Quote:
Originally Posted by skysidhe
lol, funny imagery. How is that done?
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She's serious, sidhe. Paris is just a skip across the Channel for us (well, there's a bit of France in the way, but not too much trouble) so it's a popular British destination.
I should say from the outset that I admire the French enormously. The trouble is that (along with most of mainland Europe) they have a chip on their shoulder from being invaded so constantly and so recently. 1066 here last count - ha!
So they are incredibly protective of their language, and don't like anyone to mangle it. They also like to show off their education (this is in fact justified - I spent a month in France aged 16 and was impressed with the school I attended). In Spain or Italy, the wily stallholder/ shopkeeper will try to determine the customer's nationality to make them feel at home. In Paris, the same will speak English to you with a weary air, and continue to address you in English even when you struggle on in French.
It's different in the provinces. I was supposed to be practising my French in France, but like any teenager I would have loved an easy option. However the small (heart stoppingly beautiful) village I was billeted in had my number very quickly. French all the way - except once to explain taking back a deposit bottle, when I understood the language but not the concept.