Meeting other Funsters when abroad

[Coolcats]

Agreed… there are some very strange people who literally have no engagement with anyone… some are obviously socially challenged and we leave these people be, but my curiosity is too strong to let the ones who aren’t ‘socially challenged’ off the hook that easily. It become a personal challenge to work out what’s ‘wrong’ with them!

Currently I have several free pitches around mine on an otherwise very crowded site… very nice it is!

Oh er…..not socially challenged just not wanting to engage. When you have to interact with people all the time it’s great to be away and not interact it’s called getting a break or rest. Wouldn’t be rude to you but don’t expect engagement.

How about buying two plane tickets one for me and one to keep empty so I don’t have to put up with inane jabber…stops me have to give a rebuttal and appearing rude

 

[chaser]

I am not a big socialiser , but that wasn't my point, I'm not expecting anyone to jump up and have a dance but surely a few words of where you are going or where you have been or whatever pretty much what people write on here wouldn't hurt anyone.

 

[Barbie and Ken]

One in Derbyshire only others at Warners shows

 

[Spara4042]

I believe it can be down to your van. On a site in Spain 2 uk vans parked up next to me in the dark. When they saw the age of my van they both moved away. And other people will say hello but do not mix in. So my 34 year old van gets some dirty looks from some. But then come the oldies that want to know all about it. And those you cant get away from.

Just as well that I’m not a social snob, otherwise I’d never have gone to lunch with you or followed you to another site
Anyway, your van is iconic & people don’t realise that then that’s their loss

 

[Spara4042]

Currently I have several free pitches around mine on an otherwise very crowded site… very nice it is!

Think we might be moving pitch to be opposite you, as SWMBO is fed up off the Finn’s in the Morelo pinching our morning sun

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[Coolcats]

I am not a big socialiser , but that wasn't my point, I'm not expecting anyone to jump up and have a dance but surely a few words of where you are going or where you have been or whatever pretty much what people write on here wouldn't hurt anyone.

Nope, as I say we won’t be rude but chit chat is not for us. When your jobs mean you have to engage and talk with people daily you just don’t need it when away.

 

[chaser]

Nope, as I say we won’t be rude but chit chat is not for us. When your jobs mean you have to engage and talk with people daily you just don’t need it when away.

Talking as a job is surely different than just having a neighbourly chat with people with the same leisure mode.
Anyway as I said I don't bother talking to anyone now unless they speak first or at least look a bit friendly.

 

[Coolcats]

Talking as a job is surely different than just having a neighbourly chat with people with the same leisure mode.
Anyway as I said I don't bother talking to anyone now unless they speak first or at least look a bit friendly.

Talking as a job is a social and interpersonal affair so no, I don’t want idle mundane chit chat, I’m sure that sounds rude and isn’t meant to be….just want a break from it people really are boring and that includes me

 

[Carpmart]

Talking as a job is a social and interpersonal affair so no, I don’t want idle mundane chit chat, I’m sure that sounds rude and isn’t meant to be….just want a break from it people really are boring and that includes me

What do you do, or more specifically, what do you talk about when you talk for a job?

 

[Just smiffy]

Nope, as I say we won’t be rude but chit chat is not for us. When your jobs mean you have to engage and talk with people daily you just don’t need it when away.

I’m not being rude,, really, but being on here is surely chit chat..

The funsters I have met on my travels and are good conversationalists have been members that post a fair bit on here, I have met funsters that don’t post a lot and it seems they are the ones that are polite but don’t engage much.. just my observations..

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[Coolcats]

I’m not being rude,, really, but being on here is surely chit chat..

The funsters I have met on my travels and are good conversationalists have been members that post a fair bit on here, I have met funsters that don’t post a lot and it seems they are the ones that are polite but don’t engage much.. just my observations..

Yup but I’m not away and when I am I don’t often post if at all, it’s more like a retreat and yes I have been on those silent retreats are the best and can re-enter the world full of vigour. As you say it’s just your oppinion and you know just like belly buttons we all have them

 

[Gazgandalf]

Enjoyed reading all the different views of meeting Funsters/Brits on our trips.

About 5 years ago, I did a lone trip to France for nearly 5 weeks. The Radio didn’t work, My laptop fell and refused to work so I had no music at all as I didn't think I'd use my Mp3. Mostly silence for over a month. I was fine with that though.

But I was glad when ‘posh totty’ (a name I gave my GPS, which I had forgot to update) when she gave me directions even when taking me through newly pedestrian/unloading-only route through La Rochelle and table lined 'cafe street' full of peeps was amused to see me pass. And she directed me down a few one way roads, but I was glad to have someone/thing to listen to. I eventually began to laugh when directed to ‘take the third exit’ by ‘posh-totty’ when there were only two exits. And yes, I began to call my football, “Wilson” (reference to Tom hanks and Castaway)

I may enjoy my own company too much, but when people make contact I will happily chat away regardless of ‘class – colour - Nation.’ I will at times (I have to be careful being a single chap) go and talk to anyone who looks like they may be interesting.

It’s in chatting to strangers that we learn. If I hadn’t chatted to strangers or they to me in the past, I may have just missed some beauty spot, a hidden waterfall or fantastic place to pic-nic. I nearly, when in France drove past the biggest sand dune in Europe.

Also, laughter is a universal language, and with our broken-French, Spanish, German we can tell each other stories from our lives and laugh which adds a richness to life and surely the reason we travel to places and peoples not like us in the first place.

 

[Coolcats]

What do you do, or more specifically, what do you talk about when you talk for a job?

Anyone who negotiates partner manages or maybe sales people, people who present those in hospitality nursing any job that requires lots of interaction and empathy will know how draining chit chat can be and those who are aware of how it draining it can be want to get away from it and many often will not want to interact with others.

 

[Gazgandalf]

Amusing story (to me anyhoo) of chatting to strangers.
I’ve made some big mistakes when introducing myself, which turned into funny stories to tell at home.

Does anyone else think one thing when abroad, but another thing comes out of the mouth?

I needed to find out how to pay for parking whilst in Les Sables, France, so, I approached a lone woman laying down in a swim suit and asked “Do you do French?”

She looked a bit confused and upset. Can’t understand why? It’s obvious to me that I was asking her if she spoke French. This kind of word-salad always happens to me when I try and apply the little French, Spanish or German I know.

Here's my explanation Officer, honest ...
As I was approaching this poor French woman, the song, "Voulez vous coucher avec moi, ce soir" [70's pop reference there) popped into my head ... no, not for that reason ... it was the 'Voulez vous' part, the opening of my conversation that caused the problem.
As I walked up to her, I kept saying to myself, "Don't say the lyrics to the song ..... don't say the lyrics ... " It was like when we learn to ride a bike and see a lamppost, we know we should avoid it, but we slam into it.

So I began "Voulez Vous" but chickened out because I feared what would follow. So I just added, 'Francaise."

So I asked her, (to her consternation) 'do you do French?"

Anyone else had funny encounters whilst trying to speak another language to strangers?

 

[David and Sally]

Yes. On a ferry to Hamburg in a force ten gale I asked the barman for a dry white wine.

To my dismay, and at the cost, I got Drei Weiss Wein. ( three large glasses of white wine) I drank it all though.

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[Gazgandalf]

Ha! and typical English politeness doesn't allow us to say, "Sorry, that's not what I meant." But three wines, hey! You did well to keep that 'under decks' in a force 10 on the high seas.

 

[David and Sally]

Ha! and typical English politeness doesn't allow us to say, "Sorry, that's not what I meant." But three wines, hey! You did well to keep that 'under decks' in a force 10 on the high seas.

I was in a shared cabin. People everywhere were chucking up.
I went down to the cabin and a guy in a bunk was moaning like a good un.

“You ok mate”
“ no, really sick”
“Ah, shame. Why are you here?”
“ I’m a coach driver, been doing this for forty effing years. Always get sick”

 

[Barryh]

My wife in her Sunday best French asked for an ashtray ( yes I know!). She made cendrier sound remarkably like something else. Yep she got a jug of Sangria.

 

[cruiser]

I think Coolcats would be on of those who would move away from me . Because i do chat. but it is nice when you can meet up with other funsters. And a drink and lunch with knowing that you or them will be moving on very shortly. And you will not see them again for years, if ever . So thank you to Spara4042 . and Carpmart . for your time with us in Portugal. And we hope to see you again . So happy travels to all. Especially to those who will chat.

 

[Ingwe]

I once saw a sticker on a van on an Aire in France. Thought I’d go and say Hi. They weren’t Funsters and bought the van with the sticker on it. The only problem I had was I couldn’t get away from them, so be careful what you wish for.

Not quite on point but once when still working, I was returning from Sweden to Heathrow on a BA plane. The plane was almost entirely empty. So I was a bit surprised when an elderly chap came and sat next to me even though there were plenty of empty seats. We had no sooner buckled up when he told me that he was employed by the British embassy in Sweden and he did regular flights between Sweden and the UK carrying diplomatic documents.

I made the mistake saying that sounded interesting. By the time we approached Heathrow, I was so bored with his never ending flow of uninteresting trivia, I was contemplating suicide by shoving a cocktail toothpick into my brain.

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[JJ]

It will be of zero interest to any folk on here (and completely understandable to those who know me), but at 76 years old, I have decided that I have already acquired enough good mates and friends to last for what is left of my life and I have absolutely no desire to gather any more...

...it's hard enough trying to be nice to those few friends I have already!!!



JJ

 

[Nirvanauk]

It will be of zero interest to any folk on here (and completely understandable to those who know me), but at 76 years old, I have decided that I have already acquired enough good mates and friends to last for what is left of my life and I have absolutely no desire to gather any more...

...it's hard enough trying to be nice to those few friends I have already!!!



JJ

Thats me to a T.

 

[nicholsong]

Some of the posts on this thread make me feel that when en route to a solo wildcamping spot and passing a campsite I should go in and apologise to all the folks for not stopping to chat.

 

[Spriddler]

Anyone else had funny encounters whilst trying to speak another language to strangers?

Back in my late teens my father came over to Paris and I brought him to my French girlfriend's family house where I was living. Her mother giggled when I said: "May I introduce my father to you?", incorrectly using the verb 'introduire' instead of 'presenter'.

---------
You don't even have to be speaking a foreign language. When I asked the lady stocking the booze shelves in Tesco at Redruth whether they had any Pastis she replied: "We should 'ave moy luvver, but them'll be in aisle 17 with the pies and sausage rolls".

 

[Coolcats]

I think Coolcats would be on of those who would move away from me . Because i do chat. but it is nice when you can meet up with other funsters. And a drink and lunch with knowing that you or them will be moving on very shortly. And you will not see them again for years, if ever . So thank you to Spara4042 . and Carpmart . for your time with us in Portugal. And we hope to see you again . So happy travels to all. Especially to those who will chat.

Interesting I think your right,

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[Carpmart]

Anyone who negotiates partner manages or maybe sales people, people who present those in hospitality nursing any job that requires lots of interaction and empathy will know how draining chit chat can be and those who are aware of how it draining it can be want to get away from it and many often will not want to interact with others.

Yes but all those job functions are about using ones ears twice as much as ones mouth, so I’m not sure I really follow why you dislike interacting with people and talking?

 

[Apacheman]

Some interesting points of view. Always say hello to ‘the neighbours’ here or abroad, although my use of European languages is not that good. Amazing what you learn that’s in the locality or on your route that you would never have known about. Good example being in Moncofa last year and spoke to the van next door from Ireland who told us about the Coves St Josep at Uixo that we had no idea about. Well worth the visit. Will probably never see those people again but glad I said hello!

 

[chaser]

How I look at it, this forum is like a community who talk to one another on here, if you have no wish to just be civil and speak to other people why are you on here and why would face to face be any different.
Ok , if you have no wish to talk to anyone why come on here and talk to a computer.
If someone doesn't want to speak to anyone else that's fine but you would think they wouldn't be in something like this forum.

 

[chaser]

How I look at it, this forum is like a community who talk to one another on here, if you have no wish to just be civil and speak to other people why are you on here and why would face to face be any different.
Ok , if you have no wish to talk to anyone why come on here and talk to a computer.
If someone doesn't want to speak to anyone else that's fine but you would think they wouldn't be in something like this forum.

As I said earlier,we are not talking about having a party just common courtesy of saying hello to fellow funsters.

 

[carolyn]

Yes but all those job functions are about using ones ears twice as much as ones mouth, so I’m not sure I really follow why you dislike interacting with people and talking?

You’re right Harvey. After I retired it took me a while to get into the hang of normal pleasantries like “how are you” when I was with new friends. Mind you I do still sometimes regret asking!

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