Giving directions (also about language)

I get asked for directions often. One time when I was out for a run, a guy pulled over and asked for directions in French. As I tried to answer, he picked up on the English tones. He was originally from Mexico and learned English while working in LA. We ended up talking French and English because he was originally from Mexico, but married a French girl so now he lives in France. His English was spotty, like my French. But between the two languages we managed to communicate pretty well. He said it fun to speak English because it was more like being "home" on the other side of the world. I've tried to put him in contact with another Mexican friend of mine who married a Belgian guy and lives here now. Haven't heard if they connected.

Last week while out for a long run, a big truck pulled over and the older man driving asked for directions. Because he was in the dutch speaking area, he asked for directions in dutch. But when I started to tell him where to go (since I've gotten lost enough to know some of the roads now) he muttered "Oui, oui", which showed me he was normally French speaking. (I've come to the conclusion that the language people use for their little words, like yes and no, when talking about something else, is usually their mother tongue.) So, when he used the "oui" I finished giving him directions in French. He seemed to understand me. Hopefully he found Dottenijs.

Another time 2 ladies, who sounded like they might be Italian, came right up to me and asked, in English, if I could tell them how to get to the center of town. I wondered if I looked English-speaking, and asked them how they knew to ask in English. They said they'd asked a few people and English seemed to be the language the locals understood. (They didn't speak dutch.)

One guy I gave directions to asked me what we were doing for lunch. I turned him down, but it made me grin.

There was a time, early on, when I gave directions and as soon as the guy drove off I realized I'd given bad advice. Oops. I try to only give directions if I'm really sure I know the roads.