Comments on: cultural schizophrenia

By: petite

petite — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 13:30:57 +0000

Thanks for your comments nardac and coquette!

Delphine – your comment stung a bit, but probably partly because there was some truth in it.

Something I will recognise is that Parisians are not representative of the French in general. When we take a holiday elsewhere in France I am always reminded that it is a very different ballgame in the provinces.

By: nardac

nardac — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 12:26:37 +0000

I like Claude Francois! “your girl is crying in the night, is she wrong or is she right? Je ne sais plus comment faire.”

This blog is written by petite anglaise who has probably absorbed quite a bit of french culture in her ten years living and working here. Nevertheless, that doesn’t make her french, and she’s going to see things a little differently. We all have the right to disagree/agree with her, that’s what comments are for, but I think what’s a bit shocking was calling someone bitchy on their own blog, minus the humour. Not very nice, in any culture.

Btw, I don’t feel like the little man. I feel like a silly hotdog’n'cheese bun lying next to the croissants. MMMM…hotdogs!

By: Delphine

Delphine — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 11:41:18 +0000

Coquette,

being French, having lived in the UK and currently living in Australia, I do know what it feels like to be the little guy on the playground, and totally sympathize with foreigners in France. I’m patronized because of my accent on a regular basis and some people seem to think I am accountable for every decision the French government has made in the last 70 years!

I also feel like the little guy sometimes when I read some of Petite anglaise’s posts, that’s all. I know they’re aimed at English speakers and not at the odd French person; I guess that’s why some comments can seem quite scathing from a French point of view. I giggle at the great majority of them, but also cringe a little at times, can’t help it, call it chauvinism if you want. French people have feelings too, damn it! :wink:

Petite anglaise said it herself, this is her blog and she’s of course free to speak her mind, exaggerate and generalize as she pleases.
I, too, am free to add my twopence, Coquette. I’m sorry if I’ve hurt PA’s feelings though.

By: Coquette

Coquette — Sat, 08 Jan 2005 00:45:31 +0000

So incisive as always, petite. I must say that Delphine’s comments SHOCK me though. Not just for being so off the mark, but for the complete lack of sympathy. Being foriegn can be a BITCH. We are the little guy on the playground. CAN’T WE BE A LITTLE BIT SNARKY AND BITCHY ON OCCASION? WONT THEY ALLOW US AT LEAST THAT? PLEASE?

By: petite

petite — Fri, 07 Jan 2005 11:40:32 +0000

sorry John, never was very good at taking criticism (however mild) gracefully!

By: John O'D

John O'D — Fri, 07 Jan 2005 10:39:02 +0000

Hey lighten up, petite.:grin: You’re blog is great. So well written with a nice balance between good humour and some more serious stuff. I’m only sorry that I stumbled across it so late and that catching up is taking all my time when I should be working.
You’re forgiven for Boney M. I still suspect your man likes Claude François!

By: petite

petite — Fri, 07 Jan 2005 09:55:17 +0000

*trying to be diplomatic*

I write about my own experiences and express my own points of view on this site. And reserve the right to exaggerate wildly or make generalisations when it suits me in order to amuse my anglo audience/provoke this sort of response.

I think if you read my archives you will however find me poking fun at the British as well.

If any ‘real French people’ would like to take me out for a few drinks and prove to me that my experience thus far was untypical, you know where to find me!

p.s. my parents bought me that record. I accept no responsibility whatsoever (although I do quite like the sleeve photo)

By: John O'D

John O'D — Fri, 07 Jan 2005 09:39:22 +0000

Delphine’s got it right. It’s like I said luv, you’re not mixing with real French people.
You say you can’t imagine a meaningful relationship conducted entirely in French. In my experience the language is not a problem. Culture clash can be.
No, but here’s the real BIG QUESTION…..How can you build a M’g'f’l R’t'sh’p with someone who’s first record was by Boney M …..aggghh :?:
NEXT QUESTION…Is the Frog, like millions of his compatriots, crazy about Claud François:?:
Suggestion for another subject : Why are all popular French heros dead? E.g. Dalida, Claud F, Daniel Balavoine,Joe Dassin,Mike Brant,Coluche,etc etc.

By: David

David — Fri, 07 Jan 2005 09:19:53 +0000

As a confirmed non-believer, it took about 10 years for my resistance to greeting everyone Bavarian-style with a hearty “Grüß Gott!” to wane. I’ve given up now and I’m grateful for all the catholic public holidays as well. My two personalities are pretty intertwined now. My parents think I’ve got teutonic and pushy. Germans think I’m incapable of saying directly what I want – but the dry humour is a cute plus point. I just miss having people around with whom you can be facetious about everything.

By: petite

petite — Fri, 07 Jan 2005 08:34:35 +0000

oh, and watch out for a rant on personal hygiene any day soon.

:twisted:

only joking