On Feb 28, 6:15 pm, "James Silverton"
wrote:
> Stephen wrote on Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:57:47 -0600:
>
> SE> "sechumlib" wrote in message
> SE>news:45e4ebd0$0$27048$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> ??>> On 2007-02-27 20:10:30 -0500, "mdrawson"
> said:
> ??>>
> SE> Snip
> ??>>
> ??>> One obvious attraction is the Perc=E9 Rock (Rocher de
> ??>> Perc=E9), a landmark known Canada-wide. In the nearby town,
> ??>> there are numerous places to stay that have fantastic
> ??>> food. This is the only place in Gasp=E9 where I could assure
> ??>> you that English will be spoken. Better know French or
> ??>> sign language for the rest!
> ??>>
>
> I may have mentioned this before but my first experience of
> trying poor French in rural Quebec was enlightening. I needed to
> find a Post Office but I was hesitant to try my very poor French
> so I asked a passerby in English. Blank look; OK, "Ou est le
> bureau de poste, s'il vous plait?" It might have been a desire
> to get this horrible French speaking out of town but practically
> a delegation escorted me to the Post Office!
That seems to be typical of the reception you'll get if you at least
attempt to speak French. I'm Francophone but I've experimented when
in Qu=E9bec, keeping my mouth shut and letting my Anglophone husband
deal with restaurants, etc. In all but the smallest communities,
anytime he started to speak French (and his French is quite good) the
person would hear the accent and switch to English.
Gabby
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