This past weekend I traveled to Paris. I have been dreaming of the day I would go to Paris since I was a little girl and it did turn out to be everything I hoped for. Before I even left the States to come here to Oxford I had been asking family and friends, “What am I going to do in France when I cannot speak the language?” My best friend who had just returned from studying abroad in Italy and traveled to Paris assured me, “everyone there speaks English, you will be fine!!” This comforted me and I assumed all I would have to do in France was say a quick “Bonjour” and then start speaking English and be completely understood. This was true most of the time this past weekend. Most French people did speak some English. But, I have to say there was more of a communication barrier than I was bargaining for. It wasn’t as simple as every French person I encountered spoke English. I had quite some trouble explaining myself at a metro station and numerous restaurants. What didn’t help the situation at all was my limited French. I actually took French for a few years in middle school and in the beginning of high school but the little I do remember has now been confused with the four years of Spanish classes that followed. That was my next problem. As a few of my friends tried out some cute little French phrases, all I could manage to get out was a quick “Bonjour” and then I would just start talking in Spanish! One time while I was ordering at a restaurant, I knew the waiter did not speak English so I continued with, “un crepe con fraises y un agua por favor, gracias.” The man just looked at me and said, “Gracias?” I can’t blame him, I don’t know why but my Spanglish just kept coming out of my mouth instead of French!
Another interesting aspect of my trip to France was the people. I have always held the stereotype that the French were rude and did not like Americans. My Aunt told me a story about how one time her and my Uncle were standing on a street corner in France and someone from a car threw raw eggs at them screaming, “Stupid Americans!” My other Aunt told me about how once while she was is Paris she asked a French woman for directions and not only was the woman rude to her but she then purposely lead her in the wrong direction! Hearing these stories in addition to the views I have acquired of the French people through the mass media, I was pleasantly surprised to find all of the French people I encountered to be very friendly. Even the ones I was sure I was bothering with my Spanglish just laughed and tried to help me. Once while a few of us were standing in the street obviously looked completely confused, a French man came up to us and asked how he could help us. Of course, he was speaking in French so we didn’t understand what he was saying until he asked a few more times. But, I have to say I left with a great impression of the French! To prove though that some stereotypes are based on people’s realities, while we were at Versailles one of my friends was not sure what to do regarding her headset so she politely asked the man working at the counter if she should just take one or wait for him to give it to her. He replied, “Don’t just grab things here, this isn’t New York!” We all laughed because for all he knew she may not have ever been to New York! I guess the stereotypes all come from somewhere but all in all I think I overcame some of my stereotyped views of people this weekend.
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It's interesting to me to consider how the "French people are rude" stereotype first came about, and more importantly, why people still hang on to it (and for that matter, why people still believe French women don't shave their armpits). When I traveled to France before this program started I was more than pleasantly surprised at the kindness, or at least neutrality, I confronted from the French. I'd only taken a year of French this past year at UGA, so basically after asking a couple questions I was out of words, but I really felt like they appreciated my attempts. I quickly became more comfortable with putting myself out their and actually practicing my French and I think I am a better French speaker because of it. Also, I started to consider how some Americans would probably be just as rude to someone who only spoke French simply due to certain level of intolerance and "Everyone should speak English" mentality we have in the U.S. All in all, I think we should all remember that before we subscribe to stereotypes we should consider that one bad apple can sully the name of the bunch and that kindness and effort go a long way.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who lives in two languages every day, I understand very well why your brain commanded "French" and your words came out, nevertheless, in Spanish. I can speak some French and understand most of it. But, when "in situation", it's like my brain is hard wired so that English IS the second language. So, I go from thinking in Spanish, to English and finally to French! What a mess!
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