Tearful TikTok Traveler Unable To Speak French Felt ‘Isolated’ During Trip to France
Canoe | 01 11 2024 | Eddie ChauBrushing up on language and customs might be worth looking into when visiting a foreign country.
An American TikToker named Angela, known by her social media handle RealPHDFoodie, found that out the hard way after a trek to France didn’t go well, despite her efforts to fit in with the community.
In a recent TikTok video entitled ‘France made me cry,’ Angela travelled to Lyon, France, her first stop in an eight-city solo trek across Europe. A tearful, beret-wearing Angela said she didn’t recommend visiting Lyon if you don’t speak French.
Despite her hat choice, Angela said she couldn’t fit in.
“It’s my first time visiting. To be honest the experience is very isolating,” Angela said, per the Daily Mail. “Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful city … it has a lot to see and do and discover. But I don’t recommend it for a solo traveller or for someone who doesn’t speak French because it’s a very isolating experience.”
The food and travel influencer described the locals as “very indifferent,” noting she had no problem meeting and socializing with others in Germany and Italy. But in France, people “make you feel bad for not knowing their culture or speaking their language.”
“I haven’t really met anybody here and I’ve been here for five or six days now,” she said. “I almost feel stupid for coming here and spending money. I even bought a French hat. I’m here to learn and explore but the experience is just … I don’t really like it.”
Say you’re Canadian. They will still be indifferent to you but in nicer way.
Go to Canada.
Try the “bacon.”
…wherever you go, talk slowly and loudly, throwing your arms around a lot – that’ll be sure to get you noticed…
… start an anti-Israel riot – they’ll love you for it and join right in…
… learn the name of the head of state, and then wander around mumbling the name, shaking your head and cursing…
Did you try showering them with Euros?
I would not suggest trying to shower them with soap and water, however, as doing so is considered a social faux pas in much of France, where bathing is seen as a last resort for when the perfume runs out.
“You Americans and your constant showers! Boooo – zhwah..”
Euros don’t shower much.
“Look, I wore lederhosen, but nobody in Bavaria did anything but laugh at me no matter how loudly I yelled with a Brooklyn accent! I bought a friggin’ hat with a feather in it!”
Besides Buying a Hat and Not Speaking the Language, What Are Other Good Ways To Immerse Yourself In Other Cultures?
Always cross the border with a platoon of close friends in an APC.
Besides Buying a Hat and Not Speaking the Language, What Are Other Good Ways To Immerse Yourself In Other Cultures?
Speak only in Arabic.
You need to come up with a soothing song to sing, something that personifys just who you really are. May I suggest:
“Little snowflake falling from the sky. Snowflake, snowflake, little snowflake. Falling, falling, falling, falling, falling, falling, falling, falling, falling…”
That’s why I’m going to Catalonia – I already speak Cat.
We do so enjoy encouraging the French to wear spurs while vacationing in Texas.
Ah… Ol’ Paris.
What Are Other Good Ways To Immerse Yourself In Other Cultures? Food and Drink! Nobody knows you can’t speak the language when your mouth is full.
Just remember, most of them stereotype Americans as uncouth Cowboys… and most of them have a guilty pleasure fantasy of “saving a horse”.
Easy. I just troll the customer service foreigners on the phone and clerks at convenience stores and ask them questions about their sh!thole cultures. I speak to them in a fake hillbilly accent until they tell me to get lost.