Living in France

1
Living in France

• Cross-cultural Seminar
• Helena Kasparova

Copyleft - come-to-France.net 2005
2
Introduction

• Objectives
• This session is designed to acquaint foreign
  people with the French way of life.
• The topics range from the cultural issues to
  practical advices for the everyday life
• Means
• 40 slides dealing with key-factors to succeed
  ones personal integration in France.
• A booklet with articles, examples and useful
  figures, also available in a cd-rom.a

3
The instructor

• Helena Kasparova
• French and Czech citizen
• East-west consultant since 1998 and founder of
  Democratie-electronique.org
• Master's degree in IT management and
  post-graduate diploma in political science.

info_at_democratie-electronique.org
4
Being a foreigner in France
5
How foreigners are perceived in France

• French people and the rest of world
• The French dont know geography
• They respect and fear only big countries
• About Slovakia
• Where is Slovakia ? / Current confusions
• Slovakia has no image in France and in the
  European Union
• Stereotypes
• Slovaks in France
• Slovak community
• Famous Slovaks
• The following presentation is designed to help
  Slovaks living and working in France.
  Come-to-France has similar presentations for more
  than 20 countries in the world

6
What distinguish Slovaks with French people in
their values and their way of life

• Historical heritage in France
• Importance of republican values
• As a multicultural and multiethnic country,
  France is used to foreigners presence
• About French people
• French people are more sophisticated than Slovaks
• French are notorious ralors
• Everyday life differences / habits
• A pledge has not the same importance
• To be / or not to be on time
• (Not) Speaking about ones political opinions

7
Building personal networks

• The personal networks are fundamental for work
  and social life, but they are difficult to build.
• Familiarity and too fast testimonies of
  friendship are little appreciated and arise
  suspicion
• It is recommended to benefit from the richness of
  the French culture before being able to benefit
  from people, which are less accessible.

8
Socializing with French people

• The French are not an unfriendly, cold or
  arrogant people.
• This complaint is a misperception of a behavior
  found most often in Paris and not necessarily the
  rest of the country
• Politeness and appropriate behaviours are
  requested
• The codes are very present in France shaking
  hands, kissing cheeks of ladies, politeness,
  gallantry, using titles and names...
• One should be sensitive to the volume of his or
  her voice.

What are the origins of the famous French
galanterie ?
9
The importance of the look

• The Renaissance period has affected the southern
  catholic part of Europe, where still today the
  look can be more important than the essence.
• The French are very conscientious of their
  appearance.
• Clothing count very much for French people
• Generally, the French take great care to dress
  fashionably, whether they are wearing formal or
  casual attire
• They feel more at ease with visitors who show the
  same degree of attention to appearance
• The French are careful about their personal
  habits, being discreet when sneezing, blowing the
  nose, etc.
• They avoid using personal items, such as combs
  and toothpicks, in public.

A TV star in France must cultivate her look
10
The country of human rights

• The French are very aware of their presence, and
  are extremely proud of their heritage.
• They boast of their long history and their
  important roles in world affairs, as well as
  being known as a world center for culture.
• They are ethnocentric the behaviours of
  foreigners are judged through the prism of the
  values of the French culture

Our more famous King, Louis XIV, was called the
Sun king (1638- 1715)
11
The French spirit fairness and justice

• The French are very Cartesian, which is an
  heritage of the Greco-Roman Empire (the Greek
  logos).
• They vow a cult to science and positivism
• The ideal of social justice, defended by V. Hugo
  and other romantic figures, is still vivid in
  France
• France has a welfare state, social security for
  all...
• The goal of justice is the key factor for making
  decisions, whether in professional sphere or in
  the private sphere.
• Any decision can be made if it seems that it is
  fair, even though it is not the best at the
  collective level.
• A unequal treatment is acceptable if it helps
  reducing unequalities hold the door to a woman,
  give foreigner more time to solve a problem, etc.

12
What French people accept and deny from foreigners

• The spirit of tolerance is characteristic of the
  French mentality
• Each individual is free of its opinions and its
  acts, as long as they do not encroach on the
  freedom of the others
• France being an immigration country, the French
  accept rather well different manners and habits
  from foreigners

Vérité au-deçà des Pyrénées, erreur au-delà.
Blaise Pascal (1623 - 1662).
13
A day in the life of
14
The educational system

• Schools (and Universities) are free.
• The school last all day long, with hours and
  hours devoted to the French language and many
  other hours to mathematics.
• The French Grandes Ecoles an elitist system
• The average level of education (languages spoken,
  sciences...) is declining gradually.
• Current issues the veil, violences, illeteracy,
  strikes of teachers...

15
The French health system

• Functionning of the health sector a free system
  with excellent medical treatment, but in crisis
• The Card  Vitale , how it works and what it
  gives
• Life expectancy at birth the French live 6,5
  years longer than the Slovaks

16
The Media

• Television the first awaken activity of French
  people
• Magazine and newspapers a sector in crisis
• Internet is relatively little developped in France

17
Religion comparison with Slovakia

• Religion in France has little impact for
  Catholics, but more for Muslims
• Especially young French people are less and less
  interested in religion

18
Politics comparison with Slovakia

• There is an alternance in politics between the
  left and the right.
• At each legislative election since 1978, the
  ruling party has lost.
• The referendum as means of popular expression

19
Culture and entertainment the Art of Living

• Dominique de Villepin, a famous French Minister,
  is a poet.
• President Chirac has said on television that he
  never goes to sleep without reading Apollinaire.

• Most important in France is how a person lives
  his charm, his level of culture as well as his
  mastery of French.
• His life is a matter of being living in the
  present.
• Since the Enlightenments, France officially
  values art and litterature.
• The French cultural exception
• But culture concerns mainly an elite
• Average French people are interested in football
  and television.

20
Food and eating  le "terroir", quality of life
and rituals

• Gastronomy is considered an art
• French are proud of their cuisine
• French wine, champagne, and Brandy are popular.
• Etiquette is important.
• Both hands remain above the table at all times.
• One can ask for water, but not for a dish or
  wine.
• The couples can be separated in order to
  facilitate the communication.

21
Making friends  intimacy, greetings

• It is easier for foreigners to make friend with
  other foreigners rather than with French people.
• When addressing people for the first time, always
  use the family (last) name plus the correct
  French honorific, Monsieur or Madame
• One should use  vous  rather than  tu 
• La bise (or the kiss on both cheeks) is a common
  greeting once there is a relationship between
  women and men
• In formal social activities, clothing is less
  formal than at work, but it must be chosen with
  taste

22
Being invited

• Gifts are expected for social events, especially
  to thank the host of private dinner parties.
• Gift giving is left to the foreigners
  discretion.
• Good gifts to present include flowers, books or
  music (as they demonstrate interest in
  intellectual pursuits), fine chocolates.
• Avoid wine, because your host no doubt has
  already selected the wine for the meal.
• A thanking card sent the day after is appreciated

23
Holidays and free time

• French employees work 35 hours a week and have a
  minimum of 25 days of holidays, plus about 10
  bank holidays.
• Very much atomized, the tourism sector offer low
  prices.
• During holidays, French people take the time to
  do...nothing
• The museums, Le Bois de Boulogne, Eurodisney,
  Parc Astérix, Le Stade de France, Paris Bercy

24
France as home
25
Present issues in France

• With six million Moslems living in France,
  friendly relations with Islam have been a
  priority of the present French government.
• People are concerned with their safety, that is
  why the extreme-right Party is strong
• The referendum for the future of the European
  Union
• The war in Irak
• The rights of the Gay community
• The altermondialists
• Downloading illegally software

26
How France is not as modern as one would expect

• France is a very centralized country Paris et
  le Désert français.
• The French economy had long been rural and
  protectionist, with small enterprises and little
  enterprise spirit.
• Because of 1500 years of invasions and
  catastrophes, the French are wary and
  conservative
• The information technologies are less widespread
  than in Northern Europe and the USA
• Discrimination is common in France, including
  towards women, handicapped people, foreigners...
• The French Administration has been unable to
  reform for the last thirty years

27
Why France is one of the most agreable countries
in the world to live in

• France ranks n3 in the world for tourism
• The country has many world leading tourist
  locations Paris, Mont Saint-Michel, Provence,
  Alps
• But France ranked n1 two years ago it has been
  overcome by the USA and Spain.
• France ranks in the world top 20 for the Index of
  Human Development
• The welfare state is very developped (see
  details)
• But France ranked n2 ten years ago.
• France is famous for its Art de Vivre .

28
Practical question and answer session about
settling down in France

• Questions are open in any field
• Lodging, leisure, culture, holidays, raising
  children
• Cost of life in Paris / Paris compared with other
  cities

29
Useful places to know in Paris and/or Lyon

• The Prefecture
• The townhall
• The police
• La Fourrière

30
Analysis of a few differences between Slovakia
and France

• French people have less values than Slovaks they
  aim at achieving their personal development
  without exterior pressions (family, work,
  religion).
• The professional career, whether in the public or
  the private sector, is valued by more people in
  France than in Slovakia.
• Some French people build their identity only
  around their professional position
• The separation between private and professional
  life is strong
• People do not have the same position in the
  society and they do not mix with each other.
• France is a highly stratified society, with
  strong definition and competition between classes.

31
Communicating with the French
32
Deciphering the communication  à la française 

• French people feel committed to what they write,
  but not to what they say.
• French people hesitate to say no, they prefer not
  to answer or to answer in a vague way.

To say that he or she is cold, a French person
will use ambiguous expressions such as  il ne
fait pas chaud (It is not hot),  je nai pas
chaud (I dont feel hot), etc.
33
Greetings and contact

• Shaking hands upon greeting and parting is
  customary in France
• French handshakes are not as firm as in other
  countries
• Many business people speak English, but
  correspondence and negotiations in the French
  language provide a distinct advantage over
  competitors who use only English.
• The French have a great appreciation for the art
  of conversation.
• It is done in a spirit of camaraderie and in an
  effort to build a relationship based on
  intellectual prowess and élan.
• People will be not be judged on their opinion if
  they are founded on logical

34
A non verbal communication with limited
constraints

• One can use his or her body to express oneself
  (gestures, steps, expressions of the face), but
  it is not compulsary
• Gestures complement the arguments, but they
  should be avoided for communication (pointing
  with the finger, waving with the hand)
• Smiles are not interpreted in a particular way
• Silences are uncommon during a conversation,
  except when everything that could be said has
  been said

35
How far to stay from ones counterpart ?

• The French have a great respect for privacy.
• One should knock and wait before entering into a
  room and give notice before arriving.
• An aggressive handshake is considered impolite
• The optimal distance between two people which are
  communicating (proxemics) is similar for French
  and Slovaks (about 60-70 cm)
• But frontiers are more permeable for the French
  than for the Slovaks.
• Eye contact is frequent and relatively intense,
  and can be intimidating to other cultures

36
Conversation topics and areas to avoid

• Almost all topics of conversation are accepted,
  but they preferably should be general and not
  personal
• French people hesitate to state their opinions or
  to debate issues where there is not a consensus
• Frankness is not always a virtue, lying not
  always a sin
• People do not disclose the amount of their
  salaries

37
Complaining a French speciality
To the traditional question  ça va ?  The
expected answer is ça va  and  et toi, ça
va ? 

• French people criticize many things and often
  complain, but it generally concerns general
  problems (politics, weather, traffic jams)
  rather than their personal problems
• One should not talk about ones unhappiness
•  ça ne va pas bien (I dont feel well) is not
  an expected nor appreciated answer

38
Working in another language  points to keep in
mind with French people

• Some characteristics of the communication  à la
  Française  are wrongly perceived as aggressive
  behavior or impoliteness by foreigners
• The French frequently interrupt each other, as
  the argument is a form of entertainment.
• The French give lessons in correct pronunciation
  it should be taken as a compliment that they
  are interested enough in you to help you get it
  right.
• The French have certitudes based upon their
  logical spirit, which seems arrogant to other
  cultures.
• When a French person thinks to be right, he or
  she gives her opinion, even though without been
  asked for it.
• Making fun at somebody is more a matter of humour
  rather than a will to hurt.

French Président Jacques Chirac gives lessons
The behavior of Eastern European countries is
ill-educated  They have missed an occasion to
stay quiet 
39
Etiquette and formality

• The most important characteristics of French
  business behavior are its emphasis on courtesy
  and a certain formality.
• Communication is more written (and often hand
  written) than oral
• Correspondence, whether by mail or by fax, should
  be acknowledged promptly.
• The Business card is very much used
• Appointment schedules and hierarchical titles are
  to be respected
• Gifts are not necessary in business but Greetings
  cards can be send to clients for the New Year.

Veuillez agréer, chère Madame, lexpression de
mes salutations distinguées. How to translate
this sentence in Slovak ?
40
Appearance and dress

• Professional attire is expected.
• At work, employees are expected to dress
  conservative and invest in well-tailored clothing
  and branded and quality cloths
• Patterned fabrics and dark colors are most
  acceptable, unlike bright colors, even for women,
  or glitzy or overpowering objects, such as flashy
  jewelry.
• French businessmen do not loosen their ties or
  take off their jackets in the office.

41
The End