Has anyone here been to either (or both) countries? Next year over Spring Break people that are in French are eligible to go on the field trip to France. Not many people are going because of the price, so it's not like it's every student or anything - and you have to be in at least French 4 I think. Also, the Latin class is having a trip to Italy at the same time. I'm not in Latin so of course I didn't think I'd be able to go so today I payed my registration fee for the French trip. However, come to find out my English teacher is one of the chaperones on the trip to Italy and she invited everyone in her class to go. Even though the registration fee is non-refundable, I'm pretty sure that I can get my check back since I didn't turn in my registration form yet.

So, here's my dilema: Italy or France? I don't like the French language, but I don't know any Italian past what's used in The Godfather. I will know more of the people going to France than Italy. I asked a girl in my class who'd been to Italy and she said it'd be more of a trip for with a family than with a class - but my parents really aren't in to culturalish stuff and even though my mom said she'd like to go to Italy, it's very doubtful that both of my parents could get off work long enough to go. I want to go to both, and they both cost the same so that's not a problem, however they're over the same period of time so I can only choose one. If any of you have been to either (as a tourist, not a resident and what not), post your experiences and such please.

Go to italy. You are a tourist, know one expects you to be able to communicate well with the locals. If you lived there this would be different. Southern france looks pretty, but the pictures from italy look nicer. My pal went to southern france, italy, germany, and switserland and I have seen pictures from them all.

Another big thing is that two of the chaperones on the trip are people that I get a long with (they're both either former or present English teachers of mine and they're young.) However, on the French one it's my French teacher (who I don't think likes me much) and the IB Coordinator (who's kinda old and not very funish.) Also, there's a kid who is going and I generally don't mind him but he's really a general troublemaker and I think he'd be annoying to be with for 10 days. The main thing I have against Italy is the fact that I don't know too many people that are going.

Italy!!!  If you go to France that'll be fun but you'll have to go to Paris & I hear that Parisians? have a stick up the back side.  Italy has better art & food & probably sights that are on par with French sights.  Definately go to Italy.  Too bad that the Louve? is in France though, that would be some cool art.

[quote author=quasi-modo link=topic=11289.msg108694#msg108694 date=1113604993]
You are a tourist, know one expects you to be able to communicate well with the locals.
[/quote]

That's just so wrong. If you can't speak any of the language, don't expect to have an easy time getting around or finding things out. Neither France nor Italy are countries where the majority of people speak English fluently. It's exceptionally irritating when tourists expect locals to speak their language.

Italians are hotter than French girls.  Goto Italy

[quote author=UserLoser link=topic=11289.msg108707#msg108707 date=1113610584]
Italians are hotter than French girls. Goto Italy
[/quote]

I was definitely considering that aspect of things.

I'd go to Italy, more things to see.

[quote author=Arta[vL] link=topic=11289.msg108706#msg108706 date=1113610549]
[quote author=quasi-modo link=topic=11289.msg108694#msg108694 date=1113604993]
You are a tourist, know one expects you to be able to communicate well with the locals.
[/quote]

That's just so wrong. If you can't speak any of the language, don't expect to have an easy time getting around or finding things out. Neither France nor Italy are countries where the majority of people speak English fluently. It's exceptionally irritating when tourists expect locals to speak their language.
[/quote]

I have been to Italy. A lot of people there spoke Spanish, and English. I had no problems, at all, getting around. I know a lot of spanish because of school, though. In most situations that English didn't work, Spanish would.

If you don't try to speak Italian when in Italy, you can offend the people there. Also if you don't eat what they give you they get offended because they think you don't like their food. It's always good to have a dictionary there, communication is number one.

We have a house in Italy, Casenza. It's really nice, have some family living there currently, cousins and aunts/uncles.

[quote author=Arta[vL] link=topic=11289.msg108706#msg108706 date=1113610549]
That's just so wrong. If you can't speak any of the language, don't expect to have an easy time getting around or finding things out. Neither France nor Italy are countries where the majority of people speak English fluently. It's exceptionally irritating when tourists expect locals to speak their language.
[/quote]

As a tourist, I don't expect the locals to speak my language, but I do expect them to speak English :P

I've heard that France is pretty filthy and not a great place to be. 

[quote author=iago link=topic=11289.msg108721#msg108721 date=1113617804]
I've heard that France is pretty filthy and not a great place to be.
[/quote][quote author=iago link=topic=11289.msg108721#msg108721 date=1113617804]
I've heard that France is pretty filthy and not a great place to be.
[/quote]

With dog poop!

[quote author=Mitosis link=topic=11289.msg108717#msg108717 date=1113614314]
If you don't try to speak Italian when in Italy, you can offend the people there. Also if you don't eat what they give you they get offended because they think you don't like their food. It's always good to have a dictionary there, communication is number one.

We have a house in Italy, Casenza. It's really nice, have some family living there currently, cousins and aunts/uncles.
[/quote]

B.S. I lived in Italy for a little bit. People are nice and will always try to help you. Real Italian food is great and no one will bother you if you are full and won't eat anymore, stop making it sound like France.

I've decided on Italy.

[quote author=Arta[vL] link=topic=11289.msg108706#msg108706 date=1113610549]
[quote author=quasi-modo link=topic=11289.msg108694#msg108694 date=1113604993]
You are a tourist, know one expects you to be able to communicate well with the locals.
[/quote]

That's just so wrong. If you can't speak any of the language, don't expect to have an easy time getting around or finding things out. Neither France nor Italy are countries where the majority of people speak English fluently. It's exceptionally irritating when tourists expect locals to speak their language.
[/quote] You get a translator. My friends when to russia and they got a translator / guide dude and it was pretty affordable.

[quote author=iago link=topic=11289.msg108721#msg108721 date=1113617804]
I've heard that France is pretty filthy and not a great place to be. 
[/quote] Southern france looked pretty nice and scenic... it is my favoritle place to be in mohaas too. But the pictures I have seen of italy, citys like abruzzi (sp) and sorrento... they just blow france away.

I've been around, and Italy is by far the better of the two.

God, around here people that LIVE here don't even speak English, wtf is that about?

I've been to France. I went to Trier. Theres a fantastic theme park there with a massive tower which goes up really fast, and then down. France was brilliant to me, but then again i am only 12 :P

[quote author=quasi-modo link=topic=11289.msg108738#msg108738 date=1113624795]
You get a translator. My friends when to russia and they got a translator / guide dude and it was pretty affordable.
[/quote]

Yeah, that sounds like a great idea :)

Seems to be a lot of strange anti-French sentiment floating around? Not really very logical to call an entire country 'filthy'.

No, not logical, Mr. Vulcan.

Anyway, France was just dirty. The only cool thing I saw in France was in Normandy. Paris was just filthy and its nothing I hadn't seen before in textbooks. It was lackluster and not impressive.

If you go to Italy stay in the northern part, the whole southern part of Italy is mob run. So if you do something wrong, be ready for a hassle. :)

[quote author=Arta[vL] link=topic=11289.msg108756#msg108756 date=1113652481]
Seems to be a lot of strange anti-French sentiment floating around? Not really very logical to call an entire country 'filthy'.
[/quote]

But it's the truth. My 8th grade French teacher, who definitely wasn't anti-French as her husband was born in France, talked about how filthy it is there. (Mainly because they allow dogs everywhere.)

I went to France, and Frenchmen are terribly rude.

Go to Germany & get some beer!!!

[quote author=quasi-modo link=topic=11289.msg108738#msg108738 date=1113624795]
[quote author=Arta[vL] link=topic=11289.msg108706#msg108706 date=1113610549]
[quote author=quasi-modo link=topic=11289.msg108694#msg108694 date=1113604993]
You are a tourist, know one expects you to be able to communicate well with the locals.
[/quote]

That's just so wrong. If you can't speak any of the language, don't expect to have an easy time getting around or finding things out. Neither France nor Italy are countries where the majority of people speak English fluently. It's exceptionally irritating when tourists expect locals to speak their language.
[/quote] You get a translator. My friends when to russia and they got a translator / guide dude and it was pretty affordable.
[/quote]I SPEAK ITALIAN!  TAKE ME!