RE: off topic: YOU COULD HAVE HEARD A PIN DROP
While on active duty, we made a port call in Rouen, France in support of their "Bastille Day". Sitting at a table with some other tall ship sailors, a crewmember from one of the other ships attempted to order some munchies from the barmaid. Not sure if she was having a bad night or something, but objected to this sailor ordering in English. His simple reply was would she prefer he order in German? To the best of my knowledge, no other vessel of the U.S. Coast Guard has ever made another port call in France. Too bad - it's a beautiful country.