--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What's that?\" \"My friend St. Clair bought…" description: "\"“What's that?\" \"My friend St. Clair bought it for me. So I wouldn't feel out of place.\" She raises her eyebrows as she pulls back onto the road. \"Are t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/stephanie-perkins-482_french_what-s-that-my-friend-st-clair-bought-it_1616138.png" --- # What's that?" "My friend St. Clair bought it for me. So I… ![“What's that?" "My friend St. Clair bought it for me. So I wouldn't feel out of place." She raises her eyebrows as she pulls back onto the road. "Are there a lot of Canadians in Paris?" My face warms. "I just felt,you know, stupid for a while. Like one of those lame American tourists with the white…” quote by Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/stephanie-perkins-482_french_what-s-that-my-friend-st-clair-bought-it_1616138.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/stephanie-perkins-482_french_what-s-that-my-friend-st-clair-bought-it_1616138.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/stephanie-perkins-482_french_what-s-that-my-friend-st-clair-bought-it_1616138.png) > ““What's that?" "My friend St. Clair bought it for me. So I wouldn't feel out of place." She raises her eyebrows as she pulls back onto the road. "Are there a lot of Canadians in Paris?" My face warms. "I just felt,you know, stupid for a while. Like one of those lame American tourists with the white sneakers and the cameras around their necks? So he bought it for me, so I wouldn't feel…embarrassed. American." "Being American is nothing to be ashamed of," she snaps. "God,Mom,I know.I just meant-forget it." "Is this the English boy with the French father?" "What does that have anything to do with it?" I'm angry. I don't like what she's implying. "Besides,he's American. He was born here? His mom lives in San Francisco. We sat next to each other on the plane." We stop at a red light.Mom stares at me. "You like him." "OH GOD,MOM." "You do.You like this boy." "He's just a friend.He has a girlfriend." "Anna has a boooy-friend," Seany chants. "I do not!" "ANNA HAS A BOOOY-FRIEND!" I take a sip of coffee and choke. It's disgusting. It's sludge. No, it's worse than sludge-at least sludge is organic. Seany is still taunting me. Mom reaches around and grabs his legs,which are kicking her seat again.She sees me making a face at my drink. "My,my. Once semester in France, and suddenly we're Miss Sophisticated. Your father will be thrilled." Like it was my choice! Like I asked to go to Paris! And how dare she mention Dad. "ANNNN-A HAS A BOOOY-FRIEND!" We merge back onto the interstate. It's rush hour,and the Atlanta traffic has stopped moving. The car behind ours shakes us with its thumping bass. The car in front sprays a cloud of exhaust straight into our vents. Two weeks.Only two more weeks.s”” [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator confronts cultural identity, family expectations, and teenage insecurity while navigating love and belonging. **In simple terms:** Teen struggles with identity and family pressure. Key Takeaway Embrace authenticity, challenge stereotypes. Themes identity family culture insecurity love Mood conflicted defensive reflective Type literary coming-of-age When to use this quote - teen dating - family dynamics - cultural clash Key Concepts self-acceptance social pressure Questions to Reflect On - How do you define your own identity? - What expectations limit you? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex cultural nuances. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Rush hour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rush-hour/) [San francisco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/san-francisco/) ## Related quotes > [“We stop at a red light.Mom stares at me."You like him" "OH GOD,MOM." "You do.You like this boy." "He's just a friend.He has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/we-stop-at-a-red-light-mom-stares-at-me-you-like-him-oh-god-mom-you/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [When you say 'never forget' to a veteran, you are implying that, as an American, you are in it with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-crenshaw/when-you-say-never-forget-to-a-veteran-you-are-implying-that-as-an/) [Dan Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-crenshaw/) > [I am surprised and embarrassed to be a part of the first American generation to leave the country in far worse shape than it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/i-am-surprised-and-embarrassed-to-be-a-part-of-the-first-american/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [I know people who are embarrassed to be American. They don't like showing their passports. It's becoming a scary place. It takes someone very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-anderson/i-know-people-who-are-embarrassed-to-be-american-they-don-t-like/) [Gillian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-anderson/) > [“Are you going to suggest I kiss you for good luck or strength or whatever it is your sex demon needs?" - William That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gena-showalter/are-you-going-to-suggest-i-kiss-you-for-good-luck-or-strength-or/) [Gena Showalter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gena-showalter/) > [“You asked me in Paris how many women I'd loved. I said one. I should have said two." He cupped her cheek, his thumb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-french/you-asked-me-in-paris-how-many-women-i-d-loved-i-said-one-i-should/) [Kitty French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-french/) > [I don't know whether I survive the war or not, but I wanted you to survive. That's why I asked you to move from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-know-whether-i-survive-the-war-or-not-but-i-wanted-you-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The Daily Grind by Stewart Stafford Crooked broker flashes teeth, Cannibal flesh on their napkin, The traffic jam zombie shuffle, Stars, take me home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-stafford/the-daily-grind-by-stewart-stafford-crooked-broker-flashes-teeth/) [Stewart Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-stafford/) > [“I want to make slow, passionate rush hour to a pack of masturbation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-want-to-make-slow-passionate-rush-hour-to-a-pack-of-masturbation/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“On my wedding night, I want to make slow, passionate rush hour to my wife at well over three miles an hour.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/on-my-wedding-night-i-want-to-make-slow-passionate-rush-hour-to-my/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [It's Good...But No more rush hour driving To start and end your day No more early alarm calls But..much less pay No more back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-walter-bratton/it-s-good-but-no-more-rush-hour-driving-to-start-and-end-your-day-no/) [John Walter Bratton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-walter-bratton/) > [I hear the word 'tolerance'-tha t some people are trying to teach people to be tolerant of gays. I'm not satisfied with that word.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chely-wright/i-hear-the-word-tolerance-tha-t-some-people-are-trying-to-teach/) [Chely Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chely-wright/) > [There is no doubt that I have lots of words inside me; but at moments, like rush-hour traffic at the mouth of a tunnel,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/there-is-no-doubt-that-i-have-lots-of-words-inside-me-but-at-moments/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [“Rush hour was under way; her car became one more pair of headlights in a glittering daisy chain of commuters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-prescott/rush-hour-was-under-way-her-car-became-one-more-pair-of-headlights-in/) [Michael Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-prescott/) > [“I had traveled eight thousand miles around the American continent and I was back on Times Square; and right in the middle of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-had-traveled-eight-thousand-miles-around-the-american-continent-and/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) ## More by Stephanie Perkins > [“This warmth over the telephone. Is it possible for home to be a person and not a place? Bridgette used to be home to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/this-warmth-over-the-telephone-is-it-possible-for-home-to-be-a-person/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“I wasn't being a git. I wasn't even being a twat, or a wanker, or any of your other bleeding Briticisms -”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/i-wasn-t-being-a-git-i-wasn-t-even-being-a-twat-or-a-wanker-or-any-of/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“You said on my birthday that you were afraid of being alone, but I’ve been here this whole time. This whole time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/you-said-on-my-birthday-that-you-were-afraid-of-being-alone-but-i-ve/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“Lola: Do you think things have to be easy? For it to work? Cricket: NO. 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Always happy to educate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/thanks-i-forgot-how-to-flip-off-the-english-i-ll-use-the-correct-hand/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“Beautiful. He called me beautiful! But wait. I don't like Dave. Do I like Dave?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/beautiful-he-called-me-beautiful-but-wait-i-don-t-like-dave-do-i-like/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“You can't undo loss. You can't unmake a mistake.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/you-can-t-undo-loss-you-can-t-unmake-a-mistake/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“They didn’t talk much, but their silence was companionable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/they-didn-t-talk-much-but-their-silence-was-companionable/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“We're enveloped in pitch black. "Wait here," I whisper. "Are you getting your ax?" "Handcuffs." "Kinky. But, okay, I'll try it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/we-re-enveloped-in-pitch-black-wait-here-i-whisper-are-you-getting/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“And, suddenly, I want to touch him. Not a push, or a shove, or even a friendly hug. I want to feel the creases…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/and-suddenly-i-want-to-touch-him-not-a-push-or-a-shove-or-even-a/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“My face is round, and my cheeks are pinchable, and my ears stick out farther than I'd like.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/my-face-is-round-and-my-cheeks-are-pinchable-and-my-ears-stick-out/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“There's something about blue eyes. The kind of blue that startles you every time they're lifted in your direction. The kind of blue that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/there-s-something-about-blue-eyes-the-kind-of-blue-that-startles-you/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) > [“I'm a little distracted by this English French American Boy Masterpiece.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/i-m-a-little-distracted-by-this-english-french-american-boy/) [Stephanie Perkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) [Explore all 500 Stephanie Perkins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-perkins/) ## More French quotes > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [French food is too poncy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gino-d-acampo/french-food-is-too-poncy/) [Gino D'Acampo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gino-d-acampo/) > [France has not only built a bureaucratic barrier against American culture, it has constructed a notorious intellectual case against it as well. The French…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-cowen/france-has-not-only-built-a-bureaucratic-barrier-against-american/) [Tyler Cowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-cowen/) > [I studied classical opera, so I was always singing in Italian and German and French.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wang-leehom/i-studied-classical-opera-so-i-was-always-singing-in-italian-and/) [Wang Leehom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wang-leehom/) > [I can speak French but I cannot understand it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-can-speak-french-but-i-cannot-understand-it/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [It's true, I'm the youngest, highest-grossing French director. I have a few records, but no one knows or simply doesn't care. That's good, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-leterrier/it-s-true-i-m-the-youngest-highest-grossing-french-director-i-have-a/) [Louis Leterrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-leterrier/) > [I'd had a French education for three years, my father being in the army. From 9 to 12, I went to French school. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-rampling/i-d-had-a-french-education-for-three-years-my-father-being-in-the/) [Charlotte Rampling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-rampling/) > [Biarritz is one of the most popular holiday destinations in France and it tops the list for coastal resorts along the French Atlantic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-drinkwater/biarritz-is-one-of-the-most-popular-holiday-destinations-in-france/) [Carol Drinkwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-drinkwater/) > [I think the French have a romantic cliche that Englishmen have great style, great music, irony and sense of humour. 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I think Paris is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-ghesquiere/i-don-t-feel-french-at-all-that-was-never-really-a-concern-and-it-s/) [Nicolas Ghesquiere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-ghesquiere/) > [I'd rather have a German Division in front of me than a French one behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-d-rather-have-a-german-division-in-front-of-me-than-a-french-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“La vie c’est comme la bicyclette : quand on arrête de pédaler on tombe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/la-vie-c-est-comme-la-bicyclette-quand-on-arr-te-de-p-daler-on-tombe/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“French zombie chauffeur.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/french-zombie-chauffeur/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [In 'Bras & Broomsticks,' Rachel Weinstein gets the shock of her life when she discovers that her mom and her younger sister, Miri, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mlynowski/in-bras-broomsticks-rachel-weinstein-gets-the-shock-of-her-life-when/) [Sarah Mlynowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mlynowski/) Browse all 926 French quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What's that?\" \"My friend St. Clair bought it for me. So I wouldn't feel out of place.\" She raises her eyebrows as she pulls back onto the road. \"Are there a lot of Canadians in Paris?\" My face warms. \"I just felt,you know, stupid for a while. Like one of those lame American tourists with the white sneakers and the cameras around their necks? So he bought it for me, so I wouldn't feel…embarrassed. American.\" \"Being American is nothing to be ashamed of,\" she snaps. \"God,Mom,I know.I just meant-forget it.\" \"Is this the English boy with the French father?\" \"What does that have anything to do with it?\" I'm angry. I don't like what she's implying. \"Besides,he's American. He was born here? His mom lives in San Francisco. We sat next to each other on the plane.\" We stop at a red light.Mom stares at me. \"You like him.\" \"OH GOD,MOM.\" \"You do.You like this boy.\" \"He's just a friend.He has a girlfriend.\" \"Anna has a boooy-friend,\" Seany chants. \"I do not!\" \"ANNA HAS A BOOOY-FRIEND!\" I take a sip of coffee and choke. It's disgusting. It's sludge. No, it's worse than sludge-at least sludge is organic. Seany is still taunting me. Mom reaches around and grabs his legs,which are kicking her seat again.She sees me making a face at my drink. \"My,my. Once semester in France, and suddenly we're Miss Sophisticated. Your father will be thrilled.\" Like it was my choice! Like I asked to go to Paris! And how dare she mention Dad. \"ANNNN-A HAS A BOOOY-FRIEND!\" We merge back onto the interstate. It's rush hour,and the Atlanta traffic has stopped moving. The car behind ours shakes us with its thumping bass. The car in front sprays a cloud of exhaust straight into our vents. Two weeks.Only two more weeks.s”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephanie Perkins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/what-s-that-my-friend-st-clair-bought-it-for-me-so-i-wouldn-t-feel/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "French" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-perkins/what-s-that-my-friend-st-clair-bought-it-for-me-so-i-wouldn-t-feel/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/stephanie-perkins-482_french_what-s-that-my-friend-st-clair-bought-it_1616138.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/stephanie-perkins-482_french_what-s-that-my-friend-st-clair-bought-it_1616138.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/706/stephanie-perkins-482_french_what-s-that-my-friend-st-clair-bought-it_1616138.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What's that?\" \"My friend St. Clair bought it for me. 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