Some Quick Thoughts on Stereotypes
Everyone knows Americans and the French do not get along. Ask any Frenchman and you will hear that Americans are all pushy, rude, and arrogant. Ask an American about the French and you will hear that they are all... pushy, rude, and arrogant. Our stereotypes of each other are remarkably similar in some ways! It's almost surreal to me how mirror-opposite our cultural attitudes can be sometimes, so that what the American intends as respectful and polite is interpreted as rude to the French person, and vice versa. I could ramble on for many pages about the various ideas of manners, ethics, etc., that are ingrained in the two cultures but I will keep my cultural musings to myself. Better to keep one's mouth shut and be thought a fool, etc! However, I will add this - most of the stereotypes I have heard of the French are NOT true. The people of Herbignac are no different than people anywhere else in small towns across the globe - this 4,000 person village is remarkably similar in attitudes and friendliness to the little town of Welcome where I grew up. Anyone interested in some educational and entertaining reading on French/American cultural collisions is recommended to read the followings books:
Savoir-Flaire, by Polly Platt
French or Foe?, by Polly Platt
Cultural Misunderstandings, by Raymonde Carroll
Culture Shock: France!, by Sally Adamson Taylor