Speaking in French to my gas station guy.

@TheHorse (223331)
Walnut Creek, California
February 19, 2025 11:20am CST
I may have already written about this. I'm not sure. I was "pals" with the gal who managed my discount gas station. It's also where I buy my cigs. We "gave each other a hard time" and laughed when I'd go inside. A few months ago (or was it a year or two ago?), she moved North to be with her kids and grandkids. The new manager is from some country in North Africa. I asked him what language he was speaking (he was on the phone) and he said Burbar. I hope I spelled that right. We talked about where he was from, and I asked if he spoke other languages. He said French. I said, "Je parle un peut de Francais." He laughed, and it was off to the races. Now, when I buy cigs from him, we speak in French. My French is terrible, though my accent is pretty good. I have no idea how many "words" I know in French. Maybe 200. But I kind of understand how to put a sentence together. Living in California, I have learned some Spanish, but "some" may be an exaggeration. I speak maybe 40 words of Spanish, and cannot understand Spanish people when they talk to each other. I also speak maybe 20 words of Hebrew. How many languages do you speak? other than English? My Filipino friends here speak English, Tagalog, Filipino Spanish, and their native dialect. Most Indians I know here speak at least three languages as well. I am a tad jealous of those who speak several languages. Do you have certain people in your day-to day life who you don't really know, but still chat with?
11 people like this
10 responses
@DaddyEvil (141814)
• United States
19 Feb
I know a little bit of French, a little bit of Spanish and English... The only people I regularly speak to now is Pretty and my brother, Steve. We rarely run into anyone else except for doctors and, sometimes, a salesclerk.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (141814)
• United States
19 Feb
@TheHorse When I worked as a motel clerk on I-44, I'd often get French Canadians coming in for a night or two. I had a lot of fun listening to them and slowly speaking with them. Most of them thought it was funny slowing down and speaking with me.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (223331)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Feb
@DaddyEvil When I was in France, the French people appreciated that I tried to speak French, even if I was lame at it. The people in Paris mostly spoke English, but the people in the countryside towns did not. I learned about Petanque in French.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (223331)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Feb
It is WAY hard for me to understand native French speakers when they speak to each other in French. I say, "Parle lentmente s'il vous plait!" I don't even know if that is right.
3 people like this
@lilacskies (4542)
• United States
19 Feb
I speak only English. Where did you learn 20 words of Hebrew?
3 people like this
@TheHorse (223331)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Feb
I worked for a friend at a preschool affiliated with a synagogue in Berkeley CA. Many of the parents and kids (and teachers) spoke Hebrew. So I learned a few words.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (223331)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Feb
@lilacskies Oh, words like yes, no, hands, milk, water, mommy, daddy, thank you, etc. Real basic stuff, mostly related to kids.
2 people like this
• United States
19 Feb
@TheHorse How wonderful! What words did you learn?
3 people like this
@jstory07 (141868)
• Roseburg, Oregon
19 Feb
I speak only English.
2 people like this
@jstory07 (141868)
• Roseburg, Oregon
19 Feb
@TheHorse Most some speak Spanish.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (223331)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Feb
@jstory07 Do some people speak both? Do you know a few Spanish phrases?
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (223331)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Feb
Do most people speak English in Roseburg?
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (111794)
• Marion, Ohio
19 Feb
English and sarcasm. I am fluent in both
2 people like this
@TheHorse (223331)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Feb
Both are good languages,
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346510)
• Rockingham, Australia
20 Feb
I remember being amazed as a child that someone could speak more than one language. As for speaking 3 or more - how cool is that?
2 people like this
@TheHorse (223331)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Feb
It is cool. As a child, I was mostly around English speakers. I have forgotten all of the Italian I learned when we live in italy for a year. I think I was three or four.
1 person likes this
@somewitch (2103)
19 Feb
I had to study French at school, as well as Spanish. I’m rusty in both but I’ve been relearning French again with the green owl, aka Duolingo. I haven’t been practicing my French elsewhere, I guess I could write un peu but I’d be quite uncomfortable if I had to either speak or listen.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (223331)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Feb
Yeah. Understanding French people speaking French is hard for me.
1 person likes this
@ptrikha_2 (47375)
• India
14h
I speak Hindi, English and Punjabi. I can understand Urdu a bit which is kind of a crossover of Hindi and Arabic. I know just a few words from other Indian languages plus one or two from German and Spanish. So even I am not too much skilled on multiple languages. Did you do any language course in French in the past?
@kaylachan (75135)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Feb
I could speak Spanish if I have to. Plus I do know some ASL. I just speak mostly English because outside of high school I haven't had much of an opportunity to use what I learned.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (223331)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Feb
You might learn your Spanish back in you lived in California!
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (75135)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Feb
@TheHorse Maybe. But, George doesn't want to go back there. So here we'll stay.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (223331)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Feb
@kaylachan Where did you live in CA?
2 people like this
@Dreamerby (6539)
• Calcutta, India
20 Feb
Oh I have french this semester.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (223331)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Feb
Cool!
1 person likes this
20 Feb
Bad Spanglish and beginning French! Oui!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (223331)
• Walnut Creek, California
20 Feb
What is your native tongue?