NationStates Jolt Archive

So have you, what were your, well, experiences.

I was there on a languege school, i am only 16 :rolleyes:

Anyway i was there for three weeks, and at first i did not know how to speak french, so i used my english...

The thing is i am not american, but i lived there for 2 months couse my mom worked there, couse she did, like a long bussnies trip for some reason[she does computers] so i speak english with an american acent..

And in this one store i tryed to say, what does this cost? [quelle pri est il?] I most have said it wrong couse he said back"you speak english"

and i said "yeah"

then he and the other dude that worked there began to talk, and one said "yeah" and they bought laughed... and said "yeah" once again...

Then i turned and walked out, I was not going to spend my cash here..

This other time i asked in english when the bus was going to leave..

I asked and asked, but he did not get a word, then suddenly he spoke out "when we are in france we speak french!!" well he shouted at me :rolleyes:

Every time i spoke english with my american accent, then they were hostile to me..

But why, america has never done anything to france, just halped them in ww2...

I mean they owe the US, there were like duzins of american cemeteryes there from ww2[i was in cote azur, not d-day but some other landings]
and they are hostile :confused:

I mean there were no US soldiers on french soil after the war, so what the fuck are they pissed about..

They owe the US, and once again I am not american, I live in norway...

so, other english speakers, what are your wievs on france?

and lastI am not some hail america dude, I am against the iraq war, against imperialissam they are doing now etc...

They owe the US[/COLOR]
No they don't.

They just happen to think that if you go to a country you should speak the language. It's fair enough, if very unreasonable....if that makes sense.

No need to paragraph your sentences. They are fully readable when they are next to each other. Okay?

Anyway, I've been to France numerous times and the people there have never been anything other than pleasant with me. If you follow their customs and treat them well, they treat you well.

By the by, France owes the US nothing, and "how much is it?" is "C'est combien?" in French.

France is an okay country if they would just forget they are a superpower

Holland for whose liberation from the Germans in World War II thousands of Canadians were murdered by those Germans now privileges those same Germans over Canadians when it comes to work permits.

It is even more disappointing that their current queen Beatrix, who was hiding in Ottawa from those same Germans later married a Nazi officer, Claus.

So through the EU the Dutch are giving the Germans privileges that they refrain from giving to Canadians,

whereas the Germans murdered the Dutch at the time when Canadians died to save the Dutch from the Germans,

and at the same time when the current Dutch queen was hiding from the Germans in Canada, even though she later married a German.

I have been to france and did not get that reaction, they were all really cool and understanding of me being american, and when I tryed to speak french they were very understanding and kind because at least i was trying...

I've only been to France twice.

The only bad experience I've ever had there was when I was a teenager, the kid who lived across the street from my uncle's house, where I was staying, came over to me with some of his pals and asked if I was really American (I spoke mostly Italian while I was in Europe) and when I said yes he said "go fuck your mother". I asked the kid who lived next door to my uncle to hand me back my switchblade, which I had given him to look at, and he refused. The assholes went back across the street and returned with a sickle.

Most people were OK though. The McDonalds clerks got kind of upity when I asked for french fries instead of pommes frite or whatever they call them there, but otherwise no porblem.

I went to france with the college on a I.T course trip ..

It wasn't too bad but the police were little bastards with batons beating up anyone who was drunk and trying to get home really hostile to us and thought he was hard with his baton..

I met loads of girls in our appartments so I went to buy some condomns - im crap at french and had to try and sign language you can just imagine what it was like - the two girls were laughing so was I.

I noticed the field were covered in plastic bags very strange :confused:

Holland for whose liberation from the Germans in World War II thousands of Canadians were murdered by those Germans now privileges those same Germans over Canadians when it comes to work permits.

Yeah, because Germans are still Nazis and Holland should hold a grudge and treat one of their most important political allies like a pariah because of a war more than half a century ago, and Canada, which isn't even in the EU of course, should be treated like a member, even though it's not. :rolleyes:

Did you even read what you wrote? Did it not sound as silly to you as it probably does to everyone else?

so, other english speakers, what are your wievs on france?

Arseholes. I've been called "english pig" several times by French, and I wasn't even in France! I was in Heathrow airport, and they refused to speak in English when trying to ask me something.

Yeah, because Germans are still Nazis and Holland should hold a grudge and treat one of their most important political allies like a pariah because of a war more than half a century ago, and Canada, which isn't even in the EU of course, should be treated like a member, even though it's not. :rolleyes:

Did you even read what you wrote? Did it not sound as silly to you as it probably does to everyone else?


It is actually sillier yet to take the EU as something that is inevitable and once for ever.

Holland signed the accession to the forerunner of the EU in the 1950s, when the memory of war was fresh and gratitude for Canada was due.

Holland indeed should give the Canadians at least the same rights that it is giving the Germans.


And actually, since you obviously do not have a clue:

Germany itslef gives to the Americans, Canadians, Japanese, Australians, Isarelis (I may have forgotten someone) the same rights it gives to the EU citizens: to apply for a residence permuit from within Germany.

Holland doesn't give this right to Canadians and it is more than due.

The only act like that because you're American.

You've guys have such negative stereotypes of them, no wonder they view you as such. I remember when I went, I have minimal French, but I tried and I didn't get the same treatment you did.

capullo si vas a un lugar lo logico es hablar su idioma... si no lo hablas no te enfades si no hablan ingles.... zopenco

I have many friends and some relatives in France, so my opinion may have been heavily influenced by that. However, on my first visit to France (when i was 12) i barely spoke any French and the locals (i was not in Paris) were pleased to help me get around, i was actually surprised how helpful they were having heard rumors of how hostile the country was to tourists. I did not encounter one angry, rude, or generally hostile frenchman. (with the exception of a particularly nasty waiter). I am surprised however that most Americains (realizing you are not americain) fail to realize the condescending treatment they offer non english speakers while in the US. Often raising their voices assuming that will help the foreigner understand english, or waving their hands around and smiling condescendingly at the puzzled outsider. It is not an unreasonable request to ask that visitors at least try to be accomidating of the natives language and customs, which certain American tourists fail to do. To the extent where American tourists have gained a rather nasty reputation as annoying, loud, ignorant, and arrogant. I on my first visit to France was excessively embarrassed to be seated near an american gentleman and his family who was insisting to their waiter that the creme brule he had just brought them was creme caramel (which incidently was an absurd inaccuracy). Incidents like these perhaps contribute to Parissiene dislike of American tourists, which can fan out to resent a culture i suppose if treated with little constraint.

It is actually sillier yet to take the EU as something that is inevitable and once for ever.

Holland signed the accession to the forerunner of the EU in the 1950s, when the memory of war was fresh and gratitude for Canada was due.

Yes - the EU was a result of the war. So? What does Canada have to do with it? Why shouldn't Holland and Germany have worked towards reconciliation and building of mutual trust? Should Holland, and Europe, not have learnt from the piece of Versailles not to ostracise the losing countries?

Holland indeed should give the Canadians at least the same rights that it is giving the Germans.

Why? Has Canda joined the EU? Has Canada asked for it?

And actually, since you obviously do not have a clue:

Germany itslef gives to the Americans, Canadians, Japanese, Australians, Isarelis (I may have forgotten someone) the same rights it gives to the EU citizens: to apply for a residence permuit from within Germany.

You are the one who doesn't seem to have a clue - EU citizens do not need residency permits in other EU nations.

Holland doesn't give this right to Canadians and it is more than due.

No, it isn't. Why would it be due Canada of today?

The only act like that because you're American.

You've guys have such negative stereotypes of them, no wonder they view you as such. I remember when I went, I have minimal French, but I tried and I didn't get the same treatment you did.

I spoke french first, the second time. And he asked ME if I spoke English. Then I got bad treatment :mad:

France is an arsepit, get out of there. Now. Come back home to Norway, we miss you.

Well, somebody probably does...

"The only act like that because you're American.

You've guys have such negative stereotypes of them, no wonder they view you as such. I remember when I went, I have minimal French, but I tried and I didn't get the same treatment you did."

Oh so it's our fault we're American? I think it's funny that you talk of us stereotyping the French when they stereotype Americans as big fat rude redneck workacholic pigs. By the way, the French are more rude then we are. What if we don't know French? Whenever I see a foreign vistor in the US I don't get mad when they don't speak English. They're only visiting. Pshh, don't even get me started on the French.

Note to all: I'm a third French

Yes - the EU was a result of the war. So? What does Canada have to do with it? Why shouldn't Holland and Germany have worked towards reconciliation and building of mutual trust? Should Holland, and Europe, not have learnt from the piece of Versailles not to ostracise the losing countries?

Why? Has Canda joined the EU? Has Canada asked for it?

You are the one who doesn't seem to have a clue - EU citizens do not need residency permits in other EU nations.

No, it isn't. Why would it be due Canada of today?


EU citizens DO need a residence permit for living in another country, only it is acquired automatically, through mere rgeistration.

As for your inability to comprehend and repetition of "why" ad nauseam, I have alsready explained why.

Maybe you have a problem reading small letters?

Here's a help for you:

Because the Ducth queen has spent the war hiding from those same Germans in Canada and because thousands of Canadians have given life for no personal interest -- to liberate Holland from those same Germans, so Holland should at the very least have given (and right after the war) to such a nation of Canadians the same rights it gives to the nation of Germans who did so much evil to Holland.

And also because the EU is just an incident -- indeed an accident -- in European history.

There have been alliances of this kind before: under Napoleon, under Hitler, "holly" alliances of the "holly" so-called Roman empire (that had no square foot in Italy) etc.

The EU shall pass. Norway, Switzerland and Icleand shall prove to have been very wise to have abstained from the costly and purposeless experiement.

Oh so it's our fault we're American? I think it's funny that you talk of us stereotyping the French when they stereotype Americans as big fat rude redneck workacholic pigs. By the way, the French are more rude then we are. How many Frenchmen do you see walking around DC, or New York? Not many, very few Frenchmen travel to the United States. Their hostility at least is contained within their own country, whereas we carry it across the sea to them with each boatload of tourists.

What if we don't know French? Whenever I see a foreign vistor in the US I don't get mad when they don't speak English. They're only visiting.
really? well good for you, that's mroe than most Americans can say, especially the ones in my area which have no tolerance for the hispanic population. Earlier this year my friend (who is from peurto rico) and i were walking back to my house from school and cut across this guys lawn, who told my friend and i to get our foreign asses off his lawn unless we were there to mow it.

Note to all: I'm a third French
well than a third of you is ruder than the two thirds that aren't, i don't see how that is relavent

EU citizens DO need a residence permit for living in another country, only it is acquired automatically, through mere rgeistration.

Umm, no. You need to register - as do the citizens themselves when they move. An EU citizens has basically all the rights any other citizen has in an EU country. The "permit" you speak of is an issuing of a document to prove you have those rights - it's nothing one applies for or one can be denied (unless one is a serious criminal, but that's a separate issue).

As for your inability to comprehend and repetition of "why" ad nauseam, I have alsready explained why.

-snipped annoying lettering and colouring-

That's not a reason for doing anything of the sort you demand. And no, it does not become a reason because of your less than clever resizing.

And also because the EU is just an incident -- indeed an accident -- in European history.

Again, not very true, and not a reason for anything,

There have been alliances of this kind before: under Napoleon, under Hitler, "holly" alliances of the "holly" so-called Roman empire (that had no square foot in Italy) etc.

So?

The EU shall pass. Norway, Switzerland and Icleand shall prove to have been very wise to have abstained from the costly and purposeless experiement.

This is completely irrelevant to the rights conferred to EU citizens.

"holly" alliances of the "holly" so-called Roman empire (that had no square foot in Italy) etc.


Holy is spelled with 1 L, and i was under the impression that the Holy Roman Empire held all of Northern Italy under it's control until it dissolved in 1806, and also on at least one occasion vassalized the Two Sicilies.

I've been to France three times & I'm going there for four weeks holiday in September. I've only had positive experiences, no rudeness at all. One waiter was very helpful & taught me the expression for "beer on tap". I do speak a reasonable amount of French, so I think that helps enormously. Interestingly, when I went to Italy, I found the Italians very rude & unhelpful. Perhaps it's because I speak no Italian whatsoever.

And in this one store i tryed to say, what does this cost? [quelle pri est il?] I most have said it wrong couse he said back"you speak english"
.....
But why, america has never done anything to france, just halped them in ww2...
....
I mean they owe the US, there were like duzins of american cemeteryes there from ww2[i was in cote azur, not d-day but some other landings]
and they are hostile :confused:
....
I mean there were no US soldiers on french soil after the war, so what the fuck are they pissed about..
Quel prix est-il? I'm not being a bitch here, but if you're in French school, I thought I'd help you out. :)
As for the rest of it, they paid for the American "help" they recieved. They are still paying the Americans. The interest rates are so horrible that they will probably never stop paying. The Americans were hired guns in France during WWII, not heroes or saviours
There were US soldiers on French soil for some time after the war. Many of them terrorized the French people.
This is not at all to say that the soldiers were intimidating villagers and raping women and picking fights because they were American. Bored young men with too much power tend to abuse it.
I'm telling you all this to explain why some French people do have a poor opinion of Americans. The war was not so long ago. Many French people remember the war, and the poor treatment they suffered under American control after the war, my family included.
I'm very sorry that you had bad experiences in France. It's a lovely country.

I've been there, and I personally only met nice people. Some of the nicest and friendliest people, actually.
I do speak French (having spent some tims in Montreal) and got some laughs because of my accent. But hey, I like the accent, makes me different ;)

The friend I was traveling with spoke no French at all, only English, and with a slight American accent, too. Even when we did things on our own, she never had the slightest problem with the people and got along great with them.
That's about all I can say on the subject.

"holly" alliances of the "holly" so-called Roman empire (that had no square foot in Italy) etc.Holy is spelled with 1 L, and i was under the impression that the Holy Roman Empire held all of Northern Italy under it's control until it dissolved in 1806, and also on at least one occasion vassalized the Two Sicilies.

Touché.

Why of course "holy" is spelled with a single -- not double "L".

However, allow me to point out that "its" when it is a possessive adjective/pronoun is spelled WITHOUT an apostrophe.

As for the "(un)Holy" Roman Empire of the German Nation, in the end it was brought down with the abdication of Franz Joseph/Ferencz Jozsef.

I'm telling you all this to explain why some French people do have a poor opinion of Americans. The war was not so long ago. Many French people remember the war, and the poor treatment they suffered under American control after the war, my family included.
I'm very sorry that you had bad experiences in France. It's a lovely country.

you should look into how people are discussing my argument that the Dutch owe some level of gratitude to Canadians for liberating them from the Germans, not taking control of Holland ever, and for sheltering their queen Betarix in Ottawa during the war -- and she then married a former Nazi officer, opened her country to the Germans and discriminates against Canadians when it comes to immigration.

The apologeists of this shameful behaviour here on the forum claim that the World War II was an eternity away.

I went when i was five with my family to a friends house in the Loire Valley. we visited the Eiffel Tower and a castle that I've forgotten the name of. (sorry) It was fine, no rudeness at all.

my mum has a funny story of her honeymoon in Paris. she and dad where on the train and a french man asked them (in french) what the time was. they understood what he said but not how to answer. so they showed their watches to him and pointed.

The only act like that because you're American.

You've guys have such negative stereotypes of them, no wonder they view you as such. I remember when I went, I have minimal French, but I tried and I didn't get the same treatment you did.

I'm not American, thanks though - and way to lay stereotypes.

I'm a third French

you have three biological parents?

I've not been to France myself, but my sister has. She brought back a lot of pics, and I'll say this: Paris is nice.

Yeah, I've been to France.

I've heard Paris is the land of dog poop and cigarette butts. No, I don't have three biological parents but if you spread my family tree out some of my ancestors can be split up into thirds. Also it has to do with the fact that I am also German. I came from a town who was part of France at one time and part of Germany another.


Hey Psov, you forget that not all tourists that go to France are American, that not all Americans hate France, that a whole portion of France's economy thrives on tourists. You're also forgetting that the U.S. is larger than France. Most Americans, including myself, would be polite to the French if we went over there.

I do agree people shouldn't say racist things to Hispanics. I will accept the Hispanics assuming they immigrate legally and they speak English. However, just for the record there is a difference between visiting and moving. Most Hispanics move to the US(not saying there is a problem with it), most Americans visit France.

I said I was third French so you wouldn't call me ignorant or say I know nothing of the French culture.

I've heard Paris is the land of dog poop and cigarette butts.I was in Paris just over two months ago. I was impressed at the cleanliness of the streets in the downtown core.
There's a garbage strike in TO right now. I would not be surprised if foreign visitors go home and tell all their friends how bad Canada smells.
I said I was third French so you wouldn't call me ignorant or say I know nothing of the French culture.Having French ancesters does not make you French ("French" is not a race; you can be half black, not half French), or necessarily make you knowledgeable about French culture.
Paris is over-run with tourists. Whether they are good for the economy or not is irrelevant; it must be annoying to be surrounded by that. If a Parisian is rude, they are most likely just pissed in general (maybe about something totally un-tourist-related). It is very unlikely that they dislike you personally.

When I was in France, the French kept on beating me with bicycles for two weeks. I , like, did nothing wrong, but they thought I was an American cos I said 'yeah' in a baquette store. Anyway, I heard the insult "we owe YOU nothing, coz you didn't help us in le ww2" every single day there. The French are corky that way, they spend their days remembering 60-70 year old things and beating foreigners with bicycles and molded cheese.

I tried to say I'm not American, I even stitched a Canadian flag to my forehead and said "my grandmother was le wet nurse of le dutch queen, you nazis!", but it didn't help. They just said "Go hide in Canada you ugly english speaking queen", and kept on planting trees so the Germans would have shade when they march into France the next time.

It was sheer hell down there in France... but nothing compared to the USA, when I was staying with the Bush family...

I've been there. Aix and MontPellier.

People were nice. I know next to no French and people were not nasty about it. I usually got "American? How do you like France so far?"

As long as you are polite; people tend to be the same. Of course you find assholes but they are few.

Best way to impress people is to take an interest in them. Ask about what they eat and drink. Try it.

I did get some abuse, I can't eat dairy. I just got a few looks after telling them and "And you wonder why we don't like Americans :) "

-snip-
As an evil Nazi I would like to point out that the Seagermans can do whatever they want and are in no way bound by anyone or anything in their decisions.

I would also like to point out that you seem to have no idea. Where are you from? And if you are not from the EU (which you don't seem to be, seeing that you have no idea how moving around works there), then why do you think you need an opinion on whether or not it is a good idea? Why do you think anyone would want to listen to it, seeing that the thread is about France?

And about that...maybe I should go to the Texas or Alabama countrysides and ask people stuff with a French accent. We'll see how nice people are there.
You find bad people in every country. You just don't remember all the rude people from your home.

I spent a week in Paris as an exchange student in 9th grade.

So have you, what were your, well, experiences.

I was there on a languege school, i am only 16 :rolleyes:

Anyway i was there for three weeks, and at first i did not know how to speak french, so i used my english...

The thing is i am not american, but i lived there for 2 months couse my mom worked there, couse she did, like a long bussnies trip for some reason[she does computers] so i speak english with an american acent..

And in this one store i tryed to say, what does this cost? [quelle pri est il?] I most have said it wrong couse he said back"you speak english"

and i said "yeah"

then he and the other dude that worked there began to talk, and one said "yeah" and they bought laughed... and said "yeah" once again...

Then i turned and walked out, I was not going to spend my cash here..

This other time i asked in english when the bus was going to leave..

I asked and asked, but he did not get a word, then suddenly he spoke out "when we are in france we speak french!!" well he shouted at me :rolleyes:

Every time i spoke english with my american accent, then they were hostile to me..

But why, america has never done anything to france, just halped them in ww2...

I mean they owe the US, there were like duzins of american cemeteryes there from ww2[i was in cote azur, not d-day but some other landings]
and they are hostile :confused:

I mean there were no US soldiers on french soil after the war, so what the fuck are they pissed about..

They owe the US, and once again I am not american, I live in norway...

so, other english speakers, what are your wievs on france?

and lastI am not some hail america dude, I am against the iraq war, against imperialissam they are doing now etc...

How would you feel if your country was overrun by idiotic Frenchmen blathering in French at everyone, causing problems and holdups in every public place or business and generally acted like retards and ruined every area and situation outside of your own home? I'm American, and when I stayed in France and hung out with French people, I learned to hate the American tourists too. The problem is, you only notice the bad tourists. When people defer to your customs and keep a low profile, you assume they are natives, so you only make the connection that someone is American once they draw attention to themselves by acting like an idiot. This gives Americans a bad reputation, so that if you're acting normal and by chance someone notices you're American, they have a hostile impression of you.