How do I make my French friend talk to me more??

Question

I was having dinner alone in a restaurant in Paris one night and these three French girls walked in and shared my table. We quickly struck up a conversation as we're all about the same age and students. The dinner lasted 2 hours and the conversation was great throughout, with lots of laughing. I had a great time. The girl sitting closest to me gave me her contact info and we talked about meeting up again. Sadly I had to leave Paris a few days later and we didn't get to hang out.

I've been feeling disappointed and puzzled cuz I get the feeling she doesn't want to talk to me. I emailed her about a week after I left, hoping to keep in touch as I love making friends around the world. She took a long time to reply my email and she hasn't replied to my latest one. I thought she enjoyed my company. Is she not interested in talking to someone in another country? Did they appear to enjoy the conversation and exchange contact info only out of courtesy? Or is it French culture?

Answer 1

I would not be offended.  It is a very cultural thing.  First, she wouldn't consider you as a friend, you met her once, and as far as the French are concerned a relationship takes a long time to build.  As well, the French are not very trusting of emailing people they do not know well to create relationships with them.  The French love to have a good dinner and good conversation, and meeting you again in person would have been just fine, but exchanging emails with a stranger is not a custom that they traditionally follow.  Heck, even my close French friends are awful with exchanging emails with me.

Answer 2

I agree with MB.

Part if this may be that the French are more formal about language and they are taught to be much more careful about grammar and style than Americans. I suspect this means that writing letters is more of a chore for them.

That would be doubly so if they were trying to write to you in English. They might feel that they would look foolish if they weren't able to write grammatically perfect letters.

Answer 3

As a french, I think that these girls were sincere when they talked about meeting you. French people enjoy speaking english and I am sure they have appreciated discuss with you. And French people aren't easy going people as Americans are. So don't worry. Maybe, she is busy or shy because of her level of english. There are many reasons which can explain her silence.

Answer 4

get a french 'guy' friend?

no one likes to chat with ppl they don't really know tho