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bijouxbroussard · F
I’ve been lucky. I was treated well in Canada, England and France. People are always surprised at that last one but I’m glad I went before I heard about the reputation. I went with no preconceived ideas or attitudes—I was polite and the people I encountered were kind in turn.
craig7 · 70-79, M
@bijouxbroussard Yes bijoux,that was my experience of France too,on three separate visits over the years.I have some familiarity with the French language,so that of course helps,but I get the impression that many who give the country bad reviews make little or no attempt to use even very basic French;knowing when to say "bonjour", "merci beaucoup" etc.certainly helps.
ElwoodBlues · M
@craig7 Likewise in France! I took a year of French (or was it only a semester) decades ago in College. So for every new interaction in Paris I would try to prepare a sentence or sentence fragment in French to begin. And the person would almost invariably reply politely in English. Like you, all I had to do was make the effort to use a little French!