Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
business model, offering banking and insurance services as
readily as postal ones.
The post ofi ces are now bright blue and yellow and
sparkling, inside and out. You still have to wait in line, but
the lines are shorter, you get your service with a smile, and
the staff offer helpful suggestions to your requests. Many of
them speak English, and will try to use it, shyly, if you will try
your French i rst. Once you are at the counter, you can smile
and be friendly. Don't forget that i rst thing to do:
Bonjour,
Monsieur (ou Madame)
!
A Smile, but not a Happy Face
The French do not normally walk down the street smiling. They
prefer a reserved demeanor in public. Smiling just because it makes
you look better is not a sincere reason, but for the i rst time in the
2007 elections, French politicians smiled for photographers. And
now it is the trend.
People are smiling more quickly now, especially in Paris. However,
if you are a young woman and a male stranger smiles at you on the
street, he is probably trying to pick you up. If you smile back at him,
he assumes you are saying “yes”.
If it is a beautiful day, you are walking the lovely tree-lined streets
of Paris, soaking it all in… of course you want to smile! Granted,
it is easy to be joyful for no reason in Paris, but keep that grin in
check. Of course, you should always smile sincerely and make eye
contact when you say '
Bonjour, Monsieur'
(or
Madame
) as you enter a
shopkeeper's establishment, or when you stop at a market stand on
the street to make a purchase. You can also smile at a cute baby or a
dog being walked in the park. But in general, an adult is expected to
show reserve in public. That way, you give the impression in France
that you are also gracious, sincere and reasonable.
The 'No' Syndrome
Far less enviable than government workers are the retail
shop workers in France. They are poorly paid, have little job
status and less job security. Their predicament can breed
resentment. They just might decide to play the 'put-down'
game i rst and fast, before you can.
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