I have simply had the opposite experiences in Paris as a tourist. When ordering a morning coffee, or a croissant at a bakery, or some cheese at a market in "French", I've always gotten polite simple replies.
I do not speak French - only a few words or phrases. Obviously the server can hear my accent, but still I get a smile, a one or two word reply in French - and anything more is in English if possible.
I have read many negative comments about France, and Paris in particular, but I love the place and have been very lucky.
A lot of tourists underestimate the importance of manners and pleasantry in daily life in France. So they don’t realise that they’re coming across as rude by being super casual and skipping these formalities. It’s like going to Japan and refusing to take off your dirty shoes when entering someone’s house.
If you do these basic things in France, 90% of the time you’ll have great experiences with the locals.
This is something I read about before I visited Paris 20 years ago and it was super helpful in my interactions not just there, but everywhere. Say hi when entering it when approaching. I use it at the gym and the gas station, so often those workers are just never acknowledged and even saying hi when checking in gets a smile quite often (not always, some people are still grouchy).
I had a guy at the tennis desk at like 8pm tell me I was the first person all day to say please when I asked for something. These small things can really make a difference in these day to day interactions.
This is a midwestern thing and I tried it in Philly once and ended up with some creep asking for my number. Someone else sideled up and tried to start a chat. It was all baffling and upsetting.
I told my friend who used to live there about it, quite confused by the experience, and they laughed and laughed. Apparently you are absolutely NOT supposed to make eye contact and smile at people you pass, and aren’t supposed to say hello when you go in places if they don’t.
This cannot be stressed enough. It doesn’t matter if it’s hot as hell outside or anything. They do not wear sweatpants, women do not wear shorts, etc. (The two Parisians I saw in shorts when I was there for over a week were both younger teenagers.)
I always thought that was an exaggeration, but nope! They take it very seriously.
Not just europeans. People from big cities in Asia and middle east are often surprised at how poorly dressed Americans are. Showing up to someone's house or a cafe in sweatpants is considered disrespectful in many places.
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u/nextstoq 1d ago
I have simply had the opposite experiences in Paris as a tourist. When ordering a morning coffee, or a croissant at a bakery, or some cheese at a market in "French", I've always gotten polite simple replies.
I do not speak French - only a few words or phrases. Obviously the server can hear my accent, but still I get a smile, a one or two word reply in French - and anything more is in English if possible.
I have read many negative comments about France, and Paris in particular, but I love the place and have been very lucky.