Well, I’m back from my European adventure and I have many stories to share with you in this and future blogs. This is the third time I’ve been over to Europe and every time I come back amazed by the ancient historical buildings there and how different the culture is from North America. I can never get enough of that wonderful continent.
A common stereotype of the French people is they’re rude and snobby. Articles such as Common French Stereotypes and French Stereotypes allude to this stereotype, I would like to share some of my thoughts on France. I have just visited this country for the third time and I cannot say enough good about this beautiful country and its citizens.
Over the years, and not long before leaving on this trip, I had many people tell me how rude they found the French people, especially the Parisians. People often would tell me to expect the French people, especially in Paris, to be rude and snobby. Well, I can tell you in all honesty that I have never experienced this during any of my three visits to France, and yes I was in Paris all three times. In fact, I found French people to be most kind, welcoming, and always helpful. Let me give you some examples from our most recent trip.
While still trying to “get our bearings” on the first day in Paris, we stopped in a wine shop to ask for some directions to the Metro. Since neither my wife or myself speak the French language, the first words we would articulate would be, “Parlez-vous anglais?” that is, do you speak English? Almost everyone we asked this question, replied, “Qui”, and then proceeded to speak to us in English. We were always very grateful for this. Anyway, this particularly kind man in the wine shop told us where to find the Metro, how to use the Metro, and where to purchase tickets. Now that doesn’t fit the stereotype.
On another occasion, while making our way to the Palace of Versailles, we were helped by a very nice young man. To get to Versailles you take the RER, which are the Paris commuter trains as the palace is about 28 kilometres away. Commuter trains are like the Metros in the sense that they make numerous stops along the way. Anyway, the stop to get off at is a stop called Versailles Rive Gauche, Chateau de Versailles. Knowing that the stop was Rive Gauche, when we arrived at the Viroflay Rive Gauche stop, we panicked and got off; two stops too soon. Standing there wondering if we were at the right place, likely looking like confused tourists, a very nice young man came up to us and asked us something in French. My wife responds with, “Parlez-vous anglais?” and the nice young man responds in English, “Can I help you?” We explained our dilemma and he quickly got us straightened out. We got on the next train, and were in Versailles in no time. This young French citizen didn’t fit the French stereotype.
The previous evening, while in the Paris Metro, my wife and I were discussing how to get to the Palace of Versailles. My wife is very meticulous and has a need to know exactly where she is going before embarking on an adventure. While we were standing there, looking at a Metro map on the wall, some random older lady walks up to us and says something in French. We gave our usual response and then speaking in English she explained to us how to get to the palace. Keep in mind that her actions were of concern for us as we did not ask for help. She explained to us to take line C of the RER to Versailles, and to get off at Rive Gauche. We thanked her and started walking to our exit. A minute later this kind lady comes running up to us and asked us if we wanted to go to the castle or the city of Versailles. We clarified and she explained that she wanted to make sure she gave us the right stop. This Parisian lady took time out of her I’m sure busy day to run and catch us so that we would not get lost the next day. That was an action of kindness, not snobbishness. We were very thankful for this lady did not fit the Parisian stereotype.
Outside of Paris was no different. We were always greeted with kindness and friendliness. Allow me to share some examples, again from our recent trip. When we arrived in Bayeux, France, a city near the Normandy D-Day Beaches, we were tired and hungry. We ventured out on foot to find a restaurant. Using a map to navigate to the city centre, as was often the case we got confused and therefore lost. A man, obviously a local, along with his daughter and dog were walking towards us. We stopped him and asked if he spoke English. Thankfully, he did and he directed us in the right direction. He was most kind and most friendly. He didn’t fit the stereotype.
While driving from Bayeux to Lievin, France, we stopped in the French village of Aumale as my wife liked the town. We parked and walked toward the huge church, which every village has. As we turned the corner around the church, we discovered a market. Walking about the market we came across a table with croissants on it so my wife asked if she could have one. The lady at the table spoke no English, but understanding what my wife was asking, answered, “Oui”. Then the lady points to the coffee urn, says something in French, and looks at me. Understanding that she was offering me coffee I said, “Oui”. This pleasant, friendly lady then pours my wife a juice. The people of Aumale were most gracious and hospitable to us, the strangers in town. The people of this French village certainly did not fit the French stereotype.
Just before arriving in the wonderful village of Aumale, we were stopped at an intersection. Drivers around us were pointing at our vehicle and we immediately presumed that we had done something illegal or that something was wrong with our vehicle. Then one man gets out of his car, comes running up to our vehicle and says something in French, while pointing down by the car door. My wife, driving at the time, rolls down the window and looks out the window and to her horror discovers that her coat was hanging out the car door. This kind man had made the effort to alert us to our carelessness. We were truly thankful for this man who was not stereotypically French.
While coming into Lievin, France, where our Bed and Breakfast (B&B) was located we drove to where our GPS said was our B&B, yet we couldn’t see it. We walked down to the intersection and spotted a lady working in her yard. Unfortunately, she didn’t speak English but we showed her the address and she pointed us in the right direction which was up the street. It turned out that we had not walked far enough up the street. She didn’t hesitate to help us lost tourists.
Our B&B lady was most welcoming and helpful. She did speak English although with a strong French accent. In fact, she kept apologizing for her accent. We assured her that we could understand her. She went out of her way to make us feel welcome and to help us plan our days. She would even put addresses into our GPS of sites she recommended we see, such as the Canadian National Vimy Memorial. Any time we tried to put in an address, our GPS could not find it. It seems there is a certain way to put in French addresses. This lady was a fantastic hostess; not stereotypical at all.
While walking to a recommended restaurant our B&B person told us about, our GPS took us to a residential area. The GPS said we were there, but there was nothing that looked anything like a food establishment. So we started walking back. We first asked a random stranger standing at a street corner who also could not speak English where the restaurant was, and using gestures he pointed us down the street. We kept walking, unsure of where we were going. Seeing a lady in her yard, we asked her if she spoke our native tongue. She did not so we showed her the name of the food place. She rambled on in French and pointed us down the street. We walked further down the road and lo and behold, there it was. Those kind, non stereotypical people helped us move in the right direction.
Now I could go on and on with many more stories of experiences with friendly, kind and hospitable French citizens, but I’m sure you get the picture. The bottom line is the French people we encountered definitely did not fit the stereotypical mould of being rude and snobby. Quite the opposite really. Ed Koch, an American lawyer, politician, political commentator, movie critic and reality television arbitrator once said, “Stereotypes lose their power when the world is found to be more complex than the stereotype would suggest. When we learn that individuals do not fit the group stereotype, then it begins to fall apart”. That is so true. When you’ve been to France and see that their population is so diverse, you realize that not all citizens of France fit the stereotypical mould, although I’m sure they have some that do.
It just isn’t right to stereotype all French people as being rude and snobby, just as it isn’t right to stereotype all Americans as being arrogant and boastful, even though we did meet a couple of Americans who were. Having said that, we met far more Americans who did not fit that stereotype. It’s equally as wrong to stereotype all Canadians as being extremely polite. I have met my fair share of Canadians who are not stereotypically polite.
Sommer Season all year 