Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
slowing your pace and making an effort to understand French culture by living it, you're
more likely to have a richer experience. With the five weeks of paid vacation and 35- to
39-hour workweek that many French workers consider non-negotiable rights, your hosts
can't fathom why anyone would rush through their vacation.
The French take great pride in their customs, clinging to the sense of their own cul-
tural superiority despite the fact that they're no longer a world superpower. Let's face it:
It's tough to keep on smiling when you've been crushed by a Big Mac, Mickey Moused
by Disney, and drowned in Starbucks coffee. Your hosts are cold only if you decide to see
themthatway.Politeandformal,theFrenchrespectthefinepointsofcultureandtradition.
Here, strolling down the street with a big grin on your face and saying hello to strangers is
a sign of senility, not friendliness (seriously). They think that Americans, though friendly,
are hesitant topursuemore serious friendships. Recognize sincerity andlookforkindness.
Give them the benefit of the doubt.
Communication difficulties are exaggerated. To hurdle the language barrier, start
smallEnglish/Frenchdictionaryand/oraphrasebook(lookformine,whichcontainsadic-
tionary and menu decoder), a menu reader, and a good supply of patience. In transactions,
asmall notepad andpenminimize misunderstandings about prices; have vendorswrite the
price down.
ThoughmanyFrenchpeoplespeakEnglish—especiallythoseinthetouristtrade,and
in big cities—you'll get better treatment if you learn and use French pleasantries. If you
learn only five phrases, learn and use these:
bonjour
(good day),
pardon
(pardon me),
s'il
vous plaît
(please),
merci
(thank you), and
au revoir
(goodbye). The French value polite-
ness. Begin every encounter with
“Bonjour
(or
S'il vous plaît), madame
(or
monsieur),”
and end every encounter with
“Au revoir, madame
(or
monsieur).”
When you do make an effort to speak French, expect to be politely corrected—
c'est
normal.
The French are language perfectionists—they take their language (and other lan-
guages) seriously.Often theyspeak moreEnglish thantheylet on.This isn'tatourist-bait-
ing tactic, but timidity on their part about speaking another language less than fluently.
If you want them to speak English, say, “
Bonjour, madame
(or
monsieur). Parlez-vous
anglais?”
They may say
“non,”
but as you continue you'll probably find they speak more
English than you speak French.
Smart travelers use the telephone to reserve or reconfirm rooms, get tourist information,
reserve restaurants, confirm tour times, or phone home. When spelling out your name on
the phone, you'll find that most letters are pronounced very differently in French:
a
is pro-
