11 TOURIST BEHAVIORS THE FRENCH FIND STRANGE

The importance of « bonjour » or « bonsoir » cannot be overstated. It’s basically your “in” with every interaction in France... from your mailman, stranger on the street, doctor, person in the elevator. Been coming to France since the 90’s and it’s the first thing (and best advice) my best friend, who is French told me. It literally opens doors. That, and not assuming everyone speaks English.

I am French and have been raised in the countryside of France. Saying bonjour to anyone your see and walk past is one of the very first things my parents and grandparents taught me. Even if you don't interact just saying bonjour if your walk past someone in a less known area of France will make a very good impression and usually you get a wonderful smile in return!

Bonjour Diane, en tant que Francaise, je confirme que tout est vrai mais effectivement le plus important cest le "bonjour" 😄. Cest littéralement la base chez nous. Jamais personne n entrerait quelquepart ou n engagerait une conversation sans saluer. Cest tellement important que cela peut litteralement faire basculer une situation. Notamment dans le commerce ( je suis commerçante) c'est percu comme extrêmement vexant de ne pas saluer. Il peut meme arriver qu un interlocuteur te reponde par un " bonjour" agacé et bien insistant et n engage pas la conversation tant que tu n as pas salué. Et si le commerçant reste aimable et ne s offusque pas en apparence de ne pas avoir eu de bonjour, crois moi, a l interieur, il est révolté 😄

The fact that I made an effort to speak some French while in Paris seemed to be very much appreciated. I had such a good time there. Everyone was very kind.

During WWII, an aunt of mine was in the womens' army corps in the signal corps. The call went out for French speakers to act as liasons/translators at the telephone switchboard used by the officers and other higher-ups. As her parents (my grandparents) were born in French Canada, French was her first language (and she was the only one of the family to remain fluent and even read French books throughought her life), she signed up. Another woman in her unit, once they arrived in Paris, began griping about "all these foreigners!" My aunt had to remind her that at this point, they themselves were the foreigners! Some people!

I am French and live in the States since 1987. I love your channel and all the nuances you bring to the table. Your list is to the point. However, what I personally love in the States is you can talk to perfect strangers in the street with a smile and able to have an enjoyable conversation. This is not common in France. You need to be formally introduced for a possible conversation. French are way more formal than Americans. Thank you for a very good job.😊

Hey ! I'm a french from the south (maybe that's why) but i feel in the south we would be a lot more open to chit-chat ! Don't hesitate, i think in paris it may be weird because people are always busy but elsewhere i think a lot of us would like to know more about foreigners that are coming to visit our contry. Plus, you can learn more about real french life when talking to locals ! Have a great trip (come in Toulouse ✨)

Thanks for this, Americans understand “culture” and its importance very little to not all. I lived in France for several years in the 80s and 90s ( and I loved it by the way) but found myself horrified at the utterly rude, boorish ignorant behavior of Americans who put no effort at all into learning anything about France and the French or Europe more broadly. Love your channel and find it very informative and endearingly entertaining.

Hi Diane , these are super useful tips 😊. Yet another thing in addition to “Bonjour” at the beginning of a commercial exchange, the French will generally expect you to close the conversation with some selection of « Merci. Bonne journée. À bientôt. Au revoir, » etc.

I spent several days in Paris some years back and agree with your whole list. I was still taken aback by how unhelpful people in general could be; much more so in Paris than in other cities/countries we visited. I really appreciated the ones who did help & remember them to this day. I’d still love to return and see more of the whole country

MERCI de faire ce travail d'information. Tous les américains ne sont pas pénibles, la plupart font des erreurs involontaires parce qu'ils ignorent les règles. Ce n'est pas dans le but de vexer, nous leur pardonnons bien sur. Nous sommes pareils en sortant de France, nous faisons parfois des impairs. Mais il y des américains arrogants qui se croient supérieurs au reste du monde et ceux là nous les détestons et nous leur faisons comprendre sans détours que nous les détestons. Les autres, on comprends leurs erreurs, on les accepte. Mais ceux qui abusent NON, GO HOME. THANK YOU for doing this information work. Not all Americans are annoying, most make unintentional mistakes because they ignore the rules. This is not intended to offend, we forgive it of course. We are the same when leaving France, we sometimes make mistakes. But there are arrogant Americans who think they are superior to the rest of the world and we hate those and we make it clear to them that we hate them. The others, we understand their mistakes, we accept them. But those who abuse NO, GO HOME.

The limited time of opening hours for restaurants helps employees and workers to have their rest too. As it is a salary job, after lunch service, they'll be back for dinner service. Very good video !!

Really sensible suggestions Diane and might I also add, please use these same rules in just about every other European country too. Germany especially is one country which has really rigid manners rules. And with regard to loud voices, and particularly loud personal interrogations to exact information from strangers, it's really cringy. Although I'm English, I've hidden in the crowd in France and muttered, 'non' when a loud American tourist has asked 'DOES ANYONE HERE SPEAK ENGLISH?' You're right that, particularly in France, the French will really respect anyone who learns a few of the norms and a few French words and will come more than half way to meet you.

I think ice applies to US tourists only! I’m British and I hate ice in drinks. As a kid, I’d tip it into the nearest plant if ever a drink came with it!

Hello! Bonjour, hola, buongiorno is important everywhere. Love your videos

Bonjour, s' il vous plaît, merci, au revoir. The "magical words" we teach to the french kids, they open all the doors.😊

I’m so happy I will be back in France next week for the first time since 2019! Merci pour tous vos vidéos Diane! ❤️🇫🇷

Diane you are very cool lady. I love your advise makes me feel as if i were already in France

It has really helped me to understand the role the French Revolution played in some customs like saying "Bonjour". I picture the serfs who liberated themselves from centuries of oppression by the royalty and aristocracy. They changed the culture and became "lords and ladies" themselves. They addressed each other as such. "Madame" and "Monsieur" literally mean "My Lady" and "My Lord". No one is less than anyone else. Everyone deserves respect. This is the root of saying "Bonjour " when you interact with some one. You are saying that you acknowledge your equality. When we don't greet people in France, we send the message that we think we are superior and that they are there to serve us. This is deeply insulting subconsciously. Capitalism supports the belief that people have different value depending on how much money they make. The French have a different point of view. (Although financial hierarchy definitely still has its place here.) Long post. But you got me going!

Merci de vôtre avis Diane. I always enjoy your videos, their content always rings tru to my experiences. The one thing that saddens me is that you feel the needs to make such expansive and frequent disclaimers. I am truly sorry if the very people you are trying to support attack you for the cultural education you are offering. Bisous