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06/05/2008, 19:55 Frenchie Joined on 31/05/2007 2 Sèvres,79 Posts 3,563 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 ve never seen that in my whole life...   ( I am french ) Happy    Report

06/05/2008, 20:00 Clair Joined on 23/08/2004 ------- Forum Moderator ------- Lot Posts 6,276 Re: Death.... then integration nor me...  Clair, a Real Virtual French Person La vérité est si obscurcie en ce temps et le mensonge si établi, qu'à moins d'aimer la vérité, on ne saurait la reconnaître. (Blaise Pascal)    Report

06/05/2008, 20:10 Christine Animal Joined on 14/05/2005 Deux-Sèvres Posts 4,115 Re: Death.... then integration nor me.   animalaidsaintaubin.monsite.orange.fr/ Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful    Report

06/05/2008, 20:19 woolybanana'sbrother Joined on 18/01/2008 Posts 1,001 Re: Death.... then integration So, you have been missing out then, mesdames?    Report

06/05/2008, 20:23 Clair Joined on 23/08/2004 ------- Forum Moderator ------- Lot Posts 6,276 Re: Death.... then integration If you'd met my directeur de banque, you'd be thankful..., but then again, I've heard about your strange tastes... Clair, a Real Virtual French Person La vérité est si obscurcie en ce temps et le mensonge si établi, qu'à moins d'aimer la vérité, on ne saurait la reconnaître. (Blaise Pascal)    Report

06/05/2008, 20:30 sweet 17 Joined on 05/08/2006 charente maritime Posts 2,048 Re: Death.... then integration Wooly, I shan't believe you if you're trying to make out that they kiss you as well!    Report

06/05/2008, 22:06 J.R's gone native Joined on 16/07/2006 Picardie, Sussex Posts 1,695 Re: Death.... then integration Do you tutoyer or vousvoyer the bank staff and particularly the manager Powderesal? If it is toutoiment then perhaps, just perhaps a bisous would have been in order, although I would save it for social non-proffessional occasions especially with the manager. But if you must toutoi and bisous in the bank you are supposed to do it when entering, not be reminded when leaving A manque de respect one way or another! Its not easy for an etranger to avoid offending people here is it? Editted I still get tripped up by saying bonjour/soir etc more than once in a day, its not that I have forgotten seeing the person before that day (which is why they are so offended) just the habits of a (UK) lifetime where we say hello for the second occasion. My biggest faux pas is when I have finished working on the building  late as usual and pop in next door for a swift half just before they close, I often walk staright to the bar to order my drink when I have a proper "bloke thirst" but in my haste offend everyone there that I know including the owners by not doing theobligatory  introductions first.    Report

07/05/2008, 6:49 powerdesal Joined on 07/01/2006 Sharjah U.A.E Posts 2,024 Re: Death.... then integration JR, I have never used "tu" in respect of the any of the bank staff, I do not know them at that level and obviously they are not family. Please read my reply to Ron, the Manageress initiated the bisous when I entered the bank, having left her office to greet me when she saw me arrive, it was not me giving "offence". Perhaps I should have kept her at arms reach and lectured her on the innappropriate behaviour. I suspect that sort of action would have been more disrespectful. Similarly the young lady I referred to who is our "personal account manager" (or whatever the French term is for that function) greeted me with the relevant bisous, again initiated by her not me. She is the one who required the kiss on leaving, as I said in my first post. Perhaps our French forum members could advise me how to avoid being kissed by the French staff as it is obviously bad mannered of them and I would not want to give offence by turning away or holding them off at arms length. Steve Sharjah + 50 (in France) ........................................................................... Roll on death.....Demob is too far away.    Report

07/05/2008, 6:58 5-element Joined on 28/10/2006 Languedoc Posts 701 Re: Death.... then integration  powerdesal wrote: Perhaps our French forum members could advise me how to avoid being kissed by the French staff as it is obviously bad mannered of them and I would not want to give offence by turning away or holding them off at arms length. As another French forum person, I find it hard to imagine being kissed by the bank staff...and I have never witnessed such an event with other clients.... but maybe I have the wrong kind of relationship with my local Crédit Agricole, as I find most of the staff there equally unhelpful and clueless. PDS I am therefore intrigued, very intrigued....    Report

07/05/2008, 7:28 woolybanana'sbrother Joined on 18/01/2008 Posts 1,001 Re: Death.... then integration Perhaps the kissing hides the cluelessness. I suppose the ultimate would be getting kissed by one of the crones at the Hotel des Impots. Though I did get a long and rich laugh when I asked whether I should declare my (ex)wife as part of my patrimoine and whether there was a write off for les belles-mères.      Report

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

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