What's not to love about people on stilts leading a blood drive? "Arrogant and rude." These adjectives have commonly been attributed to the French (notably by Americans). If you don't believe me (or just want to be amused), check out this article about Americans' stereotypes of the French.
With this in mind, I didn't have high expectations of the French when I arrived in Toulouse. I expected not to receive any customer service, to be scolded when made a cultural faux pas, to be glared at when it was clear that I wasn't French.
Yes, I did have to get a new bag of onions myself when mine didn't have a barcode, and I have been chided once for joining the wrong line. And I always have to ask for the bill at a restaurant. But more often than not, the French have made my day.
Here are a few of my stories:
I was in a hurry and was full-out power-walking to the grocery store. On my way, two guys started huffing and puffing, serious looks on their faces, arms swinging frantically. Pretty quickly, I realized they were imitating me. I smiled, and one of them remarked, "That's better."
My French debit card stopped being readable, and I needed to order a new one. I also had money that I couldn't deposit as a result. I arrived slightly frazzled at the bank and wasn't processing everything being spoken to me. When I apologized for not understanding a question, the teller kindly remarked that it was ok and that she didn't speak English well. Then she wrote the information I needed to know on a sticky note, ordered me a new card, found the checks that I had ordered a while back and filled out my deposit slip for me, even filling in the account number that I had forgotten to bring with me.
Then there was the time I was at the French equivalent of Wal-Mart and accidentally pressed the "pay in dollars" button (which you should never do, unless you want to give a few extra dollars to Reuters Interback for unnecessarily converting your euros to dollars and then charging you an additional 2.5 percent). As a result, my receipt printed in English, and the cashier didn't know English. She didn't scold me or get irritated. She asked her colleague for help, and when that didn't work, I was able to help her figure out what copy I needed to sign. After I signed, there were no sarcastic remarks, just the customary merci, au revoir.
I often use the city bikes to get around. It is really nifty because you can check out a bike at one station and return it at another station located strategically throughout the city. However, I have, on more than one occasion, checked out the bike with the seat that won't adjust or continually falls down. I was at a station adjusting a bike seat, when a nice (and not creepy) gentleman came over and offered to help me with the seat. He adjusted everything and made sure that I was good to go. I thanked him, and then he told me to have a good evening. What a wonderful random act of kindness!
Yes, French culture doesn't always make sense. Occasionally, it can be a bit complicated. But don't write off the French. They are not solely the producers of fois gras and more than 400 types of cheese, who lay claim to famous sites like the Eiffel Tower. They are also pretty marvelous human beings of whom I am quite fond.
With this in mind, I didn't have high expectations of the French when I arrived in Toulouse. I expected not to receive any customer service, to be scolded when made a cultural faux pas, to be glared at when it was clear that I wasn't French.
Yes, I did have to get a new bag of onions myself when mine didn't have a barcode, and I have been chided once for joining the wrong line. And I always have to ask for the bill at a restaurant. But more often than not, the French have made my day.
Here are a few of my stories:
I was in a hurry and was full-out power-walking to the grocery store. On my way, two guys started huffing and puffing, serious looks on their faces, arms swinging frantically. Pretty quickly, I realized they were imitating me. I smiled, and one of them remarked, "That's better."
My French debit card stopped being readable, and I needed to order a new one. I also had money that I couldn't deposit as a result. I arrived slightly frazzled at the bank and wasn't processing everything being spoken to me. When I apologized for not understanding a question, the teller kindly remarked that it was ok and that she didn't speak English well. Then she wrote the information I needed to know on a sticky note, ordered me a new card, found the checks that I had ordered a while back and filled out my deposit slip for me, even filling in the account number that I had forgotten to bring with me.
Then there was the time I was at the French equivalent of Wal-Mart and accidentally pressed the "pay in dollars" button (which you should never do, unless you want to give a few extra dollars to Reuters Interback for unnecessarily converting your euros to dollars and then charging you an additional 2.5 percent). As a result, my receipt printed in English, and the cashier didn't know English. She didn't scold me or get irritated. She asked her colleague for help, and when that didn't work, I was able to help her figure out what copy I needed to sign. After I signed, there were no sarcastic remarks, just the customary merci, au revoir.
I often use the city bikes to get around. It is really nifty because you can check out a bike at one station and return it at another station located strategically throughout the city. However, I have, on more than one occasion, checked out the bike with the seat that won't adjust or continually falls down. I was at a station adjusting a bike seat, when a nice (and not creepy) gentleman came over and offered to help me with the seat. He adjusted everything and made sure that I was good to go. I thanked him, and then he told me to have a good evening. What a wonderful random act of kindness!
Yes, French culture doesn't always make sense. Occasionally, it can be a bit complicated. But don't write off the French. They are not solely the producers of fois gras and more than 400 types of cheese, who lay claim to famous sites like the Eiffel Tower. They are also pretty marvelous human beings of whom I am quite fond.
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