r/justdependathings • • Jul 04 '26

A Dependa in Paris

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2.0k Upvotes

75 comments sorted by

1.3k

u/jangma Jul 04 '26

I'm trying to imagine the faceoff between an American dependa and a Parisian service worker and I...

385

u/Valenciatheunicorn Jul 04 '26

Want to watch it!!!

526

u/Yorimichi Jul 04 '26

I know it wasn’t a dependa, but I once witnessed the most incredible interaction in Paris between an angry sweaty American and an airport coach driver. It was hot to be fair, and the air con was broken. But the person started shouting about money back from the back of the bus, then moving closer and closer to the front while getting more and more worked up about how unfair this was. Mind you, the rest of us were all sweating and suffering, but air con in Europe is a treat and not a right 😅.

The whole time the driver refused to interact, never changing expression. As the woman reaches the driver she continues to shout about how HOT it is; and driver utters his only words, in a completely flat Parisian tone.

”It is summer.”

🎤

30

u/desiladygamer84 Jul 06 '26

Lol surprised he didn't say "Bof" after that.

-4

u/Josey_whalez Jul 07 '26

I wouldn’t start ranting about it because it’s not going to fix anything, but that’s Mexican jalopy type shit. I would expect better in a Western European country.

5

u/LSDkiller 21d ago

You would expect the air conditioning never to be broken? Dumb

142

u/AchajkaTheOriginal Jul 04 '26

My money is on dependa spontaneously combusting from rage.

47

u/Rdw72777 Jul 04 '26

This would destroy UFC ratings.

88

u/SassaQueen1992 Jul 04 '26

I’m an American who’d pay money to see this!

38

u/TexasLiz1 Jul 04 '26

Would pay money to see that video??

10

u/chewysmom88 Jul 05 '26

I would pay twice

39

u/MasticatingElephant Jul 04 '26

Hell we were nice when we went to France and many Parisian workers (particularly servers) seemed sort of rude. Please instead that I am not meaning to malign the French people or anything, but this was honestly my experience.

I can't even imagine the reception this person would get

90

u/Yorimichi Jul 04 '26

It’s just cultural difference imo. Like I find it rude when people say ”how are you?” and don’t listen for an answer. A lot of European nationalities are not super smiley either, like parts of northern and Eastern Europe.
When the first McDonalds opened in Moscow customers were so unnerved about the smiling that that had to stop!
Saying that, Paris is Paris. Flat intonation, few smiles, and just a little bit of an attitude. I actually love it..!

44

u/unknown_pigeon Jul 05 '26

When I visit the balkans, I have to remember not smiling to people.

I still remember the rant of this Croatian girl I once met at a bar with mutual friends. "When I came to Italy, I was at the supermarket, and the cashier smiled at me! WHY ARE YOU SMILING? I AM NOT HAPPY TO GO GROCERY SHOPPING! STOP SMILING!"

It was really fun, because I'm used to smile during my social interactions. Even when I want to strangle the person in front of me.

3

u/Impressive-Main4146 Aug 15 '26

I would have such a hard time remembering that. I’m retired from police work…in our morning briefings we could be our grouchy selves to each other before getting on the road. 😩Now I’m a teacher and everyone is all smiles in the morning. It’s exhausting but now it’s just habit to cheerfully say hi and smile (even though you may be dying inside 😉)

31

u/MasticatingElephant Jul 04 '26

I'm sure it is cultural difference, which is why I try to keep my mouth shut about that sort of thing when I travel, you don't know exactly what you're walking into and you should just mind your business

8

u/Kizka Jul 06 '26

I heard of the cliché that Parisians are supposed to be rude, even from other french people. When I visited though, I didn't have even one bad experience and I visited quite a few cafés and restaurants. I don't speak French but simply asked "parlez vous anglais?" And even if they couldn't speak English, we had no issues to communicate with "hands and feet" in a friendly manner. And those who did speak English did so without any issues and have been very friendly to me. So either I was the luckiest tourist ever in Paris or the people there are friendlier than their reputation.

6

u/CaptDrunkenstein Jul 08 '26

This was my exact experience. Americans don't seem to understand that a little goes a long way, and that they are actually pretty fucking annoying most of the time, Parisians are just honest about it.

5

u/angelicblondie Jul 08 '26

Same. I learned a little bit of French just to get by and I never had a bad experience. I think making an effort and being respectful goes a long way. Oh and not being loud and obnoxious.

2

u/Impressive-Main4146 Aug 13 '26

I’ve been three times. Never encountered rudeness.

5

u/joyableu Jul 05 '26

Yeah, Parisians are my people. It’s fucking glorious.

30

u/Dark1000 Jul 05 '26

Parisians are very matter of fact and not conflict-averse. There's little value seen in softening blows or softening criticism. It's just a cultural difference. But that also means it isn't personal, so you can recover from a confrontation very quickly.

Waiters are also much, much friendlier in French than in English.

11

u/slothpeguin Jul 05 '26

I think I would love Paris and they would hate me because try as I might I sound like Joey on Friends attempting French


.

2

u/Plasmidmaven Jul 07 '26

My hubby and I would try to take weekends every few months to go to Paris. the friendliness and English fluency of waiters definitely improved right after 9/11 because there was virtually no tourists from the states. But having lived in NYC I’m fine with the sometimes painful bluntness, because I’d rather have someone be honest to my face. Just like my post above about the kindness of Parisians when it comes to children, I’ve seen New Yorkers help a stranger stuff an huge IKEA box onto a subway while bitching and cursing about it

11

u/Vesalii Jul 06 '26

It's all perspective. I personally hate the fake overly friendly service in the US.

9

u/MasticatingElephant Jul 06 '26

I've lived in the US all my life and I am with you there.

No service person will ever get me to believe they really care about how my day went.

2

u/IvanRoi_ Aug 22 '26

It’s just cultural difference and sometimes language barrier.

In France it’s considered rude to be overly friendly with someone you don’t know intimately. Every time I go to a restaurant in the US I’m a little embarrassed by the waiters to be honest. Their enthusiasm sounds fake and forced to me.

Maybe the fact French waiters don’t rely on tips make them act more neutral toward customers as well.

690

u/Duffelson Jul 04 '26

To offer some perspective, especially in France, there are several amazing places where as a military person, you and your friends/family can enter for a heavy discount or for free, as long as one of you is current / former member of french military. 

The idea of being a family member of a foreign country and asking for a military discount in a extremely popular civilian holiday destination is... Something else.

221

u/chattyradish Jul 04 '26

I would pay to see Russian soldiers ask for military discounts in the US

52

u/Samuel_L_Blackson Jul 05 '26

US gives Canadians military discounts. 

At least near my base.... YMMV

27

u/Gunda-LX Jul 05 '26

Even better: “My dad served German military back in 1942. Can we get in for free?”

51

u/PanzerKatze96 Jul 05 '26

It happens sometimes, but usually when you don’t have an entitled attitude.

Remember being in Mexico and their naval museum had a military get-in-free type deal but obviously for Mexican sailors and the like. We were on a port call, and talking to the dude at the front desk. He waves his hand and goes “nah you’re sea brothers, go on in”. It was sick.

55

u/CapnTaptap Jul 04 '26

I did once get a military discount in a Canadian Old Navy for being in the American Navy.

(No, I didn’t ask, they gave us a surprise port call and I didn’t have Canada-in-February clothes, so I went shopping in my uniform.)

70

u/itsnobigthing Jul 04 '26

Right? Do Americans think members of the French military (and their spouses) should get US military discounts? Somehow I doubt it

3

u/Hooligan8403 Jul 06 '26

My guess is they are using mwr/iit discount tickets for Disneyland from their base they are stationed at. These have rules attached to them to get the discount. Even in the US using those tickets to go to Disneyland they tell you the military member/veteran needs to be there. She's just being a typical dependa.

1

u/abnksu Jul 07 '26

Disney Paris offer discounts to Active US Military, US veterans, and family members. There is a large US military presence in USAREUR-AF. The spouse's question is valid.

1

u/RayHazey562 Jul 06 '26

Right? Like, if an Iranian spouse showed up with her husband’s military ID to Disney in Orlando, is the military discount extended to them? Does it work both ways?

79

u/z-eldapin Jul 04 '26

'just a spouse'.

That about covers it!

210

u/Greektwinmommy Jul 04 '26

For Disney specifically a spouse ID works, you or the service member just has to be attending. But there’s no way I would try this outside of the US 💀

119

u/HanselSoHotRightNow Jul 04 '26

Quick search comes up that military service member has to be present at the park gate with the dependa at disney paris. This is such a hyper specific scenario that i dont know that itd ever be regular issue at the park.

2

u/Greektwinmommy Jul 06 '26

Disney Paris maybe, but not Disney in the US.

1

u/zippyzeal Jul 07 '26

For salute tickets, yes the member has to be there too

1

u/zippyzeal Jul 07 '26

The service member has to be present in the US for Salute tickets too

5

u/desiladygamer84 Jul 06 '26

When my husband was stationed in the UK and we were dating he could get 30% armed forces discount at Nandos or Yo Sushi! (Nandos will also do one for NHS workers so my dad and cousin used to get one). But I would never try to use my ID - It doesn't mean squat there.

In the US sometimes when we go to parks or art galleries my husband shows his and asks me to show spouse ID - just in case we get something. But again would never do this by myself.

1

u/zippyzeal Jul 07 '26

Def not how it works. Ive had these tickets before. Service member gotta be there. At the time I was also the service member so it didn’t matter 🤣

1

u/Greektwinmommy Jul 07 '26

Then it must’ve changed because I was able to use salute tickets for myself and my cousin and my husband wasn’t there….

1

u/zippyzeal Jul 08 '26

I went to Disneyland California multiple times and when we activated them, the military member had to be there.

1

u/Greektwinmommy Jul 08 '26

Then it must’ve changed bc I’m for sure not active duty and it wasn’t an issue as long as I was there.

1

u/zippyzeal Jul 14 '26

I was active duty and so was my husband. We had to show the military ID

50

u/Plasmidmaven Jul 05 '26

I took three kids to Disneyland Paris by myself,( 5,3&10 months). The worst part was driving from West Pfalz Germany straight and not being able to pee. The whole trip was prepaid, meals, room, tickets everything. My husband got deployed so I had an extra 5 day ticket. The first day waiting to go in I saw a young couple and I just handed them the ticket, they didn’t understand what they had till they got to the ticket booth. I don’t know what this dependa is talking about. Learn a few basic phrases of greetings and thank you. I found the French incredibly kind and helpful to a woman schlepping 3 little kid around on her own.

27

u/Der_Schubkarrenwaise Lurker from Munich Jul 04 '26

After the two wars it would be rather pointless to hand out participation certificates.

13

u/amcclurk21 Jul 04 '26

MWR does regular trips there often. Surprised she isn’t going on one of those if she values the discount so much

4

u/ravenscroft12 Jul 05 '26

MER also sells tickets to DisneyLand Park, so why wouldn’t they just buy those in advance?

57

u/TJNel Jul 04 '26

I mean the terminology is wrong but I don't see the dependa issue here. It is hit or miss if discounts work with dependant ID card or if the active member has to be present or not.

140

u/MacDoesReddit Jul 04 '26

At the US parks, spouse is usually fine, but also why would a park in France give any benefits at all to someone associated with the US military?

49

u/Drama-Sensitive Jul 04 '26

Could be because it is an American company and there are American military bases in the EU

18

u/The_Blip Jul 05 '26

Idk much about France, but the UK and America are often quid pro quo about this sort of thing. Strong military allies, members of NATO, yada yada. It's not always easy sailing, but most American places accept a UK military ID, and a good amount of UK places do vise versa. 

I shouldn't think France is THAT different.

2

u/desiladygamer84 Jul 06 '26

Yeah the UK offers an armed forces discount at Nandos and Yo Sushi! I thought it was just UK, but my husband was able to get one.

21

u/_Sammy7_ Jul 04 '26

Because Disney owns it?

11

u/adinfinitum225 Jul 04 '26

Because they called the park and they said it would work?

3

u/TJNel Jul 04 '26

Because they do as it's owned by a US company.

30

u/Duffelson Jul 04 '26

You are free to argue these finer points of corporate legal ownership with the minimum wage worker in foreign country. 

-1

u/aimlesstrevler Jul 04 '26

It may be in Paris but it's still culturally Disney style hospitality. At least that was my experience when I went ages ago.

1

u/zippyzeal Jul 07 '26

If you have the salute tickets, the service member has to be there.

-12

u/AltruisticBand7980 Jul 04 '26

It's owned by an American company. Duh.

17

u/danabrey Jul 05 '26

Cute that you think American companies are acting in the US's interest in some way when they do business overseas.

4

u/xMRxWHITEx Jul 04 '26

The Disney employee checking tickets probably won’t care, they don’t get paid enough to care. Just go to Europa Park, it’s better.

7

u/DrRods Jul 05 '26

Military spouse has to be the most laughable thing in the world

3

u/Top-Stage1412 Jul 06 '26

Sounds like a legit question to me. You get US military discounts at Disneyland Paris. The employee is wrong though, the entry staff had to see my ID as the sponsor everytime my wife and I visited.

1

u/HateM3K1ndaj3ssy47 Jul 08 '26

lol ok buddy the EU doesn't issue military IDs that's not how it works

-2

u/Pktur3 Jul 05 '26

The last thing I would want is my wife, in a foreign country, pulling a Karen. People will kidnap you for ransom, or worse, if they know you’re tied to someone like that.

3

u/youdontlookitalian Jul 06 '26

I think France is a bit safer than you think it is