TikTok tourist cries feeling 'isolated' by people speaking French in France
An American tourist who took a trip to France was left in tears as she said she felt "isolated" during her trip, despite wearing a pink beret.
Angela, from San Francisco, California, took a holiday to the city of Lyon but didn't speak a word of French. She shared videos of her experience on her TikTok account, where she opened up about how she felt while visiting the European city.
Unfortunately, Angela did not have the best experience and even told her followers she wouldn't recommend visiting the city to anyone else who doesn't speak French.
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Angela, from San Francisco, was upset nowhere was open on New Year's Day (@RealPhDFoodie/tiktok)Among other problems she had with the "City of Love" were her unsuccessful attempts to find an open restaurant on New Year's Eve and her criticisms of McDonald's for also closing to customers.
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Addressing her followers on her @RealPhDFoodie account, Angela said: "I’m just filming this video here in Lyon, France. It is my first time visiting. To be honest the experience is very isolating. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful city – it has a lot to see and do and discover.
"But I recommend for a solo traveller or for someone who doesn’t speak French it is a very isolating experience. People here seem very indifferent. I had no problem meeting people and socialising in Italy and Germany but in France the experience is very different.
"People make you feel bad for not knowing their culture or speaking their language. I haven’t really met anybody here and I’ve been here for five or six days now. I almost feel stupid for coming here and spending money. I even bought a French hat. I’m here to learn and explore but the experience is just… I don’t really like it."
The video has wracked up more than six million hits and is one in a long series of similar posts about the TikToker's eight-day trip around Europe. She goes onto explain how she was expecting to eat escargot and foie gras on New Year's Day, but it didn't come to fruition.
The Californian was met with a number of comments - some helpful and some blunt - after her video got more than six million views (@RealPhDFoodie/tiktok)It didn't go down well with many commenters, with some politely suggesting her the embrass the experience and others being much more blunt.
One commenter, Christina, wrote: "You have to create your own experience. Unless you meet with other tourists you can’t have expectations on locals to entertain you."
While another woman, named Taliah, added: "There’s something important to understand when going on a solo trip, people don’t owe you anything. The experience is what you make it."
@Ultra_Max was one the commenters with a much blunter bit of advice, writing: "If you travel in France it’s for reflection and melancholy."
Some speculated whether Angela was suffering from "Paris Syndrome" - a term given to tourists who have romatasiced expectations of France learnt from books and films.
This can lead to disappointment when they arrive in the country, when it inevitably does not live up to their expectations. Some are even said to have suffered hallucinations, convulsions and panic attacks.
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