Post: #251

I was expecting massive rudeness from Parisians (based on their stereotype) and I found it to be grossly exaggerated. Sure it was there, but not nearly as bad as I was expecting.

It PALES in comparison to the pretentiousness and snobby bullshit of the Hollywood elite, which I'm surrounded by on a daily basis.

I mean, I know what you guys are talking about. I encountered it a couple times approaching girls. A certain way she held her head to one side, smoking her cigarette, her long hair dangling just so. If anything I found it cute, like, "Awww, this girl is trying to be pretentious, how cute."

I did see some Australians get treated like shit, because they were being loud and obnoxious.

Post: #252

(08-15-2013 02:31 PM)thedude3737 Wrote:  I was expecting massive rudeness from Parisians (based on their stereotype) and I found it to be grossly exaggerated. Sure it was there, but not nearly as bad as I was expecting.

^^^ first time I ever went to France I was on full alert for snobbishness after hearing so many stories about supposed Parisian rudeness. Then after many trips there and and not experiencing much, if any of it at all of it I was like "WTF"?

In fact, I felt that the people in certain parts of France, particularly in the South, went out of their way to try to help me - once had a girl and her mom give me a free telephone card so I could call home after I ran out of money, had this French/Arab waiter at lunch say 'hello' to me and 'have a good eat' at a restaurant in Nice after he found out I spoke English, another guy helped me with my laundry and gave me some extra francs, etc.

I have passable French and always speak in French when I am in France to the extent I can, so I'm sure that helps. But I think even just a 'bonjour', s'il gous plait' or 'merci' here and there goes a long way and that's all it takes, doesn't seem that hard to do.