"One only has to stand in line at the Customs and Immigration line in the US and overhear the "welcome to the US sir/ma'am" in any American airport"

Would that be in English, or in the non-English speaker's language?

"I'm from the deep south"
That would have been my first guess

<<Hence my later postings and my reference to the 'frogs'.>>
Also from your first post:
their sodding language.

Brits beat them in being better pillagers of the world.

the only English word they volunteer to speak is 'HELP'. That's after they say 'surrender'.

Now imagine if a stranger went up to a cop in "the deep south" and starting speaking French.....

robjame wrote: "Now imagine if a stranger went up to a cop in "the deep south" and starting speaking French....."

Do you consider Louisana to be in the deep south?

French to a cop in the deep south, hmm, that would get an interesting response. French in an international airport, now that would get some concerned attention. All international airports here have translators to handle emergencies.
Perhaps you should read my first post. I didn't ask the cops to sniff out my wallet. The Lost+found dept called them up to tell them that they had found it, but they didn't tell me even thought I was sitting in the room with them. Even the folks at the L+f folks were shocked to hear that. I later found out from other airport folks that they were pissed that I didn't speak french. I suppose you frogs learn Swahili, should you happen to have a 3-hour lay-over in Nairobi.
Therein, lies the angst of the frogs, the english-speaking peoples beat 'em at it all! The frogs even make second-rate pillagers!!!
At the airport here in the US the 'welcome to the US' is in english. Most, barring the frogs, don't have a problem with that. In Paris, it's a grunt, if you're lucky.

Well, traveller1234, I am sorry but from the way you've posted here, the impression I get is this:

1. You lost your wallet.

2. You freaked out. Understandable, yes. However I suspect that:

3. You freaked out on every airport official you saw. You freaked out loudly.

4. You got a response in a language you don't understand, and that made you freak out even more.

5. You seriously annoyed them with all your freaking out, to the degree that when the call came that your wallet was found, they didn't care. Eating lunch, going to the bathroom, taking another call, or whatever was going on was more important to them than reassuring the exploding ball of fury that his wallet was okay. They did not want to engage you.

Culture clash- as service providers, you expected them to jump to attention when you needed it, and that your freaking out should have driven the point home to them instead of making them care less.

I'm sorry you went through the stress and apparent expense of losing your wallet, but I do hope you didn't start screaming about frogs and the second world war at the airport. It's a little koo-koo, even on an internet forum.

Perhaps contrary to what some say, the French are extremely polite, courteous and helpful - Just like I'll assume you and your family members would be if you ran into a Parisan in your home town, who spoke little or no English. The essentials are to learn the basics before you go; hello, good-bye, please and thank you really TRULY go a long way. I just returned last night from a week in Paris; not only do I think you did not make a mistake in adding this trip to your itinerary, but I'm sorry that you will not have more time there! It is truly a city in it's own class and it's people, incredibly culteraly diverse I might add, were incredibly gracious and helpful to us, they went out of their way for us more often than not!!! Have a great time!! And buy a guide book, Fodors has words and phrases that you will use most.

Thanks. That's more like it. It isn't that people around the world should speak the same language. It was the hokey being peddled here that Parisenes are a polite, classy bunch relative to..??? The impression I have (and many others too) is that Parisenes are boorish and dishonest. Dishonest because they speak English but refuse to when a desperate tourist (or passerby like me) needs help. There are other places in the world where I've gotten by without following a word of what they spoke, but they were respectful, understanding and helpful, and I came away with the warmest regard for them and their culture. It isn't that one expects the French to speak another language, it is that the Parisenes can and do speak english quite fluently (as I found out later after my wallet, passport, and tickets were found), but will not unless 'they' are in need. Given that there is a substantial economic contribution by non-french speaking tourists to their foie gras, one would expect a modicum of decency in return on their part.
I have never visited france and have been invited as a speaker to conferences twice since this incident 2 years ago, the last was 2 weeks ago at in Strasbourg, but I have always declined. I don't intend ever visiting france. I have aquaintances who are french who seem an OK lot; none seem to be from Paris and even they dismiss the Parisenes as being rude.

"I have always declined. I don't intend ever visiting france."

Good decision. Stick with it!

traveler1234, thanks for the laughs.

"The impression I have (and many others too) is that Parisenes are boorish and dishonest."

how funny, that although you've never been there you KNOW your impression is right. Meanwhile I've been there many, many times and have yet to ever have anyone pretend not to speak English and help me. And I can only recall running into one truly rude or boorish Parisian in all my stays there -- a much lower percentage than almost any other travel destination I've been to.

My impression (having been there) is totally different from yours (never having been there), but no doubt yours is right and mine is wrong.

ROTFLMAO. Robjame is right however. I think it is wise for you to stay away especially since your mind is made up.

This discussion needs a bit of civility. Where is somedayparis when we need her???

And NeoPatrick thanks for your deep insight into my misadventure. After all you've visited Paris 'many' times. There are scores of others who've had encounters with the boorishness that parisenes have to offer. If you've even read a bit of what I've said, I didn't have to travel to the city - iI felt the parisene loutishness pervade thro the transit lounge of the airport. My experience only confirmed the well known caricature of the parisien frenchman. His fabled disdain for the 'Ugly-American' (his words, not mine). It's not you, it's your government, he explains in inspector clouseau fashion. Oddly, the US consul herself told me that the parisenes were notorius for being rude to Americans, particularly those who didn't speak the language. Obviously, you've been there 'many' times, you MUST know better.
You like it so much there... stay there... good riddance.

Re: Ugly American...from what you've posted here, I'd say you fit that description bang on.

traveler - reread your posts. You start each one sanely then whip yourself into such a lather that what you say is both laughable and pathetic
I'd pay to go and hear you speak - I'll bet you could pick a fight with yourself in a phonebooth
Apres_Londee had you pegged

Ribbit

Actually Apres_Londee only has it half right. I did freak out when I lost my papers. I didn't freakout with the cops - I was huddled in the corner in fear and doubled over in pain. Contrary to what you say, the US consul told me later that she thought that if I had been a little firmer with the cops instead of appearing fearful and anxious, I may have gotten more help. Standing up to a bully, I suppose.
As regards the 'ugly American' bit, I was quoting from a conversation overheard between a frenchman and another person.
My first posting was in response to a series of postings, long before my first, that suggested that parisenes were all these charming classy types bending over backwards and barely coping with the problems with all those tiresome tourists and visitors. Paris has a reputation of being a site to see. I don't plan on finding out. Parisenes have a repution of being obnoxious (which explains the flurry of e-mails throughout in rabid earnest to dispel) which I experienced the hard way. In no other city-related site here is there a discussion on the behavior of the city's inhabitants. Check out London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Madrid, Lisbon, Prague, NYC, Chicago, Singapore, Mumbai...etc.
Ugly parisene instead?

What in h*ll is a Parisene?

If you're going to spend half a day berating an entire city, at least get the spelling right.

nice... very nice... the only responses i have received have been abusive. no explanations. not even surprise. some denial.
a parisene is the loutish inhabitant of the city of paris. also referred to as a parisienne... i ignore the 'i' and the 'e' for brevity. and some levity. and now that it rankles, for derision.
it's particularly amusing how the same people find it an extension of their feigned sophistication to deride an entire country (who's handouts they most shamefully lap up), find it so prickly when made the object of the same derision.

and while we're on the subject of correcting one another's use of the english language, one cannot 'berate' a city. one can deride it, be disparaging perhaps. but to berate is to 'scold'...
back to language school, dear.

traveler1234~~ One huge problem with all your generalizations & name calling is you have never even BEEN TO PARIS and plan never to go to France.

What I want to know is, how the heck do you know so d*mn much about what the people are like in a place you have never been?

suze..but i have! i was in the airport. then was taken to the US consulate to get a new passport. and back again to find my old one in the airport.
the response has been oddly expected, given my brief experience with the people there. if i was made aware of a visitor being treated poorly in my city, i'd be mortified. whenever someone has a poor experience in another world city, the natives have almost always been as embarassed and apologetic.
with the parisenes, it's very expectedly the opposite. one of the rare instances where the lore matched the experience.