First, I'm in Rouen. Second, I've encountered pretty much everything in the post--the maddening French keyboard, the dog piles (easy to avoid as you have to watch your step on cobblestones anyway) and the rest. Well, I haven't asked any girls out. Or guys. I did unintentionally ask a bank manager if he had any "kept men" in the bank-but that's not the same at all!
Anyway, back to the post...it's great, so I've reposted here (with some line breaks) so it won't be eaten by the Internet when I'm not looking. The rest of Bruceleereally posts are also an interesting read for his observations. I've considered trying CouchSurfing, heard about hitchhiking in France, and had already read enough about Morrocco to make it low on my "visit" list.
Si Si monsieur! Sunday, January 31, 2010 in Rouen, France by Bruceleereally
I really love France. I love everything about the country and its people. I even love the minor annoyance of the layout of the keys on their keyboard. Rather than the English qwerty keyboard, le clavier francais seems like a Best Buy technician was drinking while reassembling a keyboard.
But back to the French. I love how they love simple but good food. I love their French accents in English, always leaving the letter h silent. Home becomes 'ome. Tres jolie. I even love how they leave a heap of their dog's shit in the middle of the trottoir (sidewalk). It makes walking around a city more fun. I love how they have found little ways to make their language more efficient.
I would really like to learn to use the French word "si". I don't mean "if". You see, there is no English equivalent to this term. Let me explain it's beautiful usage.
Bruce: (addressing a pretty French girl) Tu ne veux pas prendre un cafe avec moi?
Girl: Si.
Entirely fictional dialogue. But a good illustration of the use of "si". Let me translate it to English to explain.
Bruce: (addressing a pretty French girl) You don't want to have a coffee with me?
Girl: Yes.
In English, the girl's response is confusing. Is she saying yes to my statement of not wanting to have coffee with me? OR is she saying she does want to have a coffee with me?
The French have overcome this barrier of communication by the use of "si", which is the affirmative of a negative statement. By responding "si", she says that she wants to have coffee.
I love asking negative questions in French only to hear this very French answer. It's a simple pleasure. The lack of the equivalent to "si" might also explain my luck (or lack thereof) with English girls. But alas, that is an entry for another day.
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