Yesterday, I strung my first semi-complex sentence of French together, and the victim on the receiving end of my mauvais French understood it perfectly. Oftentimes they assess your poor French then respond immediately in English, but they did not this time. This was the sentence, I’m too lazy to look up the French spelling: May I ask if you can tell me where the Napoleon apartment is? (I also understood the response … straight ahead, then left then right.)
Little victories
28 Sunday Jul 2013
Posted in Life in Paris
Seriously Paris 
BRAVO !!!!!
Good job Jeanne! I admire anyone that can learn another language. I am loving your stories. Thanks again for sharing your experience.
Thanks for checking in, friend. It’s amazing how far a little of the language and gestures will go. I’ve had discussions about painting and World War II in the past few days. I didn’t follow all of it, but I got the gist. The French are quite delighted if you try to speak the language, no matter how badly. Young waiters will help you in the most gracious way, correcting you without humiliating you.