'France made me cry': Influencer complains about feeling isolated in Lyon, splits opinions on travel behavior

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JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Jan 9, 2024 9:00 AM EST

French speakers are notorious for gatekeeping their language. I took French classes for most of my school days, but when I attempted to ask for a table for two in Paris, the server immediately responded in English. It bruised my ego, to say the least. I understand that my accent isn't perfect, and he doesn't have to humor me, but it would have been nice to get a little practice in.

So when an influencer complained about feeling isolated in Lyon because she didn't speak the language, commenters were divided on whether she was being an entitled American or if she was spilling some real tea about what it's like to travel in France. The truth is probably somewhere in between, but you decide for yourself. Get the story below. 

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  • 01
    r/ImTheMainCharacter 1d She thought France is like in Emily in Paris ....
    via u/raubson
  • 02
    via @RealPhDFoodie
  • 03
    BigMax • 1d Funniest rude argument I saw in France: In Paris, waiter greets new folks in English (this is right in tourist central, so they often default to English.) This whole conversation was in English: Guy: "why are you speaking English in France?" Waiter: "Well, people are from everywhere, and most people speak English."
    via u/BigMax
  • 04
    Guy: "But it's france, why don't you speak French? Do you not speak it??" Waiter: "I AM French! I grew up here! Of course I speak it!" Guy: "Then why don't you speak it???" Waiter: "My english is very good, I'll speak what I want to speak!!!" Pretty funny to hear two French guys arguing about speaking French, and one guy then refusing to speak French, even though he WAS French, just because the other guy was being a
    via u/BigMax
  • 05
    Commercial-Humor-641 · 1d • I'm french, no one hate the french more than us
    via u/Commercial-Humor-641
  • 06
    Kaizodacoit • 23h Damn french, they ruined France!
    via u/Kaizodacoit
  • 07
    sadclowntown. 1d "I even bought a French hat". Idk if that was supposed to be funny but it made me laugh.
    via u/sadclowntown
  • 08
    Particular_Sea_5300 - 18h If it isn't satire to begin with and she became just a liiiiitle more self-aware, damn she'd be funny af
    via u/Particular_Sea_5300
  • 09
    Minimal Mojo 1d She got the beret but she forgot the baguette. So no wonder things didn't work out for her.
    via u/MinimalMojo
  • 10
    thefunkybassist . 23h Raaaspberry baguette
    via u/thefunkybassist
  • 11
    DarthSchrodinger • 1d In all seriousness, just got offered to work 6 months in France (Tournus which is North of Lyon) & this video has provided a better argument than anything my boss or boss' boss have conveyed in the past 2 weeks. Isolation? (Check) People leave you alone? (Check) Beautiful scenery? (Check) Delicious food? (Check)
    via u/DarthSchrodinger
  • 12
    Own Bison507 • 1d I feel like that's it! it's not isolation on purpose, it's just that in some countries and cultures, people tend not to meddle into others' business and mind their own, thus leaving you alone. Personally I like that too. I guess she expect everyone to be as social as her.
    via u/Own_Bison507
  • 13
    notsafe420 • 1d But at Lyon people tend to be condescending . Source: I am French and I would acclimate better in a foreign country than their. To say the least I have been studing for 3years their and I became depressed afterward. I believe that's the city were there is the most educated pple for long time but still.. -
    via u/notsafe420
  • 14
    lytener • 23h I found Lyon to be the least hospitable to foreigners. They aren't really a top tourist destination, so I can see how they can get more frustrated with non-French speakers. They must be like the Jersey of France. Paris, Normandy, and Nice at least have some toleration. They can still be condescending, but will work with you.
    via u/lytener
  • 15
    Spartak_Gavvygavgav. 1d But she bought a French hat. What more do these people expect from her?
    via u/Spartak_Gavvygavgav
  • 16
    ChaosInTheWindyCity. 1d I went to Paris with a fluent French speaker and even then the French people seemed very inconsiderate. I'm from the uk so I'm used to a normal not Americanised version of customer service and even I was taken aback a bit
    via u/ChaosInTheWindyCity
  • 17
    181 Inevitable_Stand_199 • 1d The French are notoriously distant to people who don't speak French. She's apparently not even expecting much. Just the for other people to show her the common decency she experienced in Italy and Germany! And we Germans aren't exactly known for being the most open.
    via u/ Inevitable_Stand_199
  • 18
    PhelesDragon • 1d She might be kinda under prepared going to a country she doesn't speak the language of with no plan, but she's being very humble and not Karen-y about how the country is making her feel. Not exactly brilliant, but certainly not an MC
    via u/PhelesDragon
  • 19
    heseme • 1d And no hint that she had any emily in paris delusions. She is comparing her experiences with other touristic experiences she had...
    via u/heseme
  • 20
    ThrustersToFull • 1d I read once that the Japanese Embassy in Paris had to set up a special phone line for Japanese citizens to call when they arrived in Paris and saw that it is not as portrayed in Amelie. Until the establishment of the hotline, the embassy was besieged every single day by Japanese tourists who were borderline hysterical about the state of the city.
    via u/ThrustersToFull
  • 21
    TheThaiDawn • 1d Not main charecter syndrome, just a woman explaining her travel experiences. Happened to me in singapore vs my experience in thailand.
    via u/TheThaiDawn
  • 22
    Special Hippo3399 · 1d Exactly? I thought I was losing my mind. This sub hates on anything. She is just describing her experience.
    via u/Special_Hippo3399

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