I've had good luck speaking French in Italy, too. The real surprise was the time a man working in a bank explained something to me, in Italian, and I understood him. I try not to think about it too much.
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The Discount Hunters (With bonus irritants)
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Quoth Ironclad Alibi View PostTurned out the clerk also spoke French, and they had a short, delightful conversation in French."English is the result of Norman men-at-arms attempting to pick up Saxon barmaids and is no more legitimate than any of the other results."
- H. Beam Piper
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My first Spanish word I ever learned was "puta".
Yeah, don't think I don't know what that word means.
Though, we have one very, very authentic Mexican restaurant close by where I live, and it's so funny that when I go there with my brother for drinks, they say "Hola Muchachos", but if I go there with my boyfriend or parents, it's "Hola Amigos!"
I see quite a few of the servers from there at the gym. They don't know a lot of English but at least they never called me a puta. Whew.You really need to see a neurologist. - Wagegoth
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Quoth Evandril View PostTo the ones demanding you speak Spanish, you can remind them you can go most places in the world and find people who can speak English, ALL Air Traffic Controllers and Pilots are required to speak it for example. Spanish...Notsomuch
Had a run-in with a "use our language" type in Montreal. Canada has 2 official languages, English and French. Montreal is in Quebec, a province that has French only as its official language (although Montreal has more english-speakers than other parts of the province). English translations are in red.
I was in the (left) exit lane of a major highway, and I saw a truck creeping along in the leftmost travel lane with its blinker on, obviously trying to get into the exit lane (Montreal traffic is really bad), a few lengths behind me. I grabbed the CB microphone and asked "Blue Kenworth, you got it on?" (pretty standard way of asking if someone is listening to their CB). Got a response back (don't know if it was him or someone else) "C'est le Quebec, parle Francais!"This is Quebec, speak French!. My response to that was "Blue Kenworth, if you can understand English, this is Arquebus Motor Freight a couple lengths ahead of you - come on in front of me. Si tu comprend seulement le Francais, bonne chance changer les voies!If you only understand French, good luck changing lanes!". He immediately accelerated and pulled in front of me - I guess getting where he wanted to go counted for more than the use of his preferred language.Any fool can piss on the floor. It takes a talented SC to shit on the ceiling.
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If it hasn't yet been said... don't forget #5 - those who speak perfect (or at least good-enough) English, but feign that they don't in order to wear the cashier down in getting discounts.
as seen by the scowls and cat-butt-face that results when you or a cowoker come up and start speaking to them in their own language.
Yeah, don't think I don't know what that word means.Last edited by PepperElf; 04-21-2012, 08:49 PM.
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Quoth wolfie View PostHad a run-in with a "use our language" type in Montreal. Canada has 2 official languages, English and French. Montreal is in Quebec, a province that has French only as its official language (although Montreal has more english-speakers than other parts of the province)."I don't have to be petty. The Universe does that for me."
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< I like it when in Montreal doing the tourist thing to be the typical american and be polite but speak only english and badly mispronounce s'il vous plait and merci and such so I can listen in on conversations >
That being confessed, when I am in Europe I tend to try and learn at least the basic politnesses in the language of whatever country we are in. I tend to get one of the tourist phrasebooks, it tends to make it easier to deal with the locals if it is obvious that I am trying to be polite and muddle along in whatever language is local.EVE Online: 99% of the time you sit around waiting for something to happen, but that 1% of action is what hooks people like crack, you don't get interviewed by the BBC for a WoW raid.
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Years ago when I went overseas to UK for a vacation, people kept telling me I was crazy. For traveling alone. For going overseas. For going to a foreign country. I just replied, "look. I can go to the Embassy. Or a cop on the street, they speak English like I do! It wouldn't be so easy for me if I was in France!"
because anything latin based..I suck at.In my heart, in my soul, I'm a woman for rock & roll.
She's as fast as slugs on barbituates.
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Quoth Eireann View PostThe real surprise was the time a man working in a bank explained something to me, in Italian, and I understood him. I try not to think about it too much.I'm bringing disdain back...with a vengeance.
Oh, and your tool box called...you got out again.
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Quoth Der Cute View PostYears ago when I went overseas to UK for a vacation, people kept telling me I was crazy. For traveling alone. For going overseas. For going to a foreign country. I just replied, "look. I can go to the Embassy. Or a cop on the street, they speak English like I do! It wouldn't be so easy for me if I was in France!"
because anything latin based..I suck at.
Madness takes it's toll....
Please have exact change ready.
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Quoth Merriweather View PostWell, you can communicate, but not everything is at it seems. I have 9 years worth of funny stories involving American vs. English
One time in Paris my mom and I helped a German tourist. I spoke to the gendarme and then to my mom, she spoke to the German tourist and to me. A but kludgy, but it workedEVE Online: 99% of the time you sit around waiting for something to happen, but that 1% of action is what hooks people like crack, you don't get interviewed by the BBC for a WoW raid.
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