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Pastimes : A CENTURY OF LIONS/THE 20TH CENTURY TOP 100 -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Neocon who wrote (1825)	11/18/1999 2:53:00 PM
From: Michael M	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3246

Butinski warning! While using the local language (beyond, "Toilette?") makes travel hugely more rewarding in most places, I have found this minimally true in France, esp. in Paris. I have seen good non-native French speakers totally blown off by the locals too many times. The approach that works best for me -- a very friendly greeting in French followed by asking (in French) if the person would prefer if I use French or English. At this point the native nearly always breaks into English -- completely satisfied that I have admitted to being the dumb shit in the exchange. IMO, the absolute worst way to start any exchange in a foreign country is....."Do you speak English." "May I speak English" puts the onus of being stupid on you, not the local and greatly increases the possibility of friendly cooperation. By all means, though - brush up on languages as time permits. Footnote: A pal and I rode the rails from Baden Baden to Paris one afternoon about ten years ago. Shared a compartment with an 88-year-old Frenchwoman - elegant, charming and a total delight for four or five hours. She began by offering us some cookies. By the time we pulled into Gare de l'Est, we had all had several beers. She told us the history of her life and the countryside that passed by the window, often pointing at this or that. I probably understood a third of what I heard but felt I understood what she wanted to share perfectly. I can't think of anything more rude or selfish than if I had subjected her to my stumbling french (begging for a french lesson) and knocked her off her stride. A damn fine day I'll never forget. Now, I will butoutski. For now.