Welcome to France
As a Canadian who had travelled a fair bit before arriving in France, there were still plenty of things I learned once I arrived. Here are some helpful tips for your stay in France:
Speak French. Even if it’s terrible. Even if you are embarrassed to speak it. People in Paris and most cities will be able to speak to you in English, but that shouldn’t be your default. The idea of visiting another country and expecting the citizens to speak your language is audacious.
France is the most-visited country in the world, with over 100 million tourists in 2024. Boasting amazing culture, food, wine, architecture, history, fashion, art, etc the country is an obvious draw for many, many people. With that in mind, give your French a try. I guarantee you the locals will appreciate it (even if they immediately switch to English)!Say “Bonjour”. Every time you enter a store, bakery, pass someone on the street and smile….say hello. It’s customary to say hello when entering a space. Not only is it polite, but I think it creates a feeling of community and empathy.
Kiss kiss is more cheek to cheek. Handshakes and hugs were my norm before moving to France. It definitely took some time to get out of my comfort zone and learn ‘la bise’. What I can say is it’s less lips on cheeks, and more rubbing cheeks. You’re still getting getting close, but not as close as a hug. It still feels awkward to me, but when in Rome…(or France).
Ça va? Ça va. Ça va? Ça va. It’s both a question and a response. ‘How’s it going?’ ‘It’s going’…
In my early days in France, it made me feel like I was fluent in French (but panicked if anyone deviated from this script).Thank you and good night. While I am absolutely no French expert, I can tell you that a smile, a thank you, and have a good day/evening/night, goes a long way. Bonjour, bonne journée. Bonsoir, bonne soirée. Bonne nuit.
Politeness is ingrained into everyday French life and is said to be the flower of humanity.
