David Sedaris has a great collection of essays called "Me Talk Pretty One Day" about learning to speak French and observations about France and America. Being one of the 80% monolingual set is a regret for sure.
Love that collection! It's been a while, though, and so forgot about the France stuff. I actually picked up another one of his books yesterday in my town: "Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk."
My experience with France has been similar to yours. Most people have been incredibly nice and welcoming when I’ve visited, and I only know basic greetings and understand approximately 5% of what is said to me. In fact, my first trip to France was an incredibly humbling experience because it was the first country I had been in where I understood almost nothing and was unable to communicate at least a little in the local language.
A couple of years ago I worked with a woman originally from France and she told me that she felt that people in Spain were too over-the-top. She explained that her Spanish friends here would gush over how handsome a guy was, but in France her friends would have said something more like “He’s not bad” and that was taken as a huge compliment for the guy. She also said she felt it was overwhelming how everyone calls you “guapa” in Spain (something that I personally hate in the US--being called “sweetie” or “honey”--but find endearing here). It’s interesting to learn about those little cultural differences!
That's interesting. My family's originally from Spain, but I've only been there once since almost all of my family lives in Argentina. How you describe the French in contrast to the Spanish is kind of how I feel about the British: They seem more understated in how they talk about things. If I said a dinner was delicious or amazing, they might say it was "quite nice."
Just discovered your newsletter from the Writer's office hours comments section. This is hilarious!! I had a similar impression, but then met enough French people to change my mind. (I am an immigrant in the US, so your last section hit home). Great job.
I'm glad the last section resonated with you. It's a topic near and dear to me.
You know what's funny about the perception about French people? I recently met a woman in my neighborhood who moved to New York from Paris years ago. I mentioned to her how I'd gone to France recently and found the French to be much more welcoming than I had expected. She told me they've changed a lot in the last 30 years, that they're much friendlier these days. Now, that's just one woman's opinion, and just because she's from Paris that doesn't mean her perspective is fact, but I do wonder if there's truth to it. If so, what drove that change? Globalism? The E.U.?
Anyway, thank you for reading and commenting. I appreciate it.
Interesting. Most French people I encounter are colleagues in the workplace and some of them are of the opinion that folks back home are rude, especially on the topic of language. I had to deal with some French bureaucracy online. They ensured that every email was in French. To a guy in the US with clearly no Francophone roots. Go figure. That said, I have some close french friends. Turns out, once you get to know them, people are people everywhere :D
But I do think globalization is the driving factor. I really enjoyed this show on Netflix "A Very Secret Service". Which is basically a French TV show about (misguided) French arrogance. Its pretty damn funny, especially if you like history.
Me too! Heard it years ago and remembered it when I started writing this piece. I couldn't remember who had said it, but some internet sleuthing did the trick. Thanks for reading and commenting, Steph.
David Sedaris has a great collection of essays called "Me Talk Pretty One Day" about learning to speak French and observations about France and America. Being one of the 80% monolingual set is a regret for sure.
Love that collection! It's been a while, though, and so forgot about the France stuff. I actually picked up another one of his books yesterday in my town: "Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk."
I just finished "Happy Go Lucky" but haven't read "Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk." It's on my probably longer than my time on earth TBR list 😆
My experience with France has been similar to yours. Most people have been incredibly nice and welcoming when I’ve visited, and I only know basic greetings and understand approximately 5% of what is said to me. In fact, my first trip to France was an incredibly humbling experience because it was the first country I had been in where I understood almost nothing and was unable to communicate at least a little in the local language.
A couple of years ago I worked with a woman originally from France and she told me that she felt that people in Spain were too over-the-top. She explained that her Spanish friends here would gush over how handsome a guy was, but in France her friends would have said something more like “He’s not bad” and that was taken as a huge compliment for the guy. She also said she felt it was overwhelming how everyone calls you “guapa” in Spain (something that I personally hate in the US--being called “sweetie” or “honey”--but find endearing here). It’s interesting to learn about those little cultural differences!
That's interesting. My family's originally from Spain, but I've only been there once since almost all of my family lives in Argentina. How you describe the French in contrast to the Spanish is kind of how I feel about the British: They seem more understated in how they talk about things. If I said a dinner was delicious or amazing, they might say it was "quite nice."
A terrific and amusing read, Pablo! :D
I'm glad you enjoyed it, Rebecca. I appreciate you reading!
Just discovered your newsletter from the Writer's office hours comments section. This is hilarious!! I had a similar impression, but then met enough French people to change my mind. (I am an immigrant in the US, so your last section hit home). Great job.
I'm glad the last section resonated with you. It's a topic near and dear to me.
You know what's funny about the perception about French people? I recently met a woman in my neighborhood who moved to New York from Paris years ago. I mentioned to her how I'd gone to France recently and found the French to be much more welcoming than I had expected. She told me they've changed a lot in the last 30 years, that they're much friendlier these days. Now, that's just one woman's opinion, and just because she's from Paris that doesn't mean her perspective is fact, but I do wonder if there's truth to it. If so, what drove that change? Globalism? The E.U.?
Anyway, thank you for reading and commenting. I appreciate it.
Interesting. Most French people I encounter are colleagues in the workplace and some of them are of the opinion that folks back home are rude, especially on the topic of language. I had to deal with some French bureaucracy online. They ensured that every email was in French. To a guy in the US with clearly no Francophone roots. Go figure. That said, I have some close french friends. Turns out, once you get to know them, people are people everywhere :D
But I do think globalization is the driving factor. I really enjoyed this show on Netflix "A Very Secret Service". Which is basically a French TV show about (misguided) French arrogance. Its pretty damn funny, especially if you like history.
Love the Sidney Sheldon quote!
Me too! Heard it years ago and remembered it when I started writing this piece. I couldn't remember who had said it, but some internet sleuthing did the trick. Thanks for reading and commenting, Steph.