NOW I GET WHY PEOPLE SAY THE FRENCH ARE RUDE… | PARIS STORYTIME

Hi my loves ! Today will be a little story time about something I recently experienced in Paris as a "tourist" haha let me know your thoughts and experiences down below !

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GROS BISOUS!!

Arielle

~~TAGS~~
Paris, storytime, paris storytime, paris arrondissements, sudy in france, live in france, live abroad, move abroad, move to France, living in Paris, paris lifestyle, Emily in Paris, international student

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Édith Piaf - La Vie en Rose (DeliFB Lofi Remix)
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[ntakovacj]

I've had wonderful experiences in France. But the rudest person I ever met was the agent in a Paris train station who literally sneered when my husband -- a native speaker -- asked questions about travel in Normandy. When he changed his tone and expression from pleasant to a sneer that matched hers -- she suddenly became polite!!! Not kidding.

[galacticambitions]

Canadian people are generally nice. French people are generally not nice. It took me decades to confirm these prejudices with personal experience.

[cultofpersonalit]

It's the not "the French" It's the Parisians.

Parisians are famously known to be rude and not only with tourists but with everyone themselves included.

[skeetermegamoto]

Interestingly, I happened to be walking by the elevator at the Arc de Triomphe. The door opened and I asked if I could hop in. The girl running it said sure. Been to Paris about a dozen times. Most Parisians have been incredibly kind to me. But I have encountered about 3-4 mythic a’holes. It’s a motivator to expand your French vocab so you can put them in their place. Otherwise, they feel free to bully you. You’re not crazy. They were schmucks to you. Don’t make excuses for them either. I suggest you make an official complaint. Describe the offensive staff since you probably don't know their names.

[IWantALeatherBag]

As a french person, i feel like we are either super nice or extremely mean/arrogant, like there is no in between! But it's not only towards english it's towards anyone

[julie_loves_monet]

I live with severe osteoarthritis and as it is an invisible illness, have definitely had people discredit my need for accessibility accommodations at times. When I was in Paris and we visited Arc de Triomphe, I too had to use the elevator. However, I only encountered very kind people throughout the duration of our trip and we went to many small towns outside of Paris as well. Here's the thing. I live in the United States in North Carolina. We have plenty of rude people here too. When people are rude it says more about them than it does us. I find when someone's really nasty to me I try to go say or do something kind for someone else as soon as possible. We can't let jerks like that ruin our experience. Just keep being kind and I love that you speak up and want to advocate for others.

[jenniferpackard]

I will never miss going to Paris.. My daughter went there a few years ago and was yelled at for standing under a very tiny awning during a really heavy rainstorm. Kindness is not part of their culture apparently.

[wrappedupindogs]

The thing I most noticed about the Parisian rudeness was that they were as rude to one another as they were to tourists.

[chrisp]

Thank you for sharing. Makes me feel less lonely in my horrible encounters with French people. Living here on and off for 5 years in the south of France and I kind of start to develop an anxiety for getting out if it involves communication with french people. Even like grocery shopping. I just have everyday at least one moment of shock by the negativity, ego, arrogance etc from the people in this country. I was always the person telling my italian partner not to complain about french people, but after a few years i kind of gave up trying. Its a country where nothing seem to work.

[jims]

You are not overrating. I haven't been to every country in the world, but France and French speaking areas of Switzerland are by far the rudest places I've every visited. For me, it started from the moment I got to the rental car counter and its evident every day. I cant wait to get out of here.

[Dr._Nova_MD]

Paris is very unfriendly to invisible disabilities. Summer 2016 I had a disc herniation that was causing severe pain (I could barely walk, ended up getting spine surgery for it) and everywhere I went I got asked to prove I needed basic things like use an elevator because on the outside I looked young and healthy. It's so humiliating, especially if you are trying to have a day of being normal where your condition doesn't prevent you from living life to the fullest and then it gets shoved in your face. And the people doing this are acting like it's a personal vendetta they are fighting - when you're actually just a front desk greeter or the person selling tickets. IDK. There's something really sad about it, and the fact that it's been normalized. I would never recommend anyone with an invisible health condition travel in Paris.

[iamrachael]

Living in France has made me so rude - I just got sick and tired of being pushed around.

[samanthajacobs]

I grew up in the suburbs of NYC. Went to Paris this past April. NYC taught me a lot about holding myself in Paris. NYC is filled with rude people, you learn after awhile there’s alway a rude person around. I thought Paris was friendly but definitely a major metropolitan city. A metropolitan has it hard edges.

[rebeccascheiris]

It is hard to say if this is a cultural difference. I think the American/Canadian idea that the customer is always right, and we have to give amazing service is just that American/Canadian. I have been to many countries where you have to call over the waiters, and people generally just give you service, which isn't friendly service. I don't agree with being unkind and yelling at people, but I do think the emotional labour expected of service workers in North America is a cultural aspect that is not expected in a lot of other countries.

[bridgeteam]

This is true. Racism is real.I have experienced this first hand.

[suzanne-moore]

Paris is a beautiful city but last time we visited in October, the bad experiences outweighed the good ones so we won’t be back. Too many other cities that are friendly and stress free.

[lisareed]

Had a similar experience and why it was one trip and done for us in Paris. Happened to us at the Eiffel Tower after being ignored for 10 minutes, try to get someone else's attention and the employee THEN decides to yell, scream more like it. No thanks.

[josephduke]

Reluctance to be helpful in any way yet quick to criticize the slightest mistep or misinterpretation? That sounds about right.

[brianlee]

My wife & I have visited Paris 13 times (& are returning again in October); we have had no experiences like the one you have described, but we sympathize with you for having gone through it. Here's a story on the flip-side ... We're seated outside at Fouquet's sipping Kir Royales. Another couple enters, without checking in at the entrance, & sits at an adjoining table, which has not been cleared. Our waiter goes by once, twice, without stopping & immediately the fellow is on his feet, aggressively asking that their table be cleared & that they be served. A verbal altercation ensues, mainly one-sided, with the patron doing the talking/demanding & gesticulating & the waiter standing stoically on the receiving end of the encounter. Then the white=haired waiter, 6 foot plus, 60 years plus, calmly says "Sir, I am not a dog. I will not serve you. Please leave." The fellow runs to his car, parked on Les Champs-Elysees, & gets his driver (with better French?) to come with him inside the establishment to complain. Meanwhile, the fellow's wife, who has said nothing, exits to their car. The fellow & his driver were still inside when my wife & I had finished our drinks & left. Fouquet's, no doubt, would stand behind their waiter, & rightfully so.

[davidlynch]

As a Canadian who speaks French, most of my encounters confirms the rudeness factor, especially in restaurants and bars. Hotels are not included, at least from my experience.