5 Minutes After Arrival: The Friendly French Speaker
Nice, France
I traveled to France for 30 days in September and October of 2024 to see what it would be like to “live” internationally. The plan was to stay in Nice, spend time writing, and find out what happens when you’re not pressed to see every significant site in seven days.
After nearly 24 hours of travel, my brain was foggy. We had been late leaving New Orleans because of a late-arriving incoming flight and then an equipment malfunction loading baggage. And then we were late leaving London because of weather in France and then a late-arriving crew. It was 1 a.m. local time when we landed in Nice. I was nervous about finding the Sheraton, which was supposed to be a 10-minute walk from the airport. I exited the terminal and, voila!, there was the Sheraton. I navigated the line of taxis, passengers with rolling baggage, a confusing crosswalk, and the front driveway of the hotel, so relieved to finally be in Côte d'Azur.
I know that staff at major international hotels know how to speak English, but I’d also read over and over that the French appreciate the attempt to speak French. And I’d been hitting DuoLingo pretty hard. Still, I hesitated because it was the middle of the night. Too late or too early for “bonjour”? Is “bonsoir” only for the evening? “Bonne nuit” seemed like a goodbye. This was not a good start. I may have mumbled “bonjour.” And then I stumbled through a very slow “Excusez-moi. J’apprends le français.” Excuse me. I am learning French.
The desk clerk was tall, had thick dark hair, and a very kind face. He was infinitely patient with me.
“No problem! Most people don’t even try.” He smiled. “Is this your first time in Nice?”
I searched my brain for the right reply. “Dix ans…” Ten years. Will he think I am saying I’ve been here for 10 years? How do you say 10 years ago? I said again, “Dix ans,” but I gestured behind me, like the ten years were behind my back. And then I said “Pour un jour.” For one day. But telling him I’d only been here for one day would be too long a story. I could never explain in French that I’d been there touring with the Dallas Symphony Chorus and we’d gotten stuck in Nice with a canceled flight, which forced us to spend a short night at a hotel. I switched to English. “Once, ten years ago.”
He smiled again. “And how are you finding French people?”
I didn’t know how to say I’d just arrived. I shrugged, waved my hand, and said, “Oh, cinq minutes.”
He looked puzzled so I said, “I’ve only been here five minutes.”
“Oh! You’ve just arrived!”
While he prepped my key, I tried some more. “Je suis fatigué.” I am tired. He nodded with sympathy.
He put my key folder down on the counter. “Here is your room number. Do you know how to say it?”
Oof, a quiz, at 1:30 a.m. How do I say “three hundred eleven”? I concentrated and pulled together my sleep-deprived thoughts. “Trois.” Three. Uh, “trois, un, un.” Three. One. One.
He nodded with approval, even though I sounded like a toddler. “I forget how to say “three hundred.”
“Trois cents. Trois cent onze.”
“Thank you, that makes sense. Trois cent onze.”
He smiled some more. With more confidence, I said “Bonne nuit” with a flare. I walked away feeling happy with that tiny exchange, and feeling optimistic about the rest of the trip.
Another woman waited with me at the elevator. When we got in, I looked at her and said “Quel étage?” What floor?
She said, “I speak English.”
Not gonna lie; I felt just the tiniest bit superior.
***
Tips & Recommendations
Spending the first night of an international trip at an airport hotel has been a lifesaver for me. No matter how carefully I plan my itinerary, I’m exhausted by the time I get there. Some people want to hit the ground running and use every minute, but I do not feel guilty about catching up on sleep and reorienting before using foreign transportation and currency.
Wear comfortable walking shoes for the flight. International airports are often very large and the walk through passport control is usually very long.
Don’t forget electrical adapters. The outlets, plugs, and voltage are usually different than North America. I wish I’d packed a couple of extras: one for the bathroom and one for my digital devices, at least. I really wish I’d packed extras after I blew a fuse in my one and only adapter and had to find a store that sold them. I should have known better than to pack my hot air styling tool.