PLEASE answer this is you are from Paris?

Question

i am going to paris next year from 2008-2009 to study music art and the language. i was wonderig what i should expect... a lot of different people have told me that since I am american I will be treated like s hit and insulted all the time. Am I going to be hated for BEING american.. or something else.. am i going to be hated period? I just want to know what to expect... the area I am thinking of is around the eiffel tower and in the heart of paris.. Anything you know about that area would be great!! I'm so excited and I cannot wait!!

Answer 1

I'm currently studying in France and am from Australia. I don't speak a lot of french and when i do it doesn't sound french at all. I don't live in paris but Orleans which is fairly large too. Everyone seems fairly excepting of english speaking people, most want to try out their english because it is the worldwide language. You will occassionally run into someone though who will not serve you at a shop or be very rude just because you speak english and it is the same for americans. Now France is very 50/50 split between liking Americans and America and downright hating it, but most who don't like America will just keep their mouth shut and get along with it.

If you are hanging around teenagers then this could be where you run into trouble, some French teenagers have strong opinions that if you are in France you should speak fluent french with the correct accent and if you don't then you should go home and they have no problem voicing this!

If you just don't rub anyone the wrong way and just ignore it when a shopkeeper refuses service and go to a different shop it's fairly easy to get along.

Also I think from experience of traveling pretty much the whole of france now they people in the smaller towns are much nicer than paris although they don't speak as much english!

Have fun being in France.It's an awesome experience you will NEVER forget!

Answer 2

hello,

when u say "a lot of different people" i think u mean americans, in fact until u have not been in paris u will not know how are french people. i'm french and i will told u that here in france we welcome hundreds of millions of tourists every year. And most of time tourists are very happy of what they have seen and of the way to live in france . Now concerning americans, i recognize that these last years our relationship has not been excellent  concerning war and other subjects and people in france are against americans because of it. But dont worry  there are also a lot of french who love americans like me for example. But it's the same problem for italians or people from portugal or East of Europe, there are french who hate  them just because there  are stupid french and other that will welcome them and are very friendly.

but now most of french have forgotten the disagreement for the war in irak.

I dont think french will insult u  just because u are american, but they will if u say to them u are superior or if u are too proud.

I have been heard that few americans behave like this, have no respect and few of them have urinated on churches, then u will understand that they have been insulted.

now to finish there is french people and parisians, because we have to make a distinction. French people are nice , friendly  u will have no problem with them, its easy to talk with them. Parisians are always running because in a hurry, they never speak , they look at u like if u were from Mars,  most of time angry. everytime i have to go in paris, i dont feel good because im not use to their way of life. It's strange when u are in paris it's like if time has accelerated because people are walking very fast and other reasons , u will see ...

but dont worry, just think parisians are strange. u will have no problem with the other students. U will see many foreign students in paris and i guess many american students. u will have to visit a lot of things, paris is very nice, it's the only thing i like in paris.

concerning rooms, it is very expensive in paris, in general 550 euros/month for 20m² but there are organism which help u ang give u a lot of money (aide pour le logement = APL) . it is hard to find a room, so if u want to be sure to have a room, look for it since the end of May because student let their room.

Dont hear what say people about french, u need to make your own opinion with what u will live, normally there will be no problem, like people say "paris est magique!!!", just enjoy paris, visit a maximum, the area where u are going to study is really wonderful, u are young, travel the world. Remember there are a lot of people who would like to have the chance to make what u are going to do!

bye.

Answer 3

Hi - I work around the Tour Eiffel - she is definitely feminine - and from my office I have one of the greatest sights on her every day - she's always beautiful, whatever light and weather.

The districts around the Tour  are contrasted - some of them extremely posh - other ones more popular - Rue Cler - car-less street and Musée Rodin, close to the Invalides - then the XVe arrondissement, so busy and full of shops, and secret corners - great

I'd like to give you some hints about Paris - :

                  - Paris is an additon of micro-worlds, the "quartiers" - and people living in Paris forget Paris and live in their quartier - human dimension and very nice relationship possible with shopkeepers, seniors etc - don't forget the strategical role of the Mairies d'Arrondissement

which are full of unexpected resources, - spectacles, -clubs etc - there you could be benevolent to help people improve their english -



                      - Speak and over-speak french, smile and be polite - forget where you are from - and just be who you are - if you're nice and non- arrogant, your life will be easy- and sweet -

Don't make any idea about Paris from teh experience you'll have in Metro - metro is the h**l of Paris - and probably why and where people make themselves such a bad opinion about the city

                      - Adopt for frienship the proceedure of "small circles " - speak to your neighbour, then to the neighbour of your neighbour etc - above all eschew other US people otherwise you'll fall in a very typical and contra-productive ghettoization - I saw this so often

Answer 4

you will be welcome. I adore American people, look my picture.

Answer 5

You sound like a nice young lady and I don't think anyone who loves life, as you say you do, would have any problems in Paris.  They love life too!  So you already have a lot in common.  

Forgive me, I am not from Paris.  But, I have a suggestion to make, one that a friend made to me before my last trip to Paris, and it was THE best advice ever.  Buy and read a book called "French or Foe" by Polly Platt.  You can review it on the net and read others comments.  I highly recommend it for someone in your situation because it will address many of your concerns and recommend how to introduce yourself to the French and their world in a way that will only help you to get along with them.  You must remember that you are a new visitor in their country and you will benefit from a better understanding of her people, their customs and their way.  I can't emphasize this enough.

If you can, read this book and learn as much French as you can before you arrive there.  Then be yourself, be polite, and you won't have any problems.  Enjoy this wonderful opportunity and stay excited!!

Answer 6

I frequently travel to France and have been doing so for almost 35 years. I was in Paris last week.

I have seen relations between the USA and France go up and down over this period.

I speak French but I have no illusions that I sound like a native.

I make no secret of the fact that I am an American, come from Texas, and am generally very patriotic.

I occasionally encounter people who are simply stupidly anti-American. I have never had a problem dismissing such fools. You have probably heard Americans expressing anti-French sentiments that are equally silly and irrational. Fools, as I'm sure you will agree, exist everywhere.

More commonly I encounter people who have issues about American policy, culture and lifestyles who are rational, informed, sincere, and, even when passionate about their opinions, ready to engage in reasoned argument concerning those issues. I have had many lively and interesting discussions as a result. I have no problem with these and, in fact, enjoy them.

Indeed, the French are a people who prize rationality and love to argue politics. I sometimes think it is the second most popular indoor sport in France ( the one that doesn't require a bed). I suspect that many Americans mistake a healthy interest in debate to be a form of personal attack when no such thing is intended.

Moreover, the fact is that French opinion is not unanimous about anything and you will be surprised to find many people there who wholeheartedly express their admiration for the United States.

I have also noticed that Americans can be obnoxious tourists. Too many act as if everyone has a legal obligation to speak English, cannot fathom that not everyone does things just like they do them in the USA, and regard it as a sign of moral depravity if the French do not begin every conversation by thanking them personally for America's part in World War II.  Unsurprisingly, they don't get a very good reception.

So have no worries. Behave well and you'll be treated well.

NB: I should note that just over a week ago, a young French lawyer, who I had just met, made a point of saying that he thought that France should support the USA "even when we think you are wrong" because "twice you have rescued us from the Germans." He was so passionate and sincere that I felt obligated to mention the role of the French in helping us win the American Revolution.

Answer 7

I've been to Paris several times and have never been treated with anything less than courtesy.  You should make an effort to speak French and be sure to behave politely.  If you run into someone who behaves rudely, first ask yourself if you did something to upset them (there are sometimes cultural things that you don't know till you make a mistake).  If you're sure that you didn't incite it, then just blow it off.  There are jerks everywhere!