abbynicole27

travelwoman - I don't get what you mean... in most of the other provinces people don't know how to speak french, so why would they speak it with Quebecers?
Anyways, my tourist stories come from the summers I spent working at a Pier on Vancouver Island - we were right on the edge of the ocean, in a channel between two islands, and people would always ask "Why does the river flow both ways?"
But my personal favorite - given that we were definitely in CANADA - was the guy who asked me - "Are these prices in American?"

USNR

Tourist: "At what altitude do the deer become elk?"

LoveItaly

travelwoman, the name you are calling Poohgirl is SICK!!!! KNOCK IT OFF!!!

You have a problem, which falls I guess in the "Ugly American" catagory.

Poohgirl, I am sorry for this uncouth poster. Take good care.

fehgeddaboudit

So am I the only one to notice that nellyanne and travelwoman both misspell poohgirl the same way. Coincidence? NOT. This is also the same person as fluffykitty and muffin.

tondalaya

Me thinks you are guessing correct, fehge.
Shame on you, St cirq, making fun of people who pay you to teach them about the area.

Neil_Oz

And 'travelwoman' is neither a traveller nor a woman. Let's stop giving him oxygen.

travelwoman

What I meant was that English Canadians just expect francophones to speak in English when they go to Quebec even though most of them never make the effort to speak French. When Quebecers leave Quebec, they know that most anglophones wont make any effort to speak French.
When I was in France, I spoke French and didnt expect anyone to speak English to me. Many Americans were "appauled" that the Parisains "pretended" not to understand English. I am proud of my Anglo Yankee heritage for the most part(fragality) but I am not so proud about the linguistic intolerance that Americans inherited from the Brits!! Anglo Candians have the same baggage!

leonberger

On a trip to London almost 20 years ago, we were on the verger's tour of Westminster Abbey (although I'm not sure it had that title then). A very small group - maybe 10 or 12 of us. A man from the US piped up at one point and asked the Guide/Verger, "When exactly is the Queen going to abdicate in favor of Prince Charles?" We all looked at him in astonishment.

Gayle

abbynicole27

travelwoman - Quebecers are often far more likely to know how to speak english, because they are a minority in the country. I agree that it would be ridiculous for anyone who spoke English to go to another country/region and EXPECT the other people to speak English to you; but how can you consider it rude or dumb for non-French speaking Canadians to not speak French to Quebecers who come visit?!

travelwoman

I am often amazed when I see Anglos blurting out an order in English in Quebec not even asking the person they are talking to if he or she speaks French. I have seen this in Paris too.
I have also have witnessed people trying to speak French and doing very well only to have the little shop girl or surly waitor respond in English. Now thats rude!! Once a francophone friend from Quebec was in Paris and a few times the Parisians would answer her in English!!!! Hello????? She would tell them that she was a native speaker but as soon as they hear any accent at all, they switch to English. Tres derangeant!!!! How annoying would that be!! French Canadian can be understood if you speak French. Its no harder than to understand someone from another part of the country being understood in London.

fluffykitty

Just keep in mind that the majority of people who ask seemingly stupid questions really are decent people who just made a simple mistake. When you are in a place that's foreign its easy to feel clueless about what's the norm there. But there are still some awfully lazy thinkers who visit who do need a swift kick in the azz.