Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

What's The Difference Between The Italains and The French??

What's The Difference Between The Italains and The French??

Old Feb 18th, 2006, 03:51 AM
  #21  
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,508
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
1. A conversation with a French man is always about him. (At home, we call it "using the J word" -- Je)

2. There is no recorded instance of a conversation with an Italian man that did not contain a mention of his mother.

tedgale is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2006, 06:28 AM
  #22  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Tedgale: I love it!
Peggyann is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2006, 06:56 AM
  #23  
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Buzzy,
I would have to say although the Italians are very friendly, We found the Northern Italians anything but friendly. Most were German speaking and just not friendly. We were actually so happy to find "Italians" when we stopped in Bolzano.
I thought the french were fine. And by far way more friendly than the Northern Italians. Taking the language out of it, just didn't find Northern Italians friendly.
Travelatte
travelatte is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2006, 07:14 AM
  #24  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,099
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I've been to both, and found the French friendlier than I expected and the Italians less so. But that's just my experience. Personally, I expected little out of the French and had Italy so built up in my mind as being this friendly, wonderful place, that both of them surprised me to find out one wasn't as cold and the other wasn't as warm to visitors as I had expected.

The French are just generally more socially formal than us very friendly, informal American types.

With Italy, I found it more chaotic, rougher, and therefore LESS friendly than I expected. But I still enjoyed it.

That experience taught me that when I travel, I have to try to adjust my thinking the same way as when I leave super-friendly Denver and go to Manhattan -- Large European cities, like NYC, are big places with lots of different kinds of people, and you can't expect everyone to act thrilled that you're there. I found that when you go with the attitude of wanting to learn about "them" and keep an open mind, you get a lot more than if you go with a bunch of pre-conceived ideas and just look for confirmation of stereotypes.

But that's the great and ultimate benefit of travel -- learning that "our way" isn't the only way, and what makes us different also makes us special. Wouldn't it be a dull world if we were all the same? I sure think so. And that's why I love both Italy and France, for totally different reasons.

Happy travels,

Jules


jules4je7 is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2006, 07:15 AM
  #25  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,017
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you approch them, saying "buona sera" instead of "Guten Abend" what else would you expect? ;-)
logos999 is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2006, 08:16 AM
  #26  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 10,880
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Italian men are better looking.
French men are more reserved.
(Just a female observation)
kleeblatt is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2006, 08:39 AM
  #27  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I find the Italians more fun loving, tolerant and easy going, moreso in the south of Italy of course.

I find the French more reserved but friendly enough if you approach them the right way, carefully.

Americans, myself included, tend to be more open and a little more forward in our friendly approaches which send a French person looking for cover, which usually means giving us a scowl and a terse remark.

I've visited many countries over the years and find that on, the whole, people are the same but have different social mores.

I do feel more positive about my time in Italy though, it just seems a warmer country.

SeaUrchin is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2006, 08:41 AM
  #28  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 965
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Silly question, trying to label people depending on the country tthey live in or are from!!!
Btw, what's the differnece between the Americans and the Canadians? Are Americans more fat than the Canadians?????? Is this also a fair and useful question??? Sometimes this forum turns into a hairdresser's saloon.....!
Tere is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2006, 08:50 AM
  #29  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,099
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Tere, yes, the question is silly and is fishing for some generalizations. I'd recommend getting over it as soon as possible, because you're going to wear yourself out defending the "absolutely everybody is unique" argument. We all know that.

And I'm willing to bet that a Canadian's weight is directly proportionate to the amount of food they eat at fast food joints like McDonalds just as it is here in the States, eh.

Jules



jules4je7 is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2006, 09:46 AM
  #30  
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 547
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Why don't you just go and find out the differences rather than go there pre-judging them based on 20 other people's opinions? Stupid questions like this should be eliminated from this site.
2Italy is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2006, 10:07 AM
  #31  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,099
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2Italy -- that could be said of any question here. Why not just go and find out if it's more fun to sleep in the 20th vs. the 7th arrondisement in Paris instead of ask people their opinions?

Puleez. People ask smart questions, dumb questions, and some really dumb questions. But one has to wade through some bad ones to get to the good ones, just like people...that's life. We don't need an editor to clean it up for us.

Jules
jules4je7 is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2006, 10:07 AM
  #32  
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 802
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2Italy: Sometimes people just want to have a bit of chat and a banter. If you're SO terribly sensitive that you can't cope with what is ostensibly a bit of friendly (and, admittedly, sometimes not so friendly!) debate then just don't read it. End of story.
Tallulah is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2006, 10:18 AM
  #33  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Italians love the Pope.

The French hate the Pope, but love his Prada shoes.

That is the difference.
Balenciaga is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2006, 11:21 AM
  #34  
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 547
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think you're wrong Tallulah. This person is asking for opinions to base their impression for an entire country of people. Going in with predetermined thoughts of the people will certainly frame their immpressions of the people they meet. I do not want to ask what others think of Italians, French, Russians, or whatever. Part of the reason I like to travel is to experience it first hand and develop my own impressions.
2Italy is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2006, 11:58 AM
  #35  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,099
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2Italy -- does it change if the place is more obscure to Westerners? If I had only been to China before, and was considering vacationing in Vietnam or Japan, would it be odd to ask how the cultures differ?

I just don't think it's wrong to ask the question. It may be a bit naive, but when you are first asking questions about things, that's exactly what one is -- naive and trying to learn enough not to be.

Just a thought...

Jules
jules4je7 is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2006, 01:00 PM
  #36  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,134
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
There are such things as different cultures.

It is interesting to me that Americans are interested in other cultures. We are always asking on this site if we will be accepted; for our dress, for our language, for our manners, for our eating customs, etc.

I don't see anything wrong with that, it makes for a good discussion most of the time.
SeaUrchin is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2006, 01:04 PM
  #37  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,119
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
As I said in my trip report a couple of weeks ago:

"If France is a sophisticated dinner party, Italy is a family picnic".

The Italians are much more "approachable", open and fun loving. The French are more uptight (yes, I love 'em, but there ya go).

Now I'll be flamed for generalizing. But those were my observations.
JeanneB is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2006, 01:35 PM
  #38  
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 580
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm with Schuler...

My husband and I went to both France and Italy. While we loved both, enjoyed all that they both had to offer, one thing we still laugh about today is how when we first arrived in Paris, I noticed that not too many men were looking at me. I didn't think too much about it since I had heard the French were more reserved. But then I realized they were actually looking at my husband instead (he's very handsome )

Then when we arrived in Venice, and all over Italy, my husband couldn't leave me alone for a second or some good looking Italian man would be approaching me, offering to show me the town!
loves2sing is offline  
Old Feb 18th, 2006, 01:40 PM
  #39  
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,222
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm with Shuler too--except I don't think French men are reserved at all. It's just the Italian men are more tempting...
Leely is offline  
Old Mar 1st, 2006, 01:35 PM
  #40  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hairdresser Saloon? Sounds like a great place for a haircut and a gun duel--I'm there.
youngandrestless is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -