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| Fired Vancouver waiter case: Are the French really rude? | Fired Vancouver waiter case: Are the French really rude? |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| A waiter in Canada has claimed he was discriminated against after being fired for "rude" behaviour. After all, he said, he was just being, well, French. | A waiter in Canada has claimed he was discriminated against after being fired for "rude" behaviour. After all, he said, he was just being, well, French. |
| Eh bien, it's true that the French have a reputation for being a bit offhand. But are they really? | |
| Take meeting a new person. In many cultures, greeting someone you don't know warmly is almost instinctive. Not so for the French - and definitely not for Parisians. | Take meeting a new person. In many cultures, greeting someone you don't know warmly is almost instinctive. Not so for the French - and definitely not for Parisians. |
| But perhaps this isn't intended to be rude, and is instead down to a misunderstanding. | But perhaps this isn't intended to be rude, and is instead down to a misunderstanding. |
| Talking to strangers, let alone smiling at them, can be seen as intrusive, says 26-year-old Marie Castelin, from Bordeaux, southern France, who has lived in London for four years. | Talking to strangers, let alone smiling at them, can be seen as intrusive, says 26-year-old Marie Castelin, from Bordeaux, southern France, who has lived in London for four years. |
| "[The French] don't like smiling... They think, 'I don't know you so I'm not going to say hello'," she says. | "[The French] don't like smiling... They think, 'I don't know you so I'm not going to say hello'," she says. |
| It doesn't mean they don't like you; they'll probably save that smile (or any other sign of affection) for when you know each other a bit better. | It doesn't mean they don't like you; they'll probably save that smile (or any other sign of affection) for when you know each other a bit better. |
| Straight to the point | Straight to the point |
| Many French are no fans of small talk either - forget about your weather comments. | Many French are no fans of small talk either - forget about your weather comments. |
| They may cut short unnecessary conversations, and get straight to the point, which could come as a shock to the uninitiated. | They may cut short unnecessary conversations, and get straight to the point, which could come as a shock to the uninitiated. |
| Guillaume Rey, the waiter at the centre of the news story in Vancouver, said his co-workers misinterpreted his "direct, honest and professional" French personality. | Guillaume Rey, the waiter at the centre of the news story in Vancouver, said his co-workers misinterpreted his "direct, honest and professional" French personality. |
| He said French culture "tends to be more direct and expressive". | He said French culture "tends to be more direct and expressive". |
| But his employers, Milestones restaurant, said he used an "aggressive tone and nature" with colleagues. | But his employers, Milestones restaurant, said he used an "aggressive tone and nature" with colleagues. |
| A Google search of the phrase "Are the French rude" reveals dozens of tourists' bad experiences; waiters seem to top the list of offenders. | A Google search of the phrase "Are the French rude" reveals dozens of tourists' bad experiences; waiters seem to top the list of offenders. |
| But both French people and foreigners are also quick to dispute the stereotype. | But both French people and foreigners are also quick to dispute the stereotype. |
| "It's not that the French are rude but they're not like the English," says 21-year-old Amélie Cauchella, from the western city of Nantes, who has worked as a waitress in London since September. | "It's not that the French are rude but they're not like the English," says 21-year-old Amélie Cauchella, from the western city of Nantes, who has worked as a waitress in London since September. |
| "You're nicer with friends than with people you don't know, like a customer." | "You're nicer with friends than with people you don't know, like a customer." |
| 'We're particular' | 'We're particular' |
| France, of course, has its own obsession with etiquette and formality. | France, of course, has its own obsession with etiquette and formality. |
| It's just that its complex rules dictating table manners and even how to say "hello" differ from other cultures. | It's just that its complex rules dictating table manners and even how to say "hello" differ from other cultures. |
| But those differences don't always justify people's behaviour, says Marie Castelin. | But those differences don't always justify people's behaviour, says Marie Castelin. |
| "I have the feeling that some French use it as an excuse. Some people think 'We're particular, you should know it and that's it'," she says. | "I have the feeling that some French use it as an excuse. Some people think 'We're particular, you should know it and that's it'," she says. |
| A conflict culture? | A conflict culture? |
| Julien Mainguy, co-founder of BC Talents, helps francophones from Europe integrate into the workforce in British Columbia. | Julien Mainguy, co-founder of BC Talents, helps francophones from Europe integrate into the workforce in British Columbia. |
| "Most of the French-speaking people from Europe, they tend to be very direct," he told Canada's CBC News. | "Most of the French-speaking people from Europe, they tend to be very direct," he told Canada's CBC News. |
| "The culture in Canada, it's a non-conflict culture, particularly in the professional area." | "The culture in Canada, it's a non-conflict culture, particularly in the professional area." |
| Pierre Massuard, from central Tours, knows it well. | Pierre Massuard, from central Tours, knows it well. |
| He manages a restaurant in London, where he has lived for seven years, and says: "Whenever I hire a French waiter it's always really hard. | He manages a restaurant in London, where he has lived for seven years, and says: "Whenever I hire a French waiter it's always really hard. |
| "Because they have a different approach to the business and it isn't as casual and friendly." | "Because they have a different approach to the business and it isn't as casual and friendly." |
| Finally, Paris is not France | Finally, Paris is not France |
| Paris is home to France's elite and many admit that being rude or arrogant there can sometimes seem like a social value. | Paris is home to France's elite and many admit that being rude or arrogant there can sometimes seem like a social value. |
| As it's the country's capital, it may also be easy to take the behaviour of Parisians as a snapshot of how people behave in the rest of the country. | As it's the country's capital, it may also be easy to take the behaviour of Parisians as a snapshot of how people behave in the rest of the country. |
| Not so fast, say the French from elsewhere. | Not so fast, say the French from elsewhere. |
| In southern France, for example, people are generally known for being warmer than those in the north. | In southern France, for example, people are generally known for being warmer than those in the north. |
| "When you smile to people they give you back the smile. So [being rude] is something ridiculous," says Ms Castelin. | "When you smile to people they give you back the smile. So [being rude] is something ridiculous," says Ms Castelin. |
| Reporting by Hugo Bachega, BBC News | Reporting by Hugo Bachega, BBC News |