In the service industry (in stores, restaurants, etc.), employees tend to be über-formal and use fancy language… but they are rarely genuinely helpful and nice. I can’t explain it. As a customer, you always feel like you bother them even though it’s their damn job to hand you a baguette or to process your items at the supermarket! On the other side, employee-customer interactions in North America can be rather informal (“How are you doing today?”, “No worries!” etc.) but customer service is usually very good.
Money is still taboo. Both of my parents are checking job offers online regularly and salaries are rarely mentioned. Even during interviews, it is almost a faux pas to bring it out apparently.
French behave like unruly twelve-year-old kids in public transportation. In Nantes, we often had to wait for the next tramway when we had Mark in the stroller because as soon as the doors open, people rush in and don’t let you get in. Reserved seating is apparently just a suggestion as well: most of the time, I had to fight my way in and stand in the middle of the tramway instead of “parking” the stroller on the side, which would have been easier for everyone.
French people love fries. I had never realized that before but apparently, it is the side to pick for pretty much every kind of meal at the restaurant. Just check out people’s plates during lunch hour and you will notice most people have fries on their plate! It is also considered “baby food” since people wanted me to feed Mark fries.
The legal drinking age is just a suggestion. Any kind of law about drinking is just a suggestion actually, including being drunk in public places. Mais oui, c’est culturel!
What I call “masturbation intellectuelle” is a national sport. The French love to argue about politics, ethical matters, etc., and they take these discussions rather seriously. They tend to consider the big picture and these arguments are purely intellectual, they often don’t solve anything or do anything to improve people’s lives.
French define themselves by their political beliefs, mostly “à gauche” (left wing) et “à droite” (right wing) (few people admit voting for far right-wing parties). This political divide is a prelude to every argument, which often ends with “whatever, you voted for (insert name of the candidate of the ‘bad’ party)”.
Air con in public places isn’t common, and it is tough to find a place to cool off during heat waves. However, using historical fountains as splash pads is fine (just watch out for drunks, broken glass and cigarette butts).
French love magazines and newspapers and they are pretty cheap. Bureaux de tabac display an impressive selection of magazines catering to every demographic and dedicated to just about every hobby you can imagine.
Dog poop in France—it is not a myth, there is dog poop everywhere. It stinks, it’s messy and it’s gross. I have yet to see a French person picking after a dog. Merde alors!
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I agree with every single point in this article !!!
For the magazine, do you know a “librairie à la française” has opened in Wellington? I talked to the owner and – no surprise – he is from France. It’s really set up like a french “librairie”, with plenty of magazine in french and english (a lot of imported magazines from France). There is a few toys like smurfph, Tintin and tiny soldiers. You might like it!
Oh, I didn’t know! Must visit very soon… and have that long overdue coffee with you!
Have you ever read Merde! I didn’t know the dog poo ting was actually true!!
I did, it was hilarious… and yes, the cliché about dog poop is not a cliché!
Interesting article; I’ve noticed some similarities and differences between your description of the French and my impression of the Germans. For example, that scene about reserved seating in the metro you describe rarely happens here. Strollers have designated places in trams and buses and people do follow them; people standing in these places actually leave and make way if a stroller comes in.
That being said, dog poop is also everywhere here in Berlin!
I think French re very “Latin” when it comes to queuing, they are pretty disorganized and rude. But I am surprised to read that there is dog poop in the streets in Berlin!
Now, I do most of my shopping on the internet since the service is atrocious in brick and mortar stores. Store owners are complaining that the big bad internet is driving customers away but still can’t be bothered to be nice whit their customers!
I hear you! Where do you shop online?
Indeed time don’t stood still when we get back from a long vacation and the challenging part is sorting out my photos….still sorting…still procrastinating 🙁
I hear you! I try to take care of the pics while traveling, it’s easier for me.
I guess I have a lot to look forward to when I return to France for my second visit next spring. The dog poop issue is not cool though. I hate when people don’t pick up after their dogs!
How exciting you are traveling there again! Let me kow if you need tips 😉
“Intellectual masturbation” – I love it! I can never get over how many TV talk shows are devoted to this kind of stuff … and how the subject matter is quite serious but they all interrupt all the time and never listen to each other.
Yep, that’s French TV for you!
I just read this article and thought about yours! 😉
http://lapinardotheque.wordpress.com/2013/09/17/laisse-cracher-ton-fils/
Will read it tonight, thank you!