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#Post#: 20141--------------------------------------------------
Things not to do as a traveler to France
By: 12cows Date: August 6, 2015, 12:37 pm
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This is an article I found on a site called destination tips. I
never had any desire to travel outside of USA other than to go
to Canada or a dream trip to Antarctica. Reading articles like
this really makes me appreciate USA. What the heck, bad vibes
attached to Carnations? I luv them! They rank as high as my
boyfriends gift of wildflowers.
A comment was added to the article and I thought it was amusing.
Something you don't do in France is prostelyze. You do not go up
to a random person and ask them if Jesus Christ is their
personal savoir. If you do that, under France law, you can be
detained and charged with criminal nuissance.
Things Not to Do in France
February 18, 2015 by Catherine Forth
Like most civilized countries, France has a particular set of
rules, manners and customs that makes its society work in that
je ne sais quois way. The very word “etiquette” is French, as is
“faux pas“, so it’s no big surprise to see that prescribed
behaviors are important to these people. When visiting la
République, you’d be wise to bear some of these social norms and
expectations in mind, lest you unwittingly be perceived as a
bumbling foreign oaf.
They may say vive la difference, but they’ll actually be aghast
at your breaches and blunders. Conversely, some of the things
that they do might strike you as odd, rude or bizarre. Cultural
awareness and respect goes a long way when traveling, so here
are 14 things NOT to do in France.
1. Don’t Put Your Hands on Your Lap
Forget folding your hands demurely on your lap at the table in
France. Keep ’em where they can see ’em, or they might wonder
what you’re doing down there. Here, the polite way to sit is
with both hands visible on the table. All your life you’ve been
admonished by your mother for putting your hands or elbows on
the table, when maybe you were just born in the wrong country.
2. Don’t Expect 7/24 Shops and Services
Lots of countries have a bustling 7/24 mentality where shops and
services are always open for the convenience of their customers.
This is not necessarily the case in France, especially in
smaller towns. They take their breaks and work/life balance
seriously. Many French shops close from 12:00 to 2:00 for a
leisurely, civilized lunch lull – profits be damned. Some banks,
post offices, museums and other places of business do too. Most
things are closed on Sundays, and there are 10 Public Holidays
that also shut down commercial activity. Lots of businesses take
a few weeks off in July or August for their annual summer
holiday, and frequent strikes can disrupt certain services.
Popular tourist areas may stay open, and restaurants are more
accommodating, but you should always double-check the opening
hours and closing days before heading out for a shopping spree
or errand run in France.
3. Don’t Step in the Merde
The French love their Fifis and Fidos, and you often see dogs
sitting on laps and under the tables at sidewalk bistros in
France. However, unlike other countries that have strict rules
about picking up after your pooch, France doesn’t seem to have
gotten the pooper-scooper memo. The sidewalks, parks and even
some door stoops are literally littered with doggy doo-doo. The
French seem unabashed by this. In fact, try to lecture them
about the merits of collecting their pets’ turds in a little bag
for proper disposal and you will be met with looks of quelle
horreur. Maybe one day they’ll get with the etiquette of
responsible dog ownership, but for now, save your selves and
your shoes. Always scan the road ahead lest you step in a
steaming mess of merde.
4. Don’t Touch the Produce at le Marché
Strolling through a local fruit and vegetable market is one of
the many simple pleasures awaiting you in France. Everything is
so fresh, so appealing, so artfully displayed, perusing and
purchasing produce can be a highlight of your trip. However, be
forewarned that poking, prodding or picking up the goods is a
big non-non here. There’s an unspoken hands-off policy at a
French marché . Let the vendor pick up the produce for you, and
just point if you want to select a specific item.
5. Don’t Eat the Salad Before Your Main Meal
In many countries, a salad is considered a light starter course
before the main meal is served. Other times, it is served as a
side dish to be eaten along with the big plate. In France, and
much of Europe, a salad is considered a palate cleanser and
digestion aide after the main course has been consumed and
before the cheese or dessert has arrived.
6. Don’t Embrace Friends, Colleagues or Acquaintances
To kiss or not to kiss, that is the question when meeting people
in France. It can be a cross-cultural minefield of greeting
gaffes if you are too formal or too familiar with a person. In
other countries, you might welcome someone with a full embrace,
a light hug, a peck on the cheek, multiple cheek pecks, a fist
bump, a high five or a firm handshake. In France, the customary
greeting between friends is to kiss both cheeks – not
necessarily sloppy wet ones, but an “mwaa-mwaa” air kiss just
beside ought to do it. Even casual acquaintances and colleagues
might greet each other this way, especially women. When in
doubt, let the French take the lead on this one. There doesn’t
seem to be any firm rules on left or right cheek first, so just
follow suit. If they extend a hand, don’t go in for la bise and
vice versa. An enveloping hug is mostly reserved for lovers and
close family, so don’t bear hug the boss as a gesture of
camaraderie. It might be misconstrued.
7. Don’t Bring Wine to a Dinner Party
So you’ve made a French friend and they’ve invited you to their
house or apartment for dinner. Back home you wouldn’t dream of
showing up empty handed, so you purchase a bottle of wine as a
token hostess gift. Faux pas! To the French, this is a bit of an
insult implying that they don’t know the proper wine to serve at
their own party. Also, let your host do the pouring and
refilling of wine glasses, as they know how to imbibe without
overindulging.
8. Definitely Don’t Bring Chrysanthemums to a Dinner Party
So wine as a hostess gift is out. What about flowers? Well, just
make sure they’re not a pretty bouquet of chrysanthemums. Those
posies are associated with cemeteries, funerals and death.
Carnations should be avoided, too, as they have a bad luck
connotation. To avoid these floral faux pas, you might be safer
with a box of chocolates.
9. Don’t Be a French Food Imbecile
Take the time to learn a bit about French cuisine before
visiting France. Don’t be that dimwitted foreigner who orders
the steak tartare well done, asks why the vichyssoise is cold or
expects escalope to be seafood.
10. Don’t Forget to Greet the Shopkeeper
In some countries, it’s okay to just nod, smile or ignore the
staff when you walk into a shop. If you need help, you’ll ask,
and it’s not considered particularly rude if you don’t engage in
friendly banter or a greeting. Things are a bit more formal and
polite in France. When you walk in and out of a small boutique,
bakery, pharmacy or shop, you should always acknowledge the
clerk with a crisp bonjour – better yet, bonjour Madame or
Monsieur. Mercis are always appreciated as well. Skipping this
vital step will not win you good service, and may indeed be
igniting that haughty attitude you’ll no doubt receive because
of it.
11. Don’t Ask for a Bread Plate
French bread is magnifique, but there are a few points of
etiquette to keep in mind when partaking in le pain in France.
The first thing that surprises most foreigners is that bread
plates aren’t provided at restaurants. Rather than making room
for a piece on your entree plate, it is perfectly acceptable to
keep your bread on the table beside it. Yup, crumbs and all,
right on the tablecloth. You may also be surprised that butter
is not usually provided as a bread spread either, except perhaps
at breakfast time. Rather than filling on bread before your meal
arrives (tempting as that basket may be), it’s best to wait and
consume it alongside your meal. Break off little bite-sized
pieces to place in your mouth as you eat. Don’t slice off slabs
with a knife or munch on a big knob of bread, barbarian-style.
Bread is sacred in France, so don’t be an oaf with your loaf.
12. Don’t Expect the Waiter to Bring You the Bill
The French are very laissez fair about hanging out in cafes,
bistros or restaurants as long as you’d like. There’s no
pressure to turn tables here, and so you can nurse a glass of
wine or a cup of coffee to spend all day at a coveted spot on a
sidewalk table should you choose. The flip side is the waiter
won’t anticipate your need for the bill or present it to you in
a timely manner unless you specifically ask for it. To them,
handing out the check is akin to rushing you out the door.
They’re not necessarily ignoring you, neglecting you or
providing poor service. They’re just happy to have you linger.
13. Don’t Ask for a Doggie Bag
Taking leftovers home is considered gauche in France. Portions
aren’t overly gargantuan here as they are in some other
countries (ahem, America), so chances are you can clean your
plate of whatever French deliciousness the chef has prepared for
you. Leaving scraps on your plate is perceived as disrespectful
to the cook, and asking to slop it into a take-out box is an
insult to the freshness, care and presentation that goes into
plating a fine French meal. That being said, if you’re a tourist
who won’t be a regular customer and you want what you’ve paid
for, go ahead and ask for a doggy bag. Just know that the staff
will be rolling their eyes at you back in the kitchen.
14. Don’t Order Coffee, Tea or Soft Drinks With Your Meal
In many countries, it’s okay to have a cup of joe, sip soda or
drink a flavored beverage throughout a casual meal – and keep
the refills coming. Not so in France. Water or wine are the
accepted liquids to accompany food. Sure, you can order a Coke
or juice or whatever you like, but you’ll be going against the
grain here. If you don’t want to stand out like a sore foreign
thumb, do like the French do. A glass of wine is usually cheaper
than a soda, and tap water is free (no need to pay for the
bottled stuff), so this shouldn’t be a problem.
#Post#: 20152--------------------------------------------------
Re: Things not to do as a traveler to France
By: rapids_60 Date: August 7, 2015, 12:52 am
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It's so much simpler to just avoid France :D :)
#Post#: 20154--------------------------------------------------
Re: Things not to do as a traveler to France
By: Linda Lou Date: August 7, 2015, 6:27 am
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It seems that the French live up to their reputation as being
rude SOBs.
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