by Wendy
It’s funny and endearing how many Americans will call out, “Hey, where are you from?” when hearing an accent similar to their own while in a foreign city. Sometimes they even stop to have a brief conversation. Or ask if you’ll take their photo.

When surrounded by another language and doing your best to understand, your ears do perk up a little when you hear a fellow English speaker, native or otherwise. Especially when you overhear amusing comments, like these in Paris.

In the airport, travelers behaving badly when encountering a long line that is just a way of life these days. An outraged guy proclaims: “I can’t deal with incompetence!” while his companion begins repeating in a monotone voice: “Go to your happy place. Go to your happy place.”

The beginnings of a family controversy: “How did you use 100 GB of data on this trip? I only used ten! Mom used zero!”

A college student expounds his worldly knowledge to a woman in line who could probably not care less: “Modern art leaves me cold. Anyone can splash paint on a canvas. Neoclassicists have the raw talent.”

In an hour long queue to meet Micky Mouse at Disneyland Paris, a British woman exclaims: “Don’t complain to me! At least you got to go on some rides! I’ve been standing around with the baby all day.”

The Frenchman operating the spinning teacups ride at Disneyland Paris saunters up with his favorite pun: “Why aren’t you riding? Not your cup of tea?”

After a waiter learns that my sister lives in Kentucky, he comments: “I was so outraged when KFC stopped selling their popcorn chicken in Paris!”

In a hotel lobby around 11am after a red eye flight: “My room is still not ready? Ok. Is your bar open?” Wait, that one is from me.