Just Processing

"Une baguette moulee, s'il vous plait." Why is that so hard to understand?

There is a new girl at the boulangerie. I have not hit it off with her yet. She never seems to understand me and, I promise, I am speaking her language! It is like the experience I had at the hospital when CG was born. They have those little intercom things that you have to talk into when you need something or someone. In my case I needed the midwife, so in the midst of my excruciating pain which was a result of their refusal to give me ibuprofen and the barbaric stitches given to me after a brutal tear which wouldn't have happened if I had been given an episiotomy (do I sound bitter?), I very sweetly asked for "une sage femme, s'il vous plait." How many times did I have to repeat myself? Oh, about 5 and then they sent someone down the hall to ask me what I needed. I almost lost it but repeated myself and then began to use dramatics to act out the removal of stitches! Then the girl says, "OOOOH, une sage femme!" Hello! What did I say a thousand times already?! Ok, so this experience occured after 2 years of studying French here and living here and going through an intensive 100 hour French course the summer before I gave birth. All this to say. Work with me.If you don't understand, don't give me that look that says that what I have said is totally incomprehensible. Just listen, will you? And then I am sure that if you really listen, although there is an unmistakable anglophone accent, you will understand because I am speaking your language!

Ok, now that I got that off my chest, let me encourage my American friends as well. When you encounter someone who doesn't speak English well. Don't write them off as an idiot. Don't look at them as if they are from Mars. Just listen a little closer. Make a little more effort. And be patient. A smile and willingness to listen goes a long way!