What Do The French Think Of Americans? Americans React | Loners  

It is common to say on internet "French people think this and that" when they are actually from Paris. PARIS IS NOT FRANCE. Just take a look at the last election result... they think the opposite of the countryside Much love though to have interest in foreign cultures

To me, americans often have this positive attitude toward life that is sorely missing in Europe. They are also risk takers and it lead some of them to start a new life, projects, bold decision that we would not take. I like this postive attitude very much even if in excess, it can lead to catastrophes. Il like the fact that when starting something, american commit the resources and the implication that are necessary to achieve the goals. In France, we sometimes talk about big project but do not put what is necessary on the table. On the other hand, what I dislike about US society is that it is very polarized between conservative and progressive. It is also very self centered and many consider the american way as the best way by default.

Hi! So as a black French woman, ofc there is some racism in France too and to be honest, racism can be found everywhere. But I am absolutely scared to even think of travelling to the USA because it can be deadly to be black for no reason? You can be walking one day and either be shot or be controlled by the police and killed for whatever reason. It's just makes USA an extremely scary places, even more depending of which president is governing if I ever go there. So instead I enjoy going to Japan and it's like one of my safest places in the world so far? But to answer your question about how American people are perceived? In France, I feel like I watched more US movies or series/drama than French ones? Like it's everywhere on the TV. We also have some American TV shows etc. We actually love American people but we also see what we like and what we don't like about America! No country is perfect and as French, even if we are extremely proud of our culture/way of life/etc. we are the first ones to be critical about things in France so... please don't think people who were critical were like that just because it was about the USA.

I am French. We are critical of Americans as we are of everything in general. Some love US culture, others are wary of it, others hate it but regarding the US people, there is no hatred, each person is different, we like good people and do not like bad people whatever their country, this is also true between French people. What upsets the French the most and what causes the most debate is above all the subject of general and foreign policy. We are eternally grateful for what you did for the 1st and 2nd World War, we know what we owe you but we are very sad when some in the US forget that France is the country that allowed them to be independent by fighting alongside them against the English and who is still often at their side on the front line today in the fights that we believe to be fair (rightly or wrongly). We love the country of freedom but not that of neo-liberalism, we love those who defend the weakest and we hate those who hate others. (my comment is general and if we take each particular case, there will be differences in the discourse but I believe that if we take an average, this is what France thinks of the US). The French person (in general) likes to give his opinion, listen to that of others, debate it, complain and who does not like lack of politeness or respect, injustice, violence.

American french bashing is a reality and the jokes and clichés and fakes about french are boring. But there is not american bashing or jokes about americans in France.

Concerning the perception that french people have of americans, there is a long history : 1 Because of hollywood and netflix, french people know much more of the USA than the other way. And sometime french are upset about that. But i'm sure it's not only the french.😂 2 because the american culture is so prevalent, it's often seen as a threat to other cultures. Again, it'not only french but i think there are more vocal about it. 3. Usa is often seen in france as the main engine of globalization. You can see it as a good thing but you must also admit globalization has done a lot of damage for local culture, for the environment, for inequality... 4. Almost the same point than 3, the left in France see the USA as the proselytes of right wing policies. And it's true that it has often done so historically. 5. France is one of the most visited country on earth. Someplaces in Paris there are more tourists than locals so locals tends to withdraws from interaction with tourists and are perseived as rude. But it's not just for americans. But in spite of all this, we love and often admire you 😅

Concerning the perception that french are snobs, i think it's mainly false. Parisian are as snobs as posh londonians or newyorkers but no more . But i have also a few explaination for this stereotype : - french was the language of nobility in middleage england. This perception of the french language has been transmitted through time and to america. - they were not many french migrant to the US, so french popular culture has not trickled to american culture contrary to italian or irish or other european popular cultures. - french people often want to resist american cultural domination. It's perseived in the US as if french people think their culture is superior. But we just want to preserve it.

I’m French and from the countryside and I can tell you that we really like Americans 😊

15:00 You pay a few bucks extra before travelling outside of the European Union and then your health insurance also covers treatments you had to get while abroad. So basically you'll be treated in the US (unless it's not that urgent and you can be flown back to Europe for treatment) but you send the bill you get to your health insurance and that's it, they'll deal with it.

Most interesting thing for me, was that I basically understood everything, without subs. I Studied French like 30 years ago, but I never really learned it, so it was a bit surprising

Every French I know who went to the US told me that Americans are really nice and polite. They were surprised by how welcoming the Americans were. They said that the Americans go out of the way to show you direction and they even take the time to explain things when you don’t understand something. Btw I’m neither French nor American

I am French and I think that stereotypes come from misunderstandings because of cultural differences (differences in service, differences in social habits, etc.). The French are not rude. In Paris, they can sometimes be overwhelmed and there can also be misunderstandings because the rules of service are different between the United States and France. We don't judge people by their appearance and wealth. The French wear very few or no brands in general (especially the big brands), they are not at all snobs contrary to what we believe and do not like to talk about money. I want to say this because it is really the truth. The difference I know is that we don't go shopping in our pajamas, it's not in our habits. If I see someone doing it, I personally don't care at all. Stereotypes are really stupid and hurt me. We have a very different culture and society, but we also have a lot in common through ideals and our common history (we fought alongside the Americans for American independence) You are welcome in France

For foreign people that come and get hurt in France you are entitled to "some" covering, not as much as locals I believe but still. And you can take a top up to get fully reimbursed if you pay and fill certain documents that are made for foreigners that are there on a trip. There are details available online I can't remember how much of it is reimbursed if you just come in at the top of my head

I’m a pretty chill person, but if i see someone wearing pajamas outside, i will judge him…😂😂😂common…

As a junior French teacher of English I was accepted in the 1970s by the American Host Program that made it possible for me to spend six weeks on the East coast in three different families. It was free, so I had planned generous presents, but there were so many restrictions that I was a bit upset. In particular, as my godparents were winegrowers in Burgundy, I had planned to bring each host family an expensive vintage bottle. This was impossible because the import of any foreign liquor into the US was strickly forbidden. So eventually I just brought trinkets of little value. Once in your country, I was struck by the generosity and genialness of Americans, except in New-York, where I came across quite a few rude people. Basically I have a great esteem toward Americans, while being watchful about the foreign policy of their governments.

I am French. I don’t know why American people think we don’t like them. we love you and you are welcome in France. We just have problems with your political decisions concerning our country or europ.

If you come to France, just begin any interaction (in the street, in a restaurant or a shop) with the mandatory "Bonjour !" and you'll be fine. If you don't, you'll be considered rude and some people will be rude with you. I've been 4 times in the USA and it has always been a pleasure. We do make the difference between the people and the government and politics. Since Trump, I don't understand US politics and it frightens me that the orange awful man could be president once more. Concerning French politics, I don't understand it also anymore and I'm also very frightened at the possibility to have a far right next government.

The current political situation in France: let's say, in short, that there are three large blocs: the extreme right. the extreme left, and the extreme center. Politicians are indeed all extremists, which does not prevent them from being mediocre either. The president, who has more powers than the president of the USA, is extreme center. In 2017 he got elected by saying that with him there would be the revolution necessary to manage an sclerotic France. To establish his power, he designated the far right as his preferred challenger, because until now it was a winner every time. By his arrogance, his lack of empathy, his lies never assumed, he has discredited himself, he is no longer credible in both domestic and foreign affairs. Last Sunday, the European elections showed that the president could no longer govern alone in the face of the immense revolt of the people: apart from Paris, land of bourgeois bohemians, whose type was well represented in the video of Easy French, the whole of France gave the majority to the 'far right. Since then, the extreme left, which hates the left more than the extreme right, has launched the hunt for Nazis (all those who are not them). It's funny, because they themselves are described as anti-Semitic by others (in relation to their obsession with Palestine which has eclipsed social and economic issues). In short, we're in trouble, because the president decided on new elections overnight. In short, we have to build alliances between people who all hate each other. Whatever the result, it will be the insurrection of the losers, 15 days before the start of the Olympics. Yes, we will be treated to beautiful fireworks, even before it opens!

As a black french, i feel like the main thing about racism is that in the us people die a lot more from that beacuse obviously arms are legal. While here, there is a lot of racism (even though i never really lived it), but i don't fear for my life if a cop is racist. I may get beat up but i will not get shot. (I mean in principle). I also feel like there is more islamophobia than racism against black people, but i live in a bubble and i'm young so, i'm not a reliable source.

Linda, to answer your question: the European elections (for the EU parliament) happened and pretty much the far right parties in almost every country, including France, got the most votes. So the president (whose party came 2nd) took a gamble in dissolving the French assembly to have a legislative vote on a new government. Now, if the far right wins this vote, it means that he must appoint a prime minister from the far right, and the members of the assembly should reflect the results of the vote, what they call a cohabitation with different parties on top... there could be many explanations to why he made that decision, but anyway, it's a mess over here.

in france i think she means there's a higher chance of verbal racism but a significantly lower chance of that threat becoming physical / deadly as it often does here

Hi, the situation in France is that we have a president who wants to make our country like yours : good for billionaires, shitty for the rest of the population. Anyway, this video was a feel good video probably made by people who voted for that president, I think this is better : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ouWenUaQL6A.html it's shot in Paris and it's not only French people speaking but overall more interesting I guess.

If you come to France as an american, you'll be treated of course and you'll see healthcare is cheap ^^

I think there are still a lot people who also don't know much more about the US than what Hollywood sells them, so its either New York or people live in a big villa in Beverly Hills or have a nice villa at the beach in Florida. And that is just how the "normal" american life seems to be. Mom isn't even working, still we have a villa with 20 rooms and all of our 4 kids drive a totally new SUV. 9:17 I guess even if that girl meets the most evil dictators of the world she would tell that they all were nice persons 😄 And hey, maybe they even are .. if they are not in the mood to just kill everybody. I think i heared that even Hltier was a really charming person now and then.

In France, if you are going to the us and get hurt, the french healthcare will take care of the US hospital etc.

In France, hospitals require without the slightest prerequisite whether you are French, foreign or alien ;) We treat humans first before worrying about their social or financial situation. Then, most of the price of what it cost is paid by the State via social security contributions on salaries, there is then a (ridiculous) remainder which must be paid but the majority of people have complementary mutual insurance companies are inexpensive compared to the US which reimburses them (roughly we pay between 200 and 2000€ per year per person depending on their state of health, their needs and their age to cover almost everything). If you don't have it, it won't be a very big bill to pay, only a few dozen and at most in the worst case a few hundred euros. You won't have to pay for an ambulance here if you need to be transported.

Well, since we are all introducing ourselves by first declaring our nationalities I should say that I am English. `Interesting that this young chap says that he feels that living in the `States often seems to reflect life in the video games. Notice how many people in video games either get shot to bits or blown to bits ! He finds this amuziing. I don`t quite understand where US citizens get the perception that they are not liked. I like them and can`t - off the top of my head - think of anyone that I personally know who doesn`t. If arch - rivals are to be found between the French and others one need only sojourn 20 miles or so between Calais and Dover. But as it happens I dislike the French no more than I dislike Americans, which is to say that I like them and have no reason to dislike them. I`m not the `disliking` sort of chap. If some French people dislike us English then that is no fault of mine. I know there`s at least one Frenchman that dislikes us on the grounds that I`ve met him, in Lisieux in 1989 ( 200th aniversary of the French Revolution ). His `happy face ?` Well imagine a bulldog chewing a wasp ! As I understand things part of the reason that ignited the `Revolution was that France was left practically bankcrupt in supporting the American Wars of Independence ( ? ). The ordinary French fellow starved as Louis XI was attempting to pay off the cost of that great King ( Louis XIV )`th debt in building Versailles - which, I understand, was evacuated only this week as a resultof fire. It seems it was a minor affair, the fire, thank God. I - to my shame - have not yet visited Paris nor Versailles. i`ve been to France thrice. `Too young and too stupid at the time to appreciate what is a great nation. Apologies : My comment was meant for @JohnHitoR who wrote and commented 24 hours ago.

Hi french here. Just to respond to your question about past elections. First thing to know is on average our political spectrum is more left leaning than in the US. For instance Clinton would be a moderate rightist here. Obama and Biden, centrist on many subject. Left leaning on some. In France, our system is based on strong presidential power. Which usually have a strong majority in the Congress (I'm using US name as much as possible). Since our last Constitution (almost 70 years ago), even if we are not as bi partisan as the US, there was 2 big parties sharing power alternatively (kind of moderate republican and moderate democrat sharing power alternatively). Since 2017 everything changed. A new conglomerate of "moderate from the center right and center left" won, lead by Macron. and the new opposition became radical left (such as Sander or AOC could be in the US) and far right (founded by former nazi among other thing) aligned with Trump and project 2025 kind of ideology. But as you said that would be only far right dependent of your standards.Since many of their proposal is against the Constitution, they would have to, and said they will if elected, delete the french equivalent of the Supreme Court in order to do so. Said otherwise, according to french Constitution, give all power to the executive branch without any check and balance (in France Congress is far weaker than in the US) left. Which is called facism. That's why they are, by every scholars or judges, called far right. Today, 7 years later: with last european election, the far right won (35%) while the centrist group and the addition of the left leaning party won each around 20%. The President decided to call for snap legilative election (something an american president cannot do), hopping for his group (the center one) to be against far right and get the support of the left (which would chose anything over former nazi) in the second turn of our election (yeah about that. Here our election have 2 turn. The first anyone can be a candidate, then in the second we take the best 2 (in most cases, sometime 3, rarely more) and we vote another time. Kind of like primaries were part of general election if you will). But things happened differently than what the president hoped for. His center alliance was not second but third. Because the left and some of the center force called for an alliance against the far right (which in France, the last time far right was in power, it was under Nazi occupation, this is a big deal), many candidate prefered to withdraw to not let the far right win. As a result we today have a Parliament (which in France have most of the power, in France the Senate had little to no power) that's split like 35% left (which the current president hate), 30% far right, and 25% center (which is the party of the President). Our constitution is not designed for it, our culture of taking decision is not based on such split, the President would like anything but the left being first, the far right feel stolen from victory because other allied against them, the left is pissed because the president don't respect the result of the election as past usage require him to do, etc.. So yeah it is a mess.

Quote of the day goes to Linda 11:45 "Its not because deep down, we are fuckin happy go lucky all the time." 🏆

YOUR BLOG CHANNEL NEVER APPEARS IN MY FEED ALTHOUGH i SUBSCRIBED DOH

Je suis Française, je ne vis pas à Paris MAIS je suis Française, et, actuellement, c'est un bordel sans nom dans notre pays. Même nous Français on a du mal à comprendre, alors, à expliquer, au secours...

15:03 Ur hospital/doctor send the bill to the french insurance or we paid directly and get a refound later.

For the European elections, 1/3 of voters voted for the National Rally party which is the successor to the National Front, a nationalist, anti-immigration, sovereignist party which was originally founded by people who had links with Nazi Germany. It is a party classified on the far right of the political spectrum like Georgia Meloni's Frateli de Italia in Italy. For a long time, they were limited by what was called "the glass ceiling" because the majority of French people were scandalized and frightened by this party which represented the dark hours of France (the Vichy regime). Today, this party has a tactic of “de-demonization” in order to break down this glass ceiling and make more people trust them. France finds itself in a difficult economic situation, people have lost a lot of purchasing power, there is a strong feeling of insecurity and disillusionment with the political class in which many no longer believe after having tried all the options. other political parties at the head of state. So today, there are many people who are turning to this party to express their general discontent in addition to grassroots voters. As they won more than 33% of the votes for the European elections and the president's party less than half, the latter could not fail to react to the risk of sending this party to the presidency of the Republic in the next elections. He therefore chose a solution called the dissolution of the National Assembly (which votes on laws) so that all the deputies who are elected return to face a new legislative election where the French will say who they want as a new representative to the National Assembly. If the president's party gets a good score, that will relegitimize it and it will be able to apply the policy it wants and keep its current prime minister. If it loses, either there will be a blockage in the Assembly, or this Assembly will be completely dominated by the National Rally and there I don't know what will happen... All this at a time when all nationalism in Europe is rising because of price inflation, energy, low wages....

About racism: Yes there is a lot of racism in Europe too but the consequence and the lethality are much insane in the US. For example in France, we have the same problems with the police but the society is in general less violent so in France we end up having black or muslim youth harrassed or controlled because of their look but most of the time they will be arrested but the justice system releases them quite quickly. Also, there isn't such a 50 years or 120 years prison sentence here that allows America to jail for life a large part of the minorities (America has the biggest inmates numbers in the world) . Also, the George Floyd case isn't so common (even if it exists) like in America. Plus, the law punishes racism slur and speech so racist people can't use the "freedom of speech" Americans love to refer to spread out hatred. Also, here, people don't have guns to shoot a non caucasian because he dared trespassing just walking on your front lawn. So in Europe, there is racisme but the consequences (in general) are less lethal than in America. I will say that except for police case, racism in Europe doesn't kill but it hurts.

France is so much bigger and different from Paris. Every opinion, experience and "cliché" you have about the French comes from Paris and its people. Few can be attributed to the majority of French people, because Parisians are French people in a special way. they're just Parisians. Alexandre DUMAS said God invented the Parisian so that foreigners can understand nothing to the French ( people). It's kind of like we take New York for the entire United States without considering that life is different in Abilene Kansas or St. Cloud Minnesota.. And to answer the question of health care : if a French person is injured in the US, he is responsible for the costs, so usually we take out specific insurance to cover emergencies and repatriation if necessary. the reverse is true, except that costs in french hospitals are way much lower.

You pay maximum 25% (if hurt) of the cost in any case and if you cant afford nothing .

lol The president is elected by direct universal suffrage, he is the most powerful person in the country, as in the United States, the prime minister is appointed by the president based on the majority in the national assembly. The Prime Minister and the President may not have the same political vision, the Prime Minister and his ministers govern, the President has a more "international" role This weekend we voted for the European deputies.

I think there are very different opinions between Americans as individuals and the United States as a country. The Americans we meet in France, Europe or in large American cities, on social networks or on RU-vid appear like normal, open, friendly people. But the USA as a country is scary, with the caricature of an average American who has at least 2 guns on him and a dozen others in his house, who is obese, who is racist, who lives in Texas, in Tennessee or Oklahoma, who votes for Trump, who believes that the USA is the only free and developed country, who knows nothing outside of its residential subdivision, who confuses Mexico and Spain, Brazil and China, who thinks that France is a district of Paris which is an island off the coast of Alaska, who sincerely believes that the Earth is flat and that men are descended from Adam and Eve, who prohibits abortion but who accepts that a young girl of 15 years old is married to the one who raped her, who consumes as much energy and pollutes as much in a single day as a whole African country does in a year... But perhaps this caricatured American doesn't exist?

I corrected the title : What do the PARISIAN think of America Paris is NOT France, get some interviews outside of Paris to get a real perspective of what do the FRENCH think of America

Hello, Rassemblement National is far right, only some people who vote for them say it's not, just like some people who vote for la France insoumise say it's not far left, I used to be a socialist but now i don't know since they decided yesterday to ally with the far left. The president decided to "renew" the national assembly causing all this turmoil, was he right or wrong i don't know but it's a mess now the left allied with the far left, the right with the far right for the first time since the beginning of the 5th republic. Both far right and far left have antisemistic ideas, no realistic idea on how to fund their plans like less taxes for the far left, more police or immigration control for the far right, it can be debated but both are such a risk. I respect people who voted against the republicans parties(left, center, right), we don't have the same history, sometimes i wish they came to power just so that they see it doesn't change anything. I think it's like in every country, we like the people who are not in power, until they are and we hate people in power until they aren't, we might even miss them after. Short term memory. Some french people see our current president as some kind of a king or dictator, not me, though I'm not ok with everything that he did. It's a mess right before the olympics.

The question is somewhat biased because, there is a difference between "the Americans" and "the USA". - The USA is a country that wants to, and does to some extent, rule the world and, sadly, human beings around the world are lazy and take in the worst of the American culture (see the universal success of American fast junk food, for example). My main grudge about the USA is its ultra-capitalistic mentality: the sacro-saint $$$ rules above everything else, even above the most elementary human values. - The American individuals are just like any individuals around the world: from the best to the worst, with everything in-between. I've worked for Paris-based American corporations, for American bosses, and those were far from being the worst experiences in my life. Some of these were more cultivated (would I dare say "Europeanized"?) than some French people I've had to deal with. Then, more recently, when watching (on YT) "Jordan Klepper fingers the pulse", or images of the 2021/01/06 assault on the Capitol,... one gets a not so flattering image of SOME Americans. But, sadly again, assholery is universal and growing fast in our so-called "civilized" countries.

No we don't, I'm sorry to say.

When you come to France, come to the French Riviera and Provence. 😉

centre right good results comeing, we have ours 4 july nigel is our leader

People vote, what is your point about "are they happy" , we choose that's it...

13:38 much in Europe ?? Américains are crazy

Just wear confortable clothes when you'll come here because you're gonna walk a lot. Nobody cares how you dress, nobody is gonna judge you as long as you don't look like a homeless couple 😂

Hello, I'm older - as a German student, I spent a week in Prague with my school class in the 80th. I could go anywhere - I came from West Germany, not East Germany... But what was special about Prague was that I met people from the USA, Argentina and so on, but ALSO people from Romania, Hungary, the GDR, Russia and of course Czechoslovakians. So people that I couldn't see anywhere else, not in Paris, not in London or New York. A unique time! It was magic! And: you could recognize everyone by their clothes! Americans with their down jackets and sunglasses. The Russians by their heavy jackets and fur hats, West Germans with their jeans and sweatshirts, the East Germans by their shirts and jeans (which "looked different"). Czechs and Slovaks belonged there, so anyone who looked "normal" was probably Czechoslovakian. And one evening we sang "We shall overcome" in a beer bar - with four nations! It's amazing when I think that today there is no border between our countries and that back then waiting for hours and strict controls were common... Prague was "authentic" back then. Paris was not. The main streets were full of glitz and glamour, but when you got to the side streets it was just dirt and scum. Prague was - back then - old and broken, but everywhere! And that was real - but Paris was just fake! Best wishes from northern Germany

I would love to see a person From France refuse to speak english traveling to Noew yourk.

"french"......

As a french, J'vous aime pas. Ayez un peu de civilité.

Je suis le premier à commenter. I know it's stupid but just to show my support on (some) Americans. I'm not talking about politic in France now because I support France Insoumise (go for the insults) , so super on the left and I am so pissed off that a prime minister and a government from the extreme right on the 7th of July

We like some of you. If you're not commies and disrespectful. Which doesn't leave too many 😂

I kind of follow american politic as well as french politic and i can confirm that RN(the far right party in France) is more or less on the same line than the trumpists : hatred of immigration, bigotry and undercovered racism exept that in france it's against arabs and african and not latinos. Theres is also the same admiration for Putin, the nostalgia for imperialism, the false defense of the blue colar against the elits. In a word, it's populism.

Brian and Lynda, for all intents and purposes, I suggest you watch the work of your cheerful fellow RU-vidr "a musing aida" who lives in Paris, to learn a little more about the fundamental differences between a typical American and French. In particular this one: how to obtain the respect of a French person in France ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-0HEjB5jvdYM.html