What are usually the reasons of your disappointement or desilllusions,after having visited Paris and France?

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I really liked Paris, the city is beautiful and so romantic. I fell in love with all the historical structures.
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But I really did hate the attitude of people. They are so ignorant about other countries and they are so stubborn about their language. I mean French isn't my native language and my accent is terrible. People in France won't speak English even if they CAN do. But they also won't stop reminding me how bad my accent is and how they can't understand it etc. I hate it! I can't speak French like a native person and I hate it when people expect me to do so.

Also even the waiters aren't kind at all. I couldn't meet a single French in the city who was polite to tourists. And the 'thing' they has for British makes me mad! Every time I show my passport in the city, people look at me like I'm an alien and they usually tend to be ruder. I seriously don't get it. I would really expect the people of such a beautiful country to be more cultivated and polite.

Rillifane

I'm a Texan.

The principle problem is having to encounter loud, half witted, boorish American tourists, too stupid to have taken the time to prepare for their visit, incapable of speaking a word of French, who are constantly complaining and demanding why things aren't exactly like things are back in Iowa, who blunder about Paris like stunned oxen gawking like rubes and raving about how America saved the world.

Eclipsepearl

I'm from California and don't live in Paris.

I did for the first 2 1/2 years but moved when I married a Frenchman. I've been in France 12 years.

The driving drives me nuts. Getting a French license was a nighmare and I passed the first time on both the driving and written. Not only do the French drive badly but there are a lot of tourists and diplomats where I live. They don't know the few rules that are applied. Also, this business where trucks have to come into France to avoid paying the road tax in Germany and the clueless bicycle riders...

There are certain aspects of the French school system which are confusing and could be improved.

The whole customer-service situation isn't ideal. I'm still not used to all the weird opening hours. Some stores close at 6, others 7, some open at 9:30, others 10, others 8am, some are open during lunch, others shut, some are closed Monday morning, others Wednesday afternoons, almost everything's closed on Sunday... Don't even mention strikes and holidays! Paris is actually better for that but anywhere else in France, you need a war map to figure out when you can buy what and where.

The medical system is good but the doctors (and nurses) often don't explain things throughly. This is very cultural. The French trust authority and rarely question anything so I have to make it clear that my questions are not questioning their decisions (I use the excuse for my interest that I'm from a medical family and have some medical training myself).

Some things which I didn't like in the beginning turned out to have valid justifications and once explained, I understood. The French are not taught to be "friendly" to just anyone. They don't deal with strangers too well. I never take offense to this. I know that I have to go to a shop 5-6 times and once I'm recognized, people will warm up to me. I don't talk to cab drivers right away. If I need something at a counter (like train tickets), I make sure I explain everthing I want and never assume they'll say, give us tickets together.

The other day, I needed a back to my daughter's watch. No, we don't have them. Oh, she's six years old and loves the watch (insert sad face), can I contact the company? could I get it on the website? While I'm talking, she goes to the display model, wrenches off the back and pops it on my daughter's watch, never cracking even a smile. They can be very, very nice without a note of friendliness sometimes!

If someone is TOO friendly to me, I don't trust them. They want something from me and not necessarily something I want to give them!

I would NEVER think this of a fellow American or in America, where being friendly is something that's fostered but here, it isn't. Americans have found "friendly" French people to be mentally instable, out for something sexual or trying to sell them something.

This discretion can come off as rudeness though. When the French are rude though, you can really tell. They don't hide their feelings but I kind of like knowing where I stand. In the same vein, I will let them know what I'm thinking too (a habit I have to supress on trips home to California-not always successfully!)

I know too, they have nothing against Americans. I'm usually mistaken for British or German and they actually brighten up when I say "California".

But I am more accepted since I didn't vote for Bush ;)

Cabal

That's an interesting set of answers, always strange to see yourself through the eyes of foreigners, it makes one take a good look at one's habits. Being French one takes certain things for granted, not smiling at strangers does not mean being cold face, you have the polite neutral face and the cold face, totally different to a French but it seems the difference does not come through the cultural filter. I remember a young French lady at the tourist office in Paris being extremely helpful and polite to an American family, and quite shocked and angry when those Americans left without a thank you and shouting loudly how rude she had been. She hadn't smiled once, you see.
As for driving in Paris... Milan is worse, or Nice, I assure you. All right, that does say a lot about Parisian driving. I admit that the first time I drove there fifteen years ago I nearly left my car in the middle of the street to finish my journey on foot. Now I drive like the others. Strangely enough there's a rhythm and flow to the Parisian traffic, once you got it driving becomes much easier. And once you understand that there shall never be peace between cars and pedestrians.
Personally what I dislike the most in some of my fellow Parisians is the sometimes annoying habit to vituperate and talk at length in grandiose terms about things they have little knowledge of. The ignorance can be ignored, you find it everywhere (French on America, Americans on France, Segolene on honesty, Bush on everything...), it is the pomposity which gets to me. But then we like to talk, about everything, and to disagree, about everything as well because if we agreed we would have nothing to talk about. Contentious, us? Nah. There's nothing better than a good healthy, intense discussion. I know that to some foreigners that aggressive go for the throat way of discussing looks like an attack but you have to think of French as Italians with non moving hands. Loud, intense, and having fun. And not understanding why you are shocked. We just want you to engage with us in the second most pleasurable thing in life.

gugu

I have been to Paris and other cities in France many times.
I do not have any disappointment.
But after reading the answers, I want to write my observations about the so-called rudeness of the French people.

I do not think French people are rude or arrogant. On the contrary, they are lovely, friendly and hospitable people.

What makes lots of tourists complain is in fact due to the nature of the service sector of France.

People working at the service sector like the waiters, receptionists, personnel of the postal services, sales assistants, etc. are generally impatient and furthermore, contrary to U.S.A or other anglo-saxon countries, the customer is NOT the king in France. So when the American tourists encounter impatient waiters and not-so-helpful or not-so-tenacious sales assistants, they jump to the conclusion that French people are arrogant and rude.

This is a good example of misunderstandings caused by cultural differences. I think people should be more observant and open-minded about the cultural differences while visiting a foreign country.

Salut from Turkey

Here are some tips for "how to play the French service game":
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2005/jan/23/france.observerescapesection3

zafir

I'm Australian, and I've visited France, and Paris, several times and have never, ever, been disappointed or disillusioned. It's a beautiful country, and the people are great, the train system is fantastic, and given half a chance I would move there.

Francoise

Ha ha, I am a French citizen. After reading all the above answers, I come to a conclusion. American or foreigners love our country but when they live here they want to bend our culture to suit their own, instead of participating and merging into the French society.
We've been accused of not speaking English for ages. But why are we expected to speak English ? we are not in England , or America. I didn't speak French and expected people speaking French to me when I was travelling in New York.
The other stereotype is --- the Parisien are rude. I dislike Paris also these days. My family had lived 20 years in Paris. The then Paris was not like the Paris today. Paris was clean, beautiful, quiet and very chic. People were relaxing and nice to talk with. I remember I went up to the Tour Eiffel every weekend after school. It's all free. Nowadays , you have to pay even if you climb up all the way by feet without using their lifts. Paris is not the Paris in my heart anymore. It's polluted by tourists and immigrants, be it legal or illegal. My family had long moved to Les Alpes area. In fact, any French who can afford to will choose to run away from Paris. You can't really blame the Parisien to be rude. They are fed up with the aggressive foreigners who blame them not to speak English everyday and who mess up their tranquility.All that left of Paris is a melting pot of international and a city full of problems, including jobs, accommodation, crimes, parking, illegal immigrants and the lists go on and on---
What a shame! I miss the good old days in Paris.

Jennifer H

Salut! I am from California, and I lived in Paris 2 years. I second the rude Parisians.

I speak fluent French, love French culture and food, and love France. Did I mention I lived in Paris 2 years? One year in the 17th, and a year in the 18th. Attended law school at Nanterre. And the Parisians are STILL mean and nasty to me. Not most, but some. Needless to say, my first few months in Paris were difficult indeed.

A taxi driver wouldn't take me to Place d'Orleans one day because he said he couldn't understand my accent. I wrote it down: Place d'Orleans. He said he didn't understand. I got out a map and pointed. He said he couldn't see it. I sat back in the chair and said (in French), "look Monsieur, I fully admit that I'm American. In fact, I am half British (the french HATE the English). But I refuse to go away just because you don't like my culture. I have all the time in the world and I will sit here until you're ready to go." He finally said, "Ah, Place d'Orleans! You should have said it like that! It's quite simple: Place d'Oleans!" and he started driving. I said in return: "You are a taxi driver. You come into contact with Americans tourists every day. We pay a big part of your living. In fact, if it wasn't for the Americans, you'd all be speaking German right now. So you should get over your American hatred if you want to keep your job." When we *finally* got to Place d'Orleans, he got out of the taxi and shook my hand. We'd become friends.

A favorite conversation starter when they find out I am American is politics. "Did you vote for Booosh?" they ask. "ah la la-you Americans are so stupid-you vote for him twice!" To which I always reply, "well at least we are not on our fifth republic." Then I go into how they voted for Sarko because of his American ideals - and he even has a nickname: le caniche de Booosh" (Bush's Dog). And he is pretty popular depspite his free market ideals. They usually smile and shut up.

They cut in line: but only if you let them.
They push you out of the way to get on the metro: but only if you don't push back.
The key is, if you are a pushover American, they will push you over. You have to learn how to bite back, keep up the witty banter, and sarcasm. They'll actually appreciate you for it.

If you have free time, read "Sixty Million Frenchmen Can't Be Wrong: What Makes the French so French."

Now my biggest problems in France are the strength of the Euro, being force fed snails, cow tongue and live oysters at Christmas dinners, and the price of Paris apartments. Other than that, the amazingness of living in Paris far outweighs the difficulties!

atrak

Let me think for a moment.

.. O.K .. no parking space .. darn .. almost impossible found a empty and decent parking space.

.. Why French's refuse spoke English? I mean they know it but they won't use it .. strange.

That's it, I love Paris .. anyway I can travel at Paris and vicinity without maps (darn .. what a ego .. rofl) only this two Issue .. Parking Lot's & behavior against English language disturbs me .. that's all.

xox from Istanbul

dvatwork

Everything was atrociously expensive. The people were unnecessarily rude and mean....mostly in Paris, not so much in the rest of France.

I am from USA. The French like being condescending to Americans.

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