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Habits That Are Normal In The U.S. That Are Rude In France
Most of us are trying our best to be polite and courteous to others. Despite this, being polite can sometimes be tricky when traveling abroad since social rules can change from country to country. I have lived in France for years and have noticed some habits that seem well-mannered in the U.S. can be seen as rude in France. Sometimes I see American tourists in France and wish I could help them. In this article, I hope to do just that! With this article by your side, you’ll avoid offending the French and can enjoy life in France.
Being overly chummy
Warning: being overly chummy or smiley can give off the wrong impression in France!
If you want to make French friends, this is good to keep in mind! It can even be seen as fake or insincere and make them uncomfortable. I think as Americans, when we feel enthusiastic about something, we want to share it with the world! Unfortunately, this instinct can be quite misinterpreted in France.
I still struggle with this living in France, as I often smile, but it is helpful to understand French people’s perspectives. Whereas a smile and a nod would be seen as polite in the U.S., in France you can instead greet a shop owner with a “bonjour!” (“Hello!”). If you learn a few words in French before your trip, you’ll be amazed at how much even the basics will help you to connect.
We, as Americans, can tend to be loud!
I’ll sometimes see French people visibly showing how unpleasant it is when they hear Americans speaking loudly in English in the subways or cafe terraces here in Paris. Even with their obvious efforts by rolling their eyes in the noisy American's direction, I realize the Americans in said subway or cafe terrace rarely notice.
The volume we’re used to speaking in is normal in the U.S. I’ve seen Americans living abroad theorize this is because we’re accustomed…
