10 Things To KNOW about CULTURE Differences in Paris

10 French Culture Shocks & Differences with the USA

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[aileenpanes]

I just got home from Paris and a lot of my confidence came from watching all your videos. Paris blew me away for sure, but what really struck me was the character of Parisians. I was prepared for curt behaviour and armed myself w/a handful of french phrases like "do you speak english?" And voila, the moment I say this, I always get help or the answers I need. Whether it's in a Monop supermarket, cafe in Le Marais, even a random french lady in Opera Garnier, they were all friendly and willing to help, especially w/ taking my picture(I was solo travelling).
If they did not speak English, they would find a colleague to converse with me. I realize, Paris is just like everywhere else, you can't expect them to respond to a language they don't speak. It does not mean they don't want to help. I did not think I would say this but the French are among the most helpful and friendliest people I have met.

[senjen]

As a French person, I really appreciate the respect of our culture that you show in this very accurate video. 😊

[patrickrex]

Being nice is the same in every language 😊. And it works!

[andreamiller]

I was very blessed to spend a month in Paris environs (Le Vésinet, near Versailles) in the 1980s as an exchange for having hosted the daughter of a French executive for a month in Kalamazoo, Michigan where I was living at the time. I was given a WING of their lovely chateau and enjoyed dining with the family nightly. What a treasured time. At that time, I spoke just a bit more French than I do now, and one of the favorite phrases I learned was "jeter un coup d'œil" when shopping in the city. So many smiles when I would say it, to the best of my ability, and that plus "bonjour" seemed to communicate the respect I truly felt. Respect was graciously extended to me and I had so much joy being there and being welcomed.

[jramsey]

My first trip to Europe was to Paris. I was solo, spoke a little college French, and I stayed in a friend’s apartment. So I lived like a Parisienne for 10 days. Everything you say is 100% spot-on. After a few days, it was easy to figure out who wasn’t French, and to tell you the truth, I caught a little attitude and started looking down my nose at loud Americans and boisterous Germans. I became French pretty quickly by living there. That trip to Paris was one of the highlights of my life.

[Glimmersallaround]

In my experience, "Merci" and "S'il vous plait" are also essential ❤

[joho]

I just got home from a 9-day trip in Paris. First of all let me say there were no bed bugs, no riots, nothing was shut down due to bomb threats, not that any of that stuff never happens. It just didn't happen when I was there.
I found the Parisian people to be very polite and helpful if I first attempted their language. Then they were happy to help me out in English if they spoke it.
Thanks to Colleen and Antoine for all your great travel tips and information!

[northbridge]

Shops in France used to be on the ground floor of houses. Going into a shop was essentially going into a person's home, and just like you would expect someone to say hello if they came into your house, French people said "Bon jour" when they entered a shop because they were entering the proprietor's home. Shops are now typically in commercial buildings, not homes, but the tradition of greeting the shopkeeper when you enter a business remains. And just like you would say goodbye when you leave someone's house, saying "Au revoir" when you leave a store is considered good manners.

[janetcorey]

As an American who has travel many times to France, this video is excellent. I have always found the French people very welcoming, very polite and have patience with language or lack of. Paris is special, elegant and a trip you won’t forget. Viva la France😊

[jamesvalenti]

Took 3 years of French in high school 20 years ago. Had a lot of troublemakers in my class, so learning was difficult....a lot of what I learned has faded, but I was able to understand all 4 phrases you mentioned...plus some in other videos, and it is really starting to come back to me. Thank you so much for your videos. They are very helpful.

[thebiblepriest]

I was accompanying through Spain a couple who knew absolutely no Spanish. I taught them that, needing a toilet, they should enter a bar and say "Servicios, por favor." I had them repeat the phrase after me many times. Finally the moment came, and it was serious, so the lady ran into the bar, crying, "Cerveza, por favor!" Sometimes you just can't win!

[blotski]

Cultural differences are so exciting to experience.
I'm English and live in Manchester. Last year an American friend from Florida visited. I arranged for us to meet some friends in Liverpool for lunch. We walked 10 minutes from my house to a tram stop. Took a tram into the centre of Manchester to a train station (15 mins). We got a train to the centre of Liverpool (35 mins). We walked to our restaurant (5 mins). We had a booking for 01:30 pm. We didn't leave the restaurant till 05:00 pm. We went on to another bar. At about 10:00 pm we did the same journey in reverse.
The following day my friend told me the whole day had blown her away. The walking, the public transport, the sitting for four hours in a restaurant and even the walk from the tram stop in the dark late at night were all things totally outside her cultural experience.

[StuartRochabrunt]

I've been to Paris, lived in the USA 2 years long ago, living 10 years in Spain now. Given all that said, I have to admit your video was very accurate, respectful and nice. Really enjoyed it, you're a very nice american couple.

[spark_]

French are very sweet !! I used to know some French in my life & had a French boyfriend, too ! They're very caring !! 💜🥁🐉🎤🎶💞

[KateDM-jvxy]

Pharmacy tip is very good. I developed an issue on our trip last year and this tip saved me. Went into the pharmacy and the pharmacist was super helpful and prescribed a treatment that cured my malady.

[ffcwatercolors]

Another video of excellent advice! I wish all newbies to France would watch your series. Regarding manners, formality -- Another thing that I advise people -- do not touch items in a small shop without permission. I once watched a young American couple make this faux pas in a fromagerie in the Marais. They were in front of me, blocking the narrow entrance, so I couldn't get their attention, but I anticipated problems. They didn't greet the owner, then proceeded to pick up and sniff cheeses. He told them in French not to do that, but they didn't understand. He finally lightly tapped the woman's hand away from a cheese. The couple scurried off in humiliation! The shop owner and I proceeded to have a wonderful time, with him giving me samples of cheese to try before I purchased.

[malta]

I spend my time at my home in Paris and in Sardegna! My American friends go crazy with the hours that shops are open in both places! I always inform them before they visit the cultural differences, but they don’t seem to listen! As a result, I must listen to their complaining! We are a very formal family and you can feel it at meals and the etiquette that we follow! My friends were surprised that we always use linen napkins and never paper; even on picnics, no paper products! As my Grandmother says: “paper is for one place: the bathroom not the table!” I run my home the same way because for me it is so easy and it shows that we enjoy the meal and it shows respect for guest and for the family and the great conversations we have at the table! We also have a basket to collect cell phones before the meals, because the conversation is at the table! My Grandmother tells everyone: “the table is the altar of the home and the Gospel of the day is our conversation”!My whole family find it very rude to be on the phone during meals! As my beloved Grandmother says; “they can wait till the meal is over, and if someone is dead; you can receive the message after the meal!” As she says: “Darling, you can’t bring him back so enjoy the meal and the conversationand she is right “! Enjoy life and take your time, everyone is in a rush; for what? Life is short so enjoy it, today could be your last day! Live for the moment, which many of my American friends do not! Even on holiday they are working and occupied about work! I try to tell them: relax, but they do not know how to! Hopefully, your visit will assist individuals in understanding the difference so that they may enjoy their experience in France and learn to let go and relax!

[volkerparis]

I live in Paris for 30 years now and must say that the French are not more rude than others. Yes, stressed big city people can be but that's the same everywhere (NYC, etc.), isn't it? ;-) Check out the much more relaxed rest of this beautiful country if your time allows!

[jacqueline]

I live in France, not Paris but have been there. They don't worry about what other people wear, so wear what you like! I love classic fashions but love colourful dresses, as well as neutrals. Just be yourselves and enjoy yourselves

[islas]

I've been a couple of times in Paris (sadly just got a couple of days each time) but the experience was awesome, Parisians were kind and offered help when we were in a bit of a problem (specially in the second trip when I traveled with a small group). Most of the people I interacted spoke English (even one or two that spoke Spanish, I'm from Mexico), that and my very poor French helped me having a great time. I'm eager to go a third time for a longer time.