Money orders and wiring money

[Opti]

I believe you can still pay that way I'd have to look for people who don't have internet at home which is still shockingly common.

Internet is mor unaffordable I think than its been for at least five years. There was an affordable connectivity benefit of just $35 towards Internet if you qualified in NJ. Th federal program that supported it is dead and it is unclear if it will come back. My cable bill which is almost entirely internet charges has doubled in roughly 4 to 5 years. Some of you have internet for $40/mo or reasonable prices. I am lucky if I can keep it around $100/mo now. That's very not good but I bet there are parts of rural NJ that telephone lines are your only choice.


The cost drives many people to the libraries in NJ.

[thyme4change]

Aug 25, 2024 0:51:32 GMT -5 ripvanwinkle said:

Aug 25, 2024 0:16:35 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Did you ask each and everyone in front of you if they were of Hispanic descent, if they were U.S. citizens and where they were sending their personal money? How fucking nosy (and racist) are you?

Not racist. I figured they were of Hispanic decent because the LADY BEHIND THE COUNTER WAS SPEAKING SPANISH TO THEM!!

He does have a valid point - most Americans are too stupid to be multi-lingual (including me!)

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

I also know a lot of people here legally for whom English isn't always easy.  If there is a person who can speak their native language around they will.  Especially for certain things like medical or other situations where you want to make sure you fully understand it.

I'll admit I don't speak a second language at all.  I can understand some Spanish when it's spoken to me.  I can't understand Chinese or the half dozen other languages I heard every day at the university.  I would never dream of thinking my coworkers were doing something illicit because I can't understand them.  If they aren't talking to me it's none of my damn business.

That would be like a certain poster who always insisted that if you aren't speaking English like a real 'Merican you MUST be plotting something and the police should be called.

[minnesotapaintlady]

My older son's two youngest siblings speak Mandarin all the time.  They slip back and forth between that and English.  While they were born here, their mother moved here as an adult and speaks it at home all the time around them so they just picked it up from that.

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Aug 26, 2024 15:49:42 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

My older son's two youngest siblings speak Mandarin all the time.  They slip back and forth between that and English.  While they were born here, their mother moved here as an adult and speaks it at home all the time around them so they just picked it up from that.

how about your son? has he picked it up at all?

[daisylu]

Aug 26, 2024 14:06:38 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Aug 26, 2024 13:42:20 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

true! not everyone has a checking account!

It blows my mind how many people don't.  The company I work for is 95% all white, midwesterners that have mostly lived in this area their entire lives and many of them had been working here for a number of years.  We've had direct deposit here for forever, but it was only about 10 years ago or so that the company put their foot down and said everyone must have it and they wouldn't be handing out checks to those that didn't anymore. The number of people that threw a fit!  I would have never guessed this many were unbanked. I think they eventually went to some system where their checks were deposited on a card or something I can't remember what the solution ended up being, but I know it was a big issue for quite a few.

A lot of people do not trust banks, and some can't control themselves and end up with high debt from overdraft fees. From my experience most with deposit to cards like Chime.

[msventoux]

Aug 26, 2024 14:06:38 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Aug 26, 2024 13:42:20 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

true! not everyone has a checking account!

It blows my mind how many people don't.  The company I work for is 95% all white, midwesterners that have mostly lived in this area their entire lives and many of them had been working here for a number of years.  We've had direct deposit here for forever, but it was only about 10 years ago or so that the company put their foot down and said everyone must have it and they wouldn't be handing out checks to those that didn't anymore. The number of people that threw a fit!  I would have never guessed this many were unbanked. I think they eventually went to some system where their checks were deposited on a card or something I can't remember what the solution ended up being, but I know it was a big issue for quite a few.

Not wanting direct deposit isn’t always an indication of being unbanked.  One of my first jobs provided direct deposit and it was almost always a nightmare.  A number of times the direct deposit would hit the account then be recalled and deducted immediately, in and out several times, so time would have to be spent to reconcile that and make sure I wasn’t shorted.  The company was a bit shady and office staff largely incompetent and/or unhelpful, but it put me off wanting direct deposit for a number of years.  If you’ve had bad experiences with direct deposit, or have a mindset of not trusting corporations to have any access to your accounts, either direct deposit or bill pay etc., you’ll probably pass on direct deposit.

Where I’m working now they require direct deposit and since I process payroll I would have to yell at myself if there are any mistakes!

[daisylu]

Aug 26, 2024 15:11:37 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

I also know a lot of people here legally for whom English isn't always easy.  If there is a person who can speak their native language around they will.  Especially for certain things like medical or other situations where you want to make sure you fully understand it.

I'll admit I don't speak a second language at all.  I can understand some Spanish when it's spoken to me.  I can't understand Chinese or the half dozen other languages I heard every day at the university.  I would never dream of thinking my coworkers were doing something illicit because I can't understand them.  If they aren't talking to me it's none of my damn business.

That would be like a certain poster who always insisted that if you aren't speaking English like a real 'Merican you MUST be plotting something and the police should be called.

I understand many languages when spoken and reading.  Can I speak them?  No. I am not comfortable,  People I work with encourage me to speak the language because they are impressed with my understanding but I'm not there. 

[minnesotapaintlady]

Aug 26, 2024 16:10:36 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

Aug 26, 2024 15:49:42 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

My older son's two youngest siblings speak Mandarin all the time.  They slip back and forth between that and English.  While they were born here, their mother moved here as an adult and speaks it at home all the time around them so they just picked it up from that.

how about your son? has he picked it up at all?

No. He was 9 or 10 when they got married and not at their house a whole lot. He knows some words but that's about it.

[Opti]

Aug 26, 2024 16:33:38 GMT -5 daisylu said:

Aug 26, 2024 15:11:37 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

I also know a lot of people here legally for whom English isn't always easy.  If there is a person who can speak their native language around they will.  Especially for certain things like medical or other situations where you want to make sure you fully understand it.

I'll admit I don't speak a second language at all.  I can understand some Spanish when it's spoken to me.  I can't understand Chinese or the half dozen other languages I heard every day at the university.  I would never dream of thinking my coworkers were doing something illicit because I can't understand them.  If they aren't talking to me it's none of my damn business.

That would be like a certain poster who always insisted that if you aren't speaking English like a real 'Merican you MUST be plotting something and the police should be called.

I understand many languages when spoken and reading.  Can I speak them?  No. I am not comfortable,  People I work with encourage me to speak the language because they are impressed with my understanding but I'm not there. 

Very cool. Are there any local groups that practice speaking any of those languages? I think of it as reverse ESL, you know English but want to practice speaking and being understood in another language. I would love to do that.

[scgal]

Aug 24, 2024 23:42:17 GMT -5 ripvanwinkle said:

Yesterday I went to Kroger grocery shopping. I bought a $1 scratch off lottery ticket and won $20. I had to go go to the customer service line to cash it in. I was 6th in line. They were all of Hispanic descent. People were buying money orders. One lady bought a Western Union wire transfer. It took a while.

I've never done a wire transfer before. I got to wondering. Does the Feds monitor money going in and out of the US? Is this legitimate money or ill gotten gains?  

You should have known better to mention anything about a Hispanic or POC here that you would be called a racist. Years and I mean years ago when I lived in NY I was at a bank there was an Indian guy at a teller with stacks and stacks of cash. I asked the teller who was a good friend of mine was he Rich she said he owned the gas station across the border in NJ and every wed he deposited 8k in 4 different accounts by the next Monday they are empty. She said they were had inquiries about it on a fed level all she herd was they were ok. 

[minnesotapaintlady]

Aug 26, 2024 18:30:13 GMT -5 scgal said:

Aug 24, 2024 23:42:17 GMT -5 ripvanwinkle said:

Yesterday I went to Kroger grocery shopping. I bought a $1 scratch off lottery ticket and won $20. I had to go go to the customer service line to cash it in. I was 6th in line. They were all of Hispanic descent. People were buying money orders. One lady bought a Western Union wire transfer. It took a while.

I've never done a wire transfer before. I got to wondering. Does the Feds monitor money going in and out of the US? Is this legitimate money or ill gotten gains?  

You should have known better to mention anything about a Hispanic or POC here that you would be called a racist. Years and I mean years ago when I lived in NY I was at a bank there was an Indian guy at a teller with stacks and stacks of cash. I asked the teller who was a good friend of mine was he Rich she said he owned the gas station across the border in NJ and every wed he deposited 8k in 4 different accounts by the next Monday they are empty. She said they were had inquiries about it on a fed level all she herd was they were ok. 

Oh come on. The ONLY reason he was wondering if the money was obtained illegally was because they were Hispanic.  Would he have said, I was behind a bunch of white women in line and it got me thinking? 

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Aug 26, 2024 18:30:13 GMT -5 scgal said:

Aug 24, 2024 23:42:17 GMT -5 ripvanwinkle said:

Yesterday I went to Kroger grocery shopping. I bought a $1 scratch off lottery ticket and won $20. I had to go go to the customer service line to cash it in. I was 6th in line. They were all of Hispanic descent. People were buying money orders. One lady bought a Western Union wire transfer. It took a while.

I've never done a wire transfer before. I got to wondering. Does the Feds monitor money going in and out of the US? Is this legitimate money or ill gotten gains?  

You should have known better to mention anything about a Hispanic or POC here that you would be called a racist. Years and I mean years ago when I lived in NY I was at a bank there was an Indian guy at a teller with stacks and stacks of cash. I asked the teller who was a good friend of mine was he Rich she said he owned the gas station across the border in NJ and every wed he deposited 8k in 4 different accounts by the next Monday they are empty. She said they were had inquiries about it on a fed level all she herd was they were ok. 

and were you not the slightest bit concerned about your friends lack of professionalism? She should have been fired for that, frankly.

[TheOtherMe]

Aug 26, 2024 18:59:05 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

Aug 26, 2024 18:30:13 GMT -5 scgal said:

You should have known better to mention anything about a Hispanic or POC here that you would be called a racist. Years and I mean years ago when I lived in NY I was at a bank there was an Indian guy at a teller with stacks and stacks of cash. I asked the teller who was a good friend of mine was he Rich she said he owned the gas station across the border in NJ and every wed he deposited 8k in 4 different accounts by the next Monday they are empty. She said they were had inquiries about it on a fed level all she herd was they were ok. 

and were you not the slightest bit concerned about your friends lack of professionalism? She should have been fired for that, frankly.

The "friend" should never have disclosed this to you.  That is unethical.

Yes, she should have been fired

[dannylion]

Aug 26, 2024 16:33:38 GMT -5 daisylu said:

Aug 26, 2024 15:11:37 GMT -5 NomoreDramaQ1015 said:

I also know a lot of people here legally for whom English isn't always easy.  If there is a person who can speak their native language around they will.  Especially for certain things like medical or other situations where you want to make sure you fully understand it.

I'll admit I don't speak a second language at all.  I can understand some Spanish when it's spoken to me.  I can't understand Chinese or the half dozen other languages I heard every day at the university.  I would never dream of thinking my coworkers were doing something illicit because I can't understand them.  If they aren't talking to me it's none of my damn business.

That would be like a certain poster who always insisted that if you aren't speaking English like a real 'Merican you MUST be plotting something and the police should be called.

I understand many languages when spoken and reading.  Can I speak them?  No. I am not comfortable,  People I work with encourage me to speak the language because they are impressed with my understanding but I'm not there. 

The only way you're going to get there is to speak the languages and make mistakes and learn from the mistakes.  Native speakers understand that non-native speakers will make mistakes and are generally kind and encouraging.  Unless they are French.  Or certain native speakers of English.  Forget about being comfortable.  Just start speaking.  

ETA:  What you are experiencing is the difference between passive and active language proficiency.  It appears you have acquired your ability to comprehend through passive exposure to languages.  In order to convert passive to active proficiency, it will be necessary to use the languages actively, which is speaking.  So, go ahead and start talking.  Don't worry about mistakes.  The people you are speaking with might offer a correction, or they might use the correct form in their response.  This is how you will get better.  You will soon start to hear your mistakes and be able to self-correct on the spot.  Most people will be kind.  If you encounter someone who responds unkindly or ridicules you, that says more about them than about you, and you will know not to interact with them anymore.  (I'd recommend memorizing a phrase like "thank you so much for being kind to someone who is trying to learn your beautiful language" in whatever language you're working on. If they have any self-awareness, they will be ashamed.)

[Opti]

Aug 26, 2024 18:59:05 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

Aug 26, 2024 18:30:13 GMT -5 scgal said:

You should have known better to mention anything about a Hispanic or POC here that you would be called a racist. Years and I mean years ago when I lived in NY I was at a bank there was an Indian guy at a teller with stacks and stacks of cash. I asked the teller who was a good friend of mine was he Rich she said he owned the gas station across the border in NJ and every wed he deposited 8k in 4 different accounts by the next Monday they are empty. She said they were had inquiries about it on a fed level all she herd was they were ok. 

and were you not the slightest bit concerned about your friends lack of professionalism? She should have been fired for that, frankly.

Thanks for pointing out the obvious. There was that silliness not too long ago where the RW kept saying Liberalism is a mental disorder. What if being a conservative makes you more likely to stick your nose where it doesn't belong and gossip about it or worse.
Her story reminds me of stories I heard about people who got fired elsewhere in healthcare settings. Some of it was so obviously sketchy I did not understand why people would do it. Are some like Trump incapable of being ethical?

[Opti]

Aug 26, 2024 20:14:30 GMT -5 dannylion said:

Aug 26, 2024 16:33:38 GMT -5 daisylu said:

I understand many languages when spoken and reading.  Can I speak them?  No. I am not comfortable,  People I work with encourage me to speak the language because they are impressed with my understanding but I'm not there. 

The only way you're going to get there is to speak the languages and make mistakes and learn from the mistakes.  Native speakers understand that non-native speakers will make mistakes and are generally kind and encouraging.  Unless they are French.  Or certain native speakers of English.  Forget about being comfortable.  Just start speaking.  

And now that I've put more years on, I think sometimes its best to let those native speakers be annoyed. 

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Aug 26, 2024 14:06:38 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Aug 26, 2024 13:42:20 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

true! not everyone has a checking account!

It blows my mind how many people don't.  The company I work for is 95% all white, midwesterners that have mostly lived in this area their entire lives and many of them had been working here for a number of years.  We've had direct deposit here for forever, but it was only about 10 years ago or so that the company put their foot down and said everyone must have it and they wouldn't be handing out checks to those that didn't anymore. The number of people that threw a fit!  I would have never guessed this many were unbanked. I think they eventually went to some system where their checks were deposited on a card or something I can't remember what the solution ended up being, but I know it was a big issue for quite a few.

My dad’s wife’s kids were all unbanked.  Not one of her 4 kids had a bank account.  Dad loaned her son money to buy a truck, and dad had a ledger where he kept track of the cash payments he made and initialed.  I think by the time dad died, all but about $500 had been paid, but it was interesting to see how he paid it off.  There were payments as much as $1500, as little as $20.  There was a 4 month stretch where no payments were made.  

When I started at UK, you were required to get direct deposit.  If you couldn’t open an account, UK had a deal with a credit union to bank those who were in ChexSystems.  I have no idea of the deal the university made with the CU. 

[tallguy]

Aug 25, 2024 18:57:36 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Aug 25, 2024 18:46:00 GMT -5 swamp said:

Have you ever heard of Spain? 

I've heard of it but never been.

Sorry.

Do you kinda like the music?

[scgal]

Aug 26, 2024 18:59:05 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

Aug 26, 2024 18:30:13 GMT -5 scgal said:

You should have known better to mention anything about a Hispanic or POC here that you would be called a racist. Years and I mean years ago when I lived in NY I was at a bank there was an Indian guy at a teller with stacks and stacks of cash. I asked the teller who was a good friend of mine was he Rich she said he owned the gas station across the border in NJ and every wed he deposited 8k in 4 different accounts by the next Monday they are empty. She said they were had inquiries about it on a fed level all she herd was they were ok. 

and were you not the slightest bit concerned about your friends lack of professionalism? She should have been fired for that, frankly.

Why would I be. You never, ever heard any office info from someone who should not have said anything? 

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Aug 27, 2024 8:41:31 GMT -5 scgal said:

Aug 26, 2024 18:59:05 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

and were you not the slightest bit concerned about your friends lack of professionalism? She should have been fired for that, frankly.

Why would I be. You never, ever heard any office info from someone who should not have said anything? 

If they were so free with someone else’s financial information, they likely knew about your’s too.  Don’t you wonder who they blabbed to about you?  You should.

[chiver78]

Aug 26, 2024 20:14:30 GMT -5 dannylion said:

Aug 26, 2024 16:33:38 GMT -5 daisylu said:

I understand many languages when spoken and reading.  Can I speak them?  No. I am not comfortable,  People I work with encourage me to speak the language because they are impressed with my understanding but I'm not there. 

The only way you're going to get there is to speak the languages and make mistakes and learn from the mistakes.  Native speakers understand that non-native speakers will make mistakes and are generally kind and encouraging.  Unless they are French.  Or certain native speakers of English.  Forget about being comfortable.  Just start speaking.  

ETA:  What you are experiencing is the difference between passive and active language proficiency.  It appears you have acquired your ability to comprehend through passive exposure to languages.  In order to convert passive to active proficiency, it will be necessary to use the languages actively, which is speaking.  So, go ahead and start talking.  Don't worry about mistakes.  The people you are speaking with might offer a correction, or they might use the correct form in their response.  This is how you will get better.  You will soon start to hear your mistakes and be able to self-correct on the spot.  Most people will be kind.  If you encounter someone who responds unkindly or ridicules you, that says more about them than about you, and you will know not to interact with them anymore.  (I'd recommend memorizing a phrase like "thank you so much for being kind to someone who is trying to learn your beautiful language" in whatever language you're working on. If they have any self-awareness, they will be ashamed.)

ALL of this. I speak an uncommon dialect of French that is spoken in Acadian Maritime Canada, including different sentence structure and a lot of English vocabulary. it's difficult for me to code switch while speaking 'proper' French, but I consider myself a fluent reader. I had the opportunity to take a few work trips to France early in my career, with some colleagues that had varying degrees of fluency (and the boss, who was just an ugly American about it all ) and I became the default translator. I definitely started out by apologizing in advance for any mistakes, in French, and everyone was generally easygoing about it. 

[scgal]

Aug 27, 2024 8:50:35 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Aug 27, 2024 8:41:31 GMT -5 scgal said:

Why would I be. You never, ever heard any office info from someone who should not have said anything? 

If they were so free with someone else’s financial information, they likely knew about your’s too.  Don’t you wonder who they blabbed to about you?  You should.

Not really. It was in a very small area people knew is Joyce and Ken had a fight 3 blocks away. We don't get offended like the wimps of today

[dannylion]

Aug 27, 2024 8:52:59 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Aug 26, 2024 20:14:30 GMT -5 dannylion said:

The only way you're going to get there is to speak the languages and make mistakes and learn from the mistakes.  Native speakers understand that non-native speakers will make mistakes and are generally kind and encouraging.  Unless they are French.  Or certain native speakers of English.  Forget about being comfortable.  Just start speaking.  

ETA:  What you are experiencing is the difference between passive and active language proficiency.  It appears you have acquired your ability to comprehend through passive exposure to languages.  In order to convert passive to active proficiency, it will be necessary to use the languages actively, which is speaking.  So, go ahead and start talking.  Don't worry about mistakes.  The people you are speaking with might offer a correction, or they might use the correct form in their response.  This is how you will get better.  You will soon start to hear your mistakes and be able to self-correct on the spot.  Most people will be kind.  If you encounter someone who responds unkindly or ridicules you, that says more about them than about you, and you will know not to interact with them anymore.  (I'd recommend memorizing a phrase like "thank you so much for being kind to someone who is trying to learn your beautiful language" in whatever language you're working on. If they have any self-awareness, they will be ashamed.)

ALL of this. I speak an uncommon dialect of French that is spoken in Acadian Maritime Canada, including different sentence structure and a lot of English vocabulary. it's difficult for me to code switch while speaking 'proper' French, but I consider myself a fluent reader. I had the opportunity to take a few work trips to France early in my career, with some colleagues that had varying degrees of fluency (and the boss, who was just an ugly American about it all ) and I became the default translator. I definitely started out by apologizing in advance for any mistakes, in French, and everyone was generally easygoing about it. 

You're right, of course.  I found French people outside of Paris to be very warm and welcoming and tolerant of my mistakes.  I should have said "Except for Parisians," who seem to be a different breed altogether from the rest of their countrypeople.  

[chiver78]

Aug 27, 2024 9:26:12 GMT -5 dannylion said:

Aug 27, 2024 8:52:59 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

ALL of this. I speak an uncommon dialect of French that is spoken in Acadian Maritime Canada, including different sentence structure and a lot of English vocabulary. it's difficult for me to code switch while speaking 'proper' French, but I consider myself a fluent reader. I had the opportunity to take a few work trips to France early in my career, with some colleagues that had varying degrees of fluency (and the boss, who was just an ugly American about it all ) and I became the default translator. I definitely started out by apologizing in advance for any mistakes, in French, and everyone was generally easygoing about it. 

You're right, of course.  I found French people outside of Paris to be very warm and welcoming and tolerant of my mistakes.  I should have said "Except for Parisians," who seem to be a different breed altogether from the rest of their countrypeople.  

heh, sounds like QC vs the rest of Canada.     other than flying in/out of CDG once and taking the TGV straight out to Bordeaux, my travel was all outside of Paris. 

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Aug 27, 2024 9:26:12 GMT -5 dannylion said:

Aug 27, 2024 8:52:59 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

ALL of this. I speak an uncommon dialect of French that is spoken in Acadian Maritime Canada, including different sentence structure and a lot of English vocabulary. it's difficult for me to code switch while speaking 'proper' French, but I consider myself a fluent reader. I had the opportunity to take a few work trips to France early in my career, with some colleagues that had varying degrees of fluency (and the boss, who was just an ugly American about it all ) and I became the default translator. I definitely started out by apologizing in advance for any mistakes, in French, and everyone was generally easygoing about it. 

You're right, of course.  I found French people outside of Paris to be very warm and welcoming and tolerant of my mistakes.  I should have said "Except for Parisians," who seem to be a different breed altogether from the rest of their countrypeople.  

That wasn’t my experience.  I know a smattering of French, and tried to speak it in Paris and they immediately switched to English.  When we went to Mont St. Michel, we got lost so pulled into a store to get directions.  I tried in French, the woman called her husband out as he did speak English, but I understood enough of what she said to him about me that she was pretty nasty.  I walked out of there feeling about 1 cm high.  I did get the info I needed, but didn’t feel good about it.

We had previously been to Rouen, Cabourg, Bayeaux and drove up through Normandy without issue, so this really took me by surprise.  After that, Paris was easy.

[Opti]

Aug 27, 2024 10:02:09 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Aug 27, 2024 9:26:12 GMT -5 dannylion said:

You're right, of course.  I found French people outside of Paris to be very warm and welcoming and tolerant of my mistakes.  I should have said "Except for Parisians," who seem to be a different breed altogether from the rest of their countrypeople.  

That wasn’t my experience.  I know a smattering of French, and tried to speak it in Paris and they immediately switched to English.  When we went to Mont St. Michel, we got lost so pulled into a store to get directions.  I tried in French, the woman called her husband out as he did speak English, but I understood enough of what she said to him about me that she was pretty nasty.  I walked out of there feeling about 1 cm high.  I did get the info I needed, but didn’t feel good about it.

We had previously been to Rouen, Cabourg, Bayeaux and drove up through Normandy without issue, so this really took me by surprise.  After that, Paris was easy.

Sorry. There are crappy people on the planet everywhere. It hurts when you find them, especially at times you would love some grace. I'm sorry she was cruel, but many non-English speaking people do not realize many of us understand far more than we can speak or articulate. She was probably feeling even smaller and that's why she was so petty when talking with her husband.

There are many parts of France I would like to see. It's a very diverse country and same with the people. Mont St Michel sounds interesting just because of the name. 

[thyme4change]

I had nothing but positive experiences in Paris - even the ones that didn’t often deal with tourists. I had two interactions with people who did not speak English and they were eager to figure out how to help me.

[greenthumb59]

Aug 26, 2024 15:49:42 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

My older son's two youngest siblings speak Mandarin all the time.  They slip back and forth between that and English.  While they were born here, their mother moved here as an adult and speaks it at home all the time around them so they just picked it up from that.

How very cool they speak Mandarin!

My mother was a native German.  But she did not teach us German.  I sure wish she had.

[TheOtherMe]

My horrible experience in Paris has overridden all other memories of Paris.  Even when I see the photos, I don't remember doing the activities.

I was almost raped in Paris.  A man knocked me down and was trying to get his hands in my pants when I managed to scream.  An American couple came to my rescue and he took off.  

I doubt I ever travel to Europe again, but it will not be to Paris.