[Heather H.]

What are people in France like? What kind of customs and courtesies are there in France, such as greetings, visiting, eating, gestures, personal appearance, group meetings, traveling and communicating interpersonally?

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Name : Heather H., Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 19, City : W. Jefferson, State : NC Country : United States, Occupation : Full-time student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Ken]

I've traveled to France four times over the past 10 years, and I have always found them to be generally friendly, curious about America and generous with their time. This is especially true in the countryside. Paris is a large city where you are more likely to be treated rudely, like you would be in a large U.S. city. The older French people still have fond memories of American GIs liberating their country. The younger folks are intrigued by American music and films.

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Name : Ken, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Agnostic, Age : 47, City : Milwaukee, State : WI Country : United States, Occupation : writer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Ann-H]

Greetings are important in France. People would never dream of walking into a store and beginning to shop without greeting the clerk or staff. And one doesn't just say, 'Hi.' Everyone does this little ritual of greeting - it's really quite elegant. You'd say, 'Bonjour Madam' (always addressing a person with his or her title). If you do this, the French are so pleased (because they don't expect it from Americans) - they just light up. Even if you can't say another word of French, just use sign language - but add s'il vous plaît - that's 'Please' - and 'Merci, Madame.' You see: You don't just say 'thanks,' - you say, 'Thank you, Ma'am.' That much I can say with confidence. There's a lot more going on in French culture that is outside my experience.

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Name : Ann-H, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 40s, City : Chisago City, State : MN Country : United States, Occupation : Communicaton, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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