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12/05/2008, 20:45 Catalpa Joined on 23/08/2004 Southern Manche - 50 Posts 1,537 Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans? Emily, you've got time to buy a set of teach yourself French CDs (Michel Thomas are popular over here but there may be other favoured methods in the US) and if you are really motivated, you will be surprised by how much French you will be able to pick up before you come. Bon courage, come over and enjoy yourself.    Report

12/05/2008, 20:56 EmilyGA Joined on 11/05/2008 Posts 3 Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans?  Clarkkent wrote: Like most people that I have ever met, people in France take take others at their face value and treat them accordingly. In other words, Americans are not hated by the French. There are, of course, individuals who will test this rule, but then there are French people who hate Germans or North Africans or East Europeans or even (God knows why) English. Do all Americans hate French - after all, there was much publicity given to french fries being renamed Freedom Fries? There are American-based websites pouring vitriolic hatred against France. In general, Europeans, and that includes British, regard George W Bush as an idiot and cannot begin to understand how a nation could have selected him as their president. They dislike what his administration has done to the world. Europeans do not understand how a nation (or so it seems) can be in the grip of simplistic religion, or so obsessed with gun ownership that life itself seems cheap. But these perceptions are the consequence of the media images that America itself sends to the world, I know a sufficient number of Americans to be sure that they are just perceptions. Provided that you do not walk around in a hermetically sealed American bubble, you will be accepted for what and who you are. Come to France and enjoy the experience. You are right that there was publicity given to French fries being renamed "freedom fries" but there was also publicity given to some of the nasty things that people in France were saying about Americans, so I think it goes both ways, but obviously not all Americans hate people in France and obviously not all people in France hate Americans. As for George W. Bush, there are lot's of Americans who don't like him. So many people are turning out to vote in the primaries for the Democrats because many people want change, and for the record, not all Americans voted for Bush. I was only a young teen when he was first elected, it's not like I had any say in it, so I don't think it's fair to involve politics with other people just because of their nationality or hold them responsible for something that they can't control. It's ridiculous to generalize over 300 million people and assume they're all right wing conservatives who have a gun collection. I'm a very liberal person, I even have a feminist bumper sticker on my car, but I am a Christian so I guess I'm in the grip of "simplistic religion" and I do agree with the second amendment, but it's my right as an American to agree or disagree with our constitution and I don't go around shoving my opinions down other peoples throats. I know lot's of atheists and many of my friends are against the second amendment, but I'm not preaching my opinions to them or anything like that, and I don't plan to do that anywhere else. I think it would be nice if people simply looked at other people as fellow humans instead of assuming things about them based on where they come from. I don't think I should be hated just because I reside in the geographical region identified as the United States, but I guess it doesn't work that way.  Iceni's post is a great example of how too many people judge people based on nationality. I think it's extremely ignorant if Americans are telling people they're Canadians (and I think it's ignorant to suggest that), I know a lot of Canadians who would be offended by that. I appreciate the advice everyone has given me and I will check out the Americans in France website that was mentioned before. I'm sure I will still be worrying about what other people are thinking of me when I'm in Europe, I suppose that's narcissistic, but I've always been self conscious. Being self conscious about being American will certainly be a new experience.        Report

12/05/2008, 21:32 Cathy Joined on 07/03/2006 Mostly near Bordeaux; Sometimes near Bristol Posts 2,007 Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans?  EmilyGA wrote:  Clarkkent wrote: I think it's extremely ignorant if Americans are telling people they're Canadians (and I think it's ignorant to suggest that), I know a lot of Canadians who would be offended by that. When I was backpacking around the world (and that story could be for another thread), I learned from experience that if you heard an American accent, you would ask the person if they were Canadian because a Canadian would be offended to be called American but an American wouldn't be offended to be called Canadian.  (Can you follow this?!)  Similarly with Australians and New Zealanders. Closer to home, round here in the South West with its rugby traditions, the Welsh (e.g. my husband) get a lot more respect than the English.       Cathy ----- Your children won't remember you ironing their pyjamas but they will remember you reading them a bedside story.    Report

12/05/2008, 22:01 EmilyGA Joined on 11/05/2008 Posts 3 Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans?  Cathy wrote: When I was backpacking around the world (and that story could be for another thread), I learned from experience that if you heard an American accent, you would ask the person if they were Canadian because a Canadian would be offended to be called American but an American wouldn't be offended to be called Canadian.  (Can you follow this?!)  Similarly with Australians and New Zealanders. Closer to home, round here in the South West with its rugby traditions, the Welsh (e.g. my husband) get a lot more respect than the English. Well, if someone asks me if I'm Canadian, I'll simply tell them I'm an American.    Report

12/05/2008, 22:37 Will Joined on 22/09/2004 Sussex & 50 (Mortainais) Posts 5,101 Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans? Be pleasant to the French and they will be nice to you. But if you still want reassurance, go to Avranches (western Normandy, near the coast), mention General Patton - travel roughly east through Mortain towards Falaise, saying the same, particularly when you see the monuments to various small groups of American WW2 heroes. That should show how Americans are really received in at least one part of France. Will intentionally blank signature http://www.vienormande.com    Report

13/05/2008, 7:39 Iceni Joined on 23/08/2004 Lot 46 Posts 3,038 Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans? " I'm sure I will still be worrying about what other people are thinking of me when I'm in Europe, I suppose that's narcissistic, but I've always been self conscious. Being self conscious about being American will certainly be a new experience. " Emily, stop worrying about what others may or may not think of you and your country. If you want to come to France, come to France. If you meet what you perceive as prejudice move on, it's a big country (though perhaps not as big as Texas ). Possibly best to avoid the Dordogne, that's full of English - and they really do dislike USAns John    Di How do I get MY free website?    Report

13/05/2008, 12:40 5-element Joined on 28/10/2006 Languedoc Posts 977 Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans?  EmilyGA wrote:    I even have a feminist bumper sticker on my car, but I am a Christian   France is  predominantly Christian (overwhelmingly Catholics, with a few Protestants). It also boasts the largest Muslim and Jewish population in Europe - and a smattering of Buddhists. There are definitely more Christians than there are feminists in la Belle France, although one might have to argue over a definition  for both "Christian" and  "feminist".    Report

13/05/2008, 13:00 powerdesal Joined on 07/01/2006 Fujeirah, U.A.E Posts 2,239 Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans?  Iceni wrote: Possibly best to avoid the Dordogne, that's full of English - and they really do dislike USAns John  Is that really true, do the English (in Dordogne) really dislike Americans, or is it that they, like many Americans, dislike the American Govt policy. I have never met an American that I disliked, on a personal level, but then again I dont live in the Dordogne, maybe its something in the water. Steve Fujeirah Emirate, U.A.E + 50 (in France) ...........................................................................    Report

13/05/2008, 14:00 Renaud Joined on 23/08/2004 Barnes / Mirambeau Posts 631 Re: Do the majority of people in France really hate Americans? "Possibly best to avoid the Dordogne, that's full of English - and they really do dislike USAns " I suspect a lighthearted generalisation. But I would qualify it by saying that the kind of British who might "dislike USAns " are the tabloid readers and these are few and far between in France. Gus www.relax-in-france.com    Report

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