The French like to not smile

but they are strangely friendly. Contrary to all those rumors you hear in America and even in surrounding countries in Europe, the french are not a bad group of people. Honestly, for living in a city for just four days I have yet to come across a rude person helping me out. Well let me rephrase. In general, the french are not stuck up, swanky, and disagreeable. Sure, it’s a city so I’ve come across a good amount of your typical city snobs and traditional old folk (like the delightful elderly scarf-around-the-head woman who took one glance at our american group of 15 girls with 30 pieces of luggage and furiously shook her head in discontentment), but I see no difference between this city and lets say one like chicago (just in terms of agreeableness). However, regardless what I say, the fact remains that the french come offsnobby more than any other nationality. But why? Like us wisconsinites, they love cheese and alcohol. Like Amelie, they have an incredible joie de vivre. Well, it comes down to their social customs. The french do not smile. More precisely, they do not smile at stragers. Americans are known to be very happy, outgoing, and friendly-some of our most loveliest qualities. Therefore as Americans, we don’t consider smiling to mean anything other than a friendly or polite gesture. Manners are our best suit. However, be careful of where you move those mouth muscles in public in Paris. Smiling is considered a come-on. Basically, smiling is flirting. Quoi! Really. It’s just not what they consider appropriate (they also think hugs are something strictly for couples- well then i’d be in a relationship with one too many people). Which would explain why the men i smile at in the metro dont keep their curious eyes off of me… But right, which also explains why they are considered to be snoody. It all comes down to the smile. Tres interessant, non?