Way off topic, but it has do to with the French

Dan wrote in
:

On Mar 11, 11:01 am, Bertie the Bunyip wrote:
Dan wrote
innews:c0b81167-79ba-4aaf-b759-846832052424
@n36g2000hse.googlegroups.c
om:



On Mar 10, 10:47 pm, "Jay Honeck" wrote:
If Joe tries first to speak spanish (or german, or french, or...
etc) even if he fails
misserably, that will be seen as an ice breaker and he'll be
able to continue
in english if needed. Most europeans speak decent english in
turist cities, and
a lot even in more remote places.

When I travel abroad and my size and demeanor label me as an
American (that's tall, not wide).

As soon as I begin speaking French, the barriers dissolve and the
welcomes begin.

It's sad, in a way, but understandable. I've silently witnessed the
"Tourists" coming in and acting like asses.

I think if we stop all tourism departing from NY we'll solve 75% of
the problem.

Nah, americans are as amateurs compared to the Brits. They are, hands
donw, far and away, the worst tourists who ever lived. Americans ma
be a bit clueless, but they're actually ( and I'm generalising here)
abit more in awe of local culture even if they don;t like it. The
brits will throw a union jack over whatever it is they find, rename
it and start serving fish and chips. They're currently on a "****
over france" binge. Their med resorts are simply appaling. I wandered
into one in Corfu a few years ago and it had to be seen to be
believed. The Greeks wisely tiled every public place in the town
(Kavos) so they could hose them down after they were finished.

Bertie

Bertie

LOL.. now that's funny.

Read Daniel Boorstin's "The Image" and you'll never be the same again.

I'm never the same from one minute to the next.


Bertie