Avoiding a Faux Pas – 6 Rules to Follow

Author’s note. Please don’t expect to learn much from this post. This is my attempt to laugh at my own humanity.

FAUX PAS (fo-pa): noun. A social blunder, indiscretion, or tactless act that violates social norms, customs, or etiquette. Literally means “false step” in French. 

1. Always try to speak in French. (Well that is humiliating since I know about 6 words and when I say them I doubt anyone who is French thinks I am speaking their language.)
2. Never flaunt your wealth in conversations. (Easy, I can’t speak French and currently don’t have an employer.)
3. The American OK sign which is made by forming a circle using the thumb and index finger while the rest of the fingers are straight, can mean “zero” or “worthless”. Avoid it to avoid getting misinterpreted. The French OK sign is the thumbs up sign. (I didn’t know this when Adam and I were teaching a Lindy Hop dance lesson this week. Luckily, I have spent a lot of time working with kids learning English and defaulted to my “Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down” to check for understanding. Whew!)
4. Shaking hands is for formal acquaintances. If you’re greeting someone familiar to you use a “la bise” or kiss on the cheek. (Actually, when we met our new swing dancing friends, Murielle and Hervé, we kissed on both cheeks. But it is actually “air kissing.” I am glad that Adam already filled me in on this before we arrived for dinner at their beautiful historic home. What I didn’t expect was to do this again when their teenage daughter came to tell me goodnight. It is a kind way to greet each other and much shorter than The Jenkins’ Goodbye.)
5. In other cultures, it is perfectly okay to bring wine to someone’s house when you’re invited for dinner. But in old France custom, some people might consider this as an insult that the host could not provide the guests with good wine. Unless you’re quite familiar with the hosts and you’re bringing a good wine that you would like them to try. (The only wines I know are white and taste good to me. Adam and I opted to play it safe and not bring wine as a hostess gift. Another close call since I often bring wine to others at home.)
6. Chewing gum in public is a no-no and could come across as vulgar. (I love chewing gum but have kept it in my suitcase for use in Amsterdam. I haven’t seen any being sold at the grocery store checkout either.)
7. There are many customs/manners involved with eating in French restaurants. I will spare you this separate list. You can look them up if you plan to visit France. I am sure I have made mistakes but the food we have had has been marvelous and the people have been very friendly. So far, I have escaped any major embarrassments unlike in Munich when I set the grocery store alarm off by exiting the store the wrong way.)

These awesome travel trips are from an interesting article called,

45 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FRENCH TABOOS

Here is a lovely photo from our stay in Vannes for those of you who managed to make it to the end.

Thanks for traveling along with me.

Love,

Ali