Are parisians freindly towards forigners ??

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Rillifane

You might consider the threshold question of whether you can reasonably expect to be admitted to a French university for the course of study you contemplate.

You may be unaware that a French maÃ®trise degree is not the same thing as an American Master's Degree.

But to address you principle concern the fact is that racism, especially directed against people of Berber or Arab descent is endemic in French society.

Moreover, while one can reasonably complain of racism in the United States the plain fact is that it is in no way respectable. No serious political figure would, for example, last long in public life if he stated that Arabs are noisy and smell bad. Yet the current president of France, Jacques Chirac, said precisely that in a public speech not too terribly long ago.

It would be unthinkable in the United States for a neo-Nazi to have any chance whatever of being elected (sophomoric hyperbole concerning George W. aside) But in France, Jean-Marie Le Pen, a neo-Nazi ran second in the presidential elections.

A French government study of the security forces admitted that police racism was the norm.

That being said, its also true that there is a vast social and cultural difference between a middle class Arab-American pursuing an advanced degree and the unemployed North African resident of the dreary Stalinist housing projects in the banlieues surrounding Paris.

I suspect that you would have few personal problems.

NB: There is a view of France which recalls the years between WWI and WWII when Josephine Baker became the toast of Paris and various African American entertainers and intellectuals were welcome in Paris while Jim Crow prevailed in the USA.

The difficulty is that France may have been happy to be tolerant when its only non-white population consisted of a handful of Black expatriates but has yet to figure out what to do when it finds that 10% of its population is now of North African descent.

And, of course, those of American (like myself) who participated in the Civil Rights movement in the United States are well aware of huge changes that have occurred in the last century in America.

In France there is not a single nonwhite elected official representing any part of Metropolitan France...not one. Yet in the USA, a man of African descent is a serious contender for our presidency.

No objective observer could possibly believe that the state of race relations in the USA is not better than any place else in France.

David

There is racism in France, as there is racism everywhere. However Paris is a very cosmopolitan city, with a large immigrant population and many exchange students who manage to adapt and have a great experience there. One thing to bear in mind is that Parisians, just like everywhere else, are individuals. Don't think of it in terms of everyone being nice, or nobody being nice, or everyone/nobody being receptive towards people from other cultures. If you go to Paris and study there, you'll meet friendly people and unfriendly people alike, intelligent and unintelligent people alike. The best advice I could give you would be to keep an open mind, be polite, and make an effort to adapt rather than expecting others to adapt to you. Good luck if you go!

Erica N

France is notoriously accepting of different backgrounds. Long before it was acceptable in the United States, inter-racial couples would go to France to live and get married. Good luck on you degree!

Sara A

I've spent a week in Paris for vacation for the past two years. In my experience, they were no more rude or nice than Americans. And Paris isn't just French people, it's like New York City, there are people of every race all over the place there. I think as long as you try to speak French (the more you know, the better) you will do fine. Just like anywhere, if you act like it's other people's duty to speak your language even though you are in their country, they will give you an attitude. Just keep an open mind and enjoy the city!

glenjulio

Parisian are less racist than in the rest of the country, because it's a big city with people from all around the world. But i don't think there're more racist people in France than in other countries. It's just like everywhere, most people are tolerant and intelligent, a few are stupid

Lemige

To cop the parisian attitude:
http://www.cestsoparis.com/

This is serious!

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