Bonjour and Merci

Dear Americans visiting during the Olympics

Hi Bonjour. I heard you were coming to Paris to cheer on team USA during the Olympics this year. Awesome! I hope to see you at one of the many events we will be attending. Now, let me help you navigate the mean streets of The City of Lights (and Love).

First, let me disabuse you of a stereotype I hear a lot about the French - and Parisians specifically. The French are not rude; they are direct. I’ll give you an example:

You go to a restaurant in the US and the server is all smiles and bullshit, hi, welcome to … how can I help you? Then, before you even get your first bite into that hole in your face, how is everything? They do not play that shit here. Partly because they don’t need to kiss ass in hopes of getting a good tip to help pay their rent, but mostly because you’re an adult and they are there to do the job of taking your order and bring you your food. But also, the French take their time with meals, they spend that time not on their phones, but enjoying each others company. Whe…