Ciao!

Remember the Notre Dame fire of 2019? I had seen it just weeks before the cathedral spire burned down. In a full-circle coincidence, I was back in Paris on the exact day it reopened - December 7, 2024. One year ago today.

In hindsight? Poetic.

In the moment? Pure panic.

Because the ceremonial reopening also meant blocked streets, closed bridges, and detours that make you want to curse like a local. (“Pardon my French, but how do you say F*** in French?”)

Cue total tourist chaos.

We were stranded on the Seine river’s right bank, trying to navigate back to the left so we could pick up our luggage and get to the airport. We were about to miss our flight.

And that is when language stopped being “a fun cultural experience” and became necessary.

My French? Nonexistent.

My English? Met with blank stares (?!) or frustrated sighs.

Until I tried one tiny sentence in French: “Do you speak English?”

Instant shift. People pointed to who could help.

That one line changed everything.

You do not need fluency. You need function.

That is why I designed my guide and 7-day course around just 10 travel-ready lines that keep you calm and get you what you need in Italy. Grab my "Don't Be that Tourist" Italian cheat sheet here. and message me ”course” on instagram @amandaghosh for the 7 day crash course!

Here is today’s SOS line: Do you speak English?

🇮🇹 Parla inglese?

Say: PAHR-lah een-GLEH-zeh

Hit reply and type “Inglese” (remember last week’s pronunciation tip, since I’m performing as the Grinch - the “i” sound in Grinch sounds like “ee,” “Greench.” Same sound in Inglese for English).

Croissant in hand,

Amanda

P.S. Heard some of you want to see a sneak peek from my Grinch act! I’m performing around Liverpool this month. I’ll post on Instagram soon @amandaghosh if you wanna see it!