Desicritics Comments on Stale Wine With Mouldy Cheese - The 'French' Experience

Comment by fussball live

Thu, 5 Mar 2009 18:32:32 EST

Gute Arbeit hier! Gute Inhalte.

Comment by fussball live

Thu, 5 Mar 2009 18:31:53 EST

Gute Arbeit hier! Gute Inhalte.

Comment by car insurance

Sat, 7 Feb 2009 11:18:36 EST

good site!

Comment by car insurance

Sat, 7 Feb 2009 11:17:56 EST

good site!

Comment by commonsense

Mon, 9 Jun 2008 18:04:19 EDT

see, life is full of caveats and howevers.... temporal: sad face? you bet! the best way to actually get help!1

Comment by Jawahara

Mon, 9 Jun 2008 17:36:55 EDT

Yes, definitely go for the cheese and wine at home and read some French poetry. As a caveat to the rude Frenchmen, I am currently sharing a house with a wonderfully inventive and literary writer...and a great and very friendly guy who happens to be French...a Parisian to boot. :-)

Comment by temporal

Mon, 9 Jun 2008 16:52:11 EDT

cs: And yes, almost all the folks I asked for help, in English, were quite helpful. must be the "sad" face ;)

Comment by commonsense

Mon, 9 Jun 2008 16:21:56 EDT

what the FISH??!! What really is the point of going to France if you really believe, and as J and DT seem to reinforce this irrational belief that the French are "universally ARE a rude bunch"!? Would it not be a better, not to mention substantially cheaper experience, to just buy French wine and cheese at home? Otherwise, you will be for sure in "search of insanity" in Paris. BTW, in case you are wondering, I've been to France a few times. And no I do not speak French. And yes, almost all the folks I asked for help, in English, were quite helpful. Perhaps not as helpful as the average Japanese on the street (as in "here is a sword, please slaghter me as I know not of the street you ask for"), but still they were helpful.

Comment by DotThoughts

Mon, 9 Jun 2008 15:19:10 EDT

Sanity, it it helps, the French ARE a rude bunch. Perhaps they don't see that themselves. I have never met a French I liked. Never been to France though. Hope you make the trip and write about it!

Comment by Jawahara

Sun, 8 Jun 2008 16:52:46 EDT

Sanity, would it comfort you to know that the French are universally rude even in France? It's part of the national character. But despite it all, the food and wine and cheese are truly fabulous. :-)

Comment by temporal

Sun, 8 Jun 2008 15:06:45 EDT

murphy's law is in evidence in all consulates and embassies all over the world ;)

Comment by Sanity

Sun, 8 Jun 2008 13:21:35 EDT

Ha Ha... I suppose that is a consolation. Thanks.

Comment by commonsense

Sun, 8 Jun 2008 09:47:55 EDT

i think it had something to do with the pink shirt? look at it like this: the annoying behaviour of the pink shirted prick gave you something to write about. and you write well!

Comment by Sanity

Sun, 8 Jun 2008 09:35:09 EDT

Hmmm.. Its interesting that you should think that. I mean I am not oblivious to the fact that red tape exists in India and I've had quite a few encounters there with all sorts of 'small men with big egoes' who think just because they happen to be on the other side of the desk, they somehow are superior. So, I can completely empathise with your experience. As a matter of fact, 'pink shirt' happened to be the supervisor. And I would have talked to his superior, if allowed to open my mouth. Somehow the notion that the existence of unnecessary bureaucracy in one part of the world, sanctifies its presence in another, does not mean much to me. In saying that this kind of behaviour is 'par for the course' in every embassy, we brush under the carpet, the fact that it should not be. As for ills of the Indian society, I have read umpteen accounts of foreighners in India who constantly complain about red tape and corrupt officials. If this behaviour is routine everywhere, why the 'holier than thou' attitude? Lastly, it wasnt just the fact that I would have to go back for something which appears completely inane to me. I can understand Embassies are busy places and they have work to do. I have been in other Consulates/Embassies where a similar situation was handled in a lot more civilised manner with dialogue. Honestly, people in general respond a lot better to sensible talk than arrogant impudence.

Comment by smallsquirrel

Sun, 8 Jun 2008 07:39:16 EDT

hmmm, methinks you have not spent much time in embassies. this kind of thing is par for the course in just about every embassy world-over. and don;t go thinking India treats foreigners any better. try registering at the commissioner of police (there is no FRO in karnataka) in bangalore. they are among the most rude and unhelpful people EVER. I had to go back 4 times to fix a simple stamp. really, you just need a thicker skin. it's not about racism or feeling superior. it's about too many people not following directions (as inane or not well explained as they might be). and I am sorry but what you did is not the proper way to handle an issue in an embassy. if you have an issue you call for a supervisor. you cannot just stand there and haggle. it's not central bazaar, it's an embassy!