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the bill is paid, and everyone leaves, slightly uncomfortable
that a pleasant evening has ended on an awkward note. Your
friend grumbles about the French being anti-American, as
surely the waiter should have seen the card on the table. So
why didn't the waiter just proceed from there?
Your friend is right: some French waiters just have a natural
aversion towards Americans in general.
Your friend should have called the waiter's attention by
either politely calling out or signalling.
Your friend should have called over the restaurant host
and asked him for the bill.
French waiters are proud. Your friend should have
walked over to the waiter and handed him his credit
card directly.
Comments
This is clearly a case of cultural assumptions colliding.
Americans, especially, are used to the bill appearing
automatically—usually just after dessert and coffee have
been served—but French waiters are used to verbal cues
or hand signals, or even a smile and a nod. Just putting a
card on the table and expecting the waiter to jump to it, so
to speak, is rude and does not show respect for the waiter.
In France, being a waiter is a lifelong trade like any other;
it is not a stopgap position for someone who is training for
another career. As to anti-Americanism, there's much less of
this than purported. People who make an effort to conform
to the French sensibilities of
politesse
and respect will be
treated in the same manner. Only
is correct.
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