Ask a frenchman

[Chillee]

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You're obviously non-parisian

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You're obviously not french. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

I am not parisian, but I've been living in Paris for four years. It's really obvious for us french people: there's a gap between the "province" (outside Paris) and Paris itself. It's not a myth: parisians are responsible for most of the clichés about the french: arrogance, snobbiness, and so forth. Personally I don't find them unfriendly, it's just that they have a different, more aggressive sense of humor that can cause misunderstandings.



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I second this.

[manub]

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90% of the French people I've met while traveling besides that have come off as rude and arrogant. Am i missing some kinda secret?

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The french are friendlier to you when you are introduced to them by a common acquaintance. We are naturally not trusting strangers.

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two of my favorite musicians/bands right now are a French band called Kaolin (though I wish I could understand the lyrics) and Yann Tierson. Can you recommend any other similar music?

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I'm not sure but I'll provide you with some samples of good French music that I like (there is a lot more depending on taste):

Carla Bruni, model-truned-singer, great simple songs with beautiful lyrics
http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance...un-ma-dit-clip

Jacques Brel, unsurpassed poetry & singing
http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance...msterdam_music

De Palmas, male pop singer, good stuff
http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/sea...ve-encore_music

Noir Désir, alt. rock, crazy
http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance...-tostaky_music

Sinclair - Funk Band, good fun
http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/sea...-sinclair_music

Gold, eighties pop, great melodies
http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance...-etoiles_music

[manub]

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are the ppl at hostels usually college kids and nice? i have heard some scary stories about theft at hostels. any advice if i wanted to stay at hostels for the majority of my trip when i wont be at my friend's apartment?

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Parisian hostels are usually jam-packed with young college kids touring Europe. I don't have much experience with them, but I don't see why they should be worse than the hostels I have experienced elsewhere in the world (NYC, Boston, San Francisco, pretty much all of europe).