Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
call them by their first names, they will let you know. If
invited to dinner with friends, you will most likely be on a
first name basis with your hosts and the other guests, but
this does not apply to dinner at the home of your boss or
the more senior professional acquaintances.
Don't move from using the
vous
form of address to the
familiar
tu
unless given the green light; even when you
are on a first name basis with your friends, it still is not an
automatic move. Wait until your friend indicates a desire to
tutoyer
(use the
tu
form) or listen carefully to hear whether
there hasn't been a subtle move toward this intimate term
of address.
Don't ask personal questions. The French guard their
privacy and do not volunteer much personal information.
With acquaintances, don't ask what they do for a living,
how they voted, or where they've bought the clothes
they're wearing—even if you'd like to visit that shop
sometime. Let them make the first move.
Do dress appropriately for the occasion. Appearance
counts when you're out and about. If you're in a casual
situation, you should still dress neatly, and if you're in a
situation that calls for you to dress up, do so. Although
young people wear jeans around town, older people don't.
And if you look at those young people, they still look put
together, jeans or otherwise.
Don't speak loudly. Be alert to how loudly you're talking
on your mobile phone while on the bus, in a crowded
restaurant or in a museum. Don't give a belly laugh or
guffaw (except while watching a funny film). Keep a
low profile.
Don't show impatience, ever. Not everything always
goes your way, but it is ill-mannered to show impatience,
whether to strangers or friends. Even if there is no orderly
queue at a shop or stall at the market, generally the
merchant knows who's next. If not, just wait until you are
called upon to give your order.
Don't start any encounter with an 'attitude'. Just because
French people—especially the older generation—don't
smile, don't assume they're rude or even unfriendly. If a
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