Question for anyone French...?

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Rillifane

The French are somewhat more formal than Americans.

Its a small thing but one should always say Bonjour Madame/Monsieur when entering a business establishment. You should remember to add "s'il vous plait" to the end of any request.

The French will happily argue politics or religion with relative strangers but won't discuss their personal lives. Talking about money, personal success, or the cost of your house or car can be regarded as crass.

The French regard the easy familiarity of Americans as impolite and the American habit of smiling and everyone as somewhat imbecilic.

Some little food oddities are that the French don't spread butter on bread except at breakfast or when bread is eaten with the cheese course. Cafe au lait is something you have at breakfast. If you want coffee with milk other times ask for a cafe crÃ¨me. French chefs (and good chefs everywhere) will be offended if you salt food before you taste it. Don't try to substitute things on the menu. The American habit of asking things like "Can I have fries instead of rice" will not be well received.

Be tolerant of French opinions. No matter how much they bad mouth George Bush they do the same to their own politicians. Political argument is a finely honed skill and the French are very good at it. Chances are the average Frenchmen knows way more about America than you know about France. I'm not saying you should be a door mat for anyone, on the contrary, an intelligent (and I emphasize intelligent) argument is more appreciated, in my experience, in France than in the USA.

Finally, you may get the impression that because there is somewhat more skin shown in French popular entertainment, in advertising and such than in the USA, that the French are wildly liberal about sex and relationships. They aren't. The young lady who sunbaths topless at the beach in France may have a different attitude about such a public display but that nay be as far as it goes. Moreover, France is a Catholic country and many people are every bit as conservative, if not more so, as some Americans. Don't get off on the wrong foot.

Jimmy The Hand

Rent the movie French Kiss! I think that it is a fair

evaluation of the situation.

Faux Pas? Don't mention Green Peace, The Rainbow Warrior or

Nuclear testing at Muaroa Atoll.

Good Luck

Jimmy

P.S.

I would also keep clear of mentioning Napoleon and Islamic

Immigration policy.

mbz2828

I lived in Montpellier (a long time ago in college!) But my French was so good they thought I was French, so I never got too much of an attitude. THey have more of an attitude in Paris than in the south....you didnt mention the city you will live in...? YOu know, like NY or Chicago is way different than, like, Biloxi or some tiny town in Alabama!---I found that if you speak as well as you can in French you will be ok, and for goodness sake the reason most of them have a bad impression of Americans is because most (especially students) are notoriously OBNOXIOUS and loud. Dont be a cocky American. Go there to learn the culture, as they live it, you will really appreciate it. Try to speak French like a French person, not French with a bad American accent. It is different, where I was, more laid back, really enjoyable. It was the best experience of my life.

pipicapuce

Don't worry ... normally the French people do not dislike Americans, but only Bush's egoistic politics. Well in France people are very individualist then you have to be yourself ... then you will be accepted by others.

G-Money

Yes a lot of French people have a dislike of americans... but only those who are very cocky, loud, obnoxious, stupid and make absolutely no effort to integrate- oh and of course we don't like your president. If you make an effort to speak French, even if it's just a few sentences, young people will happily talk english to you. You should know that the French are very different from the Americans, and that the things that you are used to in the USA won't be available in Paris: clean public toilets, some types of food, general covenience, massive supermarkets, thousands of TV channels, starbucks on every corner, big massive food portions, fast food everywhere ... etc. You will more than probably have to use public transport, and get used to the French "way of life" - but hey, that's part of the experience isn't it....!!! :)

Rossonero NorCal SFECU

Buy the book "Culture Shock! France" and you should be fine. It explains in ways we can understand how the French think and will help minimize faux pas. Much of the "rudeness" Americans encounter in France is really due to cultural differences. When French people enter shops/restaurants they are usually careful to say "bonjour madam/monsieur" to the waiter/shopkeeper. Americans don't know to do that, they go into the shops without doing it, the shopkeepers think the American thinks he's too good to talk to "commoners", the shopkeeper reacts. I read that book and learned enough French to have a basic conversation and I had zero problems. I found the French to be very nice people.

GermanChick

I hope that your french is good already because often French people don't see why they should speak English in their own country :-)
I always have trouble with that when going on vacation in France because my French is really bad.

Good luck and take care!

lilidublin69

Hi, I am French and I am sure that you are going to have a brilliant time in France. If you make the effort to speak French, they are going to love you. Don't show off, be natural and don't compare what you have in the states and what you will find in France. they are going to hate that.

Radhiyah Coutry

All are rumours! I am married to a French. They are romantic, seems to good to be true...but its the truth! Female and males are alike! They are pleasant! One tip, before asking a question in English, start with a Bonjour! That's all you need to bear in mind, French treasured times with family and friends, don't mind about people saying they are snobbish or arrogant! Who isn't?! Go for France and Francais, feel it and judge for yourself! Beautiful country too...

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