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Bulbs => Bulbs General => Topic started by: mark smyth on December 05, 2011, 05:54:55 PM

Title: odd email re African plants
Post by: mark smyth on December 05, 2011, 05:54:55 PM
I got a strange email today but who is it/are they?

subject - African Plants

Hello

      I see you have a good profile in rare plants and i wish to know if you are interested in seeds of rare plants from Africa. I am able to supply you with them and will wish to know your
plant family of interesting.

regards

--
Université de Douala
Faculté des Sciences
Biologie des Organismes Végétaux
Title: Re: odd email re African plants
Post by: Maggi Young on December 05, 2011, 06:06:58 PM
The Université de Douala, Faculté des Sciences Biologie des Organismes Végétaux,
in Cameroun,  is real enough... but that is a very odd email. Would be a very rare instance for a university to be  canvassing seed sales.... I don't trust it.
Title: Re: odd email re African plants
Post by: bulborum on December 05, 2011, 06:09:50 PM
If true it would be fantastic
but the same for me ---I don't trust it

Roland
Title: Re: odd email re African plants
Post by: PeterT on December 05, 2011, 06:15:04 PM
It should be easy enough to contact the university and ask a few pertinant questions....
I found this but I dont have the language to do much research. http://helpforafricanstudents.org/english/
Title: Re: odd email re African plants
Post by: bulborum on December 05, 2011, 06:29:28 PM
There are a few French speaking members here

Don't look at me I AM DUTCH  ;D

Roland
Title: Re: odd email re African plants
Post by: gote on December 07, 2011, 05:24:09 AM
Why does everybody assume that the staff of an African university is unable to understand English  ???
Göte
Title: Re: odd email re African plants
Post by: bulborum on December 07, 2011, 07:10:23 AM
If you live in France
You can understand my reaction
Even in the Hospital last year they didn't speak English
not even the doctor  :'(

Worse , I visited Marseille a few years ago
searching a Camping
We went to the Tourist information
and you don't believe it
THEY DID JUST SPOKE FRENCH :o

Roland
Title: Re: odd email re African plants
Post by: Thomas Huber on December 07, 2011, 08:48:10 AM
Roland, believe me - most of them CAN, but they don't WANT.
If you are in France, YOU have to talk French!!!
My French friends may please forgive me, but
these are my experiences. Fortunately I can talk a bit French.
Title: Re: odd email re African plants
Post by: bulborum on December 07, 2011, 09:19:40 AM
Of-course I speak a some French
Writing is different

But I still don't understand why they don't speak French at the Tourist information
Marseille was for me the most extreme one
Its the fifth largest city of France :o
but many of the Tourist informations I visited have the same problem
JUST SPEAK FRENCH
If I was the boss my first question would be:
HOW MANY LANGUAGES DO YOU SPEAK

If you apply in Amsterdam for that job
and your answer isn't six  :o or more
they will ak you why you want that job

Roland
Title: Re: odd email re African plants
Post by: PeterT on December 07, 2011, 11:38:25 AM
Why does everybody assume that the staff of an African university is unable to understand English  ???
Göte
I would expect some staff to speak English. I can not read the details of the websites without a lot of translation ( something I have to complement people on this forum, whose first language is not English, for).
Title: Re: odd email re African plants
Post by: Lesley Cox on December 07, 2011, 10:27:50 PM
It's tricky too, when you're in Wales and they refuse to speak English. ;D Funnily enough, when I mentioned the All Blacks, some men professed to speak English. ::)
Title: Re: odd email re African plants
Post by: gote on December 08, 2011, 08:50:22 AM
My experience is that IN FRANCE people are reluctant to speak foreign languages. However, If I show the courtesy to try to speak French, many do speak English.
Considering all that was said in English about France and Frenchmen during the Bush era, it is not surprising that there is a certain reluctance against foreigners trying to impose the language used in the bashing..   

I would assume that university staff - in Africa as well as outside - do speak English enough to be able to answer a letter. Besides: the original request was in English was it not?

I think that it would make sense to enquire rather than discussing French inabilities.
Cheers
Göte
(Back from Paris last week)

   
Title: Re: odd email re African plants
Post by: bulborum on December 08, 2011, 09:06:46 AM

I think that it would make sense to enquire rather than discussing French inabilities.


It started here

Quote
There are a few French speaking members here

Don't look at me I AM DUTCH   ;D

Roland

I think it was a little joke

You made it serious  ???

Roland
Title: Re: odd email re African plants
Post by: gote on December 08, 2011, 12:50:51 PM

I think that it would make sense to enquire rather than discussing French inabilities.


It started here

Quote
There are a few French speaking members here

Don't look at me I AM DUTCH   ;D





Roland

I think it was a little joke

You made it serious  ???

Roland


I apologize by quoting your other joke:
"But I still don't understand why they don't speak French at the Tourist information Marseille was for me the most extreme one Its the fifth largest city of France Shocked"

By the way, How many Swedish speaking tourist information staff do they have in your hometown or in say Bristol? 

Cheers
Göte



Title: Re: odd email re African plants
Post by: bulborum on December 08, 2011, 12:59:50 PM
You tell me  ;D

Roland
Title: Re: odd email re African plants
Post by: bulborum on December 17, 2011, 04:45:27 PM
Did you hear anything again from Université de Douala Mark

Roland
Title: Re: odd email re African plants
Post by: mark smyth on December 17, 2011, 06:59:00 PM
I blocked the email address but didnt reply
Title: Re: odd email re African plants
Post by: bulborum on December 17, 2011, 07:10:57 PM
It's intriguing why they send you the email
Did you google the email-address ?

Roland
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