Search Sort Posts:  Oldest to newest Newest to oldest

05/05/2008, 14:16 Nicole Joined on 18/09/2007 France Posts 12 Death.... then integration I have just returned from our local shop / café / bar / post office. This village shop is run by a husband and wife, in their fifties who make am excellent team and have always welcomed us since we arrived 6 years ago. After all my letters had been weighed and stamped, the lunchtime baguette purchased I settled myself at the bar with a small cup of deliciously hot strong coffee. Not long after, a woman breezed into the shop giving Joelle four kisses, quite normal practice for close friends and family, but her husband received just a nod of the head, which to me seemed a bit odd. The woman and Joelle chatted for a while and after she left I asked why Yannik had received such a cool reception. They both laughed, and Yannik replied ‘Although I have lived here for thirty years, I’m a foreigner like you… my grandmother isn’t buried in the village cemetery !!’    Report

05/05/2008, 19:14 powerdesal Joined on 07/01/2006 Sharjah U.A.E Posts 2,017 Re: Death.... then integration It definitely must be a local / regional attitude. Last week I attempted to walk out of the bank and was reminded in no uncertain terms that I had inadvertently forgotten to kiss the young lady banker goodbye. My mind must have been on other things because she is a VERY attractive young lady but the whole bank were made aware with "hey, what about my kisses". Steve Sharjah + 50 (in France) ........................................................................... Roll on death.....Demob is too far away.    Report

05/05/2008, 19:50 Ron Avery Joined on 29/11/2004 Aveyron 12 Posts 3,096 Re: Death.... then integration "Last week I attempted to walk out of the bank and was reminded in no uncertain terms that I had inadvertently forgotten to kiss the young lady banker goodbye. My mind must have been on other things because she is a VERY attractive young lady but the whole bank were made aware with "hey, what about my kisses" and this happened where exactly? UAE or France? It does not sound like the France that I know.  Unless you know the bank clerk outside of the bank personally, IMHO it would be treated as the height of rudeness to exchange kisses in a formal business situation of clerk and client.  Who initiated this greeting by kissing?   I wonder what the French contributors think of this? Ron in the Avey-ron    Report

05/05/2008, 20:00 Russethouse Joined on 23/08/2004 Forum Moderator Posts 9,489 Re: Death.... then integration We had some French friends, a widowed grandmother, her only child, a daughter, the son in law and  two teenagers. The grandmother lived in a village and the rest of the family in a town nearby but they spent every weekend at the grandmothers home, when ill health happened to the grandmother the family converted a basement to a granny flat and she lived with them in town in the week, still returning to the grandmothers home each weekend. The grandmother relied heavily on her son in law, but when he was proposed to be deputy mayor of the village she let it be known she was voting for his opposition on the grounds that he was a local chap where as the son in law came from a village 70 miles away....... www.quimperclub.org 99    Report

05/05/2008, 21:00 Cathy Joined on 07/03/2006 Mostly near Bordeaux; Sometimes near Bristol Posts 1,685 Re: Death.... then integration I have noticed that parents greet my son's teacher with two cheek kisses but so far, despite meeting her twice per day in the playground for 8 months, I get a head nod.  Mind you, I am probably 30 years' older than her (OK exaggeration - 20 years at least) and 6 inches taller. Cathy ----- Your children won't remember you ironing their pyjamas but they will remember you reading them a bedside story.    Report

06/05/2008, 9:01 powerdesal Joined on 07/01/2006 Sharjah U.A.E Posts 2,017 Re: Death.... then integration  Ron Avery wrote: "Last week I attempted to walk out of the bank and was reminded in no uncertain terms that I had inadvertently forgotten to kiss the young lady banker goodbye. My mind must have been on other things because she is a VERY attractive young lady but the whole bank were made aware with "hey, what about my kisses" and this happened where exactly? UAE or France? It does not sound like the France that I know.  Unless you know the bank clerk outside of the bank personally, IMHO it would be treated as the height of rudeness to exchange kisses in a formal business situation of clerk and client.  Who initiated this greeting by kissing?   I wonder what the French contributors think of this? In Villedieu les Poeles (ie France). The kissing was initiated by the Bank Manageress in the first instance, not by me. I do not know any of the bank staff outside the business situation. I was surprised but not averse to the idea of kissing either the manageress or the young lady in question. edit. Maybe I am a very kissable person (in my dreams) Steve Sharjah + 50 (in France) ........................................................................... Roll on death.....Demob is too far away.    Report

06/05/2008, 10:35 TWINKLE Joined on 11/03/2006 Tarn 81 Posts 3,700 Re: Death.... then integration  Ron Avery wrote: "It does not sound like the France that I know.  Unless you know the bank clerk outside of the bank personally, IMHO it would be treated as the height of rudeness to exchange kisses in a formal business situation of clerk and client.  Who initiated this greeting by kissing?   I wonder what the French contributors think of this? I think Ron is a tad jealous    Report

06/05/2008, 12:46 sweet 17 Joined on 05/08/2006 charente maritime Posts 2,043 Re: Death.... then integration  powerdesal wrote:  Ron Avery wrote: edit. Maybe I am a very kissable person (in my dreams) Steve, you must have that "je ne sais quoi", animal magnetism, whatever.  Hows abouts you turn up here in Charente and let the locals judge for themselves?    Report

06/05/2008, 13:04 Cathy Joined on 07/03/2006 Mostly near Bordeaux; Sometimes near Bristol Posts 1,685 Re: Death.... then integration  powerdesal wrote:  Ron Avery wrote: "Last week I attempted to walk out of the bank and was reminded in no uncertain terms that I had inadvertently forgotten to kiss the young lady banker goodbye. My mind must have been on other things because she is a VERY attractive young lady but the whole bank were made aware with "hey, what about my kisses" and this happened where exactly? UAE or France? It does not sound like the France that I know.  Unless you know the bank clerk outside of the bank personally, IMHO it would be treated as the height of rudeness to exchange kisses in a formal business situation of clerk and client.  Who initiated this greeting by kissing?   I wonder what the French contributors think of this? In Villedieu les Poeles (ie France). The kissing was initiated by the Bank Manageress in the first instance, not by me. I do not know any of the bank staff outside the business situation. I was surprised but not averse to the idea of kissing either the manageress or the young lady in question. edit. Maybe I am a very kissable person (in my dreams) Maybe you are SOOOOOOOOOO rich the bank manageress wants to keep you in her sights? Cathy ----- Your children won't remember you ironing their pyjamas but they will remember you reading them a bedside story.    Report

06/05/2008, 13:16 powerdesal Joined on 07/01/2006 Sharjah U.A.E Posts 2,017 Re: Death.... then integration If I am SOOOOOOOOOO rich its extremely well hidden, even I cant find the dosh. Steve Sharjah + 50 (in France) ........................................................................... Roll on death.....Demob is too far away.    Report

Page 1 of 5 (41 items) 1 2 3 4 5 >

France Forum » French Culture » French Culture » Death.... then integration

(Quick links) Forums Home |- Search Forums |- Active Topics |- Unanswered Posts User Options |- Sign In |- Join this community |- Forgot Password About This Forum (READ ONLY) |- About This Forum Moving |- Finding/Owning French Property |- Making the Move From Outside the EU |- Long-Term Letting |- Employment Vacancies in France Legal and Finance |- French Legal Issues |- French Finance Building and Renovation |- House Renovations |-- Working with Wood Living |- Earning a Living |- Driving |- French Education |- Pets |- Animal Welfare, Rescue & Protection |- French Satellite TV, French Internet and Telephone |- Health |-- Changes to Healthcare Entitlement, CPAM, CMU and Cartes Vitales |- Swimming Pools in France Owning/Running a Business |- French Artisans |- Gite Owners |- Hotel and Restaurant Owners |- B&B/Chambres d'Hôtes Owners Leisure and Pastimes |- Gardening |- Sport, Leisure and Pastimes |- Shopping |- French Antiques, Arts & Crafts |- Photography |- Motorcycling in France |- Books and Literature |- Getting Married in France |- Pregnancy and Birth French Culture |- French Food and Wine |- French Culture |- French Language |-- French Language FAQs and Useful Links |- Wildlife/Nature/Environment |- French History Travelling to/from France |- Travelling to/from France |- Latest Good Value Deals to/from France Holidays |- Holidays General Discussion |- The Complete France Post Bag |- The Lighter Side |- Other Topics |- Forum Technical Support |- Useful Links About France/French Living Regions |- HOTEL SEARCH |- Central |- North East |- North West |- Paris Ile de France |- South East |- South West |- East |- West |- Corsica and DOM-TOMs