This lunchtime I had a long telephone conversation with my old French friend(in his 80s now). We exchanged fond greetings,thanking each other for cards--then he said "But Ellie,you wrote "Joyeux Noel" ! Then you put the rest in English! Come on now! I expect a letter from you all in French next time!"
I said Ok--but d'you know what happens when I do write to him in French?
He sends the letters back--corrected in red ink! He will cross through a sentence and say "Ellie--you cant say that--its all wrong"!
When Jamie rang him a short while ago to see how he was he said "But why are you ringing me ? Is there something wrong? When son said no he just called to ask after his health, "Mon ami" said "But why--I just dont get it!"
Now,in my upbringing,this was classed as rude, arrogant,and I believe in this ,the French have it "cracked"!
Ive been called arrogant (an old French word by the way!)especially when first living inAlgarve --and I deserved it I think--as I expected to have things done correctly and quickly. But Ive "received" more rudeness/arrogance in France than anywhere else
and I say this as someone with a half -French father--but thank god he wasn't the same!
Recently some friends of mine were called arrogant in Algarve being called "arrogant English" when they complained of something.
who are the most "arrogant" people youve come across on your travels
Mind you-although my French ami is blunt and a bit arrogant at times --I love him dearly as hes the most generous of men--but perhaps he cant help it--after all --as he often tells me--he is a "Parisien" and only Parisiens speak real French---is that arrogant enough

Elle, I will be surprised if us Yankees don't win most arrogant. I know I am quilty of this. We expect service folks in America to speak and write our English well. We get easily frustrated if our waiter can not speak clear English and call for the manager to come over. Yesterday, my spouse called United Airlines and got a person on the line who sounded like he was from India. After the phone call was over, the complain is 'why don't they hire Americans? I couldn't understand what he was saying'. I know I have called CVO a couple of times because an email response didn't come as quick as I had expected. I was reinsured that things happen in their own time in CVO and just be patient. And they do happen.

When we do travel aboard, most Americans expect menus in American English and road signs in English and that we can communicate in English. And to top us off; have you ever met a Yankee who didn't think that money can solve any problem? I feel our government thinks that way. Send them money and they will be our friend.

My vote is for us Americans.

Cowboy, what do you say? You live in the rich oil area of America.

Gorr0

gorrO--Hub complained in exactly same way--after talking to an Asian man concerning repair to the computer--saying "why dont they hire someone who can speak English properly"!
But my French friend makes no bones about it in telling me off for not pronouncing French words properly or writing correctly! Its only respect for his age and his charming French accent of course --that I let him get away with it
Your post is refreshingly honest and I enjoyed it--wonder what Cowboy will have to say

I forgot to say gorrO---and dont know whether you think this significant--my French ami went to live and work in America for 27 years after the war
When he speaks to me in English(he is quite fluent) his sentences are punctuated with expressions such as "O boy" and" Holy Smoke"and "Gee whizz"!

Would it make him a better friend if he ignored your mistakes and let you continue making them?

NO! Of course not Guest---Im mostly jesting with this topic---and I find it funny really that Raymonde does this -----its a bit like "still being at school"! ----mind you--I don't seem to be learning much--as I still get letters back with words crossed out in red! and I admire his "staying power" and patience --at 86 its quite marvellous wouldn't you say?
I couldn't ask for a better friend---and hes a "grandad" figure to my son who doesn't have any grandparents alive.
Arrogant at times ---but----we think hes great

Boy, Ellie, your French friend sounds like he is Americanized. Only in the States do you hear 'Gee Whiz' used regularly. Well, 27 years in America is plenty of time for it to become natural to use our slag. Gorr0

gorrO-----his most used Americanism is "O boy"!
Usually when looking at young waitresses! Any woman from 18 to 80 is fair game to this"young" 86 year-old widower. What with the" American confidence" and "that" accent --hes a real charmer
By way --he worked for --think Im right here -Detroit motors?----His wife was a translator for the Americans after the D-Day landings(she was French but brought up in London)---------he receives an excellent U.S. pension--and I do believe hes still a "little in love" with the states--he certainly gets his laid back easy style from his long time there

Arrogance abroad, well its our American cousins.

Also on the naivety front, I am afraid its our American cousins, encore. While in Poland, about 6 years ago, I had to travel with some Americans and the American lady had the, whatever you want to call it, to say to her husband, "Look honey, they've got banks!" Alors..

By way --he worked for --think Im right here -Detroit motors

Sorry Elley, it's General Moters (please don't think I'm being arrogant)

Pierre wrote:Arrogance abroad, well its our American cousins.

Also on the naivety front, I am afraid its our American cousins, encore. While in Poland, about 6 years ago, I had to travel with some Americans and the American lady had the, whatever you want to call it, to say to her husband, "Look honey, they've got banks!" Alors..

Pierre, I would say it was more a matter of ignorance than arrorgance.

Cowboy,

It's all a bit worrying all the same.......

GorrO wrote:

Cowboy, what do you say? You live in the rich oil area of America.

Indeed I do GorrO...and being from Texas (long may it wave) as well, I've seen my share of arrogance.
(in fact with my rich, oil drenched Texas (long may it wave) background, I might be considered an Expert on Arrogance....(hope that doesn't sound too arrogant)

Here's my 2 cents worth....
1-Arrogance tends to be directly related to Wealth.
2-Wealth tends to to take it's world with it wherever it goes.
(wealth expects things done IT'S way)
3-Any country Wealth visits is just a background filled with charming, or not so charming, natives who have very strange bathrooms (loos) and talk funny.

Actualy that's my 3 cents worth.
(I've only got a nickle on me....keep the change)

Pierre wrote:Cowboy,

It's all a bit worrying all the same.......

Pierre, why do you find it worrying? Should Poland not have banks?

Cowboy,

I was speaking about the "a matter of ignorance than arrorgance" with this American madames either ignorant or arrogant statement. It really fell hard on these old European ears and not the first inept comment I have heard from some of our American cousins....

Not sure how you came up to your statement about me being worried of Poland to not having banks.

Pierre