the french aren't that bad

hi there

not sure whether my point of reference is that same as alabama... then again ...Alabama to me is another planet...

but as a scotsman who has lived here for nearly 7 years and still doesnt really speak the language... france is fine... its even pretty damn good.... but it is france.... they do things different as is their right. They are not as openly friendly as americans.. they have a way of doing things that seems strange.. but it works for them. They can be rude.. but its not deliberate... they just have a different outlook on life.. there are customs and formalities that they hold on to .. saying Bonjour, shaking your hand when meeting, saying au revoir when you leave a cafe... never talking about money, driving as if there are no other cars around them.
I have also found that Paris and France are two seperate countries... try talking french in Paris and the waiter will make no attempt to understand your french and will speak in english... or ignore you... dont worry french waiters will ignore frenchmen if that is their mood. Outside paris you will find the french more tolereant of your bad pronounciation.

They have a beaurocracy from hell, they close all their shops on Sunday... they have more public holidays than you know what to do with... they have a stunning health service... have the fastest trains, nuclear weapons, and the ability to launch satellites.. yet still bbake bread twice a day and will have a long conversation about the components of a salad

love the place

visit it

kevin 01 May 2007, 05:57 - Report