France Story #2: Can Opener Anyone?

Well, I decided one afternoon that I would cook a dinner for Francoise and the family so that it would be one less thing they would have to worry about upon coming home. I don't remember exactly what I was making, something simple, a pasta dish I think...Anyways, my dish required that I open a can of something and I couldn't find a can opener anywhere. I searched the kitchen everywhere then finally gave up and called Francoise. She told me it should be in the top drawer and I informed her that it wasn't there nor any other drawers I had searched. So she told me to just go to one of the neighbors house and ask to use theirs. I figured that couldnt be too hard so I agreed and hung up. I went to the dictionary and looked up the word can opener. It said ouvrier la boite, simple enough, I figured if I said that and held up the can someone would understand that I needed one and offer to help. I went first to the neighbors on the left becaus I knew they were home. I had heard the youngest son (approx. 10 years old) yelling for his older brother just minutes before. Jon-Creeee!!!!! It was constantly being yelled...So I went over there and rang the bell from outside the gate. No one answered but I heard water running in the garden. I looked over the gate and sure enough, there was the boy working in the garden. I said excuse me then ouvrier la boite as I held up the can. I could tell he couldn't speak english so I was trying my best to comunicate in French with him. He gave me this look like I was a complete freak and just said no as he walked away. I thought that was strange so I went to the next house. They weren't home so I went to the third house. (btw they live at the end of the street where it becomes a cirlcle and everyones house is situated in this circular position) At the third house, there was a woman just going inside her house. I called out to her and repeated the same phrase I had used with the young boy. She gave me an agast look and repeated ouvrier la boit? I said oui and she gave me this dirty look and muttered something in french as she walked away. By this time I wondered if I was saying something completely offensive and didn't even realize it. I was getting rather upset because no one was talking to me and my dish would be ruined if I couldn't get this dumb thing open. Finally, I went to the last house, not expecting much. I rang the bell on the gate and suddenly someone answered! I was shocked and trying my best to ask in French. Finally I just stopped and explained I don't really speak French, I'm Leah the American girl from next door. They told me to come on in as the gate opened. I was so relieved. The couple was older and spoke very little english. Between my broken French and their broken English we had a fun time for about a half hour just talking. The woman opened my can for me and I was so relieved. I then went back to the house, finished my dish and all was well. Later in the week, I was at the shop and talking to a very cute French guy who spoke fluent English. (he had blonde hair and bright blue eyes...gorgeous) I told him about my problem with the can and what I had said. I asked if that was something offensive and he said no, it means can opener. So I just retorically asked why all those people seemed so offended. He asked if I had held up the can when I asked, I said yes, he asked if I had said please, i said yes, and all he could say was well, this is France. Great. So I stayed and talked with him, swapping language stories while two older men kept checking me out. They were nice guys, I had talked with them many times but they were in like their late 30s and I was 14...bit of an age difference don't you think? They apparently didn't think so...