Bonjour!
I will be visiting Paris for 6 days in March. The trip is a present for me and my husband. I am American and have never before been outside the U.S.A. I am nervous becase of this: I am a very overweight woman, even American standards. By Parisian standards … well, let's just say that I expect to stand out-not in a good way. I do speak some French, which I have been practicing, and I do dress well.Â
But still, I've been having these nightmares in which these skinny Parisiennes, clad in the latest haute couture fashions eye me disdainfully and snooty waiters refuse to serve me. I know I'm probably just being paranoid about the stereotype of Parisian rudeness, but really, what am I letting myself in for?
Can someone be kind enough to please advise? Merci beaucoup!
Julianne
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2 Comments On Help! Nervous to go to Paris …
SalB
Please don't worry; they sell plus sizes in Paris now too. The recent book about "French Women Don't Get Fat" or something like that is ridiculous and a myth. There are fewer overweight French women in Paris than in the countryside but there are plenty of overweight women (and men) in Paris too. (Not nearly as many as in the USA though.)
Generally speaking most people gain weight as they age so there will always be a lot of older heavy people, but more and more younger French are breaking weight barriers these days. The French government has been very concerned about the youth (as we are in the US) and is trying all sorts of ways to get them to exercise and cut their calories.
 If you look at pictures taken in Paris and anyplace else in France, there are plenty of people who do not wear size 4 . . . or even size 14. Furthermore, there are always lots of tourists from the US, Germany, UK, Italy, etc. who are of grand proportion.
Speaking softly, dressing nicely, and speaking any French you can remember will do a lot to enhance your image. The French aren't as concerned with our size as with our volume. Americans tend to be rather loud (in general) and since the tables are closer in French restaurants, loud people are disturbing.
We always start conversations with "Bon jour" and usually they immediately switch to English. When you go into a store, shop, restaurant, say "Bon jour" and when you leave "Au revoir" and you'll be fine. We'd heard all the horror stories of the rude French, but we haven't found them. All the French we've met have been lovely. I had a waiter once run down the street to another restaurant to get me a cup of coffee when they ran out. A Paris waitress once sat down with us and gave us a French lesson when we were struggling with the language. In general the French, like Americans, are very helpful and very very polite.
Two small hints: When you are ready to leave a restaurant, ask for the bill (l'addition s'il vous plais) or you won't ever leave. They will not give you a bill until you ask for it. They consider it rude to interrupt your meal and only you know when you are finished. They also will not come over after you have been served and ask if everything is all right. If there is a problem with your meal, simply motion them over (they will be watching) and they will take care of it. If you don't complain, they assume you are okay. These two things surprise most Americans but seem perfectly normal to the French. Vive la difference!
You have received a wonderful gift. Enjoy it . . . and take an umbrella. Paris is lovely in the rain.
renekume
i will like to have friends .that is all i have for now