Tearful TikTok traveller unable to speak French felt ‘isolated’ during trip to France
'I even bought a French hat.'
An American tourist who cannot speak French was left in tears because she was ‘isolated’ during her trip to France, despite wearing a beret.
Angela, from San Francisco, visited Lyon and filmed footage for her TikTok account.
But she told her followers she would not recommend visiting the city to anyone who doesn’t speak French, and confirmed wearing a pink beret did not help her fit in.
She also complained there were no restaurants open on New Year’s Eve, and slammed McDonald’s for shutting their doors as well.
‘I’m just filming this video here in Lyon France,’ she told her followers on her account @RealPhDFoodie.
‘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.’
The video has garnered more than six million views, and is one of many documenting her eight day trip around Europe.
‘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,’ she continued.
‘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.’
She explained she was expecting to eat escargot and foie gras on New Year’s Eve.
But even McDonald’s was closed, leaving viewers to argue in the comments.
One commenter, Christina, said: ‘You have to create your own experience. Unless you meet with other tourists you can’t have expectations on locals to entertain you.’
Another account, 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.’
Others were more blunt, with account @Ultra_Max writing: ‘If you travel in France it’s for reflection and melancholy.’
Some speculated whether Angela was suffering from ‘Paris Syndrome’, which is the 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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