ChiTownScion
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,247
- Location
- The Great Pacific Northwest
I've long heard from tourists coming from other countries that they find American tourists to be.... loud and obnoxious - to say the least. When I hear stories like this, I can't say I blame them for having that viewpoint. I've often found Americans to be loud and obnoxious in America, can't even imagine the disruption on a beautiful Sunday morning in Paris when a family of Americans comes to the cafe.
Spent two delightful weeks in Paris in 2013, and it demolished every negative stereotype of the French and how they treat Americans. The problem is that the rules of engagement are quite simple, and some Americans don't want to play by rules. When you enter a shop, a simple "Bonjour, Madam" will go a long way. Respect the queue of other customers, and offer the same "s'il vous plait" and "merci" that you'd appreciate in English were someone to enter your store back in the US. And an "au revoir" or "bonsoir" o departing is appreciated as well.
So against all the stories I had heard regarding rude Parisians, I found the French folks there to be delightful, helpful, and gracious. Gypsies and North African street hustlers-- that's another story... but I actually found myself liking the French people. And a tour of the military museum at Les Invalides certainly dispelled any notion regarding ingratitude for US military help in the World Wars.