Things to know before traveling to France | The Odyssey Online
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8 Things To Expect As An American Traveling To France

If you are from America and have never traveled to France, you are going to encounter some very different ways of living.

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In This Article:

1. The people who live in France don't use air conditioning.

The only way to cool down is by opening your windows.....

2. The traffic is way worse in France than in America.

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Cars in Paris will fight their way to the other side of the intersection. Traffic rules don't exist, it's like a maze to get through the mess.

3. Most people walk everywhere.

Even if your destination is 12 blocks away, you will more than likely get there faster if you walk rather than drive.

4. Kissing someone you meet on the cheek is very much a thing.

The stereotype wasn't a joke. If I was introduced to anyone in Paris, I would have to kiss them on each cheek. The awkwardness got very real.

5. If you eat at a restaurant, expect to be there for two hours.

In America, we will be in and out of a restaurant in less than an hour. The french, however, like to take their time eating each meal.

6. Soda refills are banned in France.

You've been waiting for a coke for so long, but guess what? They give you a tiny glass of coke, and when you ask for a refill, they will upright tell you no.

7. They charge you to drink water at restaurants.

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You're just dying for a water after walking 8 miles up and down the streets of Paris. You get to your table and the waitress bring you a tiny glass of water without icePo, then charges you 5 euros. What kind of sick monster does that?

8. It doesn't get dark until around 11:00 p.m.

I would be walking around all day, then look down at the time on my phone and it would say 9:00pm, yet the sun would still be out.

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