Some tips about French culture and business
Protocol and business.
In business French tend to be rather formal and conservative and they greet each others by using “Monsieur” or “Madame” with a light handshake. If you arrive for a meeting do not forget to salute and greet everybody in person.
Prior appointment is the rule and remember that punctuality is more than a sign of courtesy because if your time is precious, the other’s one too.
Social life.
To be invited to visit someone’s home is not very usual, unless you are already a good friend, and in this case remember to bring a little gift as wine (not a bad one!) or flowers. French people have a different way to see privacy; so do not ask to visit the house or the apartment. Very often the bathroom is “la salle de bain” where you wash yourself and that’s it, so if you need to satisfy another necessity ask for “les toilettes”.
Cuisine is a very important part of French way of life; so do not forget to compliment the Chef. Don’t be surprised that your plate is not completely full because French people know what is portion control.
About the topics of conversation, try to avoid personal questions, politics and money. Good topics are culture, (anecdotes about the differences between your country and France without any critics), literature, and movies, the weather, the travels in other countries with any anecdote.
And the most important: try to speak a little of French as
-“Merci” for thank you
-“S’il vous plait” for please
-“Bonjour” for hello
-“Au revoir” for good-bye
this is the minimum you have to know.
