The quote was "We appreciate the effort, especially from an American teenager. But you sound like a drunken Englishman, so please stop." Normandy region, France, July 1989. Said to me and my mate while we were punk high school students on a short bus tour of the region.

But the request was made in good humor, and my accent WAS terrible, so all was well. We met a lot of people who were surprised Americans teenagers would make the effort, but never anybody who gave us any grief. A lot humor at our accent, some great laughs at group attempts to overcome a lack of vocabulary, and a fascinating two-hour conversation about shotguns and hunting in a small village gunsmith shop. The owner didn't have a lick of English and we hadn't a lick of technical vocabulary, but we had a lot fun comparing notes.

So, if I can do it, so can you, Gryphon. Good luck!