Despite making solo trips to distant locales like Denmark and Sweden, travel and food influencer Angela came to a terrifying discovery during her recent vacation to Lyon, France — French people are, in fact, French people.
The San Francisco-based creator – better known by her username @realphdfoodie – headed to TikTok last week with a tearful review of her French foray, getting very candid about how her inability to speak French led to — believe it or not! — a language barrier with locals.
“They just make me feel stupid,” Angela began her now-viral clip, audibly sniffling. “Why do I want to travel here?”
Despite commending the location’s beauty and tourist activities — “it has a lot to do and see and to discover,” she explained — she gave the destination a resounding thumbs down for anyone “who doesn’t speak French.”
“It’s a very isolating experience,” Angela said. “People here, they seem very indifferent.”
Though the traveler insisted that she had “no problem” getting along with Europeans in Italy or Germany, the French posed a unique challenge, being that they were French.
“People make you feel bad for not knowing their culture or speaking their language,” she added. “I almost feel stupid for coming here, spending money. I even bought a French hat!”
So take it from Angela — if you’re looking to make French friends, maybe try actually speaking their language … and ditching your millennial pink beret.
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