PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN

But It's Fun To Connect With The Whole World

Happy July 4th — sharing an old, old memory about being an American:

It was April 1982. They said we probably shouldn’t go there by ourselves, but where else would four small-town American women on their first big trip outside   the United States rather go than a street full of quirky bookshops, artsy bistros,  eclectic gift stores, wandering musicians and Bohemian students.

Paris was our dream trip.

They say France with its famous Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum and Notre Dame Cathedral   is the most visited country in the world with 100 million international visitors a year.  Spain comes in second with 85 million, then United States with 66 million, Italy with 57 million and Turkey with 55 million sightseers.  

Personally, we couldn’t wait to experience The Latin Quarters situated on the left bank of the Seine River. We waved an enthusiastic goodbye to the high school French teacher and her students as they boarded a bus for their educational tour of the French countryside.

It was obvious the four of us were tourists – me wearing my not-so-subtle pink  raincoat, Sharon dragging the big green bag of snacks, Julia resurrecting her worn-out red shoes , and Doris toting a brown backpack stamped with ALSG, American Leadership Study Group.

We giggled as we walked across the bridge, pointing at the naked people sunbathing on the riverbank.  We were enjoying peering in windows on  Boulevard St Michel when a group of young vagabonds suddenly appeared.  They had large-sized posters of famous paintings like Van Gogh’s Starry Night that they were trying to sell us.  At first, we were really intrigued, but were soon startled when the little beggars began grabbing and pushing us. But suddenly, the  urchins disappeared as quickly as they had materialized.  It didn’t take long to realize Doris’s wallet and passport were missing.

The real fun started  when Julia and Doris headed off to the American Consulate, leaving my friend Sharon and me to find our way back to our hotel.  Honestly, I laugh every time I think about it now.   It was really crowded in the Metro station that day.  We were getting jostled around quite  a bit when Sharon starting yelling. Spooked by what happened to us earlier, she thought  a man  was trying to pickpocket her. But somehow,  she had gotten her arm caught in his earphone cord.   I’m sure she could have won a pitching contest with how far she flung his Walkman and his sunglasses down that  subway platform. Ha!

When we finally got on the train, Sharon was crying and the Walkman guy was glaring at us mumbling something about  “#@!^ Americans.”  I was trying to smother my laughter when I looked up at the map near the ceiling of the train and realized we were speeding in the wrong direction. 

Eventually, Sharon and I got off the train and found a taxi.  I’m not sure, but when I whispered to Sharon, “I think he’s already taken us around this block a couple of times,” I saw the driver smile in his rearview mirror.  I still haven’t figured out the worth of those French coins I gave him that afternoon, but I know he was waving over-enthusiastically as he pulled away.

C’est la vie

Since then,  I have gone on several other wonderful international trips, but I’ll always remember my first adventure — when Sharon got “connected” to another world. When we arrived back home and our huge Pan American jet flew passed The Statue of Liberty, the entire plane erupted in a thunderous round of applause.   That was definitely an unforgettable American moment.

It’ll Be OK.

~~~

(from The Broke Backpacker)

Me traveling:
Person: “Un Cafe?”
Me: “Oui”
Person: “Sucre?”
Me: “Non”
Person: “You speak very good French”
Me: “Gracias.”

COMMENT: DO YOU HAVE A FUNNY or FAVORITE TRAVEL MEMORY to share with others — to prove It’ll Be OK?