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Four Myths about Paris and Parisians
The founder of Lonely Planet guidebooks espouses a philosophy that through travel, the world can become a more peaceful place. It's true. I can no longer count the times stereotypes have been completely shattered when I go to a new country. The Polish, for example, don't need ten people and a ladder to screw in a light bulb. Likewise, the Mexicans aren't shiftless, sombrero-wearers who use donkeys to get from one bar to the next. Other times, however, a stereotype can confirm a preconceived image we had before going to a country: many Italians really do speak with their hands. And it's a fact that Germans drink a lot of beer. Similarly, the first time I was in Paris, in the early-'90s, I remember seeing designer-clad women walking down the Champs Elysees holding perfectly groomed toy poodles on a leash. I left France, having only spent 24 hours there with this image remaining in my mind.Ten years later, I moved to Paris. After scraping for as much information as I could about my adopted new home, I kept coming across similar themes: Parisians are rude, they won't help you if you're American and/or speak butchered French, etc. But after a few weeks in Paris it was clear to me: we've been misinformed about the City of Light and its inhabitants. Here's how:
Myth #1: Parisians are rude.
Verdict: False.
Verdict: False.
The number of friendly people I encountered in the first two weeks of living in Paris far outweighs the number of uncouth. Big cities are chaotic places and no matter where you are you're going to encounter rudeness. San Francisco and Prague, two cities that I spent a combined seven years in, are far more hostile places than Paris.
If you come to France and don't make an attempt to speak the language, you're going to get treated poorly. But if receiving courtesy and respect from your savage hosts hovers on the lower rungs of your priority totem pole, the exchange I witnessed one day between a wealthy, middle-aged American couple and a butcher will not surprise you. The American man asked the butcher if he spoke English – in English! No Parlez-vous Anglais? I enjoyed watching the butcher stare at them for a long five seconds before slowly shaking his head no, almost as if he were shaming them. In response, the American man just screamed his order at the butcher in English. Somehow this worked. He got his sausage. But the damage was done: the butcher probably went home that night and strangled his effigy of Ronald Reagan again. If you went around the United States and asked people in Erdu if they spoke Erdu, how many responses would you get that differ from the exchange above? Answer: unless you hit the jackpot and find an Erdu speaker, exactly zero. Peace through tourism will not come unless tourists stop thinking that they only need to show up in a country and everything else will be handed to them on a silver platter (after, of course, screaming in your native language.)
Myth#2: If you don't speak perfect French or have a perfect French accent, the Parisians will pretend to not understand you.
Verdict: False.
I took a one-week intensive course before moving to Paris. I don't speak perfectly. In fact, I can barely order my food in a restaurant. Still, no one feigned ignorance, pretending that I'm actually speaking Swiss German. Take an encounter I had in a department store one day translated into English:
Me: Excuse me, have you stuff for the skin of the face that I wear to clean at the morning and at the night?
Shop Assistant: Face soap?
Me: Yes!
Shop Assistant: Right this way, sir.
Myth #3: The French hate Americans.
Verdict: False
The French seem intrinsically opposed to any foreign policy the Americans initiate. Even September 11 was debated here. A book published in France while I was living there argued that the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., were just a hoax by the Bush administration. As silly as it may sound, it was a best seller. After hearing about this I imagined having this kind of encounter in Paris:
French Person: Where do you come from?
Me: America
French Person: Oh, so you are Americain. You probably zink zat zee September 11 really happened, don't you? DON'T YOU?!
The French and Americans are both extremely proud and nationalistic. We may butt heads occasionally, but that doesn't mean they don't like us or will treat you worse just because of the name of the country on your passport. (But if you tell them one more time, "We saved your ass in the war," things may take a turn for the worse.)
When I first arrived to live in Paris and people would ask where I was from, my response was Prague (since I had just lived there for a few years and am still familiar with the language-besides who in France is really going to test me). But the response I got every time was, "oh..." So I changed my answer to San Francisco and it often led to a warm smile and further conversation (not necessarily about San Francisco).
Myth #4: The French carry baguettes.
Verdict: True
On the cover of my French grammar book, there's a photo of a woman carrying a bundle of baguettes. Its kitschy appeal made me laugh. Then I went to France and saw people actually walking around with baguettes, as if they were contractually obligated. The French love their bread – and so do I. It's great. But it's more than just tasty. It really is a symbol of French pride. During a French presidential campaign while I was in there, far-right candidate Jean Marie Le Pen, laid down a bouquet of flowers in front of a statue of Joan of Arc in Paris. His supporters were behind him holding up baguettes to show their pride and solidarity. This made me wonder: what food item would Americans hold up? Hot Dogs? Apple Pies? Cans of Coca Cola?
Whatever the case, on your next trip to Paris try to let go of any preconceived notions of the locals and you just might learn something new.
Because as my good friend, Andrew Evans, National Geographic's Digital Nomad, recently said: "A good traveler is one who constantly discovers that he or she is wrong about a given destination."
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Food and Drink, Europe, France, Budget Travel
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jenn Jun 29th 2012 3:12PM
I'd actually disagree, I actually think it's really a case by case basis. Just like any city, Paris does have rude people and people who pretend not to understand what you're saying and/or have days where they're just not in the mood to deal with tourists.
I was in Paris last summer, I brought my translation book and even genuinely attempted to ask for directions in French and the gal I asked pretended not to understand me. I asked in French and then again in English (because I had heard her speak a bit of it, she was a waitress at our restaurant) and she pretended not to understand. I even showed her the entry in my translation book so she could read it for herself then I said "Louis Vuitton" as the location I was trying to get to and she pretended not to know, even after reading it in her own language! I wasn't rude or an annoying patron, I sat down and ordered my food and was nice. Once I left the restaurant we saw that it was across the street and 2 doors down. I'm pretty sure she knew where it was since she probably sees it every time she goes to work.
Either way, I loved Paris but I would still say that we encountered rude people, people who pretended not to understand and generally, most stereotypes you've heard about Paris. But that is like any other tourist destination and it doesn't make the city any less desirable to visit.
Will Jul 2nd 2012 5:08PM
Jenn is 100% correct. Parisians are very rude and unfriendly. I have been to Paris 3 times and each time i vowed to never go back. 1st trip was high school tour trip. Second trip was with a good friend who did not want to travel alone and third trip was with my wife ( Which i had to bring to the City of Love).
Each separate trip the people were RUDE and unhelpful. They acted exactly as Jenn described, you try and speak French and they stare ignorantly at you and YES they can speak some English, as well as my French.
No, i am not agreeing it is 100% of the all Parisians, but the vast majority who deal with tourist. I can understand the the people who do not interact daily with tourist but the others, No.
The only help and assistance i ever received was from a Brit, an Australian, and several Spaniards.
i am an American and i once had a job dealing with tourist traveling through my city.... I know the language barrier is difficult but we tried our best to communicate with every person who visited, French, German, Swedish, etc. And we did this with a smile on our FACE because we are not rude.
There is a difference between being Unfriendly and Being RUDE. In many US cities the people are unfriendly... In Paris the people are RUDE.
Pascal Jun 29th 2012 4:43PM
Americans carry huge mega gulps.
Yin Jun 29th 2012 7:34PM
I'm not sure customer service reps likely accustomed to, and paid to accommodate, droves of foreign customers are the best sources for representative anecdotes about how Parisians generally treat foreigners.
Further, while it's possible that Parisians generally no longer look upon American tourists with disdain, every single Asian person I know who's visited Paris has reported a surprising amount of unabashed racism from Parisians of every stripe. Mind you, most of these people are culturally American, and a couple of them even spoke fluent (albeit accented) French. While SF may be a hotbed of aggressive verbal racism (though I very much doubt it), NYC certainly isn't.
This is not to say that Paris is a bad place to visit, but the statement "Parisians aren't rude" is patently false.
Kim Jul 1st 2012 10:12AM
Ahhh the baguettes!!!
Patricia Rhodes Jul 1st 2012 11:47AM
I found the French to be polite and friendly, not only in Paris but throughout Normandy and Provence as well. One thing not addressed here is the only complaint I have about France: dog poop. The French do love their dogs, and take them along wherever they go. But they never, ever clean up after their dogs, nor take them to the curb or the gutter. You had best keep your eyes on the sidewalk in front of you, rather than gazing around at the beauty of the city.
Marvin Jul 1st 2012 11:46AM
My experiences disagree with the writer's.... While there are many nice French people in Paris, of course, I found the "stereotype" to be most certainly true...!! At first I thought it was just a dislike of Americans until I observed, over and over again, how they are rude to each other as well...!! Too many examples to get into here, but one at the train station stunned me.
Also, a French friend of mine here (he moved to the U.S. at the request of a French company), has been here for 20 years, but his mother said (when he came here) that she would NEVER set foot in America, even to visit her son, and she never has...... Sad.
C. Roy Jul 2nd 2012 10:13PM
I met a woman from France at a seminar once and asked her why the French didn't like Americans. She laughed and said the French didn't like anybody!
Paul Jul 2nd 2012 9:41AM
We just got back from a trip to paris and we all agree on one thing. We never want to go back again. The city smelled of urine, was filthy, yes, the people were rude and any romantic feelings my wife and daughter had of Paris left them within 30 minutes of being there. Never again.
Nancy Jul 2nd 2012 1:06PM
We spent a month in Paris. The article really reflects our experience. We stayed a bit away from the touristy areas and found the people very friendly and funny. DId experience some rudeness in the very touristy areas.
French Course in Paris Jul 13th 2012 7:32AM
Very interesting topic, thanks for posting.
James Jul 17th 2012 3:08PM
I have heard the gamut of complaints and compliments about Paris. My own experience is much like Nancy’s and Patricia’s. Actually, I was frustrated on my attempts to use French whilst in Paris the last time there. The waitstaff would listen to me ask for whatever it was and reply in English! And, the service they gave to my wife and me was generally good, even in the tourist areas around Notre Dame.
On my second trip to Paris, the tour I was with stayed in a two-star hotel by Convention. My fellow travelers complained about the rudeness of the lady who kept the kept and provided service for the petit déjeuner. However, when I saind to her with a smile and responded to her question which was asked brusquely for coffee with cream and a croissant in French, she smiled, cleaned off a spot for me, and served me promptly. Everyone stared amazed. Better, she was just as nice the next day, greeting me first and asking if I wanted the same as yesterday (in French, of course)!
This is not to say that there were no rude Frenchmen on any of my three trips. There were. But, they exist anywhere. And, in Paris, they seemed to be the minority.