French Lessons... Start With Converters

This day in age, going into a Comp USA dressed in a black and white polka-dot dress and red high heels should not make a girl feel subjected to the old women-in-a-car-dealership scenario. This situation only finds itself fraught with frustration when it is assumed that she (the female shopper) is fraught with ignorance. Not to advocate the position that women are vulnerable when approaching dealings in realms sometimes perceived to "belong" more to that of our male counterparts, but I do believe that at times, we must be prepared to not be given the benefit of the doubt, and we must, therefore, always be armed with knowing what we want before entering the lions den (being anywhere out of your area of expertise).  

I thought that my biggest lessons leading up to my upcoming trip to France would be learning the language (on that note: check out Lady Shark's diary - she's hooking all of us lucky ladies up with French lessons, fyi)... but to my dismay... I encountered "communication" issues days before my departure - and in my homeland. Upon trying to purchase a converter (for my American battery charger) at Comp USA, I was repeatedly shown American car chargers. As I tried to explain what I needed, I was amazed at how none of the employees were listening to me.  Funny how I could hear loud and clear that they were not even hearing/comprehending one word out of my mouth.  Three "gentlemen" later (who, btw, were insisting that all I need was an adaptor...not a converter), before I finally got through to someone, who politely explained that "my error" had been in my terminology... and that I needed a "transformer."  Silly me. What would I have done with these "converter" inquiries of mine?!  Long story short. I left, whipped out my cell, phoned Dad and learned that the jack a$% was full of s*%^.

A word to the wise... there may only be a vague difference (if one at all) between converters and transformers, but there is an enormous difference when talking about adaptors.  If you don't believe that, your romantic Parisian vacation most assuredly will be setting off sparks.   But I'm quite sure the Comp USA boys don't know too much about anything but electrical sparks.  :)  Just a feeling.