When one visits a foreign country, I feel that it is important to blend. You want to emulate the energy and culture of those around you and respect it. You don't want to be the awkward obnoxious American who all but screams "I am from the USA" when they go out in public.
Blending is relatively easy. There are three simple keys to blending into your new country: Wear anything that isn't obnoxious, don't talk to loud, and keep a chronicly stern face plastered on if you're walking the streets or taking public transportation alone.
1. Wearing the least obnoxious outfit possible:
See, where I am, the French are effortless. A t shirt, jeans, boots, a scarf, they're done. Men wear the same thing that the girls do (in mens fashion of course). I saw a couple wearing the exact same jacket. Honestly, the man wore it better. The outfit is probably the most important step to blending. If you aren't wearing the American flag on your body, you'll fit right in and be another French man or woman walking the streets.
2. Keeping a polite tone:
Don't scream. Don't yell. Laugh loudly, but don't be obnoxious. There's nothing more blatantly American than the girls who squeal, scream, and constantly giggle at their phones. French people are a little more somber than Americans. They have their fun but nowhere will you see an obnoxious French man or woman screaming, yelling, whooping, squealing, guffawing, talking over other people, etc. Managing a normal tone will keep people from knowing what language you're speaking (probably English) and help people with automatically assuming you're French.
3. The stern, determined face:
I walk almost everywhere. And if I'm not walking I take the bus. Walking and the bus are pretty private places. If you're alone, no one bugs you unless they need to pass, need you to move, want to sit down, or bump into you. I, along with my French counterparts, put in our iPods to drown out what little noise there will be as we make our way to our destination. The face is something of an art though. Everyone always seems to have somewhere that they're going, so their face is determined. Their gait is confident. They are focused straight ahead. If you look like you have somewhere to go, no one will bother you and you will appear treé French.
By following these easy and simple steps, I have rapid French spoken to me everywhere I go. As much as I would like to respond in equally rapid French, I'm not yet fluent. Or really that good with the language. At all. It only takes one "Ah" and a stumble of a word for whomever you're talking to to either switch to English, or slow down. As much as I seem like I belong here, I only look like I know what I'm doing and look like I belong here. It's difficult being mistaken for a French person, but also very flattering. How long until I am actually one of these people?
Comments