It's a weekday. It's morning. The train arrives at the destination full of commuters. The platform is mingling with commuters waiting to get on the train to go where we just came from. We disembark. A sea of people as these two streams conflate and confuse. As we head to the exits and they board the train we slowly disentangle. There are so many of us that a long line forms before the escalator down from the platform. Not even a line, more of a V-shaped traffic jam that extends to nearly the whole width of the platform. Slowly we converge on the escalator that shall deliver us from this overcrowded place. We could only wish the line were moving faster. Then, at last, we've made it, we step onto the escalator and... just stand there. All this waiting just to be able to stand in line some more? Yes, the escalator is moving, but why not walk down it? Especially since there are so many people, we'd be able to exit the platform quicker that way. But that isn't the custom. Apparently, if something moves us we must not move ourselves, we must appreciate and make it last as long as possible.

- Bonjour, monsieur. Qu'est-ce que vous voulez manger?

- Bom dia.

- Non non non, Roberto, fais pas ça! Il faut toujours parler français avec les gens du pays quand on est en France. Sinon ils deviennent fous.

- Por qué? El portugués no es un idioma muy complicado. Yo entiendo fácilmente los turistas en Madrid cuando me preguntan el camino por algún lugar.

- Eu não falo francês, Michel. Só sei falar inglês.

- No, ça c'est pire encore!

- Ma rilassati, Michel. Che possono farci se non parliamo francese? Ci capiamo benissimo tra di noi. Questo basta per intenderci.

- Eu entendo tudo o que dizem os franceses. Assim eles podem entender-me também.

- Sí, esto me parece muy lógico.

- Alors, avez-vous choisi?

- Per favore, signore, non stia lì a spiarci facendo finta di non capire. O partecipi alla discussione o si allontani. Se non ordiniamo è perché non siamo pronti.

- Mas eu estou pronto, só que não posso pedir na língua justa!

- Yo también estoy listo para pedir.

- Guys, what the hell are you talking about?? I don't understand a damn word of what you're saying.

- Les mecs, nous avons oublié que David est avec nous!