From: Dossy (dossy@panoptic.com)
Date: Thu May 16 2002 - 08:22:26 MDT
On 2002.05.16, Amara Graps <amara@amara.com> wrote:
> Olga Bourlin:
> >IMO, a child learning the French language (say) in a school in
> >the United States will not have as good an insight into the French culture
> >as a child who actually goes and lives in France for a few years - whether
> >the latter child speaks French in France ... or not.
>
> Naturally. I assumed that you were already traveling to another
> country. I heard you say that one doesn't need to know more than
> 'where is the bathroom?' in another language (!) .
Actually, there are only three phrases you need to know in order
to get by in a foreign country where the spoken language isn't
one you speak:
1) "Where is the bathroom?"
2) "How much does this cost?"
3) "My friend will pay."
When I was in Bulgaria, a local tried to be "helpful" and said
in fairly well-spoken English: "Be careful of the local places,
people will try to slip drugs into your drink." I replied back,
"Wow, where I come from, you have to pay a lot for that!"
He looked at me with a very puzzled face as I chuckled ... I
understood what he said, but he clearly didn't get my joke.
I don't think Communists ever stood in line to hear jokes ...
-- Dossy
--
Dossy Shiobara mail: dossy@panoptic.com
Panoptic Computer Network web: http://www.panoptic.com/
"He realized the fastest way to change is to laugh at your own
folly -- then you can let go and quickly move on." (p. 70)
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