Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
To a bubbly, enthusiastic American or a polite and hesitant
Asian, the typical French public behaviour seems a personal
rebuff. But this behaviour has nothing to do with you. The
French try hard to be cool in public, even among the French.
In fact, they are full of passion.
A passionate outburst is almost guaranteed in traffic
congestion or in a parking dispute. This has created another
stereotype: that they are argumentative and confrontational.
Yes, but they will almost never come to serious physical
violence—remember that rooster in Chapter 1!
In public, the French will strive to maintain their
composure. They will prefer you do the same. It may appear
at i rst that they are trying to throw you off balance with their
unsmiling reserve. But don't worry, the French do not hate
foreigners. In fact, they often prefer people of other nations
to their own countrymen.
BEYOND THE GAULS & FRANKS
Thankfully, most of the French are conservative stay-at-
homes, so strong regional differences remain in the country
and the cuisine. While many of these descendants of the
tribes of the Celts and the Franks have l ocked to Paris
and other urban centres, they visit home often. They even
vote in the towns where they were born. (We offer a brief
gastronomic tour of the delicious reasons why in
'Cuisine
and Character by Pays'
,
Chapter 7: The Greatest Arts of France,
on page 150
).
The racial and cultural additions to the French population
since World War II are much more complicated. While
France prides herself on her “mission to civilise”, the very
concept of civilization has changed right under her nose.
The ofi cial policy is
laïcité
. While conl icts are inevitable,
especially among the large Muslim immigrant populations
from former colonies, the intent continues to be acceptance
and integration.
Some of her colonies remain part of France. These
Départments d'outre Mer (DOM) and Territoires d'outre
Mer (TOM) are in every respect France, and their people
French. While the French pride themselves on their racial
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