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One of the stereotypes that I heard a lot before coming to France was to be wary that the French are mean. Almost everyone I talked with warned me to be careful. I have found that this stereotype can be true in some instances, but can an entire country of people really be mean?

I have noticed that in Europe as a whole, people are a lot more blunt and honest. Many people may appear unfriendly, but they are just on a mission doing their own thing. Most outward emotions are saved for friends and family.

There have been many run-ins with strangers that I would consider a lot less friendly than any run-in in the US, but the culture here is very different. In my experience, many people do not make conversation with random strangers. I found this a bit off-putting at first, but it makes a lot of sense. It all goes back to culture. We are marked as overly friendly Americans because some of our habits are odd to them as well. For example, in the US I always hug my friends when I see them, in France, hugging is a bit too close and they enjoy “les bisous,” which is quick kisses on the cheeks.

In my opinion, all of this leads back to the question of if French people are mean. I don’t think they are mean in any way, they are just a different kind of friendly than Americans. If you enter a store and chat with a storekeeper, they will love you for days. They give you what you give them. If you are friendly, they will likely be friendly back. The only time I have had a negative experience it likely falls back to a miscommunication, especially in language.

I think labeling all the French as mean is an overstep. In order to understand the French you must understand the differences between our cultures. Many of the differences I have yet to encounter, but each day I find something new. Finding out the quirks of this culture and noticing the quirks of my own has been really fun. There have been many moments where I miss the US, but there are so many amazing aspects of the culture here. When looking for a place to study abroad, do not rule out any countries based on the stereotypes, you may miss out on an amazing group of people.