Driving in France

Since a friend wants to borrow the book 'French or foe?' this may be the last story from it in a while. So let's make it something on the lighter side.

This is an experience from the author Polly Platt.

"After 25 years, Paris still had surprises for me when, one evening, I put on my blinker to make a left turn into my house. This happens to be opposite the Prime Minister's official residence, when there is at least on policeman on guard in front of his entrance. That evening there were three. I saw that there was a car behind me, but as I had given him plenty of warning with my blinker, I proceeded to turn left - and almost crashed into him. He had decided to pass me anyway. It was a close shave.

Instantly, while I trembled in shock, the three policeman ran over to us, blowing their whistles. I assumed they were going to reprimand the other driver for his outrageous behavior. Not at all. The went straight for me and demanded my car papers.

'But - but - I had my blinker on!" I stammered. "Didn't you see it?"
'Yes, you had your blinker on - but you didn't wait for the car behind you to pass!" As I stared at him, he added angrily, "It's foreigners like you who cause the accidents in France - you don't know what the French are likely to do!" "

I think we can all agree with that last statement in regards to one French female!

Alizee Nation

Understanding French Culture

More from Polly Platt's book "French or foe?"

High context and Low context cultures.

"Low context cultures can generally be classified as achievement cultures...They are on time - not even five minutes late. Time is quantified (wasted, saved, killed). The appointment and the project have priority over everything."

"High context people (Mediterranean) have a different sense of time. It's not segmented. They'll be on time, if some greater people-priority doesn't come up in the meantime. Schedules are flexible. But they keep time according to their own system...on time for them might be a half hour, an hour, or a week or a month 'late' for you, depending on the culture and how for east or south you go."

"French people are more complicated to manage then Americans or Germans. What you have to decide is if you want people to be geniuses, or to be on time"

Blame paranoia

"Madame Dufoix, confronted with the scandal, conceded an 'error' in not having advised the President or the Prime Minister about her charitable act, while maintaining that her action had been 'correct' for humanitarian reasons.

Madame Dufoix, famous for her comment that she was 'responsible but not guilty'..."


C'est pas my faute, no matter if it is Madame Dufoix or a canceled concert. It does seem to hold true.

I hope by sharing we can see that the reactions from Alizee regarding the difficulties experienced in running her career are not indifference or arrogance but just a cultural difference.

So, based on the above nuances of a high context culture and how Alizee reacted in the past. Will you expect a 'special concert' 'before summer'? Will you be upset if this 'special concert' does not happen 'before summer'? Is getting it 'right' or at least as close to 'right' as Alizee will accept more important to her then getting it done on time? Hint - yes it is, time is relative.

Would I buy a ticket if she was nearby? YES. Would I make reservations for half way around the world? No. This type of non guarantee does drive high context cultures crazy and they look at it as unacceptable (North Americans and more) but it is what it is.

Again: "French people are more complicated to manage then Americans or Germans. What you have to decide is if you want people to be geniuses, or to be on time"

Are we starting to mellow on this yet?

Alizee Nation

Trying to Understand French Culture

In the ongoing effort on my part to understand Alizee I have been reading the book 'French or Foe' by Polly Platt and sharing some parts of the book. Today is honor and doing business in France.
"French people like to deal with people they know."
"Us is only family, close friends, classmates and old faithful customers."
"French people are concerned about personal honor, the honor of France, and the honor of their family and friends and the honor of their long term customers."
"You aren't part of that club. There's no rule of honor, implicit or explicit, that says they have to sell or do any kind of business with you, an unknown foreigner, much less accommodate your outlandish request."

Remember there is no right or wrong in all this, it is all about understanding a different culture.
Perhaps some of the book generalizes too much, but it may have to at times to gain our attention to get us to rethink the situation and realize there maybe more then just a language difference.

And it is my humble opinion that Alizee pulled off the Lolita roll with honor.

Alizee Nation