Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/02/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]During my years of living in Belgium, Switzerland and now the Netherlands, I have met many expats, since our children have always attended international schools. I have always been amazed about people who come to live in a country for 3-5 years and during that time do not make any effort to learn the local language. And then they complain about getting poor service or that the locals are not friendly! Obviously, not all are like that, but I have certainly met my share of Americans and Brits abroad with that attitude. I cannot imagine living in a country without learning the language. When I came to Belgium in 1995, my attitude was: now I have landed in a country with 2 languages, so I better learn both! And so I took lessons in French and Dutch, even though my work was conducted exclusively in English. Same thing when I later moved to Switzerland (although I already knew some German from school when I went there). And the Dutch I learned in Belgium has served me very well since I moved to the Netherlands 4 years ago... The point is that without the local language, you just get the tourist experience and nothing more, no matter how long you stay in a country. Nathan On 1-mrt-2007, at 1:14, Steve Barbour wrote: > On Feb 28, 2007, at 4:45 PM, Jeffery Smith wrote: > >> Math professor Don Harwood (long known as "Horrible Harwood" due >> to his >> boorishness) loves Paris and France. He and his wife fly back >> there every >> chance they get (Christmas holiday, between spring and summer, and >> between >> summer and fall terms). He would like to retire and live there >> were it not >> for the fact that neither he nor his wife speak French. Last >> summer, they >> paid an interpreter to go with them so the French didn't have to >> accommodate >> them by speaking English! > > > a terrific story Jeffery, and of course these sound like the > classic pair of very unsympathetic tourists... > > > they who really, really love the country, but who (literally) don't > care enough to understand the country for which they declare their > love... > > just too much trouble to communicate with the people.... > > Steve > > > > >> >> Jeffery Smith >> New Orleans, LA >> http://www.400tx.com >> http://400tx.blogspot.com/ >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org >> [mailto:lug-bounces+jsmith342=cox.net@leica-users.org] On Behalf >> Of Steve >> Barbour >> Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 5:11 PM >> To: Leica Users Group >> Subject: Re: [Leica] Seen in New Orleans >> >> >> On Feb 28, 2007, at 3:46 PM, Phil Swango wrote: >> >>> When my wife and I were honeymooning in Paris in 1974 we had an >>> amazing >>> experience that showed that Parisians can be wonderfully generous. >>> I was >>> shopping for ties in a small specialty shop and had selected 3 or 4 >>> that I >>> was fond of. They were a bit pricey as they were designer brands >>> (Dior, >>> etc) and I was having a hard time deciding which to buy. The shop >>> owner was >>> a delightful woman who spoke excellent English. When I mentioned >>> to her >>> that the suit I hoped to match with a tie was back at the hotel, she >>> immediately insisted that I take several ties back to the hotel for >>> the >>> evening and see how they would look with the suit. Then she >>> carefully >>> packed the ties into a bag and handed it to me without so much as >>> asking for >>> a name or address and said "See you tomorrow." >> >> and this is classic and truly very French Phil... >> >> btw, I love Paris and France... >> >> boorish Americans get what they deserve, but only when they really >> deserve it, >> >> >> some of my best friends are Parisians, including my wife of 40 >> years... >> >> lived there, loved there... >> >> >> I will return asap... >> >> >> Steve >> >> >> >> >>> I was stunned, but accepted >>> her offer and ended up buying three ties instead of just one as I >>> had >>> planned. >>> >>> Recalling that story just made me think of another. A merchant in >>> the Old >>> Town part of Albuquerque used to have a jewelry and pottery store >>> that was >>> very popular. He had a credit plan called "Manny's Credit." That >>> meant you >>> could take the item home and mail Manny a check at your >>> convenience. There >>> was a sign in the shop that said he would take a check from anyone >>> except of >>> member of Congress. ;-) >>> >>> -- >>> Phil Swango >>> 307 Aliso Dr SE >>> Albuquerque, NM 87108 >>> 505-262-4085 >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > Nathan Wajsman nathan@nathanfoto.com General photography: http://www.nathanfoto.com http://www.greatpix.eu Picture-A-Week: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog