Well, to be perfectly honest...
Posted by P. Bingham on March 03, 1998 at 23:44:12:
In response to Oh, they admit it to each other..., written by Marie Bernadette on March 03, 1998 at 17:34:48
The first time I was in Paris, I needed to mail a package for a friend. My French was o.k. but I was too self-conscious to speak it. So I asked in English, first asking if the person spoke it, where the nearest post office was. I was consistently sent in the wrong direction, completely opposite mind you, or was told they didn't speak English (which was a lie, most French (in Paris anyway) speak better English than we do!). Finally, realizing I was getting nowhere, I tried asking in French, suddenly finding that the French were very willing to help me, and were kind enough not to laugh. I was told that the post office was closed because it was a Sunday! I had only two days to have fun in Paris and I spent one day of it looking for a closed post office! I did learn a very good lesson, though. Don't assume that everybody speaks English, even if they do! It is disrespectful!
Patricia
- My mother had a similar experience in Québec (nfm) Marie Bernadette 10:51:22 3/04/98
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- It always amazes me Caroline 19:21:19 3/04/98
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- "What's a nice girl like you doing with a name like that?" or... Marie Bernadette 00:48:53 3/05/98
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- "What's a nice girl like you doing with a name like that?" or... Marie Bernadette 00:48:53 3/05/98
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- It always amazes me Caroline 19:21:19 3/04/98
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