How awesome would it be to be the main character in some foreign language study book?!
First, I would have had a very typical, very traditional name for the country I was born in, and for the language the book was written for. Margot in my world of Manuel de Francais. Margaretha - in some Deutsch ohne Probleme :) Last name would be pretty typical for the area too; although it could have an unusual sequence of letters, if would be no longer than 2 syllables, and definitely shorter than 11 letters.
In the event if I was not born in the same country where the action in the units of the books takes place, I could still be a lucky tourist or a visitor to this country. Say, came to Rome to visit my friend for a month and meanwhile - picking up a little Italian :) My host family would be extremely friendly and nice to me: in the very first few units they all introduce themselves to me, would show me around the city, do a tour of the local sights. In the following few days I would visit a local university and talk with one of the local professors about the differences in education between their country and my home country. I would go to a grocery store and purchase some random amounts of some random foods: one kilo of apples, 200 gr of cheese, salad, 1/2 kg of potatoes. Then I would go to a shoe store and would purchase the second pair of shoes I was recommended.
In the middle of the book I would see a doctor about something minor. I would complain about simultaneous headaches, sore throat, loss of appetite and sleep - and would sounds as miserable about it as possible. The doctor would take my temperature and diagnose a cold or a flu; write a prescription for something good for fighting merciless seasonal flu and would see me off with all the most pleasant wishes to get well and promises to check on me in a couple of days to make sure my cold is getting better. Whatever you came to your doctor with, he will never look at you like at an idiot, and would be most sensitive, polite and pleasant. In foreign language study books everyone is always sensitive, polite and pleasant - wherever you go. Talking back ,swearing and being rude is never considered in these books :)
Once feeling alive again I would head out to a local museum or art gallery. I would talk about entertainment and music with my friend, ending up in a long discussion with all her family about their tastes and preferences.
Having realized that it is about my time to leave, and I have not tried much of the traditional cuisine, my friend would invite me and several friends of hers to a restaurant where the traditional dishes make at least 50% of the menu.
On my departure day, the whole family would say buy to me, me a good trip back and would be invited to stay with me whenever they go to my home country :) everyone would be polite and pleasant. After all, all the foreign language books are about nice and pleasant adventures in A foreign country with a happy ending :)
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