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In Stephanie Perkins’ Anna and the French Kiss, Anna’s parents ship her to boarding school in France. This YA tale about love, cinema, and France was rated an RT Top Pick! Says the reviewer, “Perkins brings France to life in a way that can only be seen through the eyes of a teen. Anna's reactions absolutely ring true, especially her worries about accidentally offending the Paris natives.” However, Anna may have found life in Paris a little bit less intimidating if she had been armed with Stephanie Perkins' Top Ten Things You Should Know About France Before Visiting! After the post check out the *Web Exclusive Review* and enter to win your own copy of this Parisian adventure.
When Anna Oliphant—the heroine of my novel—is shipped to Paris for her senior year of high school, she is afraid. She doesn’t speak the language, she’s familiar with the stereotypes, and she’s under the impression that the French do NOT like Americans.
Her worries are unfounded.
As time passes, Anna realizes that the negative associations some Americans have with France are the result of simple cultural misunderstandings, and she’s able to lose her fears and fall in love with the City of Light. (And with a cute boy!)
It’s just a shame that no one gave Anna the following list before leaving home:
The Top Ten Things You Should Know About France Before Visiting
(1) Memorize polite phrases. The French are more willing to help when you extend the courtesy of TRYING to speak their language. Learn the basic polite words: please, thank you, hello, goodbye. Memorize the magic phrase “Je voudrais,” which means, “I would like,” which can be used in restaurants, stores, train stations, anywhere! (And then don’t forget to add the “s’il vous plaît” and “merci!”)
(2) Dress nicely. It’s true. The French dress better than us. This doesn’t mean that you need to buy a new wardrobe, but it does mean that you should treat your host country with respect. Ease off the T-shirts and shorts. Ditch the white athletic sneakers.
(3) Take your time. French culture calls for savoring life, especially food! Anticipate your meals to take longer. MUCH longer. There’s a common misconception that Parisian waiters are rude, but it’s polite for servers to be leisurely—they’re giving you time to enjoy your meal!—and it’s actually considered rude for them to hover over your table.
(4) Don’t smile. It’s often shocking for Americans to learn, but in France, it’s seen as silly (and, frankly, kind of dumb) to walk around with a smile on your face or to smile at someone you’ve never met before. Save your smile until it’s earned, and you’ll earn the respect of the recipient.
(5) Lower your voice. The good news: France doesn’t think America is the loudest country. (That honor goes to Italy.) The bad news: We’re still way too loud! Try not to be overheard by anyone but to whom you are speaking with.
(6) Tipping. You never have to tip in cafés/restaurants, because the tax and tip are included in your bill. This often makes Americans feel guilty, so if your service is good, you can leave an extra Euro or two on the table. But it’s not necessary.
(7) Restrooms. “Les toilettes” are usually located below cafés/restaurants, so look for the telltale set of descending stairs.
(8) Use the métro. It’s easy, safe, and affordable, and it’ll take you anywhere. Yes, the trains will be crowded during rush hour. Yes, watch out for pickpockets. But in a reasonable, non-freaked out way!
(9) Skip the top of the Eiffel Tower. Unless you have your heart set on it, don’t bother. You’ll waste valuable hours for a view that you can find in dozens of other locations across the city.
And finally . . .
(10) Slow down. Stroll gardens, cemeteries, and smaller museums. Take frequent breaks inside boulangeries (bakeries) and pâtissieres (dessert shops). Observe your surrounding architecture. Beauty and history are EVERYWHERE.
- Stephanie Perkins
Have these ten tips left you longing for a trip to Paris? Be sure to check out the *Web Exclusive Review* of Anna and the French Kiss and then enter to win your own copy below!
GIVEAWAY ALERT: Three lucky winners will receive a copy of Anna and the French Kiss. To enter leave a comment on this blog about why you’d love to spend a year in Paris. Or email your comment here with your US mailing address and the subject line “Stephanie Perkins’ Anna and the French Kiss Giveaway.” The giveaway winners will be announced on February 10th.
BLOG UPDATE 2/10/11: And the winners are ... Lacey, Amanda R. and Julie A.
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Tips about Paris Metro
Submitted by Aurelien Cottet (not verified) on April 6, 2012 - 8:04am.
Tips about Paris Metro
If you are always lost in Paris Metro and you don't want to use your iPhone while you are visiting Paris to avoid huge cost...a solution www.kemtro.com works offline (no roaming needed) and the only iPhone app that gives the exact location of each entrances and exits in Paris
Tips about Paris Metro
Submitted by Aurelien Cottet (not verified) on April 6, 2012 - 8:02am.
Tips about Paris Metro
If you are always lost in Paris Metro and you don't want to use your iPhone while you are visiting Paris to avoid huge cost...a solution www.kemtro.com works offline (no roaming needed) and the only iPhone app that gives the exact location of each entrances and exits in Paris
Tips about Paris Metro
Submitted by Aurelien Cottet (not verified) on April 6, 2012 - 8:01am.
Tips about Paris Metro
If you are always lost in Paris Metro and you don't want to use your iPhone while you are visiting Paris to avoid huge cost...a solution www.kemtro.com works offline (no roaming needed) and the only iPhone app that gives the exact location of each entrances and exits in Paris
Great tips! (I didn't know
Submitted by LauriePooh (not verified) on February 6, 2011 - 12:12am.
Great tips! (I didn't know the one about smiling!) I've been dreaming of Paris my whole life. I took four years of French in high school and advances courses in college. It would have been a dream come true to be able to spend a year there to soak in the culture and French lifestyle. I am planning a trip to Paris this year, so I would love to get in the right frame of mind by reading this book!
living in paris
Submitted by mar g (not verified) on January 30, 2011 - 9:29pm.
i would love to work at an international school in paris as a school librarian.
imagine being able to read the books about paris and france and actually visit the locations that inspired the books.
what about the food and being able to learn how to cook french food?
thanks for the posting.
A year in Paris
Submitted by Lacey (not verified) on January 29, 2011 - 1:18pm.
I would love to spend a year in paris because it would be something so different for me. I would like to experience something besides IN. You hear about Paris in the news/TV and it would be so fun to go there and see everything you had heard about on TV.
I would love to be in Paris
Submitted by Rocket on January 28, 2011 - 6:06pm.
I would love to be in Paris for a year becuase its a whole new world to me. Waking up in the morning to have a crepe, or checking out wonderful paintings. I would love to explore the sites and streets. To check out awesome clothing lines even though I could never afford them. Paris would be a dream come true.
I would soooo love to spend a
Submitted by Christine Mead (not verified) on January 28, 2011 - 12:53pm.
I would soooo love to spend a year in France. It is a dream of mine to visit many European countries! Your book sounds great, I would love to read it!
Best wishes!
Chris Mead
Anna and the French Kiss Giveaway
Submitted by Carolyn88 (not verified) on January 27, 2011 - 10:08pm.
WHO wouldn't love to spend a year in Paris?!? Aww, to finally go overseas to a place I've only seen in movies or read about. Yes, I would LOVE to spend a year in Paris along side with my youngest son. He has taken French classes since jr high and is about to graduate and has always wanted to visit and experience what Paris has to offer...and has mentioned a few times that he'd rather live there than here in the USA.
Let's Go
Submitted by Teri H (not verified) on January 27, 2011 - 8:32pm.
Ok those tips inspired me. I would love to go to Paris. I cannot imagine the photographic possibilities that would await me and parks and castle grounds that I can pictures myself reading in. I want to win one of those trips ;) Off a trip with European sights that are found in some of our favorite reads would be fantastic!
I have heard great things about this book! Congrats on its release and I would love a copy to read, maybe outside in the sun at home, but I could imagine I was in Paris through the descriptions ;)
Crepes Away
Submitted by Kaya H (not verified) on January 27, 2011 - 8:28pm.
Ok I see these fantastic pictures of Crepe carts all over the web and cannot wait one day to walk the streets of Paris and take delight in their wonderful eats!
Great tips. I will have to save them for the date.
a year in Paris
Submitted by Dawn N. (not verified) on January 27, 2011 - 8:06pm.
When I was in high school (MANY years ago) I took two years of French (my French name is class was Jeannette) thinking I was going to run away to Paris after I graduated, taking in the sites, looking at the art, eating French cuisine and listening to the extremely handsome men (because aren't all French men extremely handsome?) speaking French and finally meeting the man of my dreams with whom I'd settle down and have a house full of little French babies. *sigh* As a 40something wife and mother the latter is out of the question but I would love to spend a year in Paris doing everything else I dreamed of so long ago.
A year!
Submitted by Valerie Burleigh (not verified) on January 27, 2011 - 7:34pm.
WOW!!! What experiences would I have spending an entire year in Paris? Would I teach there too? Oh, the possibilities!!!
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