What do you think about … #1

Submitted by Fifi567 on May 15, 2025
Hey everyone,

I’m starting a new blog series where I’ll explore what people from around the world think about different countries. The idea is simple:

- I’ll ask “What do you think about [country]?” in a message board thread like this.

- You answer with your honest opinions, stereotypes, impressions, or even fun facts.

- I’ll collect the answers and write a blog about them.

- The blog may include a short fact check: Which stereotypes are true, half-true, or completely false (some may can’t be checked)?

It’s meant to be fun and thought-provoking, but also educational. You might be surprised by how different people see your home country!

Let’s start with… 🇫🇷 France 🇫🇷

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “France”?

(Think of culture, people, food, habits, geography, politics, history, whatever you like!)

Drop your thoughts below.

Your reply might appear in the blog, along with a little fact check.

Can’t wait to see what you think!

And if you’re from France, feel free to react to the stereotypes, too.

15 Comments
+9
Level 63
May 15, 2025
People wearing berets and striped shirts and tiny little curly mustaches saying "hon hon hon!" and talking about baguettes. Then after a long day of work (walking around Paris being rude to everyone they see, particularly tourists), they head back to their home (the Eiffel Tower) to rest. This is what the ideal Frenchman looks like. Love it or hate it, you can't deny the truth.
+2
Level 33
May 16, 2025
It's so funny lol

I believe all this was the case in the 1800's or so.

+3
Level 46
May 15, 2025
Not too clean, really full of themselves, and extremely rude. I lived the later while staying in Aquitaine last summer, and I just really don't feel like going again. French people are also pretty disrespectful and, in my experience, lack manners.

Hope it's just the ugly face of the country!

+1
Level 33
May 16, 2025
It's true, people usually don't like strangers.
+2
Level 48
May 15, 2025
Pretty coastline, Paris is meh. Often sends bland ballads to Eurovision
+2
Level 33
May 16, 2025
You're completely right! I think the French government doesn't want to organize Eurovision next year so they want to be sure to lose lol.
+4
Level 78
May 15, 2025
surrendering, white flags
+3
Level 33
May 16, 2025
It only happened once!
+4
Level 81
May 16, 2025
I've been to France many times, albeit over 25 years ago. I found the people to be ignorant and rude until you made an effort, however small, to actually try their language. They then became friendly and really helpful. That was the impression I got from personal experience. It's amazing how far a merci or s'il vous plait will get you.

Oh yeah, and Paris is covered in dog poop, and the metro smells of urine. But it's a big city that bears no resemblance to the rest of the country.

+3
Level 33
May 16, 2025
True too, even 25 years later. People are not even capable of saying Hello but want strangers to elaborate a complete paragraph in French to ask help. At least Parisians do.
+3
Level 78
May 16, 2025
NYC is sort of like that too, idolized but in reality smells and is pretty dirty
+3
Level 78
May 16, 2025
One word: Baptiste
+2
Level 78
May 17, 2025
France is pretty cosmopolitan, and intelligent, in general, and they did bring the concepts of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity to life to recent history and the modern world!

They are definitely pretty evolved when it comes to the arts, but are also uber-accomplished when it comes to industry, science, inventions and sports!

I love the way women walk in France, with their head held high, and freedom and confidence in their steps!

+2
Level 78
May 17, 2025
The French are like the Russians in this respect..a lot friendlier once you try to speak their language.

I once met a French guy whose English was less than fluent and who was trying to buy something at a shop at Mumbai airport. I tried to help him communicate with the shop lady in my broken French, and he started complaining to me that people at the airport (at Mumbai airport in India) didn’t speak French!

Every country has its characters!

+2
Level 46
May 22, 2025
Bonjour!

The French language please

Merci !

Au revoir!