Today, authenticity is now the first quality required of French politicians —and of everyone. And what can be perceived as rude or mean, is just the clumsy way French people try to express their emotions as truthfully as possible to avoid appearing inauthentic. 10. Learn French Cuisine Outsiders may initially be regarded with suspicion but that can soften as their contribution becomes evident – such benefits as restoring a ruined architectural gem or supporting local services like shops and schools. Working life Be sincere, yet kind. While everyone has days that you are simply grumpy for any list of reasons, taking it out on others is something you will most likely regret. And even if you have to deliver news that isn’t favorable, there is always a way to do so with kindness. Being conscious of how we treat people and our delivery will almost always be appreciated, and even if it is taken for granted, at least we can go home at night and feel good about the energy we put out into the world.

Find a cafe that gives you wonderfully charming, cozy, French vibes. We’re partial to Le Pain Quotidien in terms of a chain you can find in several major cities and we also have a guide to French spots in Los Angeles. Take a friend, a book, or just yourself, and plan to spend a few hours. You’d be surprised how wonderfully luxurious it can feel to linger over a single cup of coffee, glass of wine, or pastry. If you’re nervous about going solo, take a book along, but challenge yourself to spend at least 10 minutes simply enjoying the company of yourself and people watching. The French have no problem spending time alone and we believe that’s an important skill for everyone to master. 8. Master the art of conversation Accept your flaws —which make you charming and unconventionally beautiful— rather than trying to fix them.Philosophy has played a significant role in French culture since the early modern period. The philosophes shaped the ideas of the Lumières (Enlightenment), think as Voltaire, Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Diderot, which played a major role in inspiring the French Revolution in 1789. They exposed the inefficiency of the monarch and his government and encouraged people to fight against the privileges and finance of the Church.

Perhaps one of my favorite aspects of French living is the ability to effortlessly practice the concept of less is more. This practice particularly shines when it comes to French shopping habits. When you’re comparing the French lifestyle vs. the American lifestyle, it’s easy to see that Americans tend to be a victim of consumerism and believe in the idea that bigger is better. Then there are the negative clichés - national arrogance, language inflexibility, unprincipled self-interest, impenetrable bureaucracy, slow working practices.

Once I lived in London, I realized what I was missing the most in Paris was not the Eiffel Tower or the party spirit but rather the endless conversations, on the terrasses, with friends just to “refaire le monde”. In a BBC article about Why the French don’t show excitement, the French teacher of the author told her this theory on the key distinction between the Americans and the French: