3 ms·
>I used to live in Paris, and recall a Parisien almost shrivel with embarrassment when approached by an American shouting "Hey buddy! Where's the Loove?" (in En
by nobody9999 3y ago
>I used to live in Paris, and recall a Parisien almost shrivel with embarrassment when approached by an American shouting "Hey buddy! Where's the Loove?" (in English). Had the guy asked quietly "excusem moir Monsewer, je ne parl pas francias, but could you please tell me the way to the Loove",
As an American, when I visited Paris, I had many interactions just as you described (not the loud shouting in English, but the kindness of Parisians despite my ignorance of their language), and my experience there made it my favorite European city and one I will hopefully return to again and again.
And even those who didn't speak English were patient with me as I tried (not always successfully) to parse their French. It was a humbling experience and one that helped me to fall in love with Paris.
- jjgreen 3y agoIt is glorious, must get back there ... The English kind-of fall in the middle in terms of informality, less informal than the Americans so don't freak-out the French, and not so alarmed by Americans: quite a nice place to be (culturally). Don't get me wrong, I like American informality, the first time you meet an American they'll invite you back to their house and tell you all about their family; the French wouldn't dream of doing that, "Suppose our house is much smaller than theirs, they would be embarrassed, or much larger, and they'd think we're showing off", but once you've known them for 6 months or a year they will, and then you're a friend for life.