Q – Although our planned trip to Paris and Bordeaux with our grown kids and their three children is still eight months away, we are wondering if there are a few cultural rules we ought to start drumming into everyone now? In other words, what does it take to be a successful “tourist” in the eyes of the French? This is a 70th Birthday Celebration and we want everyone to fully enjoy the experience – but aside from us, no one int he family has been abroad. Is there a gift that might be appropriate that would also be useful?
A – There are several things worth knowing about French cultural norms that will be helpful. Here are our personal French “House Rules”:
- Never speak loudly in a restaurant or cafe. If other tables can hear you – tone it down a few octaves,. The French don’t mind being seen but they dislike being heard.
- Never ask for food to go or for leftovers to be placed in a doggie bag.
- Everything that touches your lips should be eaten slowly – always carefully and thoughtfully savored. Americans, the French feel, do not know how to slowly enjoy anything from coffee to snails – to life itself.
- Never ask a French person what they do for a living. The French are proud of their life-work balance and they do not enjoy discussing work after hours.
- Never enter or leave any French establishment without a proper Bonjour or Monsieur/Madame acknowledgement. And always make sure you utter hello or goodbye in French before the staff.
As to the gift – we think a “French for Travelers” App might be really appreciated since you still have eight months to go before departure.
