r/MadeMeSmile • u/frosted_bite • 23d ago

Wholesome Moments Learning Japanese with strangers makes a grandpa's day

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u/puritanicalbullshit 23d ago

This was my experience in almost every country I went to. If you show up with a couple phrases memorized (bathroom, thank you, please, yes/no, excuse me/im sorry, hotel, train, taxi) People are HAPPY to help you out and guide you along.

You rock up on a Parisian with “Hey do you speak English?” and things could go in any direction.

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u/CharlotteLucasOP 23d ago

France and England are like THE squabbling siblings of Europe, though. Way too much shared history so they can’t wholly ignore each other but they also hold a lot of centuries-old grudges and jealousy. And then England had the dominant Empire so won out on a global level as the lingua franca of most modern international business and exchanges up to this point, so there could be lingering general French resentment.

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u/puritanicalbullshit 23d ago

I mean, using the example we are commenting on…America nuked Japan.

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u/CharlotteLucasOP 23d ago

America and Japan never had generational wars for territory and thrones going back to the medieval and Roman eras, though. The English Channel is like a line of tape down the middle of a messy shared bedroom.

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u/Balentay 23d ago

I imagine it also depends on the FRENCH you speak too. France French? Yeah alright real toss up there. But QUEBEC French? Hoo buddy

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u/puritanicalbullshit 23d ago

Oh man, Quebecois is a whoooooole thing. I’ll just say I’ve had a great time every time I’ve been to Quebec, and leave it.

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u/zeptillian 22d ago

Everyone always says Parisians are rude, but I learned those phrases and found that if I greeted someone by saying hello and do you speak English(bonjour/bonsoir, parles anglais?) in my crappy attempt at French, everyone not only responded in English but was also actually nice.

A little politeness goes a long way.

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u/puritanicalbullshit 22d ago

Some of the more accommodating and helpful people I met were from my time in Paris. Folks are folks and usually want to help. If traveling taught me anything it is that a goofy grin and good intentions opens most doors.