Things the french do differently

France, and certainly Paris, is my hobbyhorse. After working for Marie-Claire for years, French culture (touché’: Italian) has become my second nature. I know them well but don’t always understand them and some things I still find surprising and amusing. That’s why I like to read about France and the French. There are a few things the French do differently, than, let’s say us, that have caught my eye, that I want to share with you.

Typing

During the Marie-Claire period I mentioned above, there were no mac-books but large Atos-machines with matching bag. My darling husband’s comment was, “ has the repairman forgotten his tools again?”. Not very fashionable and certainly not very easy to travel with. Nonetheless I did have to take it with me to Paris when on the job.

Aside from the Internet hiccups the keyboard ruined my vacation feeling bringing me right to Siberia. The French have a AZERY-keyboard, fro some reason. The q, z,w and a are not where they should be and the accents are under the letters. This is kind of handy as the French need these a lot, try finding a cedille on a qwerty- keyboard. But then there’s the @-problem. It doesn’t exist in France. If you want me to tell you how to find it, not easy, as it depends on your computer and keyboard. So. If it’s an Apple, I can help you, it’s hidden under the #. Bon Chance.

Be warned. Belgium has the same keyboards as France.

To cross or not to cross

When we approach those black and white stripes across the road we expect cars to stop. In France they only start to stop when you are actually already on the crossing. Feels a little like Russian Roulette (will he stop or not?) but they’ll stop, don’t worry. You just have to take control. The French like that.

kissing

“If she kisses you, two is the norm”, that’s what a publisher whispered into my ear before meeting the top executive at Marie Claire’s. Well she won’t kiss me, I thought, we hardly know each other. Wrong. It was kisses straight away. I’m still not sure how many kisses to give or where to give them. So play it safe and stick with two. But then all of a sudden some people give you four. I’ll get back to you on that.

softly spoken

French people don’t say their name when answering the phone. They expect the caller to know whom they are calling and it’s no one’s business knowing otherwise. But when calling a company I find it a little confusing. Because you just don’t know who you’re talking to. Solution? Call their mobile number, if you have it. And why are they always whispering so mysteriously?

Shut the Shutters

You know this. You passing through a French village (after passing seventeen roundabouts, yep, a French invention) and there’s no one in sight, and all the shutters are closed. This is a tradition that stems from the middle ages. Back then you were taxed by the amount of possessions you had, best to keep them out of site. I’m not kidding I did some serious research.

20 plus

France doesn’t have an average culture. Average is the equivalent of a D. Things start looking good, “assez bien” when you you’re pulling in a twelve or a fourteen. A French 10 or A plus is a 20 sur 20.

Inter-not-ional

Leave it to the French to give international terminology a twist. They don’t only mess with the pronunciation but the syllables’ as well. Aids in French is Sida, the EU is UE and Nato is called Otan. Very strange those Frenchies, but charming.