One of the funniest things I do on an almost daily basis is pronounce English words with a French accent so that French people will understand me.
Tag: Culture (Shock)
The Customer is Always…
This is a crash course in customer service philosophy across cultures.
Indiana Jones and the Missing Apostille of Doom
French bureaucracy is all about jumping through hoops of seemingly arbitrary height and width.
What ze ‘ell? French Habits You Won’t Find on a List of Stereotypes
Many Americans have a mental image of “French Life” that runs somewhere along these lines: smoking at outdoor café tables, bicycling alongside a river with a baguette under an arm, wearing scarves and generally looking “chic,” drinking wine while discussing culture and art. And of course, all of this takes place with the Eiffel Tower as backdrop,…
Faire la Bise: An American Nightmare
It’s a good thing no one’s ever asked me to go undercover as a Frenchwoman, because I would immediately blow it.
Field Trip to a Football Game Takes a Strange Turn
My friend and I looked at each other– “is that what it looks like?”
French Tact
The following is loosely translated from French: Me: So, what else do you want to ask your American penpals? 10-year old French student: Are you fat? Me: That’s not a very nice question- and it’s also a stereotype. French student: Write it, write it! Me: They’re going to think French students are very impolite. French…
Cultural Tells
These mannerisms are like little poker tells – they would shout, “BONJOUUUUUUUR!” if I saw them outside of France.
Transient Local 