Need an apartment?

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by ravenne

He, he, yeah, I can imagine that!!! And you seem to remember the most important words every language has: things to eat!!

yes, i remember all the important words. i also remember der Wein and das Bier for instance. and also liebchen and "alles gute zum geburtstag". oh, and "wo ist die siegesaule bitte ?" very important.

Originally Posted by pshrynk

Wo ist der WC?
Ou est le bain?
Donde esta el bano?
Where is the loo?
Ya got a bathroom, pal?

also key phrases ! but if you say that in french, you will get the bathtub. you should say "où sont les WC ?"

[slayda]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

yes, i remember all the important words. i also remember der Wein and das Bier for instance. and also liebchen and "alles gute zum geburtstag". oh, and "wo ist die siegesaule bitte ?" very important.

also key phrases ! but if you say that in french, you will get the bathtub. you should say "où sont les WC ?"

And in French would WC be pronounced "double U see"?

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by slayda

And in French would WC be pronounced "double U see"?

no, it's pronounced like "vé-cé" (sort of like vey-sey to the accent-impaired).

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

no, it's pronounced like "vé-cé" (sort of like vey-sey to the accent-impaired).

Mwhahaa this just reminded me of a funny story of when I was in Paris. This girl in our group said she spoke "impeccable" French. She was annoying. Anyway here I am getting by just fine not knowing any french at all. One night we go to dinner and she asks the waitress in French where the bathroom was. The waitress gave her the weirdest look and in English said "Uhh, we don't have one of those here." Then like ten minutes later she comes back and says, "OH! You were looking for the bathroom!"

I guess she said it in some really dated way or something. We were all cracking up (we didn't like her).

A lot of people in America say the french are rude, but I thought the french were the nicest people of all the countries I have visited. My theory was that if you try to speak french, no one will like you. What do you think Zelda? I mean, the only rudeness I saw was your generic city dweller stuff.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

Mwhahaa this just reminded me of a funny story of when I was in Paris. This girl in our group said she spoke "impeccable" French. She was annoying. Anyway here I am getting by just fine not knowing any french at all. One night we go to dinner and she asks the waitress in French where the bathroom was. The waitress gave her the weirdest look and in English said "Uhh, we don't have one of those here." Then like ten minutes later she comes back and says, "OH! You were looking for the bathroom!"

I guess she said it in some really dated way or something. We were all cracking up (we didn't like her).

pfff ! funny story. i really wonder what the waitress thought she was asking, at first.

A lot of people in America say the french are rude, but I thought the french were the nicest people of all the countries I have visited. My theory was that if you try to speak french, no one will like you. What do you think Zelda? I mean, the only rudeness I saw was your generic city dweller stuff.

i can't speak for everybody living here, but personally i find it really annoying when tourists don't make even the slightest effort to understand the different culture and adapt to the fact they are in a different country. they don't have to speak french perfectly, but if they are going to ask directions (or whatever) from a french person, the very least they can do is learn to say "bonjour", "s'il vous plaît" and "merci", it's really not that hard. it's like, when you go to italy, at the very least you learn to say "buon giornio," "dove," "grazie," "per favore". after that you'll find most people are very friendly and glad to help. i think that's true anywhere in fact. actually if a rude tourist comes up to me and starts bellowing in english i pretend i don't understand him and keep walking. but i have a low tolerance for rudeness, and being a tourist is really no excuse. on the other hand, if a tourist is trying to speak to me in french and clearly having a really difficult time, i will ask them if they prefer to speak in english. i appreciate that they tried.

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

pfff ! funny story. i really wonder what the waitress thought she was asking, at first.



i can't speak for everybody living here, but personally i find it really annoying when tourists don't make even the slightest effort to understand the different culture and adapt to the fact they are in a different country. they don't have to speak french perfectly, but if they are going to ask directions (or whatever) from a french person, the very least they can do is learn to say "bonjour", "s'il vous plaît" and "merci", it's really not that hard. it's like, when you go to italy, at the very least you learn to say "buon giornio," "dove," "grazie," "per favore". after that you'll find most people are very friendly and glad to help. i think that's true anywhere in fact. actually if a rude tourist comes up to me and starts bellowing in english i pretend i don't understand him and keep walking. but i have a low tolerance for rudeness, and being a tourist is really no excuse. on the other hand, if a tourist is trying to speak to me in french and clearly having a really difficult time, i will ask them if they prefer to speak in english. i appreciate that they tried.

See I did say bonjour, and please and thank you (someone had to teach me "you're welcome"). But I was always very courteous, and spoke slowly (not too slowly). I would do the same if I were in you're situation (if someone started bellowing at me).

I remember we used to go to this bar that was on the corner of where are hotels were (right across from the Montmartre subway station). THe old guy there was hilarious. I tried to order some french fries in french, but MANGLED "patates frites." I said pa-ta-tehs free-tehs and he died laughing (then told me how to correctly say it). I for the life of me cannot read french out loud. Anyway he was a super cool guy who got me drunk more than once. He always gave me way too much vodka, and when I asked for less, he gave me even more and giggled about it.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

See I did say bonjour, and please and thank you (someone had to teach me "you're welcome"). But I was always very courteous, and spoke slowly (not too slowly). I would do the same if I were in you're situation (if someone started bellowing at me).

I remember we used to go to this bar that was on the corner of where are hotels were (right across from the Montmartre subway station). THe old guy there was hilarious. I tried to order some french fries in french, but MANGLED "patates frites." I said pa-ta-tehs free-tehs and he died laughing (then told me how to correctly say it). I for the life of me cannot read french out loud. Anyway he was a super cool guy who got me drunk more than once. He always gave me way too much vodka, and when I asked for less, he gave me even more and giggled about it.

see, there you go. (by the way, it's just "frites".)

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

see, there you go. (by the way, it's just "frites".)

I tell you, puppy dog eyes work in every language.

I don't think I ever had to ask much, just little things when I was in a restaurant. I never did learn "Where is the bathroom," lol.

Oh I was reading off the menu. I guess "potato fries" sounds kind of weird.

[ravenne]

Originally Posted by pshrynk

Ya got a bathroom, pal?

Okay, I will try this one in a real, real expensive restaurant or hotel.

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

yes, i remember all the important words. i also remember der Wein and das Bier for instance. and also liebchen and "alles gute zum geburtstag". oh, and "wo ist die siegesaule bitte ?" very important.

Oh Liebchen (I´m wondering who called you Liebchen, but I won´t ask ), so you were staying in Berlin, home of the Siegessäule!

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

also key phrases ! but if you say that in french, you will get the bathtub. you should say "où sont les WC ?"

The bathtub was probably exactly what pshrynk was looking for

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

A lot of people in America say the french are rude, ....

Really? I always thought the Germany were considered to be the rude ones

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by ravenne

Okay, I will try this one in a real, real expensive restaurant or hotel.

you let us know how that works.

Oh Liebchen (I´m wondering who called you Liebchen, but I won´t ask ), so you were staying in Berlin, home of the Siegessäule!

no, i was only visiting Berlin, but i had to make a pilgrimage to the Siegessäule : Der Himmel über Berlin is one of my favorite films. (according to my Berliner roommate, it's "a film for tourists," but i really don't care. )

The bathtub was probably exactly what pshrynk was looking for

good point.

Really? I always thought the Germany were considered to be the rude ones

no no no ! try to keep up : the french are rude (and unwashed), the germans wear socks with sandals. the rest of the world has not yet decided which is a worse offense.

[ravenne]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

no no no ! try to keep up : the french are rude (and unwashed), the germans wear socks with sandals. the rest of the world has not yet decided which is a worse offense.

[RWood]

When I was in Costa Rica for a while (3+ months) I got around on a few simple lines:

I'll have a beer.
I'll have what he/she/they are having.
Where is the bathroom?
Please.
Thank you.

(Large tips helped if you went to the same eating place twice.)

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

yes, i remember all the important words. i also remember der Wein and das Bier for instance. and also liebchen and "alles gute zum geburtstag". oh, and "wo ist die siegesaule bitte ?" very important.

also key phrases ! but if you say that in french, you will get the bathtub. you should say "où sont les WC ?"

Wine should be important to learn in any language, you being French

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

no, it's pronounced like "vé-cé" (sort of like vey-sey to the accent-impaired).

Ah, the same as in Dutch, should remember that...

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

pfff ! funny story. i really wonder what the waitress thought she was asking, at first.

Same here...

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

i can't speak for everybody living here, but personally i find it really annoying when tourists don't make even the slightest effort to understand the different culture and adapt to the fact they are in a different country. they don't have to speak french perfectly, but if they are going to ask directions (or whatever) from a french person, the very least they can do is learn to say "bonjour", "s'il vous plaît" and "merci", it's really not that hard. it's like, when you go to italy, at the very least you learn to say "buon giornio," "dove," "grazie," "per favore". after that you'll find most people are very friendly and glad to help. i think that's true anywhere in fact. actually if a rude tourist comes up to me and starts bellowing in english i pretend i don't understand him and keep walking. but i have a low tolerance for rudeness, and being a tourist is really no excuse. on the other hand, if a tourist is trying to speak to me in french and clearly having a really difficult time, i will ask them if they prefer to speak in english. i appreciate that they tried.

And that's why I don't go to France. I don't speak one word of French (those three years of French at high school were waisted on me...) I did learn on key phrase though:

Je ne parle pas Francais, vous parlez Anglais?

Don't mind the spelling, spelling isn't important when you're speaking But, at least I think I'm being polite by using the polite form of you...

My German is passable though, but that's mostly because it looks a lot like Dutch and I often go to Switzerland (the German speaking part).


Btw, what you say about not even trying: I went interrailing once and we went to Copenhagen (that's in Denmark, for those geographically challenged amongst us). There was an interrail desk there, that was serviced by Danish students, who wanted to help those interrrailers through their beautiful city. Now, the Danish speak good English, maybe some German, but most certainly not French. So, we went there, and there were these three French guys. Who only spoke French and even when the person sitting behind the counter said he didn't speak French, they kept on talking in French...

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Wine should be important to learn in any language, you being French

yep !

And that's why I don't go to France. I don't speak one word of French (those three years of French at high school were waisted on me...) I did learn on key phrase though:

Je ne parle pas Francais, vous parlez Anglais?

Don't mind the spelling, spelling isn't important when you're speaking But, at least I think I'm being polite by using the polite form of you...

hm, you're right : that's not one word, it's eight. to me, that is enough for me to consider you made an effort, and help you out. i think most french people would agree.

My German is passable though, but that's mostly because it looks a lot like Dutch and I often go to Switzerland (the German speaking part).

my dutch is nearly as good as my german (which, i admit, is not very good, so you can extrapolate the level of my dutch from there ), because it's quite close to german and a bit to english. right now the only things i remember from when i was visiting the netherlands are : "brod kaas" (or is it spelled "brot kaas" ???) which is what i ate every time we stopped for lunch in a pub, and "kunst" which is what i was travelling around seeing. mainly because i was travelled half the trip with a friend who had cousins there who took us around on a driving tour one day (and in one day, we visited the entire country !! the netherlands are quite small) and since he knew i was studying art, every time he saw a statue in the road or a museum or anything like that he would shout out "Kunst !" and point at it.

Btw, what you say about not even trying: I went interrailing once and we went to Copenhagen (that's in Denmark, for those geographically challenged amongst us). There was an interrail desk there, that was serviced by Danish students, who wanted to help those interrrailers through their beautiful city. Now, the Danish speak good English, maybe some German, but most certainly not French. So, we went there, and there were these three French guys. Who only spoke French and even when the person sitting behind the counter said he didn't speak French, they kept on talking in French...

yep, every population has to have at least a few rude tourists...

[acidzebra]

Originally Posted by pshrynk

Wo ist der WC?
Ou est le bain?
Donde esta el bano?
Where is the loo?
Ya got a bathroom, pal?

Well that is nice but there are more important things to communicate - like, say "Oh my god! There is an axe in my head!" in some 40 languages.

Or this one with 112 translations. Terribly important stuff.