French language is the original lingua franca, it’s no wonder that if you admit that you don’t speak well yet, they will simply ask “Why not?” It’s probably not as far as we’d expect from the hauteur of English-speaking tourists, we just get our way more often I think. When I took my family to Paris last year I expected to get some of that high-handed treatment, but even out as far as Calais they were almost unfailingly forgiving of my decidedly mediocre attempts. I hope to go back soon, armed with a little more of the language.