Posted on 12/19/2004 3:36:16 PM PST by Paul_Denton
CULTURE CLASH LEAVES JAPANESE AFFLICTED WITH 'PARIS SYNDROME' Received Sunday, 19 December 2004 12:44:00 GMT PARIS, Dec 19 (AFP) - For years visitors to the French capital have complained of the rudeness of the locals, but now there are the first documented victims: hundreds of young Japanese women who have fallen prey to what a Japanese psychiatrist identifies as "Paris syndrome." According to Dr Hiroyki Ota, who works at the Sainte-Anne psychiatric hospital in Paris, more than 100 Japanese people pass through his consulting room every year showing the same symptoms of nervous depression. Around a quarter have to be hospitalised before being flown home. In a book entitled "The Paris Syndrome," he explains the progression of the disorder: first mild anxiety, then a growing persecution complex, fear of going outside, despair and sometimes even suicide. In all cases the cause is the same: a bad social experience with a Parisian that triggers an unbearable sense of cultural alienation. "The phenomenon is most common among those Japanese who prove themselves incapable of adapting to France because of a shock set off by a confrontation between the two cultures," Ota writes. Ever since the first bohemians arrived in Paris nearly a century ago to join the Montparnasse artists' set, the Japanese have had a love affair with the French capital, nurtured by dreams of sophisticated manners and physical elegance, exquisite food and lots of Louis Vuitton handbags. Most of the 28,000 Japanese residents in France live in the capital, which is visited every year by millions more. However what they expect is not always what they get. "Often the people I show around are extremely disappointed," says Akira Hasegawa, a tour guide with 15 years experience in France. "They think Parisians are going to be clean and polite and friendly -- and it's the exact opposite. What they want is the old France -- full of people like (actors) Jean Gabin and Alain Delon -- but it's not like that at all," he says. Nearly all the victims of "Paris syndrome" are women, who tend to be more besotted with the city's romantic image than men. Press coverage of Paris in Japan invariably plays up the "city of lights" cliche, and the fact that several Japanese celebrities have chosen to settle here boosts the wannabe factor. "There is a kind of Cinderalla stereotype, especially among girls," says Mina Hasegawa -- no relation to Akira -- Paris correspondent for Fuji Television Network. "There are many women in their 20s and 30s who want to make a drastic change in their lives, and they come to Paris looking for an alternative. For the first month they feel happy and free, but then there's a reaction. Suddenly the atmosphere seems hostile." All agree that the most shocking discovery for these people is the lack of manners. For visitors from a country where human relations are subject to a strict social code, the ordeal of being ignored by a surly waiter, or having an official deliberately misunderstand your attempts to speak French, is painful indeed. "In Japan the customer is God," says Mina Hasegawa. "Not here." However Bernard Delage, a Frenchman who runs the Association Jeunes Japon, argues that at least things are better today than they used to be. "Up until 15 years ago it was really hard to be Japanese in Paris. Everyone took them for Chinese -- which they hate -- and because they were rich back then, they were ripped off wherever they went," says Delage, who helps Japanese executives and students settle in France. "Today the problem is with a relatively small number of young women -- spoiled types who come over with Daddy's money to experience the freedom, but find they cannot cope. "The same thing happens wherever the Japanese go abroad. They always find other countries a culture shock. What's different about Paris is first that they're more in love with it than anywhere else, and second that the people here can be genuinely awful. There's bound to be a let-down," he says.
The french suck!
No woman (unless she is liberal) should be treated like that. I say its time to rearm Japan and let em losse on FROGGYSTAN!
I think the general consensus on this topic last week was this:
The Japanese bath, the French don't. Small wonder the Japanese have trouble adjusting. I wonder if any developed allergies or asthma, lol.
The Japanese and Frogs are literally polar opposites. Japanese do not surrender or appease. The Frogs surrender, appease, and collaborate. The Japanese bathe, the Frogs don't. The Japanese do not backstab, the Frogs backstab. Japanese women are lovely, Frog women are dirty and do not shave their armpits.
All agree that the most shocking discovery for these people is THE LACK OF MANNERS. For visitors from a country where human relations are subject to a strict social code, the ordeal of being ignored by a surly waiter, or having an official deliberately misunderstand your attempts to speak French, is painful indeed.
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Yet another reason to avoid France like the plague.
Funny - about 7 years ago I was at Disney World in Orlando, and was completely amazed at the esprit de corps and the uniform dedication to customer service among every staff member at every level.
The only exception was at the Epcot Center, where they have all those international pavilions. The French staff of the french restaurant was aloof and indifferent, to the point where we were kept waiting for attention from the maitre'd even though the place was not crowded and there were no other customers waiting to be helped.
I was amazed at how Disney managed to capture and present an authentic French dining experience.
Of course, after a while we left without eating there and headed for a different venue.
Only time I'll ever go there is in an A-10 shredding the frogs to pieces.
Japanese women are lovely, Frog women are dirty and do not shave their armpits.
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BWAHAAAAHAAAA!!!
If I were a man, that one would definitely be a no-brainer, tee-hee.
Even as a woman, I find that repellent. Maybe I should say, ESPECIALLY, as a woman, I find that repellent, LOL.
I don't think I'm a "spoiled daddy's girl", if I expect good manners from people! (anywhere in the world, btw)
RFLMAO!
BWAHAAAAHAAAA!!! If I were a man, that one would definitely be a no-brainer, tee-hee. Even as a woman, I find that repellent. Maybe I should say, ESPECIALLY, as a woman, I find that repellent, LOL.
Well do not worry, I avoid ANYTHING french, including the people! But around french people, do not forget Mosquito repellent and industrial-grade disinfectant and WD-80!
if the french arent clean then i guess they must be dirty.
Went to France once. Talked through the airport and hated it already. The topless beaches were kind of interesting, except their beaches have no sand.
dirty enough to warrent the use of industrial-grade solvent! LOL
what i do in a restaurant, if ignored, is to send a plate -and- a piece of glassware to the floor.. CRASH!! if you are really angry do it when a waiter passes and blame him.
I remember reading a year or so ago that our military and the french "military" held joint exercises. (Hot day)
Afterwards, our people showered and cleaned up. The french just changed clothes.
They went nightclubbing that night and all the french girls gravitated to those smelly french soldiers.
Thank you for yet another reason to avoid the arrogant, unmannered, insipid, unkempt, hateful, uninformed, greedy, unappreciative, drunken, immoral, etc., French.
Attack them? Absolutely NOT! Do you want to be responsible for 30 million rude, ungrateful whiners?
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