
They could meet halfway and speak franglais perhaps?
Ou en Franglais, Ils could parler dans l’language de Franglais et gettez through la way peut etre? C’est dead easy, non?
Or would that not work either? (And yes, I am refrring back to the Punch magazines of yesteryear and being sarcastic, for those that have zero sense of humour).
Or just be Black and speak Ebonics!
The frogs will be too scared to displease you!
I wonder if she speaks Chinese…
Why would anyone pay to go to France?
Surely they should pay you?
I lived there for two years. Due to personal reasons, we had to come back, but I loved it. Gorgeous countryside, decent weather and fantastic motorcycling roads. Oh, and cheese…
There are more British cheeses than French cheeses.
(Apparently. I read it somewhere, probably the Cheese Marketing Board or something like that. :_) )
Well, I visit regularly for the weather and street markets. My brother in law has a decent place. It’s also a chance to stock up my wine storage with a few cheap cases of vintages you can’t get over in Oirland and to enjoy a different way of life for a week or three. Spirits are also two thirds of the price and even the supermarket food is pretty good. a visit to the local Carrefour was quite the eye opener.
The roads are not too bad either.
I remember going to a chemist in Calais once and asking for ‘Un film pour mon camera’, and the gentleman at the counter delightfully understood and obliged!
My daughter has never let me forget it…
The last time my parents were in Paris, my dad’s feet started playing up from all the walking. Now, he was pretty darned fluent and had even been taken as one of their own by the natives on occasion, but he really struggled to describe to the chemist what he wanted. Eventually the penny dropped: “Ah! Le Vaseline!” Trade name. He said he’d never felt so stupid in all his life.
Please, give the “tourist” some credit – after all, she has been brave enough to leave the safety of the USA and explore a foreign country!
The NAR website often has stories about Americans being parochial idiots, often followed in the comments by other Americans saying please believe us we’re not all like that. This gem is a recent example.
Two tickets to (Movie), please. I love this movie! It’s my fourth time seeing it!”
Me: “Wow, you must really like it. That’s (total), please.”
Customer: “Jim Caviezel is so handsome! How many times have you seen it?”
Me: “I haven’t actually seen it.”
Customer: “But it’s been out for a week! You have to see it! It’s practically un-American to not see it!”
Me: “But, I’m not American.”
Customer: *Gasps* “You’re not?!”
Me: “No, I’m from Denmark.”
Customer: “But… you’re white!”
Me: “Yes, most people from Denmark are white.”
Customer: “I thought white people only come from America.”
Me: “Uh… actually, Europe is the continent that’s mostly ethnically white.”
Customer: “Europe? Like New England?”
Me: “Like France, Italy, Spain…”
Customer: “I thought Spain was full of Mexicans?”
Me: “Enjoy the movie, ma’am.”