Ten Rules to Live By for Living in France

Hey guys, so instead of doing a post about my trip to Denver this week (which is still coming soon!) I decided it would be cool to come up with a list of "rules to live by for living in France". Living in France is a completely different experience than living in the United States and there are certain dos and don'ts. So without further ado, here are my top ten rules to live by while living in France!

*I took this picture in Parc du Republique :)

1. ALWAYS say "Bonjour" to Everyone!

It may sound like a small, silly rule, but in France if you don't say hello to everyone, and I mean everyone (strangers on the street, shopkeepers, bus drivers, teachers, EVERYONE!) it's considered quite rude. Now of course, this doesn't mean you need to go down the street saying "Bonjour" to everyone you pass, and it can depend on the person. Most older people will say "Bonjour" to you in the street, but younger generations and adults don't. However, in any establishments, including grocery stores, patisseries et boulangeries (bakeries), restaurants, anything, you must say "Bonjour" to whoever is there. For example, in a bakery you would say "Bonjour" to the people behind the counter, or a waiter at a restaurant, etc. If you don't first greet them, they will be offended and in some cases will refuse to serve you until you say "Bonjour"! So while it is quite a small thing, it's something many Americans should keep in mind when visiting or living in France.*

2. Do not wear a beret!

As simple as this rule is, you will look like a tourist and an American if you wear a beret. This is a stereotype, nobody wears them in reality.

3. Restaurant Timings (Pre-COVID)

When eating at a restaurant for lunch or dinner (pre-COVID) there are a few rules surrounding the times you should go. Another important thing to note is that generally you should call ahead and make a reservation (faire un rendez-vous or prendre un réservation). Most restaurants fill up and it's always better to be sure you'll get into the place you want to eat at. Now for the timing, generally French lunches start anywhere from around 11h30 and can last up until 3h (p.m.). Now, this isn't normal, obviously, and during the work week, lunch breaks are much more realistic (12h until 1h or 1h30 p.m.) however if you are looking to eat lunch at a restaurant, especially during the weekend, you should always have a reservation and it can be better to go earlier. For dinner, Americans should have no problem eating around what we consider usual dinner times, anywhere from 5h30 to 7h p.m. French dinners are never this early and they last from 7h p.m. until late into the night, depending on who they're with and the day. If you're planning on eating later, make a reservation, otherwise restaurants won't be full until it starts getting dark.

4. Don't Read French Books

So I don't mean "don't read in French" because obviously it is important to read in the language you are trying to learn, however when it comes to literature, in my experience at least, it sucks. Their stories are boring and plain. If you want to practice reading in French, I would suggest going for classics that have been translated, like Harry Potter (Fun side note: in French a magic wand is called a "Baguette magique"!). I have read countless French books by French authors and they just aren't as interesting as books you can get in America. Now, I'm not saying there aren't good French books out there, and there probably are, but at least from what I've seen this would be my recommendation.

5. French Candy

So, obviously, French candy is definitely not as good as American candy (what could ever be better than Reese's Peanut Butter Cups?) however, they do have a good selection. French people love the brand Haribo and most candy you will find in stores is some sort of gummy made by Haribo. The best candy that my brother and I have found that is commercially available in France is called Dragibus (made by Haribo). They are kind of like jelly beans that have similar flavors, if that makes sense (and they are vegetarian). This is typically what we'll buy with friends when we are having a sleepover or hanging out after school.

6. Don't listen to French rap

While I have discovered some French pop that is actually enjoyable (check out Stromae, M. Pokora and Marwa Loud) I can say with definitive certainty that French rap is not something you will want to experience, and most French teens will agree with me. It just doesn't sound good and the things they rap about don't even really make sense. It's pretty much just noise.

7. Get a bike, you will use it!

And while you're at it, buy a bus/tram pass as well. France is extremely bicycle friendly (at least Strasbourg is) and there are bike paths everywhere! It's also just an easy way to get around. I know lots of friends that bike to school every day, my mom bikes to work and when she's running errands, and I'll occasionally take my bike to camps in the summer. It's also handy to get a basket, it's just better for running errands and you can bring more things you need. Having a car is pretty much useless unless you work outside the city, so any other means of transportation (walking, biking, taking the tram and bus) is the better choice.

8. Avoid French politics

The French tend to have very strong opinions about their politics (Macron, the Gilet Jaune, etc.) and if you get them started it'll go on and on and could end up in an argument. Some French people don't consider it appropriate to talk about politics when you're having a dinner party or a get-together, and some just prefer to avoid the subject in general. Another thing the French are very keen on are "manifestations" or protests. At least once a month there's a huge parade or walk through the Republique park (mentioned above). If you encounter one of these, just keep your head down and walk around them. Normally, they shouldn't bother you, but if they do, there are generally police around the protests so you can go to them if you need help.

9. Bring changes of clothes to sports (Pre-COVID)

Generally, in America, when you go to soccer practice, for example, or to do a sport you show up in your playing clothes and go straight to practice. In France, none of that. You should show up about fifteen minutes in advance and in your street clothes, and first head down to the changing rooms. In the changing rooms, you can then get changed into your playing clothes and any other equipment (like cleats, etc.) you may need for practice. This can take anywhere from fifteen to thirty minutes, especially when there's a lot of people on your team. Finally, when everyone is finished, the coach will typically come in and talk about what practice will be like for the day and then you leave your belongings in the locker room and finally head out to start practice. In short, if you're wondering why it says that your practice is going to last three hours, it's actually just accounting for changing time, mingling, and sometimes even a snack after!

10. Don't trust translations

This is mostly for movies, but can apply in real life as well. Generally, the French prefer to watch original Hollywood movies or British movies in their original language (English), but with French subtitles. Or you might decide to watch a French movie for practice with English subtitles. Unfortunately, sometimes there is just no translation for what's being said, and you might get the wrong impression. This also goes for Google Translate and unfortunately there is no fix for this. If someone looks confused with a translation you give them or show them, just try to explain that there isn't really an equivalent in the language, or try using deepl.com, which is generally more reliable than Google Translate.

So anyway, those are my ten French rules to live by! I hope you enjoyed and hopefully picked up some tips for when you travel to France or move here, who knows? I'll be putting up the Denver post next week so be sure to look out for that and have a beautiful week!

Loreleixx

*And also a little extra tip: you should also generally say "Merci" (thank you) "Au revoir" (Goodbye) and/or "Bonne journee" (Have a good day) when you leave an establishment ;).