Bonjour!
Judell Balaquit
One of the most popular tourist destinations nowadays is
France. A country situated in Western Europe, this is a very famous country,
known for its reputation of having the capital dubbed the “City of Romance”.
Although, that’s not the only thing worth seeing in this very beautiful country!
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
Palace
of Versailles
The
Palace of Versailles is an amazingly beautiful building located in the
Île-de-France region of France. Not only is the architecture well done, but the
furniture, art, and other inside are also grand and incredibly dazzling. You will feel like a royal king or queen in your own beautiful palace.
Musee
du Louvre
This
tourist spot is very special, because not only is it a very beautiful
historical monument, it is also the world’s largest art museum! As a central
landmark of Paris, this structure itself is very grand and elegant. It contains
nearly 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century.
Carcassonne
This
is a city with walls surrounding it, and it also has 52 towers. Not only is the
city famous for its walls that make it look like a castle straight from a
fairy tale book, it also has many different attractions inside of it!
Eiffel
Tower
Of
course, who could forget about this one? This is one of the most well-known
structures of the whole world! Yes, the Eiffel Tower. A magnificent tower with
bright lights that will sparkle when day time comes, and is a perfect
destination for two lovers who really want to enjoy the essence of Paris,
France. Then you’ll know why they call it the “City of Romance”!
DOS
AND DON’TS
Don’t:
1) Complain about how long it takes to
get your cafe order.
French cafe culture is drastically
different from the American coffee culture. Whereas in the US you grab your
coffee and go, in France you must linger over your coffee, sit outside the
cafe, watch people pass by, and enjoy the moment. Also realize that “coffee” in
France has hundreds of variation, none of which are the kind of coffee you get
at Dunkin.
3) Assume everyone speaks English.
Surprisingly, a lot of people in France
do not speak English. Unless you are in a very famous tourist spot, you should
always remember not to do this.
4) Wear shorts.
Although teens in France do wear shorts in the summer,
sophisticated French women will either wear skirts, dresses, or lightweight
long/capri pants. Short shorts are considered a bit crass, and some restaurants
won’t let you enter their dinner service in such casual clothing.
5) Refer to superiors by their first
name.
The French system is rather hierarchical, and students should
refer to anyone older than them as madame or monsieur, or by their appropriate
title. Never use the “tu” form of speech (the French equivalent of a casual
“you”) – instead use the “vous” form in phrases such as “s’il vous plait”,
“avez-vous…”, and “Je vouz remercie.”
Do:
1) Learn key French phrases.
When entering a store, always greet
people with a “bonjour”, make sure to thank them with a “merci”, and always say
some variation of “au revoir” on the way out. Politeness is incredibly
important in France.
2) Dress well.
France is also known for being a very fashionable country. You
don’t have to dress fancily, but do dress well. That means a clean pair of
jeans, a cardigan, comfortable but well-maintained walking shoes, a classic
dress. Classic style trumps the latest trends – so leave the sequins at home
and bring your best basics.