The School Of Global Education spent the
first week of its travel abroad in England. England felt much like the United
States because despite the cute British accent, everyone spoke the language
that we spoke. It was never difficult to order a meal in England. It was never
difficult to ask someone where the nearest bathroom was. It was never difficult
to ask an employee at a store for a certain shirt size. Of course, because
everything was so easy in this different country, I became a little
overconfident with the grove of traveling abroad. It felt easy to me. So when
it was time to step off of our fairy into France, I was nowhere near prepared
for the culture shock that awaited me.
When
we got on our bus to the fairy, we were given pieces of papers that had common
French words and sentences that would come in handy through our conversations in
France. Unfortunately, I didn’t take the language barrier as serious as I
should have. I expected that most people in France would speak English and I
wouldn’t have to know much French to get around. I quickly learned I was wrong.
When we went to our first French village,
I, along with a group of girls, went on a mission to find Panini’s for lunch.
We successfully found a small restaurant just a little down the street and
didn’t even question what we would do if they didn’t speak English. We just
expected that everyone did. So, when we walked up to a young French woman at
the counter, we thought we would speak French at first to be kind. We said
“Bonjour” but quickly added “parlez-vous anglais?” asking if she spoke English.
To our surprise she responded, “no.” It was as if the pour young woman just
told us the end of the world was that day. Everyone panicked and stood in
silence. All of us girls exchanged worried and confused looks. None of us knew
what to do. Copious questions began flooding my mind. How can I order a ham and
cheese Panini in French? How do you say ham? How do you say cheese? Should be
just go somewhere else? Will this woman understand us if we try to communicate?
Finally, one of the girls stepped up and began trying to describe that she
wanted a ham and cheese Panini. Using hand motions and as much French as
possible. Then little by little, we all stepped up to the counter and began
describing and pointing. Luckily the girl understood what we were all trying to
say. But it was not easy. Of course, I got better at communicating with the
French as the trip went on, but that first day, trying to order a Panini was
definitely the greatest culture shock I’ve ever had. It really made me realize
that there truly is a huge world outside of the United States that speaks
different languages, have different cultures, and different religions. I hope
that I get the chance to explore them all one day.
No comments:
Post a Comment