People

Another stereotype of France is not just their food, but it’s also the people themselves. We Americans of course have generalizations just as the French do about us. We think the French don’t bathe as often, are rude and snobby, and I’m sure there are several others. What I’ve come to realize about the French is that stereotypes are just that. Although the French may not put as much thought into excessive hygiene like we do, they do take a great deal of time focused on their appearance. Even when I try, I feel like I still look like hell compared to these other women. They all look like models! Our fashion can’t touch theirs. Standing next to them, I feel like a child playing dress-up. I must resist the urge to shop!

Also, these people couldn’t be nicer. As I’ve said before, the people in restaurants are very welcoming. This seems to be the general attitude of everyone around us. It sounds funny, but I feel like French people love foreigners! However, I discovered this welcoming attitude doesn’t exist past the hours of nine o’clock. Everyone is more on edge after dark and doesn’t want anything to do with anybody.

I had a short discussion with Nathalie about the habits of French people and I asked her if a lot of people here get cancer. With the amount of people who smoke here it seems that tons of people should have it. No one really hears much about Europeans having cancer like we focus on it in the States. We have Relay for Life, Awareness ribbons, talks and movies focused on people with cancer. But here, it’s kind of in the background. So I was a little surprised when Nathalie told me it’s a pretty big problem here. Along with liver failure. She kind of laughed and said that yes, the French smoke and drink a lot more than Americans and they pay for it. Well, there went my idea that the French are a bunch of happy, healthy models….

Even though these maladies creep in the background, I have found that people here are generally pretty happy. They’re also very affectionate. There’s no such thing as frowning upon a Public Display of Affection. A young couple groping each other on the sidewalk is admired by passer-bys. I can’t help but keep my American way of thinking and say to myself, “Uh, get a room, thanks.” I’ve come to learn that touching someone emphasizes the feeling that French people put into everything they say and do. It’s definitely something I’m going to have to get used to.