All I could understand from her smiling lips was "vert," the French word for green. I quickly ran through a list of questions that could possibly contain the word green.
Ruminations of an American spending a year abroad in France.…
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
Article comments
26 - geo
I've never been to France, but I have been to Montreal and Martinique, both were nice experiences in which I found the locals to be inquisitive and interested in expanding their english vocabulary. The French women in Martinique had strong body odor... but were VERY natural and extremely accomodating. Fond memories all the way around.
27 - SFC Ski
I have noticed that if I speak to a snotty Parisian in Fench and say,"I notice you are speaking French, not German or Russian, you're welcome." They deflate themselves a little bit.
Seriously, I have had a good time visiting Paris, and have never been treated any more poorly than they treat each other.
28 - bhw
This guy used to say at least once every day, in a pompous and aggrieved tone, "These French - they have to have a different word for everything!"
That's also from an old Steve Martin bit, from the "Wild and Crazy Guy" shows.
After he said line, he talked about how funny it would be to teach children the wrong words for everything.
Is it only appropriate to discuss differences in culture? The category seemed pretty wide open to me. In looking at other posts, Culture, seems to be a catch all category for anything that doesn't fit elsewhere.
That's a good description. This post fits perfectly in our Culture section.
Also, my brother has been living in Paris for about 7 years now. He went over there speaking very little French and is now pretty damn fluent. And he has had very good experiences with the French people he has encountered. Many of them have been extremely generous and helpful to him, and without some of their generosity, he probably would have had to return to the US before he really wanted to. He's still there and doesn't seem to have any plans to come back in the near future.
29 - Mat
My wife lived in Montreal on a couple of different occasions, totalling about a years time. She both loved it and hated it. People were kind, and the city is nice, but it was tough on her in the culture shock sense.
I've found that most French people accept you much quicker if you attempt their language. A great deal of them actually speak a little English, but their pride keeps them from speaking in public. But if you attempt a little French on them they are generally forgiving. Although, French personalities do tend to be a little more harsh. They seem to enjoy sarcasm and making digs at everyone, not just foreigners. So for say, an Alabama native who is used to everyone being super gentile and kind, I can see how the French personality would come off as rude.
Of course their habit of kissing everybody would seem way to friendly to the average American!
30 - sydney
Just want to add my two cents:
Firstly, I want to steer people away from the notion that the Quebecois-French living in Canada are the same as the Parisian French.
French Canadians speak a language that is quite different. For instance, French Canadians would get along far better in France than an English speaking person, however, the Parisians have a difficult time understanding them speak. (apparently , it sounds like the French Canadians are mentally challenged people who just can't talk proper - I used to live in Quebec so I heard this analogy before)
In any case, in most other aspects, it is said that the Quebecois retained more of the original French culture than France did. It follows then that their behaviors, and the language of the Quebecois are more French, than that of the Parisians. That's a sort of a backwards way of looking at it I realize.
Tourism: A tourist in Montreal will easily get by on speaking English. However, outside the city he will encounter many people who do not speak a word of English, and/or who are too embarrassed to try. In this case, most French Canadians appreciate your trying to speak a few words of French as a nice gesture. They are very seldom rude, or at least, not any more often than an English speaking north American.
In France, it is a different situation all together. The Parisians are very cynical about all the tourists that tramps around their country each year. Of course, they need the tourism for a healthy economy. But I think they view tourists as a parasite. They especially hate Americans because Americans appear very comfortable, sometimes arrogant, in foreign settings. Most of the citizens of most countries, in particular the French, hate Americans. (My buddy was spit on simply because the French kid thought he was an American. haha.. In fact he was Canadian.)
I have to say, that most Americans are really embarrassing when abroad. They really do carry themselves in an arrogant manner, laughing at all the differences, being loud, voicing their opinions for others to hear, not trying to seem impressed or interested in the hostess’s culture. It’s like “look out people, and point me to the booze and the broads. I’m on vacation!” or in it’s more subtle forms, where by the seemingly non-ignorant American steers all conversation back to America “Oh yes, I believe the Americans liberated these people by funding a coup in 1945. I don’t expect they’d appreciate it, but it’s interesting to note.” or “Why don’t they have the internet here? It would make things so much easier”
A little note to end this: I have traveled with fellow Americans abroad and met some really nice cool people. I’m not saying all Americans are complete fools, but I do think that as the superpower of the world and the center of pop-culture, Americans are in a unique position to be completely ignorant and arrogant wherever we go. It follows that many of us are, and we have to suffer the consequences. Or actually, what’s more important, that so long as people of the world don’t like our government’s invasive foreign policies, we will be hated as well. The future for American tourists in France doesn’t look good.
31 - bhw
We're number ONE, baybeeeee!
32 - Eric Olsen
I will finally take the plunge here. I liked the story, understood the tone to be one of observational humor, and still want to know what the hell is up with the single "t."
But beyond that, I have found in my somewhat extensive travels in foreign lands (the home of Fez) that as long as I am interested in the people and view their approach to life respectfully, they are far more often friendly and helpful than not. Even in Paris.
I do not speak any other lagnuage well, although I have had some Spanish and Japanese (long ago for both), but find that making the gesture of trying to speak a little while achknowledging that the language problem is MINE and not theirs, typically leads to empathy rather than antipathy.
I am also rather outgoing and animated and am able to convey my ideas through nonverbal or semiverbal means and that is helpful too. I am not overly of afraid of appearing foolish, in fact rather enjoy it, and this seems to break down barriers too.
33 - Purple Tigress
I think a good point was made by SFC Ski who wrote: "I have had a good time visiting Paris, and have never been treated any more poorly than they treat each other."
A transplanted New Yorker just this week said he didn't respect anyone unless they offended him. I think of the Parisian French that way.
I've been to Paris and Montreal as well as Quebec City. It helps to attempt to speak the language and have a good sense of humor.
And yes, I did most of the shopping and was always traveling shoe string budget.
Of course, I have the added advantage of being considered one of those "damned foreigners" even when I'm in my native country, the US. I guess that alone trains you for being an actual foreigner in a foreign land.
34 - Mat
As I beleive I stated earlier, my wife has spent some time in Montreal, and yes, Quebecois French is a much different beast than French French. In fact when she returned from Montreal, she started her graduate work in French Linguistics. She says it took her several days to be able to understand what any of her, Parisian French speaking instructors, said.
I believe that people are pretty much the same no matter where you go. Customs are different, and outward dispositions might change from one land to another, but if you get any face time with a person, they are generally pretty kind.
Living here has made me think twice about the general perception that Americans are loud and obnoxious while the French are much quieter. I have found the French to be just as loud and obnoxious as any American. Walking down the street, on the trams, and especially outside my window at 3 am I hear them talking to the point of a yell and obnoxiously laughing it up. There are irritating people no matter where you go :)
But yeah, respect is the key. Treating people as if their culture/language/life is equal to your own is the way to travel. The French were once a superpower too. Americans won't always be where we are today.