Posted on 01/19/2024 5:12:45 PM PST by yesthatjallen
Brushing up on language and customs might be worth looking into when visiting a foreign country.
An American TikToker named Angela, known by her social media handle RealPHDFoodie, found that out the hard way after a trek to France didn’t go well, despite her efforts to fit in with the community.
In a recent TikTok video entitled ‘France made me cry,’ Angela travelled to Lyon, France, her first stop in an eight-city solo trek across Europe. A tearful, beret-wearing Angela said she didn’t recommend visiting Lyon if you don’t speak French.
Despite her hat choice, Angela said she couldn’t fit in.
“It’s my first time visiting. To be honest the experience is very isolating,” Angela said, per the Daily Mail. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful city … it has a lot to see and do and discover. But I don’t recommend it for a solo traveller or for someone who doesn’t speak French because it’s a very isolating experience.”
The food and travel influencer described the locals as “very indifferent,” noting she had no problem meeting and socializing with others in Germany and Italy. But in France, people “make you feel bad for not knowing their culture or speaking their language.”
“I haven’t really met anybody here and I’ve been here for five or six days now,” she said. “I almost feel stupid for coming here and spending money. I even bought a French hat. I’m here to learn and explore but the experience is just … I don’t really like it.”
SNIP
(Excerpt) Read more at canoe.com ...
She felt “isolated”.
It has been my experience that, in that specific situation, you are only as isolated as you allow yourself to be.
I have spent plenty of time in places I didn’t know the language or culture, but it was a given that because of that...you are going to be “isolated”.
And then, what you do with that is your job.
I just accepted I didn’t know much, and adjusted things accordingly.
This is just weak to whine about that. You can whine about having the runs, hating the food, disliking the people, but...whining in that situation about feeling “isolated”...
On a Trip to France.
So where was RealPHDFoodie’s mama and papa? A serious question.
Been to France several times, never had any issues, even in Paris, a little French does go a long way. If you act like the typical entitled Ugly American, though, you won’t do well.
They’re not a very friendly group, the French.
Note to self...never ever vacay in a place I don’t know the language.
We’ve come a long way from the boys who landed on Normandy beach.
I remember my Euro trip. Everyone in France were very nice... except in Paris.
She has a face that could sink a thousand ships.
and wow how they are addicted to it too- Reporting on everythign they do as though the world is just waiting for them to announce what they did 5 minutes ago- The future doesn’t look promising-
France has never been accepting of languages other than French.
“The trick is you just have to try to speak French. And then look confused when they talk too fast. Then they’ll appreciate you at least made an effort and switch to English.”
lotta truth to that!
I agree with you completely.
We pulled into Brest back in 1976, and when we went ashore, we had to wear our uniforms, which was pretty rare in those days. Those people did not like us there at all. I remember passing an older couple on the sidewalk, and I understood the meaning of a “black look”.
I admit, I don’t know what in particular engendered that reception. It seemed more than the stereotypical gaullic disdain for anything non-French. I wondered if there was anything lingering from the WWII that, not being French, I might not have known about.
When I used to go ashore, sometimes I would go with a big group of guys, but sometimes, I just went alone, and tried to go as far away from the ship as I could in a day. Sometimes walking. Sometimes taking a bus or a cab.
Because I didn’t know the language in most cases, I would carry around a little paper pad and a pen, and communicate with that if sign language couldn’t do it.
And I found people responded quite positively if you made an attempt at their language no matter how poorly, and switched right to drawing a little picture. You could make yourself understood quite well.
LOL, I remember going up to Quebec for the 1987 Winter Carnival and we had tickets to the Soviet Hockey Team versus the NHL All Stars. So, we rented a camper and drove up. First morning in Quebec, we go to a McDonalds. I made every effort to make my order in the most tortured, fumbling effort at French for about 15 seconds when the kid cut in: “I can speak English.”
I got the distinct impression he was enjoying watching me struggle to get out “two eggs” in French. But he did save me, if only to save himself some time.
And being in a foreign country where I don’t speak the language, well...I may have felt lonely, homesick, or depressed, but I don’t get the isolation. To me, it would be like going in the ocean and complaining that it is wet.
I went to France three times while deployed with the Marines. We had a great time every time. We acted polite, humble and only wanted to go where the beer was cheap. We got drunk with French Foreign Legionaries, French paratroopers, French sailors, blue collar guys and had the time of our lives. Traded cigarette lighters, told sea stories and bought each other beer and cheap wine. Oh yeah, those guys didn’t like the French elite either.
I’m guessing she never heard the jokes about how the French treat the non-French. One of those translation devices might’ve helped.
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