The People of France -- Who Ever Said the French Were Unfriendly?

A Charming Small Park in Paris 

When discussing  our recent stay in France, people have too often said to me "but the French are so rude, unfriendly."  This is an unfortunate perception that has clung to the French for many Americans like those horrible adhesive labels you can't  remove from a recent purchase.  Too frequently those who have held this opinion in their minds and hearts have never been to France or visited only briefly on one of those tourists' jolts through Europe.

French Lady feeds birds near Notre Dame

As an example of their "rudeness" one fellow American related a story of how he was looking for the Opera in Paris, and asked someone on the street how to find it and he refused to answer.  I wondered. First, I noted how this fellow pronounced it "OP ER AH" with a strong midwestern accent.  Also, did he as many Americans tend to do, stand too close without any introduction in some basic "travel" French, and shout out his question.  Did it occur that the French person might have been frightened or rightfully perturbed by this approach? Wouldn't the same American  be equally taken back  if someone approached him on the street in the U.S. in an equally baffling way shouting in a foreign language?

I know it happened to me --  in France.  A large American woman not knowing who I was, or what language I spoke -- I don't tend to carry any clues with me and dress very inconspicuously -- came up to me, tapped me roughly on the shoulder, and  shouted a question at me in poor French.  I was so shaken by her approach that  by the time I composed myself she had walked away to trouble someone else.  Undoubtedly, I became part of the "rude" French.

Rene  Hotel Sainte-Pierre Saumur, France

Contrary to this, what we found, more so than ever on this trip, was that the French people are incredibly friendly and gracious.  I think there are a couple reasons for our experience.  One, we did take the time to think about our approach first in French..."bonjour, parlez-vous anglais" and no touching.... and softer voice.  The other has to do with a real  change we have noticed from years ago.... more French people especially in Paris speak at least some English and many younger French speak it very well.  This has gone along way to help improve communications and dissolve misunderstanding.

Kind Shopkeeper in Boulangerie in Paris

Bottom line, I can relate that we were greeted enthusiastically and treated very courteously by hoteliers like Rene above and the lovely young woman, Veronique below.   Rene, who I had exchanged emails with, exuberantly welcomed us outside the hotel and carried all our luggage personally into the hotel.  Several  French women took time to carefully redirect us when we were lost in one area of Paris or another.   Shopkeepers went out of their way to attempt conversations with me in my very awkward French.  Taxi drivers were polite and went over-the-top to point out attractions.   While there was the occasional gruffness or misunderstanding, where anywhere in the US doesn't that happen.  Overall, we felt welcomed and  longed to linger and certainly return again and hopefully again.

Veronique Hotel L'Addresse Paris

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