How to Impress a French Girl

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posted on 14 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Every culture has its own what to do and what not to do's of courtship. What might be considered romantic in one culture could be easily seen as brazen in another. At the end of the day, it comes down to what the individual sees as appropriate (or not), but it doesn't hurt to learn a little bit about the culture of the person you fancy. If that person is a French girl, here are some helpful tips.

Steps

Avoid the stereotype of the "Ugly American". Even if you're not American, you'll be better off avoiding the characteristics of the so called "Ugly American" such as: being obnoxiously loud, complaining because things are different from home, and dressed too casually. Here are some guidelines (you can find more in How to Avoid Looking Like an American Tourist). Dress a little nicer than usual. Casual dress (athletic shoes, baseball hats, sweatshirts, t-shirts, jeans, or shorts) is not as common in France. The French girl you like is probably not dressed like she just rolled out of bed, or got back from the gym. Neither should you! Eat like the French. Don't ask for condiments (ketchup, salt, pepper), ice in your drink, a non-smoking area, or decaf. Eat slowly. Savor your food. Don't brag, lose your temper, argue loudly with your companions, or do anything to draw attention to yourself that you don't see other French people doing.

Be open-minded. The French are generally a very tolerant people. If you have conservative political and religious views, understand that this French girl is likely to have a more liberal perspective. Getting into an argument over the way things "should be" is an easy way to kill the romance. Be ready to say Chacun ses goûts--the French equivalent of "different strokes for different folks".

Be patient. A French journalist who dated women on both sides of the Atlantic observed that women in some cultures (especially American) have a more "contractual" approach to dating, in that they want to know what the status is of the relationship, where is it going, etc. You might find that French girls are not in as much of a hurry to define the relationship, and may be more quiet and coy than you are used to. If this is an unsettling surprise to you, it may help to read How to Stop Being Needy and How to Tame a Free Spirit. Do not be in a hurry to ask her to meet your parents.

Keep the dating laid back. The author of a book about how French women date observed that they preferred getting to know a man at dinner parties and by taking walks, rather than on a formal date which feels more like a job interview. So if you want to spend more time with a French girl, consider throwing a dinner party of your own, or asking her to take a walk with you.