European Diary

The daily diary of a wandering restaurateur in Europe
July 28 - Versailles

(This will be a little late. I wasn't able to find a telephone line last night!)

Wandering around Europe, I am continually reminded that life goes on in many languages -- and goes on quite nicely, thank you. While I struggle to make myself understood in French, the people seem to appreciate the fact that I am trying to work in their language. With as multi-ethnic as our industry is becoming, I think there is a lesson in all this.

As operators, we expect our non native-born staff to learn English, but how much of an effort are we making to learn (at least a bit of) their language? Communication is communication, regardless of what language it occurs in. How about asking some of your non English-speaking staff to start teaching you some of their language? Sure, you will butcher the pronunciation and they will all have good laugh at your struggles, but if you are willing to be uncomfortable in their language, they are likely to be more willing to be uncomfortable in English.

We are all just people sharing the same planet. What language we do it in is really not that important in the scheme of things.

On the travel front, we decided to flee the city for the peace of the countryside. Most of the day was devoted to wandering around the Palace at Versailles. There is nothing meaningful I can say that could possible capture the magnitude of this place. It is too big to even capture in a picture! However, looking at the way the kings of France lived, I can understand the reason the peasants rose in revolt!

For a photo of Versailles, click here.

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