Paris Field Trip - Page 2

Ibby · 03-08-2007, 01:22 AM

The only french I know is whats in the phrasebook...

xoxoxoBruce · 03-08-2007, 11:57 AM

Just remember, "Combien pour toute la nuit", "Combien pour circuler le monde", and "Combien pour le condoms".

skysidhe · 03-08-2007, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibram

I leave for Paris on the 16th.

I'm excited.

I may have a bit of semi-free time while I'm there - What should I try to go see that wouldnt be on the normal itenerary? Besides Morrison, that is.

yay you!

So what is your itenerary Ibram?

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster

don't let them bully you into speaking English.

lol, funny imagery. How is that done?

Sundae · 03-09-2007, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skysidhe

lol, funny imagery. How is that done?

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.

Ibby · 03-13-2007, 08:37 PM

Got the itenerary today.

Day 1: Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees, Place de la Concorde, Jardin des Tuileries, Place Vendome, and Palais Garnier Opera House

Day 2: Louvre, Ile de la Cite, Sainte Chapelle, boat tour of Seine

Day 3: Catacombes, Centre Pompidou, Notre Dame, Left Bank, Latin Quarter, Eiffel at night.

Day 4: out of townish, Chateau Chambord and Blois.

Day 5: Musee d'Orsay, Hotel des Invalides, Musee Rodin

Day 6: Versailles, Musees du Parfum

Day 7: Montmartre, Place du Tertre, Shoppiong, dinner and movie on the Champs Elysees

monster · 03-13-2007, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

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 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.

Bingo. Couldn't have put it better myself. The Parisiens particularly like to show how sophisticated their English is, and also have little patience for the stumbling French of foreigners. An interesting thing I learned was that French people who go abroad to teach French are often from the South, and Foreigners who want to be French teachers tend to spend most of their "in-country" time in south, so many foreigners speak French with an "inferior' Southern accent! my French certainly has a southern accent. When I was 11, the Parisiens refused to speak French to me. When I was 16, a newspaper vendor asked me what I thought about the rail crash that had occurred near the southern French town my teacher was from

KGZotU · 03-13-2007, 11:17 PM

The only words you need to know in French: "Je voudrais" Then just point and pay. Intone friendliness and a very moderate embarrassment.

I took a couple of years of French, though that was several years before I actually went to France. People in general were extremely courteous, aside from a rail worker or two. Luckily I didn't need to communicate anything too complicated in Paris, except for train tickets and they had an English speaking window there. Unless you're in a similar situation, I understand you're just going to get ire for trying English in Paris.

Funny story. Near the French-Italian border the rail station signs are all in French and Italian. On the other side they're in Italian and English. (; I was strangely self satisfied seeing that.

--Joe

Ibby · 03-15-2007, 06:16 AM

21 hours.

Griff · 03-15-2007, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibram

Got the itenerary today.

Day 1: Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees, Place de la Concorde, Jardin des Tuileries, Place Vendome, and Palais Garnier Opera House

Day 2: Louvre, Ile de la Cite, Sainte Chapelle, boat tour of Seine

Day 3: Catacombes, Centre Pompidou, Notre Dame, Left Bank, Latin Quarter, Eiffel at night.

Day 4: out of townish, Chateau Chambord and Blois.

Day 5: Musee d'Orsay, Hotel des Invalides, Musee Rodin

Day 6: Versailles, Musees du Parfum

Day 7: Montmartre, Place du Tertre, Shoppiong, dinner and movie on the Champs Elysees

ho hum

xoxoxoBruce · 03-15-2007, 06:59 AM

Le Crazy Horse de Paris.

KGZotU · 03-15-2007, 09:08 AM

Oh yeah, my other great French tip was if you're in a real bind, use English words that sound like they came from French, and say them with a French accent.

Example:
reservation -> réservation

After long enough in Europe, you realize that they're all just using weird English words with crazy accents.

Have fun.

Ibby · 03-15-2007, 09:22 AM

Yeah, I kinda figured out the 'speak english kinda with an accent' bit from the lonely planet guide.

barefoot serpent · 03-15-2007, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KGZotU

Oh yeah, my other great French tip was if you're in a real bind, use English words that sound like they came from French, and say them with a French accent.

Example:
reservation -> réservation

After long enough in Europe, you realize that they're all just using weird English words with crazy accents.

Have fun.

wee-wee! Franglais

Ibby · 03-15-2007, 09:58 AM

Ees? Ooh ees it?

Quick - who knows how to say 'hampster', 'smelt', and 'elderberries' in french?

Ibby · 03-15-2007, 09:59 AM

seventeen hours.

03-08-2007, 01:22 AM	#16
Ibby erika Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: "the high up north" Posts: 6,127	The only french I know is whats in the phrasebook... __________________ not really back, you didn't see me, i was never here shhhhhh

03-08-2007, 11:57 AM	#17
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Just remember, "Combien pour toute la nuit", "Combien pour circuler le monde", and "Combien pour le condoms". __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

03-13-2007, 08:37 PM	#20
Ibby erika Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: "the high up north" Posts: 6,127	Got the itenerary today. Day 1: Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysees, Place de la Concorde, Jardin des Tuileries, Place Vendome, and Palais Garnier Opera House Day 2: Louvre, Ile de la Cite, Sainte Chapelle, boat tour of Seine Day 3: Catacombes, Centre Pompidou, Notre Dame, Left Bank, Latin Quarter, Eiffel at night. Day 4: out of townish, Chateau Chambord and Blois. Day 5: Musee d'Orsay, Hotel des Invalides, Musee Rodin Day 6: Versailles, Musees du Parfum Day 7: Montmartre, Place du Tertre, Shoppiong, dinner and movie on the Champs Elysees __________________ not really back, you didn't see me, i was never here shhhhhh

03-13-2007, 11:17 PM	#22
KGZotU Vivacious Vivisectionist Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 36	The only words you need to know in French: "Je voudrais" Then just point and pay. Intone friendliness and a very moderate embarrassment. I took a couple of years of French, though that was several years before I actually went to France. People in general were extremely courteous, aside from a rail worker or two. Luckily I didn't need to communicate anything too complicated in Paris, except for train tickets and they had an English speaking window there. Unless you're in a similar situation, I understand you're just going to get ire for trying English in Paris. Funny story. Near the French-Italian border the rail station signs are all in French and Italian. On the other side they're in Italian and English. (; I was strangely self satisfied seeing that. --Joe __________________ "An extended limb is a broken limb."

03-15-2007, 06:16 AM	#23
Ibby erika Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: "the high up north" Posts: 6,127	21 hours. __________________ not really back, you didn't see me, i was never here shhhhhh

03-15-2007, 06:59 AM	#25
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Le Crazy Horse de Paris. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

03-15-2007, 09:08 AM	#26
KGZotU Vivacious Vivisectionist Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 36	Oh yeah, my other great French tip was if you're in a real bind, use English words that sound like they came from French, and say them with a French accent. Example: reservation -> réservation After long enough in Europe, you realize that they're all just using weird English words with crazy accents. Have fun. __________________ "An extended limb is a broken limb."

03-15-2007, 09:22 AM	#27
Ibby erika Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: "the high up north" Posts: 6,127	Yeah, I kinda figured out the 'speak english kinda with an accent' bit from the lonely planet guide. __________________ not really back, you didn't see me, i was never here shhhhhh

03-15-2007, 09:58 AM	#29
Ibby erika Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: "the high up north" Posts: 6,127	Ees? Ooh ees it? Quick - who knows how to say 'hampster', 'smelt', and 'elderberries' in french? __________________ not really back, you didn't see me, i was never here shhhhhh

03-15-2007, 09:59 AM	#30
Ibby erika Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: "the high up north" Posts: 6,127	seventeen hours. __________________ not really back, you didn't see me, i was never here shhhhhh

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