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

[crisanto24]

Sorry, didn't expand my first statement. What i meant to say was, if you are in France, even though you are a tourist and know only a few basic french, they have this traits where they tend to ignore you even if you're just asking simple questions like rooting for directions. Maybe it does not go to all, but some of them are.

[j_k_k]

I wish I knew how many of these opinions were based mainly on experience in Paris, and which ones were based on spending at least 50% of one's time in other parts of the country.

[Audrey Ann]

I only spent a few days in Paris.
I did not experience any negative behavior from the French ... except when I tried to speak their language then I was stopped and they spoke english. Oh well, I tried! :-D I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Paris and would love to see the rest of the country.

[Jaggy001]

Originally Posted by j_k_k

I wish I knew how many of these opinions were based mainly on experience in Paris, and which ones were based on spending at least 50% of one's time in other parts of the country.

The problem with big cities like Paris which are both tourist destinations and working cities is that the locals get sick and tired of the tourists. I lived in New York for ten years and it was just the same. Tourists wandering all over the road in Times Sq. and paying no heed to the lights when you were trying to drive through, tourists standing stock still in the middle of the sidewalk gawping up at the buildings when you were racing to get the 6.52pm train home from GCT.

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by Jaggy001

The problem with big cities like Paris which are both tourist destinations and working cities is that the locals get sick and tired of the tourists. I lived in New York for ten years and it was just the same. Tourists wandering all over the road in Times Sq. and paying no heed to the lights when you were trying to drive through, tourists standing stock still in the middle of the sidewalk gawping up at the buildings when you were racing to get the 6.52pm train home from GCT.

Of course. That's why I don't want to base my impressions of France solely on people's visits to Paris. I live three hours from Seattle and I get extremely tired of explaining to people that there is a Washington beyond Seattle. I presume that French people outside Paris experience a similar thing.

[NCInMyMind]

My now wife lived in France for two years and I visited her there often. She is fluent, I however have abysmal language skills. I had no problems whatsoever when I traveled around France w/o her. As long as I was polite, the French were polite to me. I did a lot of "miming" to communicate and not one person was rude to me. I even got lost on a local bus during my first visit and the driver drove all over until I recognized where I intended to go.

Now I did observe a few important "rules." I dressed appropriately--no sloppy clothes. I learned a few basic words such as "please" and "thank you." And I was not pushy. I found it embarrassing how pushy and demanding some Americans are overseas. Do they act like this in the US as well?

Paris is fantastic, but there is a whole lot more to France than just Paris. France is a large country with lots of regional diversity. There is an expression that I have often heard, "Even the French don't like Parisians."

Wonderful country, wonderful people, wonderful food...can't wait to go back in September!

Je vous remercie beaucoup mes amis francais!

[Sudcaro]

Originally Posted by missionhome

I would say the French do think Paris is the center of the universe and world wide culture

Hum. Not quite. Parisians think Paris is the center of the world. Other French people are usually not very fond of Paris.

[Sudcaro]

Originally Posted by rubber_factory

I am considering it, but I've never been to Europe. I speak an insignificant amount of French, so I'm a wary of visiting. The common perception among friends and relatives who've been, is that Parisians are very disdainful of American tourists. If I go, it will be with an open mind, but I remain undecided.

Not just American tourists actually! Even French people coming from other parts of the country!
Of course, that's not 100% of people. But unfortunately, they're usually the most "visible" ones: shop assistants, people working in restaurants, railway stations, subway stations etc.
Don't expect people to smile at you, specially in Paris. If you smile to them, they will believe you are being aggressive. Even in big, expensive stores. They'll just wonder what you are hiding behind your smile.
Here in the US it's a pleasure to shop, I just love the way people will smile or be polite or helpful. I felt really depressed last time I went to France - and the thing is: I'm French I should be used to it, but no, I just hate that attitude. Not that I don't like my country - it's a beautiful place, and there are lots of great things there - but sometimes, especially as far as people's behavior is concerned, it really sucks...

[Minato ku]

Anyway nobody should forget that Parisian are mostly provincial that moved here or immigrant from an other country.

[Sudcaro]

Originally Posted by Minato ku

Anyway nobody should forget that Parisian are mostly provincial that moved here or immigrant from an other country.

That's very true. But nevertheless, life in Paris is so difficult (with commute time, stress etc) that people seem to have forgotten how to smile on an every day basis. That's city life... And this is not specific to Paris only, but to most huge cities, whatever the country. It just seems more obvious there... especially in the way people are welcomed in public areas...