THE CHATTER BOX

Messages 1 2 3 4

Re: Au revoir by kazzzz on 21 July 2009 11:36pm

That's pretty bad Pats. Ì had the opposite experience in Paris and throughout France. Everyone l encountered was helpful and courteous and l loved every minute of my trip. When l worked in the British Museum in London though, the French school groups were notoriously badly behaved and disruptive and more often than not pretended not to understand English when asked to behave.

Re: Au revoir by peripatetically on 22 July 2009 12:11am

French Canadians are notorious for pretending not to understand English. I enjoyed Quebec a lot but some of the people were very rude.

Also, when I went skiing in the Austrian Alps, my friend and I were in a cable car with 3 French Canadians and they wouldn't smile or speak to us. My girlfriend was a gorgeous blond who never had trouble with men and even she was snubbed. We knew they were Canadians because they wore the maple leaf patches on their sleeves.

Re: Au revoir by kazzzz on 22 July 2009 1:26am

You're gorgeous too Pats, I've seen pix when you were younger, they must've been bonkers.
I KNOW I'm going to get in trouble for this but when I worked in the Museum, visitors came from all over the world. We were REALLY good at picking nationality of various people before they spoke, based on dress, behaviour, all sorts of things. I know it's not the case all the time but different countries really do have different behaviour patterns.
Saying this, when I was in Hong Kong years ago there was a family of Australians staying in my hotel, I have never come across such loud, rude obnoxious people in my LIFE. It made me embarassed to be Australian!
I really hate it when people travel overseas and act like they're doing the locals a favour by being there. Australians are notorious for doing this in Bali.

Re: Au revoir by Amaia on 22 July 2009 8:59am

Aha, funnily enough( or not at all) French canadians have an excellent reputation in France... (would that be a proof of our own rudeness??)

And I did play that game, Kazzz, recognising someone's nationality just by their looks. It's really odd how right we can be! :s

Re: Au revoir by peripatetically on 22 July 2009 12:55pm

Yes, that is fun, guessing people's nationality. Even when you are in a place where there aren't many foreignors, guessing the area of the city can be fun.

And I too am really embarrassed by the behavior of some Americans who really don't understand how to be a good traveler. Especailly the Uncle Joe's from the farms that are so ignorant making jokes that he thinks are funny but are completely disrespectful. Those people ought to be destroyed. Total ignorami.

Re: Au revoir by peripatetically on 22 July 2009 12:57pm

Kaz, your comments about my earlier photos.... WOuld love to know what you're looking at! HAHAHAHAHA.

Re: Au revoir by elina on 22 July 2009 1:19pm

Have a great trip, JTM!

Re: Au revoir by tucsonmike on 22 July 2009 1:56pm

JTM is going to France? Well have fune and TRY to behave lol! Don't be trying. Have fun, but not too much fun, or wee Meg will...(fill in blank).

Re: Au revoir by peripatetically on 22 July 2009 1:59pm

Give us a report when you return, Johnny-boy!

Re: Au revoir by johnnythemonkey on 22 July 2009 2:12pm

Patty, I feel angry and annoyed on your behalf after reading of your bad experience but as you said it can happen anywhere. You handled things remarkably well.
Amaia, we will be staying just round the corner from La Madeleine. Good location ?
Oh, and it's Meg's birthday the day after we arrive. Am I an old romantic or what ? I'll try to resist flirting with French barmaids. I said try. :)

Messages 1 2 3 4

Reply to this post:

INSTRUCTIONS

Select a discussion theme.
Register (or log in if you have not yet done so).

To start a new discussion topic:

Write the name of the topic in the 'Subject' box.
Type your message in the larger box to contribute.
Click 'Submit'.

To join a discussion topic:

Click on the discussion topic of your choice.
Type your message in the larger box to contribute.
Click 'Submit'.

To edit your message:

You can edit a message at any time after posting it as long as you're signed in.
Click on the 'Edit your message' link above the message.
Make your desired changes.
Click 'Submit'.

If you find you don't want to change the message after all, click on 'Return without changes'.

To set a chatmark:

Register (or log in if you have not yet done so).
Click on the "Set chatmark" link on the Chatter Box pages. This will set the time at which you have logged in.
Click on the "Go to chatmark" link to see all messages posted since you set your chatmark.

You can set your chatmark at any time and as often as you like.