My French
You (probably only Coco) are probably wondering how I am doing with my French. I've used it several times:
1. Hard Rock Cafe: spoke to the young man at the counter in French. He answered in English that he didn't speak French. I switched to English, then he switched to French. I think that he was messing with me.
2. Hard Rock Cafe: Host. I told him (in French) that I would like a table for two. He asked me if I wanted smoking or non-smoking. Non-smoking, I replied. Then I asked him "How did I do?" He said "You passed the test!" The waitress was from Sweden and spoke perfect English.
3. Hotel: I started in French, he responded and then switched to English. I followed suite. But later, when I returned, I gave him my room number as 34, he said "24?" and I said "Yes", because he was correct. I was just testing him.
4. Grocery store. This one didn't go so well. We picked up the deordorant and I could swear that the sign said 1.50. I gave the clerk 2 euros, quite proud of myself. She rambled on about something (incoherent, if you want my opinion), which I responded to with a blank stare. Then she pointed to the cash register with 3.46 euros (pricing must have been on a daily basis for my 3 day deordorant...see comment in earlier posting), so I gave her a 10 euro note and said "Dix" (ten), just in case she couldn't tell what it was. Actually, I wanted her to know that I knew that it was a ten, and that I could actually say "ten" without a dumb look on my face. She gave me the change and we left without further comments from either of us. I'll try her again later.
So, 3 of 4 encounters have gone well. Tomorrow will present more opportunities.
1. Hard Rock Cafe: spoke to the young man at the counter in French. He answered in English that he didn't speak French. I switched to English, then he switched to French. I think that he was messing with me.
2. Hard Rock Cafe: Host. I told him (in French) that I would like a table for two. He asked me if I wanted smoking or non-smoking. Non-smoking, I replied. Then I asked him "How did I do?" He said "You passed the test!" The waitress was from Sweden and spoke perfect English.
3. Hotel: I started in French, he responded and then switched to English. I followed suite. But later, when I returned, I gave him my room number as 34, he said "24?" and I said "Yes", because he was correct. I was just testing him.
4. Grocery store. This one didn't go so well. We picked up the deordorant and I could swear that the sign said 1.50. I gave the clerk 2 euros, quite proud of myself. She rambled on about something (incoherent, if you want my opinion), which I responded to with a blank stare. Then she pointed to the cash register with 3.46 euros (pricing must have been on a daily basis for my 3 day deordorant...see comment in earlier posting), so I gave her a 10 euro note and said "Dix" (ten), just in case she couldn't tell what it was. Actually, I wanted her to know that I knew that it was a ten, and that I could actually say "ten" without a dumb look on my face. She gave me the change and we left without further comments from either of us. I'll try her again later.
So, 3 of 4 encounters have gone well. Tomorrow will present more opportunities.
Comments
"We'll take them!" I said enthusiastically.
"Downstairs" was a quaint area of three tables and no other guests. Staff walk through it all the time, but besides that we had the place to ourselves. I spoke a little with the original waiter, who was a little intimidating. BUT when a new one was assigned to us for the desert course, I went all out and ordered. He was very positive and replied in French, and spoke to Kalen in French also. I thought that it went well considering it was the first time, although I was a little nervous.
Appréciez vos vacances, la nourriture délectable et la compagnie merveilleuse.
Jon
Karl