I'm just curious. I recently went to Paris, and my experience was that the French are some of the nicest people I've ever met. They were VERY sweet and helpful. The attitude I mostly found, actually, was that not only do they not hate Americans, they have no problem with us whatsoever! Many of the Parisians I met said that they LOVE Americans, actually.
Has anyone else had experiences with the French? I'd love to hear about them.
2007-05-08 03:13:23 · 11 answers · asked by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Actually, even though it's true that Paris is a "tourist" city, the parts of town that I was in that the French were most helpful were NOT the touristy areas.
2007-05-08 03:23:46 · update #1
There was only ONE rude person I met while I was in Paris, and that was the clerk at the hotel we stayed at.
Everywhere else, even just walking down the streets, the people were incredibly sweet.
2007-05-08 03:25:12 · update #2
I think it stems from the similarly labeled "Ugly Americans" who get the treatment that they ask for.
There are some of my fellow Americans who act like arrogant buffoons while traveling abroad. When they are met by decent, upstanding citizens of other countries, they get labeled as "Ugly Americans" because of their unattractive behavior.
Subsequently, those small-minded buffoons that I must share a country with lash back and try to smear the reputation of an entire country by saying ALL of them are rude. In fact, the reality is that all the people they have met were rude in response to their boorish behavior.
Most Americans are polite and respectful people while visiting other countries, as I'm certain people from other countries are too. However, despite all efforts to educate those that are "manners-challenged" every country will have it's lower-rung denizens of the politeness scale.
2007-05-08 03:23:24 · answer #1 · answered by Awesome Bill 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i'm french, and i'm in paris. i think that most tourists are paranoid, especially when they don't understand the language. And this is true for any tourist from any country travelling to any place. I was a waitress for a while in a restaurant in a four-star hotel in paris, and once i was talking to my manager, we were looking at a table where a couple of americans were having dinner, and my manager asked me if i had taken their order, and i couldn't remember it all, and he began laughing at me because it was the second time i had forgotten an order that day, and then one of the American came to us and said "could u please translate what u just said? coz when i'm being insulted, i like to understand it so to be able to answer back". We sincerely apologized coz indeed our behavior could be misunderstood (looking at someone and laughing) and we explained very genuinely what we were saying. But the guy answered "u're real cowards. if u don't like the american, f...off" and they left.
2007-05-15 01:35:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I lived in France and I think this depends on who you are...
I never had problems with the French per se, but I found them to be somewhat superior.
You must understand that the "wind has changed" and this experience you had is recent.
French people today are NOT the same French people of my grandparents time (when they went a lot) and other times.
They are sadly materialistic and superior.
You may have those values and they seem "normal" I don't know...
Read about Charles DeGaulle and Simone Signoret's autobiography - maybe you will see the difference.
I am happy they like Americans now, but sad for their loss of values.
2007-05-08 03:21:59 · answer #3 · answered by soulflower 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
fake! I lived in France for 5 years (i'm Canadian) and that i had an excellent journey ( i became a pupil). I made a lot of friends, and became many times invited over to people's abode. Very friendly and heat. save an open techniques, and don't assume that issues would be like they are at abode. in case you're athletic, try growing to be to be a member of a activities club (rugby, soccer, handball, etc...), you will meet people and athletes are many times very exciting people to be around. sturdy success! Oh! and that i met the guy who grew to develop into my husband in France.
2016-12-17 07:20:19 · answer #4 · answered by girardot 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of COURSE they were all over you... You were spending money in a tourist town. Ever seen'em outside of touristy crap?
**Actually, I think they act that way because they are still embarrassed about their government letting the Nazis take over without a single shot being fired.
2007-05-08 03:18:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The French are not rude. I'm surprised that they do not hate Americans though. Of course the French are nice, sweet and helpful. Okay, I'm biased. It must be the french blood in my veins.
2007-05-08 03:21:45 · answer #6 · answered by Jed 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
My experience with Parisians is that they were not rude, but dismissing. Certainly not "sweet", and I do not believe that they "love" Americans.
2007-05-13 12:23:04 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
French people will be rude if you want to fight with them like everebody around in the world.
Generaly , we are very nice and helpful with American people.
We are rude in bussiness and with our children to take the right way of life...to be nice with you.
2007-05-15 10:55:38 · answer #8 · answered by ross T 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the French are rude. Your experience must have been with those to whom you were paying money for something.
2007-05-08 03:23:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I dont know either but my dad always says that they make fun of the Americans and stuff but they seem like very kind people
2007-05-08 03:18:12 · answer #10 · answered by Shashang 1 · 2⤊ 2⤋