tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post4186885816544786786..comments2024-01-12T00:35:16.941+01:00Comments on French Leave: When did you last burn Joan of Arcthe fly in the webhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04563871975125538755noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post-65393109096554860092012-02-08T10:17:45.064+01:002012-02-08T10:17:45.064+01:00Enjoying reading through your blog and reminding m...Enjoying reading through your blog and reminding me of the reasons I left France after 19 years there. yes, Joan of Arc and don't forget Waterloo, the French don't let you forget that one either. And the daily comments by Frogs who have never set a foot in the UK, about English people who only eat boiled meat with jam.<br />Just one question though, 'Nous sommes pour rien", I would have translated as "it's not our fault", "we can't do anything about it"Vickynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post-56991632327899027932012-01-26T13:59:52.949+01:002012-01-26T13:59:52.949+01:00Mark in Mayennne, I've just watched part two o...Mark in Mayennne, I've just watched part two of the Meades programme about France on BBC...he too makes the point about the need for a diploma before being able to start up any activity at all.<br />It used to amuse me...when I thought of the levels of competence of those holding said diplomas!<br /><br />The education thingy used to drive me wild..dull kids plodded along happily, while bright ones had their enthusiasm squashed on a daily basis...<br />As for your friend, how would she know how to speak her native language without a diploma awarded in France!<br />As to the sale of Joan of Arc, I like your response too...I'm not so subtle!the fly in the webhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04563871975125538755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post-36929570646153950052012-01-26T11:56:01.228+01:002012-01-26T11:56:01.228+01:00You're right too about the lack of self-confid...You're right too about the lack of self-confidence (sorry about the bitty reply to your post but you raise lots of different responses) <br /><br />People really can't understand that we're making a success of running accommodation and providing meals without any formal qualifications in either. There seems to be a universal belief that you can't do anything without a relevant qualification. I think it's related to the fact that you can't do anything without a SIRET number....Mark In Mayennehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14987723233401368368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post-12462567216437070612012-01-26T11:50:47.607+01:002012-01-26T11:50:47.607+01:00A friend of ours volunteered to help out with Engl...A friend of ours volunteered to help out with English lessons in the local school. Not to replace the teacher, you understand, but to provide fluent, up-to-date English language to the kids.<br /><br />She was hauled in to a local education office, asked to comment on where French children might find difficulty with this or that point of grammar, etc. As she said, "I have better things to do with a day my time than waste it justifying my largesse to a bunch of paper-pushers in le Mans." (I paraphrase) So she doesn't do it any more.<br /><br />And yep, most of the French I know, the younger ones anyway, have done years of English and can't speak it.Mark In Mayennehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14987723233401368368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post-72939434060836358882012-01-26T11:40:30.319+01:002012-01-26T11:40:30.319+01:00Now that's a good response "But you sold ...Now that's a good response "But you sold her" I have tended to say "that's what the Engliash do with recalictrant French", which gets the same reception, but I like yours betterMark In Mayennehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14987723233401368368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post-35404041365602330342012-01-25T21:33:07.469+01:002012-01-25T21:33:07.469+01:00fatdogwalks, yes, the Dear Leader had best watch h...fatdogwalks, yes, the Dear Leader had best watch his step with French politicians.<br />Their motto in negotiations is<br />Now you see it, now you don't....while operating a Find the Lady scam...the fly in the webhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04563871975125538755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post-89549280446622600542012-01-25T21:26:51.645+01:002012-01-25T21:26:51.645+01:00SP...but you're doing your best to give a wake...SP...but you're doing your best to give a wake up call...the fly in the webhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04563871975125538755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post-83353465354748587892012-01-25T21:26:27.506+01:002012-01-25T21:26:27.506+01:00Given your assessment of the nature of French beau...Given your assessment of the nature of French beaurocracy and political duplicity, I can see worrying times ahead for old Caledonia. <br /><br />When our great and glorious leader "Big Eck" takes Scotland to its full independent status...I hope he's not relying on invoking the "Auld Alliance" to help bail us out. :)fatdogwalkshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04894891956037110152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post-62967420040333883392012-01-25T21:23:49.398+01:002012-01-25T21:23:49.398+01:00...and yet, irritatingly, the "French Dream&q......and yet, irritatingly, the "French Dream" is still being perpetuated.<br /><br />SPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post-17983242511294273502012-01-25T17:04:51.291+01:002012-01-25T17:04:51.291+01:00Steve, it is sad....such a perversion of what shou...Steve, it is sad....such a perversion of what should be a good feeling.<br /><br />Sarah, and can't we all think of several examples!<br />I came across your son's problem when friends' grandchildren asked me to help with their English homework...my English was not acceptable in the education system, it appeared!the fly in the webhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04563871975125538755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post-12764854672638435982012-01-25T10:06:14.260+01:002012-01-25T10:06:14.260+01:00I agree with you about decentralisation, I think i...I agree with you about decentralisation, I think it's given far too much power to people who shouldn't have it unchecked. There should be a happy medium between centralised inefficient government and anything goes decentralisation, but the French haven't found it.<br /><br />My son gets marked down in English if he uses an alternative (correct) word to the one in the book. Luckily he rolls his eyes, but he thinks his English teacher is an idiot.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13195684182481935384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post-17411786324735777502012-01-25T09:09:30.020+01:002012-01-25T09:09:30.020+01:00There is something depressingly distasteful about ...There is something depressingly distasteful about nationalism - a source of pride and esteem is frequently turned into a weapon of hate and bigotry. So sad.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02133900289384226725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post-31069354467753069802012-01-24T23:48:50.601+01:002012-01-24T23:48:50.601+01:00dinahmow, I was against going in...and when I move...dinahmow, I was against going in...and when I moved to France it wasn't the doddle it is today, but I was lucky to have had several years out in the sticks where people just bent the rules and'got things done'. <br /><br />France only ever obeys rules if it suits it...never mind their complete over ride of fiscal targets down the years...just look at the regulations on battery cages and force feeding geese.the fly in the webhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04563871975125538755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post-20724349287383990272012-01-24T23:21:33.670+01:002012-01-24T23:21:33.670+01:00I never thought that the Common Market (which, to...I never thought that the Common Market (which, today, is probably not PC!) would work, especially as they kept changing the rules.<br />And French education is a worry. Too narrow in approach. We just get more of the Gallic shrug and "c'est ca. C'est la France." Another shrug.<br /><br />Even here, we meet the same attitude at local Government level:" If we haven't done it, it can't be done."<br />Fortunately, there are enough who scoff at that and just "bloody well do it."dinahmowhttp://moreidlethoughts.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post-38425999641999328982012-01-24T21:31:44.378+01:002012-01-24T21:31:44.378+01:00Mrwriteon, yes...funny peculiar rather than funny ...Mrwriteon, yes...funny peculiar rather than funny ha ha....<br />It was the sheer despondent apathy that used to drive me wild.<br />I'm glad you liked the pics...it was one of the areas I liked best.<br /><br />Perpetua, online really helps, doesn't it!<br />Talking to the neighbours is, in my view, one of the best ways to learn about a country....social scientists scoff at it as being 'anecdotal evidence'...what do they think history is, for goodness' sake...a complete picture?the fly in the webhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04563871975125538755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post-80587268123534823072012-01-24T21:19:35.515+01:002012-01-24T21:19:35.515+01:00Fly, you're absolutely right. You have to live...Fly, you're absolutely right. You have to live there to know what it's really like and three months every summer just isn't long enough. That doesn't mean that we haven't had our brushes with officialdom, but they have been minor and manageable. The ability to do more and more online helps too, as it means I can craft my message carefully before sending it and don't have to think on the hoof!<br /><br />But the neighbours have been great and we get quite a lot of insights into French rural life from them.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post-9083475667811929232012-01-24T20:47:38.478+01:002012-01-24T20:47:38.478+01:00They are a funny race, the French. Funny but I hav...They are a funny race, the French. Funny but I have found not always amusing, as your script indicates. I enjoyed that immensely and loved the photos.Mrwriteonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post-26834061066249665262012-01-24T20:44:31.289+01:002012-01-24T20:44:31.289+01:00Niall and Antoinette, I know what you mean about t...Niall and Antoinette, I know what you mean about the expectations in education.<br /><br />A friend asked me to give a lecture to his law students...just a quick intro to the nature of Common Law.<br /><br />Before I'd got past good morning there was some dope asking me why they hadn't been given a schema of what I was going to say! <br /><br />I asked him if he expected his future clients to come to see him with a schema and, if not, would it not be a good idea to learn to take notes.<br /><br />I got the Gallic shrug...my friend was ticked off by his department for allowing someone 'unqualified' to address the students... <br /><br />And these are the heirs of the siecle des lumieres....the fly in the webhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04563871975125538755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post-38928458523738788652012-01-24T20:29:00.768+01:002012-01-24T20:29:00.768+01:00emmm yes they do tend to 'forget' they sol...emmm yes they do tend to 'forget' they sold Joan of Arc to the Duke of Beford and his crew.<br />Having now taught for a while [long term sub] in a French Lycee have to agree with you re they way they teach--there is only one right answer and students do not ask questions. <br />Poor lambs looked at me as if I'd dropped in from Pluto when I made clear I wanted them to ask questions in class. AntoinetteNiall & Antoinettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12699304108340257145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post-46598619452245156282012-01-24T19:54:04.466+01:002012-01-24T19:54:04.466+01:00Ayak...so you beat Blogger and can do comments aga...Ayak...so you beat Blogger and can do comments again! Lovely!<br /><br />I see what you mean....but the French look down on Turkey as a half civilised country...and then act in exactly the same way themselves..(vast generalisation, but still...)<br /><br />And when I think what damage EU requirements have done to Turkey I could spit! <br />Meddling in something they did not understand they have given us Erdogan unchained and a growing Islamisation.the fly in the webhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04563871975125538755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post-30992973901020156172012-01-24T19:40:06.113+01:002012-01-24T19:40:06.113+01:00"This is France" reminds me of "thi..."This is France" reminds me of "this is Turkey". There are so many similarities. People here are afraid of the police or anyone in authority. They don't question...they just accept.<br /><br />Oh and I am also a woman of no past and no future when it comes to the Turkish language!Ayakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16903896106779269050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post-36114611798070031372012-01-24T18:28:14.775+01:002012-01-24T18:28:14.775+01:00Jane and Lance Hattatt, yes, 'put it down to c...Jane and Lance Hattatt, yes, 'put it down to cultural differences' covers the otherwise inexplicable!<br /><br />The situation in Hungary is, as the Chinese might say...interesting.<br />I can see that reforms to the age at which judges have to resign gets rid of some of the old communist era judges, but any tinkering with the justice system gives rise to wondering what the next step might be...<br /><br />Just getting up and going was what we did in leaving France.<br />I would have preferred to be able to sell the house first, but just leaving was the first priority.the fly in the webhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04563871975125538755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6021650718999668529.post-4116061424536598112012-01-24T17:53:38.320+01:002012-01-24T17:53:38.320+01:00Hello:
It is so true that it is only when one come...Hello:<br />It is so true that it is only when one comes to live in a country and carry out the daily round of tasks that one really begins to understand what makes it work [or not work in the case of Hungary]. Our favourite phrase to cover most things these days is...'put it down to cultural differences'...when one really is at a loss to explain a situation any further.<br /><br />We can identify so readily with what you say here and the growing strength of the right wing is certainly visible in Hungary too. When we agreed between each other that we should be able, if things got really out of hand,to leave everything behind and just go, it was immensely liberating.Jane and Lance Hattatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16831890261259302647noreply@blogger.com