Fears about my trip to france!?

Question

I am going to france this summer with my boyfried but I have heard from numerous people that the french population loaths americans! I have heard this before but thought nothing of it, I know it sounds silly but should I be worried?! Also...while your at it, if you want to add in some suggestions of places we have to go while we are there I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks = )

Answer 1

If you do a search in Q&A you will find plenty of good advice given to people wondering if they were going to be beaten to death the moment they step on French ground. ;-) Look for Rillifane, he gives good advices.

There's a few things you need to know. French are much more formal than Americans and will be shocked by what is considered in the US as friendly. The immediate answer is sharp, pointed, and usually painful to the ego.

'Bonjour' (good day) is automatic to the French. If you want to talk to someone you always start by that. You say it when you enter a shop, when you want to buy a ticket...

The French don't smile. Or rather, they know how to but it is not polite to grin to strangers. They will look politely bland, which is being very nice to them. That is a big shock to Americans who feel disliked when they are in fact be made welcome. French way.

In France in the tourist areas you will find plenty of people who speak a few words of English, outside of it as said above it's rarer.

We don't loathe Americans, we dislike the president but can make the difference between president and people. What we like however is a good vigorous discussion. About politics, religion, wines, and the difference between the footsteps of a hungry spider and a rabid one. At long as it is vigorous it is fun. Seen from an American side it might look like an attack when the French only want a fun discussion.

As for nice places, you have Paris of course, but also the Loire castles (beautiful), the city of Provins (100 kms of Paris), Strasbourg, Carcassone, you can buy cheap train tickets if you are under 25 and can travel all over France, especially with the high speed train (TGV).

Enjoy your trip

Answer 2

dont worry about it, ive been to france in 98 for the world cup and it was great no problems. just keep away from wearing american shirts there. incase. there good people.

never never wear a american shirt in england trust me. its soccer related

places to go- my pride is here

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_sM9vcAIYyc

Answer 3

Stay away from the louvre. The Mona Lisa is like the size of a postage stamp.

Answer 4

Don't worry about it.

Be polite and do not assume everyone speaks english. I have been there several times and always had a good time and the people there have been very pleasant  as long as you learn a few french phrases. I don't speak french but have learned a few key phrases and how to count to 10.

Bon Jour -  good day       Au revoir - goodbye

pardon moi or excuse moi-  excuse me

s'il vous plait - please     merci - thank you

parlay vous english?  do you speak english?

and use them, plus any others you might need (such as ordering your favorite drink or food)

ALWAYS start your inquiry  with a french excuse me. If you do not act offended that people don't speak english, and are polite, you'll have a great time.

I assume Paris is your destination, so of course the eiffel tower, notre dame, the Louvre and Orsay museums. Also Ste Chappelle is gorgeous. try to get tickets t a concert one evening in one of the churches - its awesome.

Do a night boat cruise up the Seine - I think there is one that leaves from the end of the Ile de la Cite that is in English.  Have a picnic in the Tulleries garden.

Go see the Palais Garnier Opera house - its amazing. And the top of the Arc de triomphe at night gives an amazing view down the Champs Elysee. And then walk down the street (or metro it , its a good walk) and ride the ferris wheel, then walk along the river hand in hand

Versailles is an impressive day trip out of the city

And a interesting thing to do, its a little macabre, is the catacombs.

If you are into museums, buy a week *** and do the Louvre in several small sessions. Their egyptian and abyssinian sections are amazing.

Answer 5

just loathe Bush but some people think every american are like him

Answer 6

as long as you do not walk around with some silly sticker like "i'm a bush fan" or "god bless america greatest country on earth",french people will not at all be hostile to americans.

There are so many interesting places to see,paris is always a must,the mediterranean coast,savoie,bretagne,lyon etc...

Answer 7

I think some french people don't like so much american people, beacuse they compare the inhabitants and Bush Jr. But A LOT of french people like american people !

And, don't worry ! Nobody will kill you if you say you are american ! And

Now, if you go in other place than Paris, not so many french people speak english. So you must learn a little of french before to come...

And the nice place, is, of course, the Alpen (Annecy is a really nice city, between Lyon and Geneva...).

Enjoy your trip !

Answer 8

Learn some french,

Laila must have been drunk since the Sistine Chapel in in the Vatican in Rome.

Take a day trip to Versailles...

Answer 9

Just be polite and let your boyfriend do the talking. Until you go it would be a GREAT idea to learn French. People are people, if YOU ARE a likable kind person, they will return your kindness. =)

See all you can! Check out books in the library about places near the part of France where you'll be. Make a list of places you'd like to see and make your itinerary so you can see all you can in the time you're there.

Enjoy your trip!

=)

Answer 10

they don't loathe americans, trust me , i've been there before and if you learn some  french and are extra polite, they can be nicer, plus with better manners, than some of us here

well, you can always visit the eiffel and it would be better to know how to read some french directions too because i have a personal story where i had to climb the ist floor and 2nd floor 2 times because, well, i misread the elevator as up, when it was actually down...

anyways, visit the Louvre, the sistine chapel and get a copy of the mona lisa, and the little cafes.....

oh and you have to try the pizza there, it is so much lighter and healthier in europe, trust me

have fun, and bestwishes,

laila

Answer 11

I'm french and i do not hate americans. Some french people do so, but they are few.

Some nice places to see in France : Versailles, Fontainebleau, Avignon, Carcassonne in the south West, Strasbourg, Dijon, and the biggest castle in Europe located in Sedan, near Belgium boundary.

Have a nice trip and enjoy it

Answer 12

check rick steves website. don't be trailer trashish if u get what i mean. do ur best to try and speak the language. bring a guide book and hopefully when you're talking to someone there they will catch on that you don't speak french and speak enlglish to you. most people speak english ne ways. don't look like a tourist you will just be asking to get pickpocketed. don't wear a f***y pack wear a money belt instead.

Answer 13

Just be polite. They are the same as Americans, you just have to look at everything through their perspective.

1.  We create pretty much the most pollution in the world.

2. Not many people like the War in Iraq here. Think about the other countries.

3. I guess we can be considered a little arrogant.  The french are very accepting of american music, but if you go into a music store in the US you are lucky if you can find one french cd. I think that is very sad.

4. The french know at least 2 languages generally and I know some that know several languages.  

5. How many languages do Americans typically know?

Just a few phrases to know:

Merci- thank you

Enchante-Nice to meet you

Comment ca va?- How are you

Comme ci comme ca- Im okay

cava bien- Im good

De rien- youre welcome

Bonjour-Hello

Bonsoir-Hello( after 5 pm)

Au revoir-Bye

Je voudrais...- I would like

le coca- coke

Le pizza- pizza

Les frites- fries

L'eau- water

Le lait - Milk

Le cafe- coffee

La sucre- sugar

and for souvenirs...

t-shirt-tshirt

Les bonbons- candy

La carte postale- post card

Le chocolat- chocolate

Le fromage- cheese

Le vin- wine

Bonne Chance!- good luck   et

Bon Voyage!

Answer 14

As long as you don't act like the usual American Tourist Idiot, you'll be OK.....make an effort and try not to be the people I ran into who couldn't grasp what an Arondissment is, and who thought Les Halles was a Mall (I wish I was making this up)

Answer 15

Yes it is true that most French people living in France don't like Americans but you can avoid some of that by taking the time to learn how to speak some French.  

If you go to France with a working knowledge of French and try to speak to the people then people should be more accepting to you.  

So take the time now and take a course in French and learn to speak as much as you can and to learn how to read the signs etc and I am sure that you will come back with a very rewarding experience from your trip to France.  

so I would not be overly worried and just go and have a great time because it is always a great experience to be able to travel.

Answer 16

Everyone has been recommending you learn some French. That is true, but you don't need to learn that much, just some basics.

The rule is, say a couple of words in French first. Even if it is only  the French for "do you speak English"? The French will then try and use you to get a free English oral lesson. What they really hate is when Americans ASSUME they talk English.

I still remember an American girl backpacker walking fast up the Boulevard Sebastopol, not looking at anything, pushing people asside. What got the (French) person I was talking to at the time was not the fact that the tourist had pushed him rather briskly, but that she had said "excuse me" in American not in French, and had not bothered to stop to see the results.

Answer 17

I was in Paris 2 years ago and was treated with kindness, respect and courtesy everywhere. Try to speak the language and they will appreciate. Most French people speak English very well and you will have no problems. Be sure to visit the Palace of Versailles and the area near the Moulin Rouge. Walk on the Champs Elysee and just enjoy the wonderful food everywhere.

Answer 18

Fear not! There is absolutely NO American bashing in France the way there is French bashing in the US. Most French people actually enjoy meeting Americans.

There has always been anti-American sentiment (anti-américanisme) in France and in Western Europe, for several decades, no matter what the US government is. This expresses a rejection of the American economic and "cultural" domination of the world, but it is NEVER directed against American people. Enjoy your stay in France!

PS: someone above said that most French people speak English very well, this is not true. As someone else said in the cities you will find a good number of French people speaking some English (some well, others poorly) but in the countryside most people do not speak English, especially older people. So if you encounter anyone not able to speak English with you, it's not because they pretend they can't (as I  have often heard Americans say: it's just an urban legend), it's because they actually can't! The French are like Americans, they are not good at languages (I know because I am French and used to be an English teacher in France). As a French person, I would refuse to speak English to a foreigner only if they came up to me yelling in English assuming that I should know their language. Polite people who use a few basic French expressions  just to initiate first contact will be treated very well. I totally agree with what Sotires just above said.

Answer 19

That's a popular misconception. I've been to Paris numerous times and haven't had any problems thus far. We were even in Paris when the war broke out...there were many demonstrations, but nothing against us personally.

Many of the French do not like American politics, but that doesn't mean they dislike the Americans. There are some who do, but they are few and far between. Don't fret about it...enjoy your vacation.

That being said, try to blend in as much as possible...don't be loud or abrasive. Good manners are key: say "bonjour, madame/monsieur" when entering a shop and "au revoir" when leaving.

I haven't explored much of France outside of Paris. I've taken day trips to Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy and the Loire Valley chateaux. All were wonderful experiences.

If in Paris, you have to see the Eiffel Tower (best view is from the Trocadero metro stop). Places I love: the Louvre, Rodin Museum, Musee d'Orsay, Versailles, Napoleon's Tomb at Invalides, Notre Dame Cathedral and Montamartre. Sacre-Coeur Basilica, nestled atop the hill of Montmartre, offers a breath-taking panoramic view of the city.