Paris Weekend Break
Dealing with the French
Many years ago as a student I stayed in Strasbourg on the French German border. The old town was full of people of German descent whilst the new town was full of the French. As you can no doubt guess, we always received a friendly welcome in the old town and a far from friendly one in the new and, outside of Paris, nothing has changed. However Paris is different, so do not be deterred by rumours of the French being difficult with foreigners.
All the stories that you hear about the French being awkward with the British are generally true, but there are two things that you need to be aware of. Firstly, they are like this with all foreigners (not just the British) and secondly, Paris is a very definite exception to this rule.
What makes Paris different
In the same way that London is not typical of England and Rome is perhaps not the most Italian of Italian cities, Paris has an undercurrent that is very different to the rest of France. It does not have the inward looking mentality, or the reserve (often interpreted as hostility) towards other countries and their nationals. The result is that it has a feel and atmosphere that is quite similar to many other European capitals. Very few people leave Paris feeling that they would not want to return.
Like so many cosmopolitan capital cities, Paris is overflowing with non French nationals and the city depends on them for its livelihood. This means that tourism is a massive industry and English speaking tourists are one of the big “cash cows”. In Paris the French will be nice to you and the staff at hotels, restaurants and tourist sights will give you a pleasant reception. At the end of the day this is their job and their livelihood depends on it.
Despite the warm welcome that you will generally receive, you can help yourself further by either learning a few French phrases, or at least giving your salutations and “thank you’s” in French. Your diction may be poor, but you will be appreciated respected for the effort that you make and this will help you get the most out of your break.
As a general rule staff in hotels and many of the big tourist attractions will speak English. You will discover this if you make a telephone reservation, or if you want to check on hotel facilities in advance of your stay. This means that being understood and getting information is rarely a problem.
When it comes to tourist information the same is also true. Many leaflets, guide books and other information sources are readily available in English, so finding out about the places you are panning to visit can be left until your arrival.
Potential problem areas, when it comes to interactions with the French, can be encountered during driving, shopping and any other situation where rules or etiquette vary between nations. Always remember that you are a guest in their country and not the other way around.
Finally, the French are more similar to the British and Irish than either nation would like to accept. The attitudes, general reserve and way of behaving towards old historical rivals are not too dissimilar between nations, but the French do get on with most people and most nationalities once the barriers are down.