What is the World's Perception of France (college, living in)

[pigeonhole]

I have never been to France, but most of the French people I know are really nice.

Yes it's true I'm nice,despite the fact that I'm French!

[j_k_k]

My French friends always treat me very kindly. I get the sense that once a French person considers you a friend, you've got something that will last.

[ako]

Originally Posted by j_k_k

My French friends always treat me very kindly. I get the sense that once a French person considers you a friend, you've got something that will last.

Exactly! they're a lot more friendly once you get to know them.

[glass_of_merlot]

When my husband was in the Army the general view in his unit were that the French ran away from war but expected to get bailed out by the Americans.

[Jaggy001]

Originally Posted by glass_of_merlot

When my husband was in the Army the general view in his unit were that the French ran away from war but expected to get bailed out by the Americans.

In WW1, the Americans didn't enter the war until 1917 and the French bore the brunt of much of the fighting and took huge casualties. Nevertheless they stood their ground.

In WW2, the USA didn't enter the war until 18 months after the fall of France so it is unlikely that they expected to be bailed out by the USA.

In Vietnam, the French pulled out long before the USA was foolish enough to get involved.

Or maybe you are thinking of a different war.

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by Jaggy001

In WW1, the Americans didn't enter the war until 1917 and the French bore the brunt of much of the fighting and took huge casualties. Nevertheless they stood their ground.

In WW2, the USA didn't enter the war until 18 months after the fall of France so it is unlikely that they expected to be bailed out by the USA.

In Vietnam, the French pulled out long before the USA was foolish enough to get involved.

Or maybe you are thinking of a different war.

Might have been thinking of Yorktown, where the French navy kept the Royal Navy from bailing out Lord Cornwallis, who in turn tried to surrender to France's General Rochambeau, who in turn informed Cornwallis that if he wished to surrender, he must surrender to the Commander-in-Chief of the Franco-American forces: General George Washington, Continental Army.

[Scott Summers]

I don't want to sound crass but I really don't think of France that often. I will say though that when I do think about France it's more like "They're in a different country, so I expect them contrast from us", I never did feel that French men are soft and I've heard about the bad French hygiene but I see these TV commercials and see that the French do care about how they look (people who care about how they look care about hygiene 9/10). I have never met a person from France but have met some Canadians but I do believe that people are people and that I can't generalize so I can't judge the people. Overall, I have no problems with France, I would like to visit one day.

[KARL_MARX]

Everything American Are Not. Basically there not animalistic!

[pigeonhole]

A point I'd like to make is that the folk in the provinces are different from Parisians, and a tougher lot, a bit like the "rednecks", they are not "soft" at all, believe me, but machos, hard workers, hard fighters,hard players (soccer, rugby in the southwest) the scions of generations of farmers or fishermen or miners or factory workers who lived without any comfort, and very stingy at that too.They don't talk much, have no sense of humor whatsoever and their favorite motto is "un sou est un sou" ("a dime is a dime").
They are pretty chauvinistic and, being extremely individualistic, hate religion in general (the Masonry is very powerful among the local elites and memebers of the Lion's Club, Diner's Club , etc.)

[caseras]

you really have a false idea of the french countryside... or at least what you said was true enough 50 years ago....