Anyone who knows anything about France or has traveled there?

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ChocoBN

You may want to read this thread about French teenagers and high schools:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AhFFNRBtqHXpeKnylff2TL7sy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20081108113801AAhbzlf&show=7#profile-info-gHQMj0ODaa

As for bringing a gift, well it's not Japan where people are expected to bring a gift to their landlord when signing a lease or make small gifts to people on an almost daily basis, so don't worry, it's not THAT big of a deal. However it not advised to arrive empty-handed when invited to a French person's home. You only need to bring a gift to your host family, no one else. Something representative of where you come from, a local specialty or a nice book on your region is typical for the parents. Fun trinkets or T-shirts for the kids is enough.

Don't worry, French families hosting exchange students get briefed about American customs and are prepared for cultural differences, they won't be shocked by anything you do as long as you are a generally polite person, which I am sure you are. They will teach you about French etiquette and don't hesitate to ask if you don't know if something is done or not. They will appreciate the fact that you care.

Dating does not exist in France. If you like someone and they like you, you go out together and are automatically boyfriend and girlfriend. If, like some American girls, you have certain rules about not kissing on the first date or anything of the sort, leave these rules behind, they won't be appreciated at all in France and would get you a terrible reputation as a tease ("allumeuse" in French).

As for dressing, no sweat pants outside of the PE class, no loud or pastel colors. Same thing for make-up, it should look natural to enhance your features but not to look like a painted canvass.

Things vary a lot from one region to another and whether you are in a city or rural area so it's hard to make generalizations about style.

In any case, be sensitive to their customs but don't try to conform too much to the way they dress or speak nor try to become French. Adapting does not mean becoming a different person. The exchange goes both ways: for you to learn about French culture and for them to learn about yours.

EDIT: I just read the message before mine. Yes, grading is very different in France. Don't cry when you get a 60% grade (well, 12/20), it's actually a very decent grade in France. At the French BaccalaurÃ©at (the high school exam), you get honors for a 60% average.

Oh, one more thing: the French love discussing all kinds of topics and can be very opinionated. To an American, it sounds like they are fighting when they are having a discussion, and as an American you may feel attacked when they ask you to explain your thoughts on such or such issue. Well, don't. It's a perfectly normal, friendly conversation and a sign of respect for you that they care to hear what you have to say. If after months of knowing you they were having only frivolous, wishy washy talk, THEN you should feel insulted: it would mean that they take you for an idiot not worth debating with (but I'm sure they'll have no reason to think that). Also, the French don't pay compliments much, but when they do, they truly mean it. What seems blunt and rude to an American is actually a sign of honesty in France. What seems polite to an American may seem fake and superficial to the French.

ROBERTO G

dress code , varie ,depend if you are in a big city or medium sise .aniway usualy teens in france like sportware ,it as been trendy for a long time and still is .teens over there like r&b music in general.now that may vary according where you are at .what i will recommande is jeans t shirt when you get there then you will figure out according to the type of peoples you will hang out wit it .an according to who you are or think you may be! french peoples, do not realy to dates ,it is a little different over there.you will have to go with the flow .familly yes they are different than here but once again, we do not know where you will be arriving to .but they will be friendly .usualy peoples who recived student are more open than the average french familly .one thing to remember is that they have rules so as long as you stick to it it should be fine . you have to remember that they are not your familly and that somehow they are a little responsable of your well been . you will need to establish trust !you eat what is served to you or you do not eat kind off .whatewer you may feel a gift is a gift especialy when you do not know the person.but the best gift that you can give is to behave and respect who they are .do not judge even if you do not comprehend thing realy are different over they re but you will love it .now this is where you are wrong .no gift ,french do not expect gifts from stanger you may want to bring a couples of t shirt with weel know nba teams for there kids if they have any or peoples you will meet in school .you could even make money selling some .but aniway beside that , not much you will be fine ,just be yourself teens love america they alway did .so for them you are comming from the dream land .school are different over there that will be your biggest change .beside that everithing is about the same you meet good peoples and not so good but that happen also in your home town .enjoy your stay

miniminouche

Two years ago I did like you a student exchange for 10 months in France. So remember that all of what I am saying is two years old lol.
French teenager is a year in front of Amerca for fashion so check next year fashion and you'll see. two years ago they didnt where to much dress, mostly jeans and stipe shirt.
well every family is different from one another, mine was CRAZY different. so I cant really compare because even other poeple thought my family was weird. Oh and they most french will start talking very slowly to you like if you are retarded (they did it to me and I actually am french from canada).
I brought them things that represent my country. they didnt really seem that much because they already travelled every where. they really like the food I brought them tho (mapple sirop). My family thought did excpect me to give them some gift to show them I appreciate them. Like during my 4 month there I went to swizterland and bought them a gift. and when i gave it to them they gave me a speach about it was time I gave them ANOTHER gift (cause I gave them on the first day and yeah .. im not a big gift person).
Anything else helpful ... dont excpect too much of your family. I was excpecting mine to make me travel everywhere in france just like family did for their exchange student but they didnt. I had to travel by myself or with friends that I made there. Lycee is graded a lot harder than highschool, I have a 85 average here I had a 65 average there.
well if you have more question you can jst email me

andraia

-What is common dress for a French teenager (for school, hanging out with friends, dates, etc)?

Most teen girls really follow fashion trends, you'll see it by yourself, they wear casual clothing and not really sports clothing or T-shirts. Check the websites of the cheap clothing stores that French teenagers like to shop in, like Jennyfer, Mim or H&M. However jeans are universal.

-How big of a deal is gift giving in france? Should i plan on giving things to more than just my host family? If so, whom?

I think they'll appreciate it, but you don't have to give something to more than just your family.

I hope you'll enjoy your stay.

Jim

1. French kids dress alot like U.S. kids. No big diff.
2. You will find french families are quieter and more reserved than the average American Family.
3.Gift giving is no diff than here. Give when you feel like it.
Flowers are alway in style.The French love wine.
4. The pace is really slower. For example ,you can go to a fine restaurant for dinner and spend 3 to 4 hours at the table and no one will "rush" you.

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