Posted on 03/06/2014 10:01:48 PM PST by Slings and Arrows
The Internet is full of French travelers who've experienced the United States and have things to say about the strange ways of Americans. With the help of Google Translate, Americans can get a peek at these revelations. We know that there are no doubt many Flossers who can translate French better than Google can (though probably not as hilariously), and we welcome any additional information in the comments.
Our custom is to kiss before, during, and after each social encounter, with 1, 2, 3, or 4 kisses. This is not the custom in the United States. For a friend, we will hug, with a great tapping on the back and a big smile. For colleagues, greet with a good handshake. Americans have a firm handshake, so do not hesitate to grind their knuckles. It is also a sign you have confidence in yourself.
Be prepared for an onslaught of friendliness. You may be approached by a stranger on the street asking you where you got your coat. Passersby greet each other cheerfully in the street. Your neighbor may compliment you on the curve of your muscles, and the cashier at the supermarket may ask you what you are doing with this beautiful weekend (and the three cases of rosé you've purchased). [Source]
A passerby stumbles and sprawls in the street, an old lady can barely control Brutus at the end of a leash, a small tricycle driver loses control of his vehicle. Politeness means, of course, that you come and help all these people. American culture wants you to quit all your activities and rescue the unfortunate. In America, you cannot pretend to not have noticed all these little quirks. You must rush to provide assistance to all who need it. [Source]
Whether in the street, public transport or any public place, we must adopt this reflex. Hard, tough, because it must be done without looking first to the right and left to see if someone is already trying to help the person in trouble. In short, it must be done spontaneously and with good heart. I like it when it happens: for example my keys jumped out of my bike basket when I hit a hole, and the Americans rushed at me to help. It's cool. I smile. [Source]
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Americans eat and drink anything and at any time of the day: in the street, in a meeting at work, in the car, on the subway, in the elevator, the movies ... So, there are drink rests everywhere: cinema seats, baby strollers, shopping carts at the supermarket, in cars, some bike handlebars. [Source]
The portions are often gargantuan in the United States (but you already knew that). Americans are not embarrassed to ask for a "doggy bag" to take home. They'll even take home the rest of the tortillas appetizer.
The art of asking for a doggy bag (for a French person) is sometimes difficult to implement; between servers who disappear faster than their shadows, and the dread that you will appear stingy, it is not always easy. [Source]
Want to drop off your pants at the cleaners, leave an item with the hotel receptionist or pop into the supermarket while the kids do their homework? Know that leaving children alone, whether at the home, in the car, or the hotel is frowned upon, even prohibited. [Source]
Rejoicing in the presence of children or pets. This is the correlate of "smile to strangers," it is mandatory to have a smile or a little "how cute" tilt to your head if you come across a child or pet. Even if they are ugly. [Source]
Crossing the road as a pedestrian is not always easy, you often have to wait for ages. When the white man is on, you can cross. And then a stressful countdown shows the time remaining for you to cross, sometimes only a few seconds to cross large avenues. [Source]
If it should happen I need to leave my stuff unattended when I'm in the coffee shop, I just ask someone to look at it for the time it takes for me to go to the toilet. When I forget something in my bike basket, it is still there, even at night. And when you have packages waiting for you at home, they remain in the lobby and no one takes them. It may seem normal and civic way of doing it, but I am surprised. Since coming to America, I've become much less suspicious. [Source]
The stuff that insulted my common sense is the fixed heads of showers. [Source]
I still have not understood how it is that in my American sink I have, in addition to the tap, a flexible head (as in a French shower) to rinse the corners of the sink but in my shower / tub which is three times larger, I have a fixed head on the wall! No logic! [Source]
The other very strange occurrence is violent flushing. Be prepared when you flush to have the impression of being in an airplane toilet! [Source]
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"Inspiring" became a word I heard every day: everything must be "inspiring" and push transcendence. We go to the movies, there is a choice between the biopic Lincoln, the Avengers or Misérables, each so inspiring in their own way. The books are inspiring, everyday people are inspiring (such as all the people with children and a job at the same time, teachers, etc...). I confess that I have a little trouble with this cult of everyday heroes. [Source]
I have to arm myself with patience for each passage to the pharmacy. Here, we will prepare your requirements in an orange pot in your name, with the correct number of tablets and the dose recommended above (yes, just like in the movies). So, it takes for ages. The trick? Post your order and continue shopping, then return later. [Source]
If you want privacy (in a public restroom), no chance. There are no real walls, only partitions that do not even go to the ground. So you can see the shoes of your colleagues, hear all the noises ... And even the doors do not help much. You can see the faces of the occupants through the slits in the doorway. [Source]
The film will start in 3 minutes and there are still 15 people in front of you, including a family of six children who are unable to decide anything. You would be tempted to quietly scrape forward a few places so as to be sure you get your popcorn and miss nothing of the film.
Never! In the United States, small barriers often mark out the entries, lines on the ground indicate where to stop and there is no “He who goes hunting loses his place" mentality there. [Source]
There is no chaotic rush to be first, not even if a spot opens unexpectedly, no "I didn't see you there." Here each have their turn in order of arrival, even the elderly. It's pretty relaxing actually, even though I liked the excitement of notching in the queue. [Source]
And don’t look back.
Damn straight.
A lot of these are sooooo true!
I lived the opposite when I went to live in France! Funny.
Wow I can’t believe the French would not help someone get up if they fell on the sidewalk.
They don’t have the public friendliness and “we’re all in the same boat” mentality that Americans have. They keep to themselves more.
And some Parisians (in the days before gps on your phone) actually found it enjoyable to give foreign people wrong directions with a straight face, then laughing hysterically after.
Uh, yeah, try this in Detroit, Frenchies.
I don’t think it’s bull. The guy or gal who wrote it is French, for sure. We all notice these little differences when we travel, and it’s funny to read how we look from the outside.
Man, I did not like the way I’d wait in line somewhere in France, like at a ski lift, and people just shushed right in front of me over and over. And lots of lines in college didn’t look like lines - just chaotic students en masse pushing in front with elbows flying.
And chatting with strangers, wow, did i get into trouble doing that in France. Guys getting totally wrong impressions, lol. And blowing people’s minds if I asked them about products they were buying in the grocery store. They don’t really talk to strangers like we do. One of my work colleagues said it best: if you sit next to an American on the metro or bus, you know his entire sex life before you arrive. Lol! We are more open than we know.
Been to France, don’t need to go again.
New Yorkers don’t give wrong directions purposely but they do it unintentionally all the time.
Just the other day I noticed two guys looking around mystified and it turned out they were looking for the Dublin House, which is on 79th Street, and they were on 96th. Someone no doubt confidently gave them the wrong information. Check smartphone. Back on the subway.
When I first got to NY I was trying to get to Brooklyn and somebody said take any of the West Side trains going downtown. Except the local, of course, but they didn’t say that. When the train started going back uptown, I figured I had done something wrong.
I’m surprised any of them know what a shower head looks like.
“Know thine enemy.”
So wrong.
I laughed.
Q. Why did the French plant trees along the Champs Elysees?
A. So the Germans could march in the shade.
A masterpiece.
One thing I’ll agree with him on - Fixed Shower Heads.
Any house or apartment I’ve lived in, the first thing I do is replace the shower head with a flexible multi-setting head with a long extension.
Gotta keep all the nooks and crannies clean, dontchano!
I never knew some people would have an issue or think twice about a “doggie bag.” There is nothing wrong with taking the rest of your food home that you couldn’t finish at the establishment. You paid for it, and handsomely I’m sure. As for tipping the waitperson more, never would think of that either...They write down what I want the chef to prepare and then bring it out to me. For that total of at most 15 minutes of time they will receive at least 5 bucks plus what the restaurant pays them. Usually 3 bucks so that comes out to $36 an hour. How much more work is it to grab a to go container?
I'm very particular about my showerhead, so I do agree with this guy. It's just that they sell "shower massage" type showerheads for about $15 almost everywhere.
I figure they have to ask the kitchen staff. So that is an added nuisance. But they are all used to it now. It used to be that you would just ask if there was half a steak left but now anything goes.
I like tipping restaurant people. They work hard and they get a low hourly wage, and they probably didn’t come to New York to be a server, so tips are everything.
I also will not go out to eat with people if they drive the waitstaff crazy. Some people do that. I don’t know why. I guess they feel they have them at their mercy.
I just figured out what probably happened to the two guys looking for the Dublin House. They were on 72nd Street and somebody said take the subway one stop. But they took the express. Not that anyone cares, but it solves the mystery.
I will always be courteous to the people responsible for preparing/serving my food seeing as I might not feel too safe eating it if I wasn’t! Any complaints I will talk to magmt afterwards. However, if the food is bad (Got a slab of basically raw turkey served to me once on a BLTT sandwich once) I will just point it out to manager, have it sent back and order something safe, with it being comped. And not frequent that particualr place again if I can help it.
Ugh thnking back if I had eaten that sandwich not realizing it would have made me soooo sick:( Glad that I inspect my food a bit before chowing down.
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