In order to travel freely and not get into unpleasant situations on vacation, each tourist needs to familiarize himself with the culture and etiquette of the country of visit. Particularly interesting and unique is the unspoken code of conduct in France.
Culture and etiquette: how to behave
On the whole, the French are a nation that communicates freely and possesses exquisite manners. In a given country, you can freely express your own opinion, even when it differs from the views of other people. In addition, a demonstration of individualism is encouraged and heavy facial expressions and gestures are allowed. The ability to maintain a conversation in any area is a great advantage.
A separate article deals with relations with service personnel. Tipping to the waiter in French restaurants is often included in the invoice that is brought to the visitor, but if there is no such signature, it is necessary to leave 10% of the total value of the order. Finally, in France, it is customary to give tea to the cloakroom attendant and the doorman.
What to avoid in France
In addition to generally accepted rules, it is also necessary to pay attention to what is not welcomed by the indigenous people of the country. The first taboo here is any kind of criticism: this will turn the French against the visiting tourist, and it is often difficult to restore relations with them.
The first impression plays an important role, therefore it is necessary to remember that the rules of etiquette in France do not allow to say a clean greeting, to call a person by their last name and even by their first name. The prohibition also includes a respectful form of communication “you”. As a result, the best way is to use "monsieur" for men and "madame" for young ladies.
Having made a positive impression, it is necessary to build communication correctly. It is not worth starting a conversation about money and earnings, since these aspects are not important for the French. Instead, it is desirable to show your positive character traits (among them politeness, taste, cheerfulness and elegance are especially important), as well as a sense of humor.
The traditional group of prohibitions is the rules related to visiting a restaurant. An absolute bad manners is smoking during his visit and at food, and on the sidelines, clinking glasses and having elbows on the table.
Despite their emotionality and sociability, the inhabitants of France for some time (sometimes this period can be significant) keep their distance from a stranger, which is why you should not immediately impose in a new company. Politeness should become a friend of any tourist: especially when it comes to responding to other people's oversights.
