During the 1990s, I took my mother to Europe a number of times.  She had not been overseas until she was in her late sixties and was not, as we would say, “street-wise”.  Unfortunately, some of my funny moments are at her expense.  Such as the time when we were checking out of a hotel in a small village in France.  I was paying the bill while she waited in the lobby.  When I rejoined her, she had a most puzzled expression on her face.  She had watched while a young woman spoke to her dog.  “Viens ici, Henri!  Assis-toi!”  Amazed, my mother said to me, “That dog can understand French!”  Yes, I replied patiently.  They aren’t born speaking English!