For over a decade here on Oui In France, I’ve been discussing cultural differences between the U.S. and France as well as what it’s been like for me living abroad in France as an American (among other things of course). Part of living abroad is adapting to a new culture and experiencing all the trials and tribulations that come with it. Then, one day there comes a point when you’ve adapted so well to French life that you start incorporating French habits into how you do things when you visit your home country. To that end, here are six strange things I do when I’m stateside that are all precisely because I live in France. 😉
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Salut! I’m Diane, an American who has lived in France since 2012 and the creator of the blog/YouTube channel Oui In France. My channel’s focus is “Everyday French life and beyond.” I make videos on French culture topics, France vs. US culture comparisons, with a sprinkling of food, travel, and language topics and give you my thoughts about what it’s like living in France as an American in the Loire Valley. Thanks for being here and if you enjoy this sort of thing, please share with friends and subscribe!
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V T welcome back to we in France I’m Diane and today I’m coming to you from a very chilly Western France I my my hoodie on which is a rare occurrence for me but um it’s below freezing or right around 32 Fahrenheit A 0 Celsius which
Is rare as well for my area of France so we’re just going to go with it but if you’ve been following me a while you know that for about a decade here on Wei in France I’ve been discussing cultural differences between the US and France and also my own personal experience
About what it’s been like as a foreigner in France now sometimes the topics I cover are a bit harder hitting they’re more serious and other times they’re a bit lighter and and a little bit easier to digest and today we’re keeping it light I’m going to get right into six
Strange things that I do when I now visit the us because I live in France all right so part of living abroad is adapting to a new culture and experiencing all the ups and downs and there are plenty that come with it and then one day there comes a point when
You’ve adapted so well to your French life that you start incorpor ating these little French habits into how you do things when you visit your home country so let’s get right into these six strange things I do when on back State side because I live in France number one
I mispronounce both my first and last name on purpose okay yeah it sounds strange but it’s true I actually mispronounce both my first name and last name to make it easier for everyone so to give you an example so you know what I’m talking about when speaking French
My American first name Diane it gets a French pronunciation and when speaking English my French last name gets an angle sized one so like I said my name is Diane welcome if you’re new here and that’s how we say it in English but I haven’t been Diane since 2012 here when
I moved to France and that’s because the French they don’t have that a vow sound that same D an that a sound and so if I said hi my name is Diane they couldn’t really say it exactly right so I’ve been di di um for about a decade and if you
Look at the name di in French is D not D and to give you an example Princess Diana to the French was Princess Diana so that’s how I introduce myself in French I pronounce my name incorrectly on purpose the way the French do and I
Say hi I’m Dian so that way people can say it Diane just doesn’t work and about my last name it starts with a w and when speaking English I always angiz that French name now um I only started doing this about maybe two years ago after just realizing it’s way easier to use
The English pronunciation with uh English speakers so like I said the W in French it’s a v sound so instead of w it’s the but it gets mispronounced and I also say the r in my last name like an American so like Wagner instead of vag something like that um you know it’s
Just way easier to say the r like in American and it’s for the best it’s just it’s easier that way I say my French name how it’s supposed to be pronounced in France and I say my American first name how it’s supposed to be pronounced in English and just kind of bridge the
Gap in between the two and honestly I don’t want anyone to think I’m trying to be fancy by pronouncing my last name all French remember I made a whole video telling you why I don’t like telling people I live in French yes seriously so watch that all right number two I make
Raspberry sounds in conversation if you read my blog I’ll link it below I made a whole video with audio examples of French speech noises and one of my favorites is this mouth sound that I’ll call raspberries um it sounds like this and it sounds like something a kid
Would do or a sound you’d kind of make it a baby you know like something a baby would do right but it’s actually a very lovely French child it’s used quite a lot and it means I don’t know oh uh what time are you going to the pool later I don’t
Know and honestly the first time I heard an adult do this in France I did a double take because it came out of nowhere and I didn’t expect a like a fart sound to come out of this very prim and proper person’s mouth but you know either adapted I make the sound and
Sometimes I even do it in English all right number three I put a spoon in a bottle of open sparkling wine to make sure it stays fresh for the next day I’ll put a video up here so you know what I’m talking about but this one actually works I don’t know the science
Of it but it seems to work so what I’m describing is if you open a a bottle of sparkling wine before you put it back in the fridge when you’re done with it and there’s still wine left just pop the back end of a spoon in there with the
Oval spoon part sticking out you know just leave it dangling don’t cap it don’t try to do anything else just put the spoon in the top put it in the fridge and you’re going to preserve the bubbles for the next day it won’t be flat it’ll still have a lot of life in
It and this can be done with any type of champagne or sparkling wine one of my favorites is kimon a really nice sparkling French wine that’s a lot cheaper than champagne there’s ones from here where I live in the laara valley in alas all over keep an eye out for clel
In your liquor store because it’s worth a taste all right next number four I’m overly socially polite while some people in the US always say Hello thank you have a good day goodbye every time they interact with someone a cashier just anyone it’s not required to say all that
And most people say much less in their interactions maybe a quick hi and a thanks like honestly in the US just a friendly hello and thank you are totally fine when you interact with shopkeepers store employees and that sort of thing saying hello thank you wishing a cashier
And exuberant good day you know in New York City is definitely going to get some side eye like that’s not really done but in France you know all about the importance of saying bour because I’ve drilled that into your head for good reason and all the other conversational niceties that I’ve talked
About on my channel um in France social politeness is something the French take seriously doesn’t mean they’re overly polite people in general but that social politeness is really important and this is something that is definitely carried over to how I interact with Americans when I’m back in the US and it’s funny
Because my family members are just friends and other Americans who have observed me have you even commented on my politeness like when I order at a restaurant or or just anything and my politeness my default level has definitely ramped up over the years and that’s because of France and that’s a
Good thing I personally enjoy being super polite it really does come naturally now after about a decade in France since it’s the norm here all right five I eat dinner later now I’m not a total convert I do reserve the 8 dinner time for when I’m in France for
Everyday weeknight dinners when I’m uh just home here in France my normal dinner time is usually a bit later than what it used to be growing up especially if I’m dining you know with Tom Tom’s Family other French people and in the US when I go back to visit my normal
Family’s dinner time is probably more like 6:30 7 for me the perfect time would be 7 7:30 but you know when in Rome and all I adapt I do what my family does now since I’m the outsider even if I’m used to eating a little later in
France you know we adapt I do what they do all right number six I no longer tip at Restaurants just wanted to let that land a minute I’m totally kidding I’m totally kidding I tip I tip properly when I’m in the United States I’m a good Tipper having been a server once myself and I treat restaurant workers well so it was just a little little joke to see if you’re
Paying attention and I actually despise bad tippers you know there were a bunch comments in my previous two videos about what the french versus Americans find rude and people were saying 20% is not the norm and I only tip if uh you know the meal’s good but look the waiter or
Waitress they don’t have any say over if your meal is good and I personally don’t care for the Tipping culture I think the practices in the US have gotten a bit crazy over the years but you know what hate the game don’t hate the player it’s not the server’s fault people are just
Trying to make a living so I feel like we need to do our part but anyway I do feel that like 15 is to 20% depending on where you’re eating and where you are in the country that’s the norm 15 to 20% it’s not optional and I’m happy to say
That this is one habit that hasn’t worn off on me after living in France in France for the record I do tip but I do what’s normal here in France and tipping 20% is not normal since waiters are paid a full-time salary unlike most servers
In the US who depend on tips to live so in France you don’t have to tip it’s not considered rude but if you do tip you know you could round a bill up you can leave a few extra Euros for a great meal and service but not 20% that would be
Unusual and a bit strange but as always I’d love to hear from you below tell me in the comments what things you now do in your home country because living abroad has worn off on you a little bit with that I’m going to leave it here for
Today thank you so much for being here and I’ll see you back on we in France soon Salute
21 Comments
1. I use the french versions of my partner's and my brother's names when I'm speaking french, but my name is a little trickier because the french don't really pronounce Hs.
2. I love the little french noises that nobody else seems to make! My favourite is probably "hup".
3. I use a special bottle top to reseal it (the opposite to the vacuum pump ones used for red wine). Keeps it fizzy for several days.
4. This reminds me of when we go to France and my family always have a debate about when to switch to bonsoir. Sometimes we think it's an appropriate time, but then get a bonjour in response 😆
5. I wouldn't have thought of this one, as the french aren't really considered to be late diners (it's more of a Mediterranean thing). The thing we have noticed though is that they're much stricter on mealtimes – we've often struggled to get food when travelling because the natural stop time at a proper services (not one of those loo block and picnic bench ones) doesn't line up with their mealtimes.
6. I like french tipping culture – it just seems sensible.
Aren't tips in most places split between all the staff, unless you specifically say it's for a certain person? So I think that's why people are talking about the food – in many places it's about the whole package.
Hey Dianne, just saying hi-moved to Courçay this year. 🎉
Well ! I even despise people in France who don't tip. Even if the waiters got paid, it's not much. If you can't tip, don't go to the restaurant. 🙄
I actually learned to spoon trick in the 70’s (when I was a kid) to keep a Coca-Cola (glass bottle) from going flat – I can attest that it works too! No idea where my parents learned that. Never thought of doing that with champagne – thanks for the tip! Fun video!
I'm Southern i have long conversations with all clerks, waiters/waitresses ❤
I don’t understand. Do Servers at restaurants in the US work without salaries?
I remember a small anecdote that pointed to a funny little cultural difference between France and the US. A few years ago, I (French guy) was on Business trip in the US. I had a few days off and went visiting some Civil Ward historical sites. I was in a shop selling Civil War items and books, and I realised I didn’t know much about the US Civil War, so I went to the counter and asked the guy here if he could recommend a good Civil War history book to me.
He put three books on the counter and started explaining:
“Well, I think these are the best you can find.
This one is a rather simple straightforward one. You will find here all the facts about the Civil War, when it started, how it ended, battle dates, armies involved.
This one is a little bit more comprehensive. Not only will you find the basic facts, but it will also give you some information about their political and economic background.
This last one here is a fully comprehensive study. It explains the buildup of events that politically led to the Civil War. Of course, it will also give you all the facts, along with detailed analysis of their economic and political background. You can
see it earned a Pulitzer… Can’t argue with that.
I would recommend this one (pointing at the first one).”
I was surprised and may even have started. I expected he would conclude by recommending the last one. Had he been French, I’m absolutely positively totally sure he would have concluded by recommending the last one.
Let’s be clear, I don’t blame him in any way. He did a good job, gave me all the information I needed to select a book according to my expectations. Not drawing any conclusion here, I’m just amused at the different attitudes the booksellers will adopt by default:
French: “Of course you will want the most comprehensive book (but here are the others)”
US: “Of course will want the simplest book (but here are the others)”
Being an outsider to both cultures, I just want remark that social politeness is amazing, it doesn't matter your background. We don't need have a 24/7 smile on our faces, but saying hallo, thank you and other polite phrases is the minimum everyone expects from a fellow human being.
The only good french way to deal with an unfinished bottle of sparkling wine is not to put it into the fridge with a spoon. It is to finish it.
Bonjour! I just finished my first full day (PREVIEWING) living in France. (We are getting our long-stay visas and moving here in three months, but are visiting our apartment now for 3 weeks.) I feel like my French is good enough to get along in a pinch, but bad enough to warn people about first. Warning French people first about my VERY beginning French — in a fairly well pronounced way — seems to create good intentions and get folks in a helpful and friendly mood. I LOVE the standard of being more polite here — it has ALWAYS been my normal way of operating. I'm HOPING to shift into later dinners and later nights in general, but I seem to be a genetic lark (i.e., and EARLY bird). As to tipping IN FRANCE — I just tipped tonight here in France because I was VERY grateful to the good service and good will at the restaurant tonight. With all that said, I wanted to thank you SO MUCH, Diane, for your hard work on these videos. You are one of the go-to channels for my transition to being a French expat from the US!
2.45: Wagner is german and they also prononce V in german as in french and not Wa. So the english pronociation is the weird one !
Bonjour Diane. When I got back from France, I tried to start bagging my own groceries and the cashier told me that the bagger would do it for me. And I was like, "Oh yeah. Thanks!" 🇺🇸🤝🇫🇷☺️😆
I am in northern France. The weather here is colder, but what I love about France is that we're okay with it because we don't really need to drive a car anywhere. I know all my neighbors, and we get together for parties. We play board games and share meals. I can't say that about the US. In America, you leave your neighbors alone. Here, they come by to check on you, if only to say Bonjour.
Si on veut être juste, prononce Diane en grec Wagner en allemand…😅
Il y'a une jeune américaine dans mon quartier et je trouve que son apprentissage de la langue est rapide. Et la plupart des américains que j'ai rencontré sont plutôt doué dans cet apprentissage de la langue française.
U can also make the raspberry sound less "farty" and just more slightly "spitty" imo =D😅
We use fork and knife when eating now. It is so practical.
Tipping has been legally abandoned during the sixties because there was two kinds restaurants use to be "service compris" (no tipping required) and cafés were "service non compris" and what about café-restaurants. So eventually for all kinds of activity government decided that any employee should get a minimum salary (smig) from its employer.And that's how all cafés, restaurants, brasseries salon de thé… became "service compris". I think that there are still certain exeptions in very frequented places like main train stations or airports where gains with tips are so high that workers pay their boss to keep the job.
– You don't tip?
– No I don't believe in it.
– You don't believe in tipping?
– You know what these chicks make? They make sh*t
Hi Diane, great video. A couple of things I do in the states, and they're subtle, I keep my fork in my left hand and knife in the right while eating, none of that switching back and forth. And I keep my hands at the table 'above board', that is I don't rest my hands in my lap. Oh, and I really lean into the apero in the afternoon. 🙂
I don’t tip in the US anymore. I had many issues about. But then I say, I rather pay more for my burger and you having a decent salary as well as an insurance. But then the waiters don’t want want to kick me out of the restaurant , but the boss wants it.
Ça a surement perdu de sa Signification, mais mettre une cuillère dans le goulot d'un vin mousseux ne fonctionne pas du tout, en tout cas ça ne permet pas de gardes les bulles.
Personne ne sait d'où cela vient.