In French language, there are two pronouns to
talk to somebody in face; “tu” and “vous”. “Tu” is for somebody you know very well, and “vous” is more formal as well as for plural. In
companies, they normally use “tu”, but in strict companies
they use “vous”. And some functionaries talk with “tu” to the black people even if it is a first
time to see him. They sometimes don’t respect black people because they often come
from old French colonies. I am forced to recognize the difference of
races. In the Opera or Louvre, where you can find many tourists, I am often
asked if I speak French. That’s the
moment when I feel I am an Oriental, because they ask the question seeing
my face. As they ask the way on the streets in French without checking my
French ability, it is a strange experience. French people don’t use “tu” to Japanese people like to black people, but they try to cheat
change. As the white or black people around me don’t have experience like this, it must be
especially for Orientals. For example, when I pay a bill of 200 French
francs to buy an article of 30 francs, a salesperson give me back only 70
francs. If I ask him at once, “I paid 200”, he give
me a bill of 100 francs saying “Oh! Is that so?” He never
asks, “Is it true?” so he is sure that I paid
200 francs. This happens every day not only in small shops, but in
supermarkets, department stores, even in Louvre museum or Metro counter. So I check change every time, but I am pure
Japanese. Sometimes I forget it. One of the most famous monuments in Paris,
Montmartre. There is a cable car to go up the hill. It is run by RATP,
which runs all Metro in Paris. When I but a ticket of the cable car, a
salesperson gave me back change which is less than expected. But I recognized
it after I got on the cable car. I hurried to the ticket office, but he didn’t give me back. I discussed
about 10 minutes and I asked his name to finish the discussion. Then he
answered me “Tu es fou?
(Are you fool?)” I got a
little angry and I sent an e-mail to the company to claim. After 2 weeks, a letter was sent to me saying,
“we calculated the money, but
it was correct. Montmartre is very tourist place, so pay attention”. French text Japanese text
Fight on money
INDEX
English Version
French Version
english Version
Japanese Version