The French Hate Americans

We hear it all the time, it’s almost a cliché when traveling to Europe. The French are rude; give Americans poor service and now they hate us. They hate us for the way we handled the war, for being gas guzzling, overeating Americans.. right?

WRONG – Absolutely wrong. I travel for a living all over the world; scouting new locations for my travel business. Before my most recent trip to Paris I was actually gearing up for the extra rude service, short fuses and maybe a physical attack. I bought a passport cover so when I pulled it out people could not see I was an American… how stupid.

Not only was my paranoia an over reaction, but it was a complete waste of energy and time. The French people were polite, gracious, respectful and at times went out of there way to make me feel at home.

You may be thinking “He travels for a living, he probably dresses like the locals and speaks French” Wrong again; I hardly speak a lick of French and when out and about I look like your average American.

While strolling near the Boulevard Saint-Germain taking pictures, a local noticed I was alone and offered to take a photo of me with my camera. How nice.. how darn nice; I was thrown.

In a restaurant on the Champs-Elysées which is a touristy area, I really expected rude waiters, long stairs and poor service. I got the exact opposite. A friendly waiter who tried his best to accommodate my needs in English and great service despite the fact I was dressed in cargo pants, sandals and a t-shirt from walking around all day.

I began looking for the famous “rude Frenchman” I began sitting in cafes observing tourists, hoping to see something to tell me my good experiences were a fluke. The closest thing I found was a mildly annoyed metro employee… big deal.

I was eager to speak with a French person to get the scoop on the whole “American thing” Later that afternoon one of my scheduled business meetings began at my hotel. I asked the rep I was meeting if we he could take me to a café for coffee to discuss business. This would be my opportunity to corner a local and get the goods. He said “I know of a great café that just opened” so we began to walk the narrow streets of Paris. We arrived to the café and to my astonishment I was taken to Starbucks! Yes, Starbucks. I was thrown into an American institution of the coffee world, smack in the middle of Paris. What better setting to discuss how the French think toward Americans.

After two café lattes, I was enlightened. It all made sense now. The French and many Europeans in general see the people of America separately from their government. They realize that it’s the powers that be that are to blame, not the American people. It really makes sense if you think about it. Europeans have seen themselves separated and in some cases alienated by their own governments for centuries. They see Americans in the same light.

As I walk thought out the city of Paris I am amazed at the number of monuments and institutions dedicated to America. Many people know that there is a smaller copy of the statue of Liberty in Paris, but did you know there are three? Did you know there is an American church or an entire district of the city dedicated to the USA? The 16th district in the heart of the city is the American area of town where more than 25,000 Americans live and are considered a welcome part of the city.

The French people are flabbergasted that Americans may feel they are not welcome. There is a major factor which the current trend has not taken into consideration. The French would not be on the planet if it were not for the Americans and British. This fact its engrained in every French person. America was the savior of their world. During my visit; there was a celebration of the liberation of Paris on August 26, 1944. The city was plastered with photos of American, British and French people celebrating the victory from the tyranny of Hitler.

We must realize that what the US did for Europe and France during the second world war greatly outweighs any adverse statements or disagreements made by the past administrations of both countries.

America the great melting pot, the great hero of Europe needs to rise above the rhetoric, the fear the media throws at us, the negative light and understand they are welcome, wanted and embraced by a society who is still greatly indebted to the good old USA.

If you are a traveler or will be to Europe, please, please let down your guard and you will experience nothing but the crisp air, good food, a bottle of wine, and smile from an old friend from across the world.