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ArtistInTheAmbulance 02-03-2006 04:11 PM
Foreign Exchanges and the likes
 
SO. Im going on the french exchange, and I dont know why. It was a total spur of the moment thing, literally, I just one day thought "yeah, why not" and when I got home, my parents were so mad. Oh well. Too late now. So anyway, anyone who's been on one before, care to fill me in on the do's and dont's ? Im SO scared. Its not even funny. Im probably gonna get some lad who's slightly homocidal, and hates me because I cant pronounce his name properly, and he'll murder me in my sleep or something.

Well. Help me :(

Urban Hat€monger ? 02-03-2006 04:14 PM
Seeing you`re going to France just be arrogant , unreasonable , arguementative & rude.

You`ll fit right in

ArtistInTheAmbulance 02-03-2006 04:15 PM
Ahah, I like how you're practically being every one of those things yourself right now. Nice. . .

Urban Hat€monger ? 02-03-2006 04:23 PM
Well I do live close ,maybe it`s rubbing off

Let that be a warning to you , stay away

ArtistInTheAmbulance 02-03-2006 04:51 PM
Spppf. Feckin "national pride" my ass. People are just up themselves :)

Anyway. So, hes coming here in a week and a day. And Ive only just learnt his name, not spoken to him once, and Im actually ****ting myself over here, Im that scared. My friend once did the german exchange, and her partners' gran died while she was over there, that must have been awful :( Hmm. Family intrusion . . .

Merkaba 02-03-2006 04:58 PM
Ah just by them some croissants.

They'll be well pleased.

Mama Booze 02-03-2006 05:33 PM
I know a wee bit of French if that helps any....

Does he speak American?

EDIT: English.

DontRunMeOver 02-03-2006 05:44 PM
Why are you scared? He's the poor lad who's being torn away from the arms of his loving family and thrust into deepest darkest Cornwall. Be nice to him and he'll be nice back. Don't let your family get out the fine dining set and insist on extremely mannered behaviour because that'll just freak the guy out.

I'm tempted to say at the moment that a lot of British people don't like the French because they have an attitude towards their own language which is very similar to the British attitude to english (i.e. I will go to other countries and shout at people in my native tongue and get grumpy when they don't understand).

PerFeCTioNThrUSileNCe 02-03-2006 05:47 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Merkaba
Ah just by them some croissants.

They'll be well pleased.
HA..and wine.

all i can say, is dont act like youre trying to keep your distance. theyll see that and hate you for it.

jibber 02-03-2006 05:49 PM
The fact that you're worried is a good thing. Fear is good, it means you're willing to step outside of your comfort zones and live a little. If you're never scared in your life you're doing something very wrong. Just sit back and enjoy it, you may be miserably homesick when you first get there, but I bet you anything by the time you're about to leave anf go back home, you won't want to.

DontRunMeOver 02-03-2006 05:55 PM
Oh yeah, don't let him confuse pasties with croissants at lunchtime, he could be in for a shock!

Also, you might have to explain early on that British style food generally just isn't that good and its not going to improve by him refusing to eat it - this isn't particularly aimed at french visitors to britain, it counts for lots of people visiting all kinds of countries. I've seen adults from all over the world descend into babyish glowering sessions because they don't like 'foreign food', push their plates away and curl their lip like a little toddler. So if he does something like this don't assume that its uncommon. It might be a good idea, before he eats his first british meal, to point out that if he doesn't like the food there's not much that anybody can do about it so he should be prepared.

jibber 02-03-2006 05:57 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by DontRunMeOver
Oh yeah, don't let him confuse pasties with croissants at lunchtime, he could be in for a shock!

Also, you might have to explain early on that British style food generally just isn't that good and its not going to improve by him refusing to eat it - this isn't particularly aimed at french visitors to britain, it counts for lots of people visiting all kinds of countries. I've seen adults from all over the world descend into babyish glowering sessions because they don't like 'foreign food', push their plates away and curl their lip like a little toddler. It might be a good idea, before he eats his first british meal, to point out that if he doesn't like the food there's not much that anybody can do about it so he should be prepared.
I sincerely doubt she'll run into that problem. First of all, the people who sulk about "foreign food" generally are the type of people who never venture out of their routine, and haven't grasped the fact that there's a whole more to the world than their own tiny little life. This guy has agreed to go on a foreign exchange program. Anyone who wuold willingly do that is obviously going to be open to new experiences and ways of living.

DontRunMeOver 02-03-2006 06:04 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by jibber
I sincerely doubt she'll run into that problem. First of all, the people who sulk about "foreign food" generally are the type of people who never venture out of their routine, and haven't grasped the fact that there's a whole more to the world than their own tiny little life. This guy has agreed to go on a foreign exchange program. Anyone who wuold willingly do that is obviously going to be open to new experiences and ways of living.
I disagree. There are a lot of people who travel to other countries with false expectations, in fact most of us do so. Some people have strong tastebuds and very resilient personalities, others don't. Yes, the guy will probably be open to new experiences and ways of living, but that doesn't mean that he's actually going to be able to deal with them easily once they become a reality. Sometimes when we search out new experiences we encounter ones which make us uncomfortable and sometimes people can't deal with them as well as they initially hoped.

What I mean is, AITA, be really, really nice to the guy when he's over as then he'll be really nice to you when you go over to France.

sleepy jack 02-03-2006 06:11 PM
You guys are turning this into a full blown debate when it doesn't need to be.
I'm pretty sure she knows to be nice to the dude, ya think shes so dumb as too to be a bitch to him?

Urban Hat€monger ? 02-03-2006 06:18 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Crowquill
You guys are turning this into a full blown debate when it doesn't need to be.
Whats wrong with debating , it is a forum

sleepy jack 02-03-2006 06:22 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger
Whats wrong with debating , it is a forum
That one was pointless, they don't know what he is and isn't going to like.

ArtistInTheAmbulance 02-03-2006 06:34 PM
Thanks guysss. I know its dumb to worry, it wont help a thing, but its not exactleh something I can help I guess.

Apparently though, he's "quite fluent" in english, so thats something. . . Thing is, when I go and stay over there, theyre expecting me to speak french. And, of course, as soon as Ive signed myself up for this exchange programme, its THEN that I realise I know no french. I was listening to the french radio, and it was literally nothing that I knew, I picked up the odd word, but it all sounds so similar anyway. Ahah, Im so screwed.

Hmm. And, as for the food thing, Im gonna be staying at my mums house for the week he's here, and niether of us can cook one bit, so it should be fun. He can cope on hot dogs and stoof :)

Quote:
Originally Posted by DontRunMeOver
What I mean is, AITA, be really, really nice to the guy when he's over as then he'll be really nice to you when you go over to France.
I can try, but Im not exactly the most outgoing of people, and when I get nervous I dont stop talking , so he's bound to be scared half to death, haha. Im just gonna be pissed off I guess, if he comes over here, realises he doesnt like me, then I dont get a trip to france at the end of it! That would suck.

Urban Hat€monger ? 02-03-2006 06:35 PM
My mother ended up dating hers for a short time.

Drummer in a band called The Frogs apparently

jibber 02-03-2006 07:02 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArtistInTheAmbulance
Thanks guysss. I know its dumb to worry, it wont help a thing, but its not exactleh something I can help I guess.

Apparently though, he's "quite fluent" in english, so thats something. . . Thing is, when I go and stay over there, theyre expecting me to speak french. And, of course, as soon as Ive signed myself up for this exchange programme, its THEN that I realise I know no french. I was listening to the french radio, and it was literally nothing that I knew, I picked up the odd word, but it all sounds so similar anyway. Ahah, Im so screwed.

Hmm. And, as for the food thing, Im gonna be staying at my mums house for the week he's here, and niether of us can cook one bit, so it should be fun. He can cope on hot dogs and stoof :)


I can try, but Im not exactly the most outgoing of people, and when I get nervous I dont stop talking , so he's bound to be scared half to death, haha. Im just gonna be pissed off I guess, if he comes over here, realises he doesnt like me, then I dont get a trip to france at the end of it! That would suck.
don't worry about it too much. Just go on the assumption that he will be a nice guy, and you'll be fine. As for traveling around france and not knowing the language, buy one of those cheap french language instruction tapes, they'll help out, won't make you fluent, but you'll end up knowing enough to get by. If I have any advice for traveling, just assume that everyone wants to help you out as muich as they can. That way you'll react to them in an open and friendly way, and they'll react to that, no mater what country you're in. Don't listen to anyone telling you that all french people are arrogant a**holes. If you go to france expecting people to be mean to you, it'll seem like everyone IS being as a**.

adidasss 02-04-2006 04:49 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArtistInTheAmbulance
Thanks guysss. I know its dumb to worry, it wont help a thing, but its not exactleh something I can help I guess.

Apparently though, he's "quite fluent" in english, so thats something. . . Thing is, when I go and stay over there, theyre expecting me to speak french. And, of course, as soon as Ive signed myself up for this exchange programme, its THEN that I realise I know no french. I was listening to the french radio, and it was literally nothing that I knew, I picked up the odd word, but it all sounds so similar anyway. Ahah, Im so screwed.

Hmm. And, as for the food thing, Im gonna be staying at my mums house for the week he's here, and niether of us can cook one bit, so it should be fun. He can cope on hot dogs and stoof :)


I can try, but Im not exactly the most outgoing of people, and when I get nervous I dont stop talking , so he's bound to be scared half to death, haha. Im just gonna be pissed off I guess, if he comes over here, realises he doesnt like me, then I dont get a trip to france at the end of it! That would suck.
it's going to be hell on earth and you're going to be traumatised for the rest of your life......























i'm not kidding.....

ArtistInTheAmbulance 02-04-2006 05:00 AM
:( STOP IT.

Trust you to be a bitch about it marijan. It'll be fine, right? As long as they dont make me eat lung. Thats fecking nasty... And as long as my friends all behave with him. Ahah, who am I kidding, Im screwed...

Ohwell. It means I wont be here for a while, so if I dissappear and everyone suddenly starts panicking, its okay :rolleyes:

Urban Hat€monger ? 02-04-2006 05:08 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArtistInTheAmbulance
As long as they dont make me eat lung. Thats fecking nasty...
No it`s horsemeat over there

Murphy's Law 02-04-2006 04:16 PM
pourquoi tu est peur? cest pas un probleme plus grave

sorry, i lived in france for a bit so i felt the need to do that. Don't worry it will be great, trust me you'll have a great time just as long as you go to the south, there all really chilled down there. Its only really Parisians and northeners that don't like the english

ArtistInTheAmbulance 02-04-2006 04:19 PM
Ahaha, Im pretty much going to the northest north there is. Im off to Morlaix, dont know if you know it . . .

Hmm. I only just found out who my partner is yesterday. Nice n organised, eh? =/

Mama Booze 02-04-2006 04:23 PM
Oo whats his info??

Murphy's Law 02-04-2006 04:23 PM
Yeh i know where ur goin! a bit! its too bad cos the south is so International now and English has become the second language of most of the french students. Not to mention the amout of international students already there, the party's are great and just the "ambiance" is so mellow

ladyluckrules 02-04-2006 04:42 PM
Yeah I've been on exchange to France and Germany.
I've only just found out I have a different exchange partner coming over in March and I've dropped German so i don't speak a word, hahah!
But France was alright, she liked that bloody mouse Diddle or Diddelina, she acted a lot younger than me and frankly her brother was a pervert!
But the lad should be fine, I wouldn't be worried.

Scarlett O'Hara 02-05-2006 02:04 AM
Just practice eating snails and you'll be fine! :D

ArtistInTheAmbulance 02-05-2006 08:51 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by some_exotic_booze
Oo whats his info??
Um, his names Morgann, hes a Rolling Stones fan, has 2 sisters and a brother, is "chatty and sociable" and dances. Im scared. . .
Quote:
Originally Posted by Murphy's Law
Yeh i know where ur goin! a bit! its too bad cos the south is so International now and English has become the second language of most of the french students. Not to mention the amout of international students already there, the party's are great and just the "ambiance" is so mellow
Damn, so Im gonna be spending the week with people who dont know much english? Bugger!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vanilla
Just practice eating snails and you'll be fine! :D
*Shudders* I refuse. Im gonna write to him and say DONT FEED ME SNAILS OR LUNG. He'd appreciate that, Im sure . . .

WELL, my mum has tried to make me look forward to him coming over, so she bought us tickets to see Grease the musical when hes down! Im actually excited about that part :)

Mama Booze 02-05-2006 09:17 AM
Oh em gee!
He dances!
HAHAHA

ladyluckrules 02-05-2006 09:33 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by some_exotic_booze
Oh em gee!
He dances!
HAHAHA
*camp french accent* So yah I do, modern, jazz, tap dance, all in spandex you know, it's greaaaat for my thighs.

ArtistInTheAmbulance 02-05-2006 09:48 AM
:(

Poor lad.

I feel sorry for him now.

JEEZ.


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