Parisians Humble?
Gee whiz, I don't think so. Their Quebecois counterparts here in Canada most certainly are not. And I have it on fairly good authority that Parisians even turn up their collectively arrogant noses at their provincial brethren visiting from Canada - or the Province of Quebec, take your choice. French Canadians are known to complain about the rude treatment in store for them when they visit France. (To which English Canadians silently giggle; the rooster coming home to roost.)
Where their version of that vaunted language is scorned and mocked, as truly provincial, truly mongrelized. That to a French-Canadian, that breed of proud Canadians who so jealously guard their language, proud of their chequered heritage, and embracing their language as a symbol of their collective soul. It's the very image of the haughty older brother flicking off the nuisance presence of the presumptuous little brother.
But what's this? France has seen a down-turn in tourism and that's getting them in the pocketbook, where it really counts. There's a growing concern that visitors don't take kindly to French rudeness directed at them, nor a prideful patronizing attitude. So the tourist bureau is making an effort to persuade visitors, particularly those from Great Britain that they should feel free to be rude right back.
How's that? Why not inform the country's population that their curt and dismissive attitude does not make them very good hosts, therefore, if they wish their country to prosper through the medium of tourism (as has historically been the case) they would do well to unbend a trifle, practise kindness and sweeter mannerisms, the better to entice tourists to return.
"You don't need to speak French to understand Parisians" goes the little prod to would-be visitors. Learn how to practise offensive French gestures so you can deliver them - not only be on the receiving end. Haven't they kind of got things backwards? Shouldn't the tourist board make an effort to get through to French citizens that a little bit of welcome goes a long way?
Tourists don't visit exotic locales to practise nastiness. They're actually more interested in the landscape, the arts and culture scene, viewing the architecture, and the country's heritage; enjoying the weather, meeting the people of the country (oops, in France you can maybe scrub that bit for now).
Where their version of that vaunted language is scorned and mocked, as truly provincial, truly mongrelized. That to a French-Canadian, that breed of proud Canadians who so jealously guard their language, proud of their chequered heritage, and embracing their language as a symbol of their collective soul. It's the very image of the haughty older brother flicking off the nuisance presence of the presumptuous little brother.
But what's this? France has seen a down-turn in tourism and that's getting them in the pocketbook, where it really counts. There's a growing concern that visitors don't take kindly to French rudeness directed at them, nor a prideful patronizing attitude. So the tourist bureau is making an effort to persuade visitors, particularly those from Great Britain that they should feel free to be rude right back.
How's that? Why not inform the country's population that their curt and dismissive attitude does not make them very good hosts, therefore, if they wish their country to prosper through the medium of tourism (as has historically been the case) they would do well to unbend a trifle, practise kindness and sweeter mannerisms, the better to entice tourists to return.
"You don't need to speak French to understand Parisians" goes the little prod to would-be visitors. Learn how to practise offensive French gestures so you can deliver them - not only be on the receiving end. Haven't they kind of got things backwards? Shouldn't the tourist board make an effort to get through to French citizens that a little bit of welcome goes a long way?
Tourists don't visit exotic locales to practise nastiness. They're actually more interested in the landscape, the arts and culture scene, viewing the architecture, and the country's heritage; enjoying the weather, meeting the people of the country (oops, in France you can maybe scrub that bit for now).
posted by Pieface | 5:31 PM
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