Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Paris Rules
Learn French. The French love their language and are
pleased when a foreigner makes the effort to speak
it. Do the best you can, even if it is not very good at
first. If you don't, you will always remain an outsider.
Pronunciation is the key, even though your French
accent may be more reminiscent of Dracula than of
Yves Montand. With just the slightest mistake, you
may be looked at as though you were from another
planet. For example:
salut
(pronounced 'sa-lue') means
'hello', but
salaud
(pronounced 'sa-loh') is a word not
used in polite society.
Mind your manners. Be respectful and polite. Don't
interrupt if a salesperson is busy with another client.
Wait for your turn.
Look good and act in control. Appearances and
confidence count. Parisians respond to people who
look well put together and who come across as poised,
with dignity and spirit.
Moderate the volume of your voice. Speak softly
on your mobile phone, do not shout on the
métro
,
and in restaurants be considerate of people sitting
close by.
Be cordial but not familiar. Do not tell everyone your
life story, just because they've asked about the weather
that day.
Do not ask Parisians anything personal about
themselves, no matter how superficial it seems to you.
And never talk about money or volunteer how much
something costs.
Never blame a French person for something gone
wrong. Convey that you have misunderstood
and ask what should be done at this point.
It doesn't matter whether you are right or wrong, or
even if the other person is evading the truth. What
matters is that you get what you need at that point.
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