Not Going Oui-sy On Them

(I am on holiday with a large group of family and friends. My sister, my mother, and I know just enough French to be polite and ask if people speak English. We are looking for a certain store.)

Me: *in French* “Excuse me, do you speak English?”

Person: “Yes, can I help you?”

Me: “Yes, I was wondering where [Store] is?”

(They give me directions, I thank them in French, and we find the store. Later, we meet back up with our group and several of them seem angry.)

Friend: “No one would help us! They just looked at us like we were idiots and walked away!”

Me: “What were you asking?”

Friend: “How to get to [well known fast food restaurant]!”

Me: “…in English?”

Friend: “Of course!”

Me: “Yeah, they wouldn’t help you.”

Friend: “Why not?!”

Me: “Because we’re in France? They speak French and find it really rude when you don’t attempt to speak their language?”

Friend: “Ugh, that doesn’t make any sense.”

(The worst part: these are the type of people that get angry when they hear anyone back home speak anything but English…)