Learning to Love the French as They Are

Old Jul 15th, 2003, 02:52 PM
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Actually, we Canadians like to take credit for that one--and only after the Americans burned York (now Toronto).
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Old Jul 15th, 2003, 03:47 PM
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We love France as well, even after being mugged in the Metro.

As far as being considered rude without realizing it..my mother tapped a clerk in the Louvre giftshop on the shoulder to get his attention. He whirled around and informed her that the tap was extremely rude. My gracious, Southern lady mother was crushed. Ever hear of that one?
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Old Jul 15th, 2003, 06:19 PM
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Touching someone to get their attention is considered rude in almost every society in the World . .

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Old Jul 15th, 2003, 06:34 PM
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I think most people, especially those of us who live in cities, recoil in a nasty way from people who tap us (especially from behind) for attention. I don't necessarily think of it as a very rude gesture, but at the same time, I cannot bear to be touched by unseen strangers, as I would instantly assume I was being robbed. Having that kind of oversensitive radar is essential for city living and keeping your personal space...personal.

As far as French bashing/not visiting because of politics goes, I just find it funny that many people (not necessarily in this thread) feel that their money is so much better spent going to Germany (who also didn't support us in Iraq) and Italy (who did); both of them Axis powers who we fought against in WWII. Since the logic these folks are following is based on the ungratefulness of the French for WWII, they really should just visit England or stay the hell home and stop making Americans look like such asses.
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Old Jul 15th, 2003, 06:53 PM
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Sounds like an intriguing read. I will check it out.
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Old Jul 15th, 2003, 07:02 PM
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I can't help but think of David Sedaris's novel "Me Talk Pretty One Day." In describing the tension between the US and France, he stated in essence that Americans run around claiming "We're Number One!" How many countries actually agree to run arund claiming "We're Number Two!?"
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Old Jul 16th, 2003, 11:04 AM
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There seem to be several of these kinds of books out now and It sounds like the latest is sort of copying the earlier ones, to me. Polly Platt's and there is another series, Culture Shock, and even some others I've seen. I found Platt's first of some interest, although didn't really agree with all of it (or at least wondered), but didn't really care for Savoir Flair that much. I found French Toast by Harriett something enjoyable and the same idea but presented less as a tutorial.

I find it a little disheartening that people consider it a peculiar French custom or that they need a book to tell them it is polite to greet people hello and goodbye, etc. I also think tapping someone to get their attention is pretty rude everywhere, because it is rude to touch a stranger in any place, but essentially poking someone is worse. Why couldn't someone just say "excuse me" or "sir?" etc., if you want someone's attention. I would never walk up to a clerk in a store in the US and tap them if I wanted their attention.
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Old Jul 16th, 2003, 01:04 PM
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My first, personal encounter with the French on their own turf occurred while there in the military far more than 50 years ago. I was not there as a tourist nor on a holiday, but as an enlisted man just doing his duty. My opinions of the French I met and gathered then have only been reinforced over the succeeding decades.

Individually, the French are one item. Collectively, they change. Let me expand.

Person to person, I have found the French to be courteous, somewhat remote (my command of their language is not as good as their command of mine), thrifty to the point of pain, a bit condescending, observant, opinionated about America (especially if they have not been here), and rather quaint in some of their personal mannerisms. A pair of French physicians saved my life in Vietnam. They wouldn't take a penny for their skills and service, rendered on the spot.

Collectively, I have found them to be maddening (especially in their adoration of French officialdom -- postal clerks, magistrates, lawyers, government people). Haughty -- they make the British seem warm by comparison. Intelligent, especially those who have been well educated to become intellectual bullies at the Ecole Polytechnique.

I find them to be a fascinating and yet exasperating group of people. All mankind is wealthier for having had them on this planet.


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Old Jul 17th, 2003, 12:45 AM
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Merci! Merci!
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Old Jun 6th, 2012, 01:21 PM
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missing capo and adding another book

http://www.amazon.com/Talk-Snail-Com.../dp/1596913096
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Old Jun 6th, 2012, 01:23 PM
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Whatever happened to him, anyway?
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Old Jun 6th, 2012, 05:28 PM
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kitkat
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Old Jun 6th, 2012, 06:48 PM
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When I saw that this thread was from Capo, I knew it would be an old one before I opened it.
I too wonder what happened to him. He even sent me a cd of recorded music in 2004 just as an unexpected gift and I remember him whenever I happen to play it.

Kitkat, Cigale ???
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Old Jun 6th, 2012, 07:17 PM
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I don't know. I wish I did, the last I heard, several years ago, like you, his job was elimiunated and he broke up with his girlftriend. We'd all like to hear from him.
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Old Jun 6th, 2012, 07:32 PM
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I loved him! I miss him!
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Old Jun 6th, 2012, 07:46 PM
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Remember those hilarious song parodies he used to write ?

Whenever a poster asked a travel question that fitted the bill, he would say, "This reminds me of a song.." and then respond to the poster by writing the answer by changing the words of a popular song (Beatles, Elvis, Sinatra, etc.) whose original song title used the same family of words as the poster's question topic.

He had a real knack for those kind of clever things !
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Old Jun 6th, 2012, 09:04 PM
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topping for kit kat
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