How are Americans treated in Paris?

Question

I'm going to live with a host family for a few weeks next summer and take French classes in Paris. My aunt was there a few years ago and she said that Parisians don't like Americans, and they give them a hard time with their (Americans') French even though most of them speak English.

Is this true? I'm not trying to stir up controversy or drama, I'm just nervous and wondering what to expect when I go.

Answer 1

My daughter lived with a French family for an entire (school) year recently.

I went to visit her and did a lot of research for my trip there. One thing I did was study French (took a course and studied a lot on my own)!

  My experience: the French were very gracious. I spoke French always and they patiently listened and then would help me out or switch the conversation to English. They do speak English because they study it in school (and we study French in school also - so what's the difference?)

  They also speak other languages as well because they study other languages in school also. In one conversation when I was lost and needed directions, I lapsed into Spanish (which I have studied for a long time and with which I feel more comfortable) and had no trouble conversing with a Parisian in Spanish! That was lucky!

  Parisians notice that Americans don't do a lot of things that they consider common courtesy: always say 'Bonjour' when you enter a shop - you always greet and you always say goodbye.

  In America, we don't do that every single blessed time we go to shop and yet that is considered common courtesy in France.

  I was pegged as an American immediately when I was in a restaurant and laughed long and loud about something very funny. Raucous laughter (unless you are in a pub-type setting) is not usual.

  Parisians dress much much better than Americans. I'm sorry to admit that but my God, it is really true that style is important to them. So being fat and sloppy looks almost 'offensive' in their eyes.

  They don't jog on the street or on the sidewalk just because 'hey, it's a free country, I can jog anywhere I want' - even though the president Szarkozy is a jogger. He gets plenty of sarcastic remarks from the media about that odd thing he does - jogging. I read a comment in the Washington Post that a person who studied in Nice, France, observed a lot of joggers along the beach. They were male, wore pressed slacks and collared shirts and tasselled loafers to jog. That strikes me as hilarious but also very French. Style is important, you know... Nothing uglier than hairy legs in public - and that's why it seems the president of the country doesn't have very hairy legs.

  One reason the French speak English so well is that they get quite a lot of vacation by law - 5 weeks of vacation a year is not unusual. 3 is the minimum. For everyone! They do travel via the Chunnel to Britain and so when you speak to a Parisian and they talk to you in English, they will have a lovely British accent, usually.

   You will love Paris. And if you listen and observe and try to assimilate some of their customs while you are there, you will have a great great time and love the French.

   I recommend the book 'French or Foe' by Polly Platt. It's a fairly quick read and discusses almost every aspect of French culture for someone who is visiting the country. It's an entertaining read also and I have re-read it several times. You can order it on Amazon or just have your local bookstore order it for you. Enjoy!

Answer 2

Unless your first name is George and your last name is Bush, you do not have to worry.

Kidding aside, I'm sure you'll have an awesome time.

Parisians are a bit like New Yorkers.... they think they have class, style and better culture than everyone else. While it is true for many Parisians (let's admit it), most of them are normal people, drinking coke and chewing gum.

What they will not tolerate, though, are peasants speaking loudly and wearing shorts in a nice restaurant, while drinking a Bordeaux with ice cubes in it. If you do that, you'll probably not be kicked out of the place, but the waiters may not be the nicest to you either. Not that this kind of attitude is only American....the Russians and Chinese are becoming increasingly efficient in making themselves noticed by their lack of etiquette.

I'm sure that after your fabuleux séjour, when you're back on American soil, you'll be shocked when you hear how loud Americans talk, how much they eat and dare I say, how bad they are in bed (forget that last comment if you're under 18 please).

Maybe better never  to leave France after all.

Answer 3

that is a very common myth found everywhere that Parisians have some sort of dislike towards Americans. the french are very friendly and they understand if you don't speak fluently. just try your best. they aren't like the stereotypes in national lampoon's European adventure.

Answer 4

yes it is they hate americans..i have many friends that have visited there and one that lived there..the ones that have visited where tossed from cabs and resturants..the other that moved there visited pre-911 fell inlove with it and post 9-11 sold everything to move there and was denied the job and apt she was promised

Answer 5

I think they don't care for loud, pushy, show-offs. When I went, I simply said (in English), that I don't wish to murder your language by trying to speak lousy French, so could I order in English? I took this tack everywhere I went, basically disarming the French. Perhaps they treated me like a lost puppy, but it was better than getting a truck load of that famous Parisian attitude dumped on me! Have a great time!!!

Answer 6

What else to add to kathyw, Rillifane, Wendy's excellent advices.

I'll try one or two advices about the home part. If you are in a classical French family food is eaten during the meals, not between. Not hunting in the fridge when you feel hungry unless you were given permission. If you feel hungry ask the mother for permission to get something.

Turn off the lights when you leave a room.

Another thing, though. French people don't smile to people they don't know. It's not that they hate you, it's just that it is not polite to grin to strangers. To an American that can be very disturbing and make you believe that they hate you when in fact they are very polite and nice. French way.

  

Good luck and enjoy.

Answer 7

Check the Committee for Safety of Foreign Exchange Students. Keep this contact in case you find yourself in trouble.

Answer 8

Even a lot of the French think Parisians are snobs.  My experience was a positive one, but I was with a Frenchman the whole time.  I think that it goes without saying that if you are in a different culture, you should try your best to adapt.  Manners and formalities are always the best bet anywhere you go, but I would say that it is definitely so in France.  Plus, when you "do as the Romans do", you have a lot more fun and a great learning experience.

The French (as a whole) don't hate Americans, from my experience.  There are going to be individuals that hate anyone for any number of reasons anywhere you go.  All I can say is that if you are traveling with a group of Americans, try your best to do your own thing.  Groups of tourists from any country are quite... overbearing.

I will be there this Friday, so you will see one friendly face for sure!  Don't worry too much about it, because if you are a polite person, it really shouldn't be a big deal.

Answer 9

I just got back from Paris yesterday and I do admit that I noticed that my family and I were treated differently. At some restaurants they left us waiting longer than the locals, refused to give us directions and basically had a attitude about most things. But not all French people are like this, you have to find the good ones. Paris is a beautiful city that has so much to offer, don't let something like this stand in your way from having an amazing time. My advice is to learn enough French to be able to ask for directions, order and travel in their language because I noticed many of them could not speak english. Good luck, and above all have fun!!!!

Answer 10

it's been awhile since i was in france last but ,i  was on a bus tour i felt that the french were very rude towards americans. i mentioned to one frenchman about it and he agreed that yes they were rude to us but felt that we were rude to them first. it seems it goes back to several wars being fault (i.e. ww1,ww2 and vietnam wars) where they asked us to step in and help them and then we took over everything and then took all the praises for winning the wars. we had quite a heated discussion over it. when i mentioned that in the usa french was taught as a second language he told me told me that in france english was not taught at all and felt that it should be taught as a second language here in the usa. as i said already it has been awhile since i've been there so there is a possibility that changes may have occured since then. when you go over please go over with an open mind. it is time that we the people of this great planet of ours need to start learning about other cultures and other languages so that we can do away with racism and hatred in our lives. i hope you enjoy your visit to france and i hope the people you

are staying with show you a new cultural world . my dad had a philosophy in life and i guess i got it from him. he always said that education never started nor ended with professional schooling, but that it started with the day you were born and ended the day you died. i have been in every state in the usa at least once except for alaska and hawaii. i have been to ocanada once and to mexico 4 times and europe once. it is fun learning about other societies.  have fun nand enjoy.

Answer 11

If you can speak French, you get along quite well, but if you go there thinking you can talk only AmeriKan and, as every AmeriKan know... if you shout it loudly enough at someone, they will immediately understand it.

I lived in France for 2 years and the only time I had a problem was if I would have a temporary lapse of thought and say something in AmeriKan and the reaction from the person I was talking to would be immediate and negative.

The French are like AmeriKans... they arrogantly believe that the whole world should speak THEIR language.

Answer 12

Don't be anxious, in France there are many kinds people....but not only.

I'm obliged to tell you that there also some French who don't like foreign people wherever they come from, and a great part don't speak english or only some simple words.

But fortunately there are also many kind french people who will be happy to help you.

If you make an effort to say "s'il vous plait" and "merci" with a large smile, most of them will help you.

When you speak english to french, don'f forget to speak very slowly...unless most of French won't understand you.

If you want some further informations, write to me in private.

Answer 13

aackpht and Rillifane give the best advice here and they are absolutely correct. Many of the other comments are quite ignorant (sorry to say).

I am an American living in Paris for 3 years now. I didn't even know how to say thank you correctly when I arrived.

I did what 'aackpht' did (his comments above mine a ways) and they were very understanding.  Besides most all restaurants in Paris have English speaking wait staff (even english menus now) so please do not worry.

I don't know your age, but most all Parisans between the ages of 16 and 30 have a basic grasp of English.

Those comments about getting kicked out of apartments and restaurants... trust me when I say the French get the same treatment, if not worse.

Smiling disarms the Parisians, they can't believe someone can be uncomplicated and happy.

They can be a bit rushed and rude, yes, but this is not targeted towards Americans. Try eating in the upper west side of Manhattan at a trendy restaurant, hang out at your table too long with out ordering more, and see what happens.

At least in Paris you can order a coke and sit for three hours and nobody cares.

Just be yourself, they are human like us after all.

Kind regards, Wendy

Answer 14

The French treat Americans no better and no worse than Americans treat the French.

People everywhere react emotionally in roughly the same ways.

If you are polite and respectful of others you are likely to be treated politely and with respect.

Express sincere curiosity about other people's views, customs, beliefs, and way of doing things rather than being judgemental, superior, or rigid about things.

Remember that going to another country is about learning that there are other ways of doing things, other points of view and other customs and traditions.

Accept that there are fools everywhere and don't be dismayed if you meet some. There are Americans who call the French  "cheese eating surrender monkeys" and there will be some Frenchmen who have some tart words about Americans. Ignore them and move on.

I dearly love Paris and have been traveling there on a regular basis for over 35 years. I wouldn't have done that if the French were as unpleasant as some people like to claim.

I envy you your youth and the joy and wonder that being young and in Paris can be.

You are about to follow in the footsteps of people like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway.

Embrace it without fear.