Seeing my Kentucky Driver’s License, I pulled it out and showed it to him. “‘I’m from Kentucky,” I said, “so it should be free for me.” I said it with a smile, but he didn’t laugh. I looked to the young girl he was training and said “I’m just kidding,” but it was too late. He had already called for his manager who walked up and listened as the story of this man from Kentucky was retold. “Does he get free food?” I heard asked while I shook my head no. Thankfully the manager looked up and saw me and let out a laugh. I paid and went on...I’m still trying to figure out how to make the French laugh. With my fellow Americans it’s easy. With my old Tanzanian pals all I had to do was say “come to my house and let’s eat tacos” and I was guaranteed raucous laughter (tako, same pronunciation, in swahili, means butt). But here in France, it’s taking some work. These people like comic books. And wear black. And drink wine and eat cheese. I did watch a french movie recently that was funny, but it’s not something that one can replicate interpersonally. Oh well. I’ll keep trying.
At camp this summer when I introduced myself I often said (in french), “I really don’t speak French, in fact the only word I know in French is hello, so you can tell me hi in French.” That barely even got me a smile. Just a look like, ‘you idiot, you’re talking in French right now... bad French, but that’s French.’
I did once succeed in generating laughter. Two nights ago, JJ and I went out on a date. We went to a movie but were late arriving. The movie had begun and the lights were low. I'd never been in this particular theater before. But none of that stopped me from plodding ahead, only to discover stairs I hadn't anticipated. I fell and rolled down them, ending up laying on my side hugging the back of a cinema chair. Then my eyes adjusted and I discovered it wasn't that dark. An entire row was laughing quite heartily at my expense. But I wasn't trying that time!
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4 comments:
Poor Michael.... Rolling down stairs seems to be your new french
activity. But I don't know if I would continue it ... I have tried it a few times in the past and well, lets just say I've grown very close to a friend named Aurther, who I can't seem to get rid of... Love you, Mama Sizemore
Oh man, I would have paid the overnight shipping expenses of sending you a qdoba burrito to see that fall caught on camera.
There's always the happy meal trick. Well, at least it makes me laugh.
-paul
We all know what happens when I fall down the stairs.
Have you ever seen the English version of "Who's Line Is It Anyway?"? Did you get it? Funny is a culture thing. Even here in the states. But kudos for trying. Never give up.
for what it's worth...i think you are funny...maybe it's because i'm not french
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