The "Speaking French" Story

The Good Morning Cafe in Orient Village, St. Martin. Click to enlarge.

It was an ordinary day.  Standing in line at the Good Morning Cafe in Orient Village waiting for my turn to order the chocolate croissants.  The young girl behind the counter fills a few orders then turns to me.  She looks at me and says, "Bonjour!"  So, I return it with, "Bonjour."  Now I'm in trouble.  I point at the croissants on the top shelf and say, "Two, please."  She says, "Ah, choc-co-lat.  Very good!"  She gives me the cost in euros and I hand her $5.  After getting the change I thank her and we exchange smiles.  When I was a junior and senior in high school in the early 60s, I took French with the teacher known as "Sheena".  Tall and blond, she looked exactly like Tarzan's girl.  So, I learned very little those two years while looking at her instead of the textbook.  

My French friend, Nicole!

Anyway, I learned just enough to get through the course.  Even had a French name.  Known as Raoul to my French classmates.  Well, the next day I arrive and am the only customer.  We exchange "Bonjour" and smile and I say, "Two choc-co-lat."  "Ah, very good!" she replies.  Eventually I get to know the names of all the varieties, since I did get tired of chocolate every day, and she seemed pleased that I would try pronouncing their names.  

The selection of croissants.

She was a good teacher and always spoke in English if there was something I couldn't understand in French.  By the end of my vacation I was starting to feel comfortable trying words with her since I knew she wasn't going to be upset or annoyed if I pronounced them wrong.  I told her that my last day of vacation had arrived and she said she hopes to see me next year again.  I thanked her for being so nice and teaching me a bit of French.  Gave her a $10 bill to pay that final day and walked away before getting my change.  She came after me and I told her, "No, that's for you for teaching me."  She gave me the biggest smile and a very nice, "Merci Beaucoup."  "Ah, I have so much more to learn next year," I said in return.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.