This is in response (though I am very late to post this, sorry!) to the Daily Prompt: Misstep
Gare de Lyon Train Station, Paris
It was a very memorable and unfortunate day of September 2013 that I will never forget as for the first time in years I thought my 5yrs old son will be in a terrible state when he took a wrong step on the pavement in front of Gare de Lyon. It was like a slow motion seeing it on the movie when it happened just hours before we depart. I cannot believe it, I thought it’s nothing until I saw his blood gushing on his lower part of the left lip. Unfortunately, his misstep caused us an instant panic and inconveniences. He got a very deep cut under his lower lip and it even the doctors get worried that they need a specialist to see him before they can decide what to do and finally after cleaning him up and taking care of his cut we are just lucky to be on time for our 4 O’ clock train ride to Zürich, as you can see from the picture above when I took it was quarter to 1pm so we went to have lunch. It was an hour before the accident! Now I wonder why my photo seems gloomy. Perhaps a sign of what was to come. A misstep that makes me understand about “humanitarian aid” or sort of.
First, as some of you may know that French is not fond of talking in English, PERIOD. I do not know the language and just using my brain to understand some words here and there as we go. It is not too bad, just pay attention and look for some landmarks so you won’t get lost as the signage are mostly written in French and of course the good old fashion of hand signals and logical thinking. Few people are of great help and some just as if they’re blind, can’t be bothered to help or get involved which I understand. It’s a long story to tell so I won’t bore you with the details. My hubby told me I have a memory of an elephant which I take as a compliment haha! 🙂
Needless to say, we learned a lot from this experiences. Fortunately after more than 2 years finally his scar is “almost” gone. Perhaps someday we will go back again…. will see.
“Use missteps as stepping stones to deeper understanding and greater achievement.” by Susan Taylor
So sorry to hear of this mishap….your poor son and you must have been distraught. I am glad to hear he is on the mend.
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It was an aweful experience in a foreign land who doesn’t want to talk in English! In fairness, few people really helps via their conscience seeing it’s a child whose in pain or more in shock seeing the blood. It never happened before so I was really distraught. It’s the mothers who helped us & 1 taxi driver originally from Mexico. He talked perfect English 🙂
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I am glad your son was okay afterwards. Good post. I enjoyed it.
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Thanks for the compliment. 🙂
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You are welcome. 🙂
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Uh oh.. this is surely a misstep but I am happy to read your closing sentence. That’s the spirit!
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Thanks appreciated your nice comment 🙂
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Thank you! 😀
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I guess everyone’s experience in France is different. My ninth-grade geography teacher once told me of her trip to France. I think she was staying as a guest with a couple or family and they refused to speak anything but English around her. It was ironic since she learned French so she could communicate better in France.
And it’s good to hear that your son is fine. That really was a deep cut for it to take two years to disappear.
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Perhaps because the host of the house wants to learn and practice their English. Otherwise if you are on the street not a lot are keen. I have been warned before but didn’t believe at first until I experienced it. In fairness the beauty of France makes me want to go back and hope no more accident. It was a deep cut and I worried the scar will not fade as it takes awhile though still there’s a bit so I take it a few more years to really fade totally. Thanks for your time reading and commenting 🙂
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Glad that your son is alright and yea, I did have the same experience with the French people as they couldn’t bother to speak English and when we asked for directions, it was totally chaos.
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Hi there! I’ve nominated you for the Liebster Award! Check out my post if you want to take part https://olgaalexandra.wordpress.com/2016/04/05/the-liebster-award/
(there’s no obligation to but just quite fun!)
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Thanks for that this is my 2nd time 🙂 I will look into it after our last hurray of holidays! 🙂 Cheers!
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I is very traumatic to have an injured child in a foreign land. I am glad to hear that they took care of him and that his scar is disappearing..
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It was very stressful time. They only cleaned and put a plaster after the specialist over the phone (not everybody can speak English even junior doctors) declared it’s ok to touch him. It is the Zurich Hospital for kids who really did something but we both incurred expenses 😦 Over all we learned our lesson in this. His little scar serves a reminder.
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Wow how scary that must have been for all of you! I’m happy to hear that his scar is almost gone. That was quite the misstep!
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Thanks Deb. It’s like a little sour after taste at the last minute in Paris. First time it happened through 5yrs of my son’s life wandering in different places. Yes it’s hardly noticeable now 🙂
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That’s too bad that you have that as part of your memory of Paris…in time I hope it lessens, it should. 🙂
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Sad to hear that, Vinneve. I’m hoping the next experience in that country will be a lot different. I mean in a very good way.
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With what is happening right now in Paris and with a young boy I think I will have to pass for the meantime visiting. There are plenty of chances in the future if I really want it. Thanks Sony.
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i guess this is the post you were talking about with the misunderstanding about the bill and having to pay more in the end?
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Yes 😉 thanks for reading
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