I lived in Chamonix for a while and am back visiting friends after Italy, literally this Wednesday (woo!)
It’s not “condescending”, they just don’t lie. They straight up tell you if you’re being an arse, if they’re not interested, if you said something stupid, or if you’re not respecting others. The French will immediately let you know if you have food stuck between your teeth so you don’t go around looking like an idiot for the next hour. They will give $5 for your five dollar words that you think are worth twenty.
It’s refreshing being around people that don’t lie for the sake of self-centred people with large, fragile egos, so you can see why some Americans really struggle suddenly being put in front of the French mirror.
Many cultures are like this around the world, though. It’s more normal than not and the French don’t exactly lean into it heavy either.
I lived in Chamonix for a while and am back visiting friends after Italy, literally this Wednesday (woo!)
It’s not “condescending”, they just don’t lie. They straight up tell you if you’re being an arse, if they’re not interested, if you said something stupid, or if you’re not respecting others. The French will immediately let you know if you have food stuck between your teeth so you don’t go around looking like an idiot for the next hour. They will give $5 for your five dollar words that you think are worth twenty.
It’s refreshing being around people that don’t lie for the sake of self-centred people with large, fragile egos, so you can see why some Americans really struggle suddenly being put in front of the French mirror.
Many cultures are like this around the world, though. It’s more normal than not and the French don’t exactly lean into it heavy either.