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Paris Too Hardcore for the Japanese?
Oui... This news seems almost too hard to believe, but I'm not Japanese nor have I traveled to Paris, so I'll need the help of some Gadling readers on this one. I've noticed several sites reporting news that the romantic French city of Paris leaves many Japanese tourists feeling beat up and have gone as far to say that they need psychological counseling upon their return. Huh? The New York Post states that Japan's Embassy has sent four people back home this year, including two women who thought their hotel room was bugged. That sounds quite over the top if you ask me. Reuters reports that the Japanese flock to Paris with high expectations of this dream world, a dream city and later find that the French character is extremely opposite of their own. In Japanese shops customer is king and in the French shops they barely pay you a glance. All of these mixed city feelings are classified as Paris Syndrome. The source of these reports comes from the French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche.So tell me is there anyone out there aside from the Japanese who have had Paris Syndrome or any Japanese out there that can provide their two cents?
via WorldHum
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Stories, Europe, France
Reader Comments (Page 5 of 13)
Jen Oct 29th 2006 4:14PM
I had spent time in Paris and loved it. I even got lost at the train station and the French were so helpful in helping my find my way, any where from pointing me in the right direction all the way to giving me a tissue and letting me use their cell phones. I don't see what all the hype is about. The French are wonderful people just as long as you don't act like a stupid American.
B. J. Oct 29th 2006 4:18PM
WOW!!!!!!!!! What varying thoughts about PARIS...I've never been but maybe people got caught up on the expression "GAY PAREE!" Like everyone's supposed to be happy all the time.
I went to New York as a single young wouman and was told to be careful by my fellow Chicagoans...but you know everyone treated me nicely because I smiled a lot and treated them nicely. Perhaps it will be the same for me in Paris because I believe if we bring a "PLEASE LIKE ME" attitude to them...they won't have the attitude we want. On the other hand, if I go there with an "I LIKE YOU" attitude - they might react differently. It's all in our own perspective. Don't expect too much and maybe you'll be happily surprised when people actually treat you nicely. Maybe what I'm saying is DON'T EXPECT TOO MUCH and bring more to the table that what you expect to receive back...then you won't be so disappointed!!!! HAPPILY WRITTEN...B.J.
Veronica Oct 29th 2006 4:17PM
I just returned from Paris. We had a great time. The Parisians were remarkably pleasant and helpful. I have visited Paris many times, and while I have encountered rudeness in the past, that has changed in recent years. Travel is stressful these days, and we would all do well to keep a sense of humor and be grateful for the physical and financial ability to travel outside our own little worlds.
Jack Oct 29th 2006 4:20PM
I ran a luggage store in SF that catered to well-heeled tourists and without a doubt the Japanese were the absolute worst - arrogant, condescending, disrespectful to women and fixated on anything free that they could beg or whine for. Obviouisly they had forgotten that their attitude and money was only big in the 90s.
I went to Paris a few years back and it was a wonderful surprise. I was polite - they were polite. I smiled - they smiled. A truly beautiful city if you stay away from the infidel-hating Muslim areas. The only obnoxious people I ran across were buffonish Americans from Texas and Ohio. You could hear them 2 blocks away. Parisians aren't loud and impolite as a large number of my fellow Americans are. Don't turn away a chance to visit this fascinating city. And it is true that if you make the slightest attempt at speaking French, they are very patient.
Paul Nakian Oct 29th 2006 4:23PM
Armanda from Ohio has it right. Paris is a wonderful, vibrant city. Some Americans can't keep up, it is quite an intellectual center and it may be too different for the Japanese. Certainly, it is not only for shopping (for my pocket book and taste, there are better things to buy in Italy). But, if you speak a little French, the French open up and are friendly. I'm just back from Italy--the Italians are friendlier, but in part that is because they know so many Americans (so many Italian-Americans) and the climate is sunnier. If you go to the south of France, it is very much like Italy--people are friendlier. But, we must recognize that Paris is a city of not only culture (i.e., cf Florence) but is the capital, has a lot going on there. Italy seems more spread out, a little of everything everywhere. Paris remains my favorite European city because of the great museums, interesting sections, the Metro system, the food, its relative cleanliness. Paul
Teresa Oct 29th 2006 4:23PM
I spent eight weeks in France many years ago, and I disagree with the opinions of people who believe they are rude. I lived with a family there and we traveled the scope of southern France and I found the people to be nothing but gracious to me. I did not speak a word of French when I landed in that plane the first day, as I tried to learn the language they went out of their way to help.
As for Paris, other than the outlandish driving habits of people there, I found it to be of the same scope as New York. Wait, it is like that in New York as well... I remember being in New York once and not even police officers would help us with directions!
I found the people and the lifestyle wonderful there and would love to return.
Rebekka Oct 29th 2006 4:25PM
In my experience, they are rude to the people who come there and try to fully experience the culture. Think of it this way...When the visit the US, or Japan, they attempt to speak the language. We go there and expect them to speak our own language. That is considered rude, so naturally, they are rude back.
Try to speak their language and learn their customs so you aren't rude(talking loud and obnoxiously in a restaurant, like most American's do, is considered extremely rude). If you do this, they will be very nice to you.
Do unto others.
scott Oct 29th 2006 4:37PM
Paris is beautiful...The French are just people like everyone else...where do people get the idea that The French hate Americans or anyone for that matter..there is a general confusion in every country about our differences ...this is on a global basis ..in every culture...if you're not from there you're an outsider...when travelling consider yourself a guest in someone's home...be nice...and enjoy yourself.
Rebekka Oct 29th 2006 4:26PM
Rude to people who come there and *don't* try to fully experience.....
dave Oct 29th 2006 4:28PM
We were in Paris in May for the very first time. We went with low expectations because of what everyone says. Boy were we surprised. If you are friendly and try to respect their culture they are a friendly people. We had no problems with waiters, clerks or anyone for that matter. And had a wonderful time. If you are the typical loud, ugly, demanding American, then you are probably going to receive some attitude and rightly so. I saw a couple next to us at dinner that I would have spit in his food if I was the waiter. An embarassment to America.
Kent Oct 29th 2006 4:29PM
My in-laws went to Paris and absolutely hated the place. They never met so many rude people in their lives.
I would like to go to Paris, but my wife doesn't, because she knows that I can say in French, "The next time the Germans show up, we aren't coming over to save you," and "You didn't mind having a bunch of Americans show up in 1944. What's your problem now?"
Joyce Burns Oct 30th 2006 8:38AM
My, my, look at who is calling the French conceited and egotistical, just a bunch of fellow Americans who think this country is all that. We don't care enough to give every American health insurance, or women maternity leave, or help pay for day care - as they do in most European countries - but we think we are all so superior and caring. Tsk Tsk. WWII was along time ago people.Did anyone out there travel to Germany recently? And where were they in WWII? I have been to Paris and I loved it. I had caring and rudeness. The same as in the good old US of A. Do you think we Americans are just a wee bit conceited? I think we need to look at the inequity in our own country with our own people. How many do we think should really make it on minimum wage?
I Like the French Oct 29th 2006 4:29PM
We owe the French our Freedom. They were the only ones that stood with us during the Revolution to oust the British. Without the French, there would be no America, no Freedom, no Independence and no Baseball.
We'd all be playing Cricket still! God Forbid!
tokyotripper Oct 29th 2006 4:38PM
i've been to tokyo, just this summer, and the people are very kind over there, very helpful, so i can see that if you expect the same treatment elsewhere and do not find it, it might be puzzling, but therapy worth? I still want to go to France just to see for myself then whether or not they are really rude.
William Sharp Oct 29th 2006 4:36PM
I was in Paris last summer. I had a fabulous time. Paris is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited. I found the people to be very friendly and helpful. The sites are well worth seeing.
If you have never been to Paris - Go!
Kathy Oct 29th 2006 4:33PM
Real simple...if you don't like Paris...don't go back. I feel the same when people who move to the US from other countries complain about the US...real simple...go back.
Bernie Brown Oct 29th 2006 4:34PM
My husband and I spent 10 days in Paris in 2005. I can think of three occasions on which we were treated especially well. One: we arrived at our hotel to discover that our reservation had only been received that day and they couldn't honor it for the first night. The hotel sent us by taxi to another of their hotels to spend the night and then gave us the choice of either coming back to our original choice or completing our stay at the second hotel. If we chose to return to our original choice, they would again pay our taxi ride back! I thought this was very fair and generous. Two: I bought some earrings in a market and the man who ran the booth and sold me the earrings explained how he had made them and how to care for them. He was obviously very proud of his jewelry and very pleased to have me buy it. He was gracious and genuine and charming. Three: We often bought little snacks from a little grocery near our hotel. The owner greeted us warmly with his very little English each time we came. "America is a beautiful country and Americans are beautiful people." Well - - what would you think? Rude? I don't think so. Cold? Not hardly. I'd go back in a minute and plan to as soon as I can.
Mary Lou Oct 29th 2006 4:36PM
When people stopped categorizing French, American whatever the world will be a better place. I bet half of them go to some church - how do you like it. Peace and live and let live is better than criticism.
Lorie Oct 29th 2006 4:36PM
I went to Paris a few years ago. I found the Parisans overly polite. What probably added to my great trip was that before I went, I studies the Paris map,looked up the exchange rate and memorized various $ exchanges, read about current events- especially about what was going on in local politics AND I studied the language. The locals weren't sure that I was even an American. :-)
vince Oct 29th 2006 4:38PM
This "ugly American" has been there numerous times and still thinks they're an arrogant and dirty lot of people. Beautiful place that I'm sure the Muslims will love to destroy, conquer and veil. Now that I think about, that may not be all bad. Let's face it, the French have never won a war. That's not a coincidence or just "bad luck". At the current rate of reproduction, in one generation the Muslims will be the majority.