Discussion · VoyageForum

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Original post

Manondugard

Regular340 posts

2025-10-03

Hello everyone.

First and foremost, I hope this topic won’t just focus on my region—the South of France—and that those of you who enjoy exchanging ideas will share what makes your own regions special.

Personally, I’ve often wanted to push back when people call us vulgar (though I’ll admit I sometimes play it up). At heart, we pure-blooded Southerners just have our own way of expressing ourselves, which differs from other regions. We also get heated in conversations pretty easily (some researchers say it’s the influence of the sun and climate in general).

What some perceive as vulgar, we don’t see that way at all.

Do you want a uniform world with no differences? If so, how do you handle traveling to places with cultures completely different from your own?

In the travel community, the word "authenticity" comes up a lot, and it often takes priority in people’s searches.

In my specific case, speaking a purely regional language without having gone to school for it doesn’t help with understanding on this forum. That’s what creates what you call controversies—and what I call passionate exchanges.

I remember a reply from a member in this thread: https://voyageforum.com/forum/ma-vie-en-camargue-pays-origine-en-colombie-pays-c-ur-d10778555/

It left me speechless and ended the conversation because, for him, that’s just how he sees things, and he refuses to debate it, sticking to his position. I’ll quote him, hoping he won’t hold it against me:

"For me, things like bullfighting, boxing, football, and MMA are just tangible proof that human evolution is still at a primitive stage."

For him, our Latin-origin bullfights are barbaric customs. For us *taurins*, we need to see men face wild beasts (bulls and *toros*) at the risk of their lives every day. Does that make us barbarians?

We’ve always had this need to confront death—it’s in our genes.

Take the example he gave about football: fans of the sport would be considered mentally underdeveloped. But what about a kid who’s passionate about the game and has that drive to be a winner, just like a boxer or athletes in other violent sports?

As a traveler myself, passionate about old stones and beautiful historic buildings, I’ve visited Rome but couldn’t fully appreciate it. Religion is everywhere, and I felt like I had a lead weight on my head realizing that millions of people worldwide have believed in a god for millennia.

I’ve also judged believers for basing their faith on archaic texts that don’t prove a god (or gods) ever existed—I still think that, but I’m open to being proven wrong so I can say, "You’ve convinced me I was mistaken."

- If everyone clings to their own ideas and positions, no discussion is possible, and that’s a shame.

I’ll take away two things from my forum interactions: some accuse me of being omnipresent when I just love exchanging ideas. My way of speaking is misunderstood (regional differences), even if I’ll admit I sometimes turn up the heat—or rather, the *aïoli* —which for me is just lively debates 🔥 (a regional specialty).

And my "mocking" side, which I really need to work on.

This topic isn’t just about me—I hope other forum members will share their own regional "specialties" . For example, in Alsace, some older folks switch to their local language when they don’t want outsiders to understand, and I still don’t know if it’s German or something else.

https://www.marseille-tourisme.com/decouvrez-marseille/traditions/le-parler-marseillais/

https://www.lexpress.fr/informations/accent-du-midi-ave-ou-sans_642635.html

Christine

Mathews Globetrotter ·2025-10-05

good evening,

What some people feel is vulgar, for us it’s not at all. Do you want a uniform world with no differences?

The problem with vulgar rhetoric is that, by definition, what’s vulgar is common—so you don’t learn anything new about things.

In that case, how do you handle your travels to places and cultures completely different from your own?

It’s obvious that if you settle in Thailand, for example, it takes years to understand and decode the local culture... For Colombia, speaking Spanish makes it easier.

It seems to me that in the world of travelers, the term "authenticity" comes up often, and it often takes priority in their searches.

What do you mean by authenticity? The authenticity of people living in Paris, for example—are the women dressed like in *Emily in Paris*? I imagine that in Sainte-Marie-de-la-Mer, everyone dresses like a gaucho and rides horses with a *manade*...

This topic isn’t meant to only talk about me

hmm, a little bit though [:P]

which I still don’t know today if it’s German or something else.

Never tell an Alsatian they’re German—you’ll regret it!

Manondugard Regular ·2025-10-05

Good evening,

What some people perceive as vulgar, for us it’s not at all. Do you want a uniform world with no differences?

The problem with vulgar rhetoric is that, by definition, what’s vulgar is common—so you don’t learn anything new about things.

In that case, how do you handle traveling to places and cultures completely different from your own?

It’s obvious that if you settle in Thailand, for example, it takes years to understand and decode the local culture... When it comes to Colombia, speaking Spanish makes it easier.

It seems to me that in the world of travelers, the term "authenticity" comes up often, and it often takes priority in their searches.

What do you mean by authenticity? Is the authenticity of people living in Paris, for example, women dressed like in *Emily in Paris*? I imagine that in Sainte-Marie-de-la-Mer, everyone dresses like a gaucho and rides horses with a *manade*...

This topic isn’t meant to focus only on me

hmm, a little bit, though [:P]

which I still don’t know today if it’s German or something else.

Never tell an Alsatian they’re German—poor you

Hey, it’s the tourists who seek authenticity in their travels (you’d have to ask them what they mean by that—when in Les Saintes, it’s not America or gauchos. Just *gardians* who have to work on horseback across kilometers of marshes to take care of the bulls. For the rest, I did suggest that everyone share the specifics of their regions, since I’ve talked enough about mine.

Christine

Mathews Globetrotter ·2025-10-06

Ah, I understand better now—it’s much clearer when explained that way. Well, the specifics of the region where I live—in Rhône-Alpes—are obviously the Alps mountain range. There are local specialties like tartiflette, génépi, and ravioles. The mountainous environment is still quite rural, and cheese is produced there. As for the local dialect, there isn’t really a distinct one, though there might be a Savoyard language.

Manondugard Regular ·2025-10-06

Ah, I understand better now—it’s clearer when put that way. Well, the specificities of the region where I live—Rhône-Alpes, in short—are obviously the Alps mountain range. There are local specialties like tartiflette, génépi, and ravioles. The mountainous environment is still quite rural, and they produce cheese there. As for the local dialect, there isn’t really a particular one—though maybe there’s a Savoyard language.

Hey, like all regions in France, including mine where many Occitan or Provençal language schools have opened in the last 10 years—thanks to the enthusiasm of young couples wanting their kids to learn a language that was banned in my parents' and grandparents' schools—Savoy also has its private Savoyard language schools. Just type the keywords into Google, and you’ll find tons of articles about this regional language, which surprises me you haven’t heard of. Though I do note that you say you live there, which doesn’t necessarily mean you were born there. I don’t want to expand on other regions (including yours). I’d rather let other forum members talk about them, maybe in this thread. My reason? I’ve been criticized here for being too omnipresent, so maybe those who complained will want to chime in (though I doubt it) 😄

Christine

Djalma Globetrotter ·2025-10-06

hi there,

I’ve never stayed long in one place, and my ancestors came from all over, from way out east... What you’re getting at with "its regions and their specificities" reminds me of this text by G. Brassens. But no malice intended.

It’s true that all these little villages are charming, All these towns, hamlets, localities, and cities, With their fortresses, churches, and beaches, They have just one weakness: they’re inhabited. And they’re inhabited by people who look down On the rest from the top of their ramparts, The breed of chauvinists, the flag-wavers, The happy fools who were born somewhere, The happy fools who were born somewhere. Damn those children of their motherland, Impaled once and for all on their steeple, Who show off their towers, museums, and town halls, Make you see their homeland until your eyes cross. Whether they’re from Paris, Rome, Sète, Or from the back of beyond or Zanzibar, Or even from Montcuq—they brag about it, good grief— The happy fools who were born somewhere, The happy fools who were born somewhere. The sand where their cozy ostriches Bury their heads—you won’t find anything finer. As for the air they use to inflate their hot-air balloons, Their soap bubbles are made of divine breath. And little by little, they work themselves up To thinking that even the manure from Their wooden horses makes the whole world jealous, The happy fools who were born somewhere, The happy fools who were born somewhere. Their birthplace isn’t just a cliché, They pity from the bottom of their hearts the poor unlucky ones, The clumsy little souls who didn’t have the presence of mind To see the light of day in their hometown. When the alarm sounds on their precarious happiness, Against foreigners—all more or less barbarians— They crawl out of their holes to die in war, The happy fools who were born somewhere, The happy fools who were born somewhere. My God, how good it would be on Earth If we encountered that incongruous breed, That annoying race that’s everywhere, The race of locals, the homegrown folks. Life would be beautiful in all circumstances If you hadn’t pulled these fools from the void, Perhaps proof of your non-existence, The happy fools who were born somewhere, The happy fools who were born somewhere.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XCOyB7WStI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2eI67iCbKY

Manondugard Regular ·2025-10-06

Hey, I can't imagine what it feels like for those who don’t have deep roots when you do, like in my case. Apparently, they don’t feel any sense of loss based on some testimonies I’ve gathered from people around me. The real issue is those who settle in a region and then socially or politically campaign to change what they don’t like about the local specifics. Where I’m from, they come for the sun and accept paying top dollar for housing, and the result? The children and grandchildren of locals can no longer afford to live at reasonable prices. For the price I paid for my house in the mountains, if I’d gone down closer to the coast, I’d have gotten a chicken coop at best 😅 Luckily, when it comes to our traditions, we have our politicians on our side—but for how long?

Christine

Mathews Globetrotter ·2025-10-06

hi, speaking Savoyard is a bit secondary. Don’t forget that this is a very wealthy region, and sooner or later, you’ve got to wonder if the two Savoies and the Genevan Ain will produce as much wealth as the Île-de-France. Why’s that? Because of its proximity to Switzerland. Laurent Wauquiez is sitting on a goldmine. And in these times of political instability, in the region, demand your autonomy! [:P]

Manondugard Regular ·2025-10-06

Hey, speaking Savoyard is a bit secondary. Don’t forget that this is a very wealthy region, and sooner or later, you have to wonder if the two Savoies and the Genevan Ain will produce as much wealth as the Île-de-France. Why? Because of its proximity to Switzerland. Laurent Wauquiez is sitting on a goldmine. And in these times of political instability, in the region, demand your autonomy [:P]

The Savoyard language isn’t just spoken in Savoie but also in Haute-Savoie and beyond. Since you haven’t looked into it closely, you can’t know—I’ll give you that. In many regions, passionate people are working behind the scenes to keep traditions alive, and as mentioned above, quite a few regional schools are opening up in response to the uniformity pushed by Europe. People need something local to hold onto, even if it’s not the majority of the population. I was recently in Samoëns for a stay, and just the highways there nearly ruined me😭 (there are a lot of wealthy people there, that’s for sure). https://www.langue-savoyarde.com/presentation-de-langue-savoyarde

Christine

Mathews Globetrotter ·2025-10-06

The Savoyard language isn't only spoken in Savoie but also in Haute-Savoie and beyond. Since you haven't looked into it closely, you can't know, I'll grant you that.

I've got other things to do in life than to take a close interest in the Savoyard language. Especially since it's not a profit-driven endeavor.

Jojoone1 Globetrotter ·2025-11-10

By clicking on my username, you can access my travel journal about Alsace. You’ll learn a lot of what you’d want to know about it, and there are also plenty of beautiful photos.

« Tout le monde s'interroge sur comment laisser une meilleure planète à nos enfants, mais on devrait plutôt penser à laisser de meilleurs enfants pour notre planète. » Clint Eastwood

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The unique characteristics of French regions

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