外国文化差异.doc

Meeting people for the first time. French people observe formal etiquette. They are very particular with manners and they put this into practice in all situations especially when meeting people for the first time The handshake is the most common act the French do when they meet people for the first time. They shake hands upon meeting and before leaving. Friends greet each other by kissing on the cheeks. To show respect, always address people with the title Monsieur or Madame during first meeting What most important is It might appear discourteous and arrogant to immediately begin speaking in English, hoping that your counterpart will in your first meet.When attempting to converse in France, be it with a shopkeeper, waiter, policeman or local, you should as least make a certified and respectable attempt to speak some elementary conversational French. When seeing friends for the first time ,guests are expected to bring with them a gift like flowers, a cheese dish or a bottle of wine. Flowers should be given in odd numbers but never 13 since this is believed to be an unlucky number. There are also particular kinds of flowers that should not be given to French people to avoid offending them. Any kind of white flowers are only used during weddings; white lilies or chrysanthemums are only used during funerals; red carnations symbolizes bad will. When giving wine, choose the best in class. French are very selective with their wines. The other choice facing people is the choice between Tu or vous, formal and informal, when speaking French is quite confusing, usually you use the formal way with friends and family, despite your mother in law or aunts if they are French will usually use the formal way to talk to you, your colleagues at work will use the informal way but first wait for them to start using tu. Last but not least ,kiss hello to greet each individual with the appropriate number of kisses on the cheek. Among the 20- and 30-something generation it’s pretty m