Daily writing prompt

What skills or lessons have you learned recently?

View all responses

This is more of a tip, rather than a skill or a lesson, but it was useful on my recent trip. Just before I left, a friend told me about the camera feature in the Google Translate app. She said you could take a photo (of a menu item or whatever) and it will translate the text from a photo. While in France, I discovered it will also translate things “live.” In other words, you just open the camera feature in Google Translate and focus on a sign (or whatever) and it shows you the translation right there in the camera frame. You don’t even need to take the photo!

I did make a fairly earnest effort to brush up on my French before we left. (I used the Mango app, which was free with my library card.) I think it really helps to use a bit of French with Parisians. They like that you made an effort. A simple “Comment vous vous-appelez?” and an “Enchanté” goes a long way with your taxi driver or waiter. Many speak decent English and when they realize you suck at French, they’ll switch to English and you learn a lot. I can honestly say that I did not encounter one bristly Parisian, and prior to the trip, grumpy Parisians were my husband’s biggest fear.