12 years in France! What the French thought of this American when I first arrived!

[@williamrufatobotura2545]

I’m an Italian living in France. My accent is not the best but I do believe language is to comunicate… If people understand me, I dont care if they think i speak badly. I know how hard I worked to speak french and im very happy with that .

[@isagrace4260]

I love your haircut!! I’m going to have to edit this comment to add to it after hearing the rest of the video, but I just wanted to say that!! 😊

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Thank you!! I wasn't planning on going so short and it kind of just happened last week. I wasn't so sure what I thought, so thanks for the compliment :)

[@amyspeers8012]

I have been in France just over 5 years. Thanks to the pandemic and being with my American husband, both of our levels of French declined. I’ve been working on it…and not being so shy when I speak. My lovely French neighbor complimented my French yesterday when I gave her an apple cake. I would say my number one thing to the people in my village is my smiles and my small loaf cakes. 😂

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

There is so much behind speaking that is just confidence! And i'm sure if you are smiley and friendly with the people in your village, they would be more than willing to let you speak to them to improve! Not just your base skills, but just improve on feeling confident trying :)

[@addisonchristensen1247]

You are an absolute inspiration to me, as someone who’s currently doing undergrad at an American university, who wants to move to France, these videos are helping me realize that It could be a possibility in the future

[@monicabarnett9231]

I can totally relate about feeling nervous/shy to speak another language! I’m American and I speak Italian at a B2 level (C1 is in reach..!) and I am just starting to learn French. While in the French speaking part of Switzerland last month, I had to say “Je ne parle pas français” and people flat out laughed in my face and mocked my accent. Not super motivating 😕 but going to try and stick with it. The only time any Italians laughed at me was when I mixed up the word for watermelon with the word for eel… 😅 and once they explained the mistake, I laughed, too!

[@sl5311]

They do that on Tik Tok too. I think, "where is the "at least he's trying vibe?" because I have never heard that. It seems the French are xenophobic or at the very least wary of Americans?

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

hahah, the watermelon vs eel is a good one! I used to confuse fish bone and bus stop. That also ALWAYS got a chuckle. Please stick too it! We will always meet some rotten apples in life, don't let them bring you down!

[@monicabarnett9231]

@@UnintentionallyFrenchified appreciate the encouragement! I love your videos and your perspective ☺️ oh, bus stop and fish bone - I just looked that up and I can see how that would be a tough one at first!

[@mgparis]

I'm sorry people mocked your accent, bonne chance to you :)

[@mic498]

Salut Monica, les gens qui se sont moqué de toi sont ce qu'on appelle "des cons", je suis vraiment désolé que tu ai eu à expérimenter ça. Le français est une langue très difficile et c'est horrible de se moquer des gens qui font l'effort de l'apprendre, qui plus est quand c'est ta langue natale... Bref, s'il te plaît oublie ces imbéciles ! Bon courage à toi dans ton apprentissage, et merci d'apprendre notre langue si compliquée :)

[@SHgeneral]

You're adorable and it's a really huge accomplishment that you speak French fluently. I barely can speak French and when I hear myself speaking on the very few occasions my ears ache.😄

[@destinydeems]

When I lived in Rome (1983) the Italians were so kind and encouraging- allowing me to basically butcher their language as I answered their questions about my life in Texas and California (one night a week the streets would be empty as everyone was home watching the T.V. show Dallas).

[@wandalongo3364]

Love the new haircut!

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

thank you! Fresh new cut to start the back to school year :)

[@TMD3453]

Yeah, I think I’ve gotten deeper understanding and identification with the cultures I’ve been most involved with, but not one over the other. Congrats on your accomplishment with French and for recognizing that. Of course!! All the best 🇺🇸🇫🇷

[@Frandallina]

Fun and interesting video! I'm glad that you have kept true to yourself and even though you've toned down some aspects of your personality, you have not given them up. I gave up parts of my personality for years to please an employer and, for that matter, years before that- to please an old boyfriend... it's literally debilitating to lose yourself like that!

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Urg, i feel you on the boyfriend/employer combo. I didn't get my first job in france because i was told that i was too friendly and i was SO bummed. looking back now, i'm like thank god i didn't get that. I would have spent years trying to be someone I wasn't. And then you do end up losing yourself little by little. Glad you got out of the vicious cycle!

[@tallychyck]

Augh the French debate! You summed it up so well -- thanks for giving me the words to describe this cultural difference!

[@biancasoto6724]

Loving the haircut Kate!!

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Thank you!! It was a surprise from last week, so i'm still getting used to it. But glad to hear you love it! :)

[@jeremywhatsinaname7046]

Such a wonderful KZbin channel with interesting content, a tremendously beautiful host. Thank you so much for everything you do!

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Well that is really kind! So glad you enjoy the channel :)

[@mgparis]

It's not suprising that you don't wear many colours anymore, living in Paris - that definitely makes you stand out :) And it that's any consolation, I may be French, but I hate debate/conflict also

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Did you suffer through debate classes all through high school then or did you actually not have them? I feel like all the French I meet took debate and philosophy pretty hard core!

[@mgparis]

@@UnintentionallyFrenchified I never had *any* debate classes in school at all. I did have philosophy but I wasn't really into it. I think it's more cultural than school-related, we are taught to think critically, generally speaking - even French compositions have to follow the "thèse-antithèse-synthèse" pattern...

[@Rachel-rs7jn]

This was a great video! Very clever idea. Also, love when I hear you insert "frenchisms" in your English, like saying "the average French" to mean "the average French PERSON". 😛

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Hahah when I rewatch the videos after editing to make sure that everything is good to go, i notice the little slip ups in my language and it makes me cringe a bit. I never notice it when it's happening though. But glad you like it!

[@Rachel-rs7jn]

@@UnintentionallyFrenchified Aww, not cringey! It's cute and it's a sign of how bilingual you are!

[@dancing0nthe3dge]

I bet your hubby would describe you as a ray of sunshine. Btw, I would have never guessed you had an athletic build - to me, it seems like that thin waify one you described 🙂

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

I've lost a lot of muscle weight in the last ten years. I used to do competitive gymnastics, track and volleyball. It made for some rock sold thighs!

[@iparipaitegianiparipaitegi4643]

Take arguments or debates as games, a tennis game or volley ball game. Don’t put much emotions in that, just try to win the debate. After, just a ‘nice game, man!’ And share a drink.

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

It's the perfect attitude to have about it. I get to worked up and it becomes personal in a way even though it shouldn't!!

[@laurenkinnee2384]

Salut Kate! Would you be interested in doing a post about seasonal clothing trends in Paris? I'm visiting later this fall and want to know what's "in"--also do French women ever wear hats? That might be a "you do you" thing, but if I were to wear a hat or hood, do you have any advice?

[@quoniam426]

Mid West is pretty much what we would consider remote countryside down here. Being naïve when getting out from there into the booming economic center of the world (compared to where you grew up), surely you will appear naïve to them... That's not just being American in France, it would be the same if you had grown up in let's say, Ardèche or Lot areas or the center of Sologne... I went to near Grand Rapids in 2001, it's a pretty calm area, not much ever happens there. You would have experienced the same had you been to NYC, Chicago or LA.

[@CalicoShoes]

Woot naive, friendly Pisces club represent! 😂 So many things you've mentioned in your videos throughout the years have made me think that my personality really wouldn't fit in well in France--but maybe it's Paris specifically? Maybe I would be happier in a more laid-back country area. I love the language and would love to experience living there at some point in my life. Fwiw I grew up in a Great Lakes state but am now a converted Southerner lol

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Naive, friendly, and though i didn't mention this specfically in the video, are you also part of the people pleaser club? It's not the personality that fits the most organically with the French, but we all end up making it work for us somehow! Also, how different the south must be for you?!

[@CalicoShoes]

@@UnintentionallyFrenchified unfortunately yes to the people pleasing. 😅 I actually love the South because having an open, friendly personality is welcomed and quite common here! Plus I hate the cold, and there's tons more sun even in winter.

[@laurenkinnee2384]

Oh...and it took me 18 years of spending 2 mo a year in Paris (mom's work) and taking formal French lessons before I became willing to speak to anyone in French. 🙂

[@sylvaintaif8128]

12 years a French, that deserves an...a palme d'or ! Aha

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

It deserves so much right! I feel like getting my nationality a couple years ago was the biggest "recognition" i could have had so nothing will ever top that now!

[@ybreton6593]

Oui , lors de certaines soirées nous débattons sûr tout et rien ? religions , politique , géopolitiques , cultures etc . etc. quelque soit les sujets et les opinions mêmes extrêmes , nous restons amis après les débats . quand on parle une langue étrangère , il reste toujours un accents , il m'est aussi arriver d'avoir une moquerie à l'étranger par apport a mon accent mais je m'en fiche royalement car je suis fier de mon pays , comme vous êtes fière de votre pays

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

C'est exactement la mentalité qu'il faut garder je pense :)

[@stephanevilboux1706]

Bonjour. Dans votre avant dernier point, vous abordez le sujet des haineux et autres trolls qui commentent et critiquent votre accent et niveau de français. Laissons les pour ce qu'ils sont. De toutes petites personnes qui espèrent se grandir en rabaissant les autres. Au Diable tous ces fâcheux. Vous êtes Française aujourd'hui et je suis heureux de compter une concitoyenne de qualité. A l'heure où le QI et le courage baissent, vous remontez le niveau. Cordialement.

[@reguisthesjw7796]

You definitely killed it !👍 Après moi le deluge or water off your back, As it should !

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

THANK YOU!! :)

[@knucklehoagies]

I really don't understand the attitude French people have when hearing foreigners speaking their language. If it's not absolutely perfect, they will judge you for it. If you don't speak French at all, they'll judge you for it. What do the French expect then? They're not exactly the greatest english speakers so it seems hypocritical of them to have that attitude.

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

This is a very good point on how hypocritical it is. My own personal (no research here) opinion after working in a school is that they imitate the behavior of their teachers. In most of the experiences i have seen or heard of, students are constantly put down, embarrassed in front of their peers and mocked for their language level/work etc... So it creates a whole population that is uncomfortable speaking foreign languages in front of each other and spends time mocking people when they do. Sadly, a pretty crappy combo right?

[@knucklehoagies]

@@UnintentionallyFrenchified That makes alot of sense. Being that the French find recreation in discussion, debates, etc, I wonder if many of them are aware of this. Or if you brought this up in conversation, they'd have a light bulb moment like "oh yeah you're right. it is kinda hypocritical. I never realized that."

[@luxomars4049]

@@knucklehoagies you state that every of the people you will speak to is clever/smart… idiots are everywhere on earth and of course when you do not speak another language it is an additional hurdle. Said by a French 😅

[@knucklehoagies]

@@luxomars4049 what does that have anything to do with my original comment? I never said everybody is clever or smart.

[@luxomars4049]

@@knucklehoagies sorry if my comment have been misunderstood, « what do the French expect then » from your original comment. What I meant is that French people without proper education or language skills do not expect anything because it even doesn’t come in their brains that they might meet people from elsewhere. They are not ready to cope with a foreigner trying to have a contact with them.

[@nathanangelus]

Counting in dozen instead of ten... Definately not French ! 🤣🤣😉😉😉🤗🤗

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

hahahahah you caught me :)

[@nathanangelus]

@@UnintentionallyFrenchified But in the end, you will be, Kate !! You're just one step from being French.... Don't stay in the dark side, embrass the light, be pure French !! lololololol

[@baristacaffe8937]

How are you dear KZbinr

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

fabulous

[@jeanbolduc5818]

France is a very old country and was the wealthiest in Europe.. People have an identity , pride and they have always been fighting for freedom , their language, the war and they got ride if their monarchy .. No other country in Europe Are more passionate to fight for freedom, equity and prosperity. certainly not in England where everything is going bad with Brexit and their British culture because of immigration ... FRance is a real democracy ... USA is not a democracy.... 50 states , 50 different ways and laws and the politicians in USA can lie , cheat , stole and say whatever they want and no consequences ...

[@maxlisk80]

those French....still retreating I bet

[@JustinCase99999]

?

[@luxomars4049]

@@JustinCase99999 he is still locked in 1939

[@JustinCase99999]

@@luxomars4049 Oh I see. 1939, when no countries either declared war against Germany or if they did could not defeat the Germans. When France was the only country that shared a border with Germany and declared war on them. I understand now. That guy is stuck in that year. I hope he isn't British, because in his logic he should thank the French for helping the fleeing Brits flee back to their island. 😊

[@abcxyz-cx4mr]

@@JustinCase99999 - I mean Poland neighboured Germany yet Poland resisted/fought against Germans as best as they could during WW2, Russians did the same (although Russians didn’t border/neighbour Germany)

[@JustinCase99999]

@@abcxyz-cx4mr France declared war on Germany precisely because Germany invaded Poland. At that time the USSR was in a pact with Germany, so no, they didn't fight against Germany. Germany left them alone. It was France and a few thousands British soldiers (who quickly fled) on the western front against all of the German military and air force in 1940. The French air force shot down half of the German air force btw. In 1944, 80% of the German army was on the Eastern front, fighting against the Russians, the pact being broken since 1942. It took the British, the Americans, the Canadians and more to defeat the remaining 20% of the Germans on the western front who btw had low morale and no air force. There's a huge difference between the two situations that the French bashing ignorant crowd prefer to ignore. 😊

[@bernardbouzon5499]

Qu'est il arrivé à vos bandeaux et serre-tête ?

[@UnintentionallyFrenchified]

Vous avez complètement raison. Je n'ai pas mis un bandeaux depuis très longtemps. Prochaine vidéos = serre-tête, promise!