Allez… Dieu Merci C’est Vendredi! TGIF, as we say every week, and bienvenue au week-end (welcome to the weekend). Weekends are made for taking a break, going out, perhaps meeting new friends… and that’s what we’re exploring today.
Voir no. 5 (See number 5)
Comment se faire de nouveaux amis en France… How to make new friends in France!
1. Être gentil(le): Be nice.
2. Étre interéssant(e): Be interesting.
3. Se promener avec une expression pensive (walk with a pensive expression) et un livre de Descartes à la main (and a Descartes book in hand). Not sure what kind of friends you’ll make, but it sure sounds French.
4. Don’t try this in Paris: Un petit complot (a little plot).
Faire tomber plusieurs feuilles de papier dans la rue (let fall several sheets of paper in the street), son sac à dos (your backpack) et pourquoi pas toutes ses courses, y compris des oeufs, du lait et des culottes de toutes les couleurs* (and, why not, all your groceries, including eggs, milk, and underwear in every color). Wait for un nouveau ami to stop to help you. Charmingly exclaim, “Oh, vous étes si gentil!” and invite your friend to prendre un café for his trouble.
For extra credit, fall desperately in love and sell the movie rights to your improbable story. Perfectionnez votre français (perfect your French) through endless contract negotiations and eventually divorce court. When you’re back to carrying your own groceries, repeat.
5. Apportez une bouteille de rosé au Jardin du Luxembourg, avec plusieurs verres (bring a bottle of rosé to the Jardins du Luxembourg, with several cups). The friends will find themselves.
6. Visitez le même café tous les jours (visit the same café every day). Fruitlessly attempt to make friends with le serveur by being poli(e) (polite), leaving des pour-boires (tips) and apportant des fleurs (bringing flowers). The server still won’t like you, but he might eventually take pity on you.
7. Loiter at une borne Vélib, a public bike stand in Paris. When a fun-looking group of amis potentiels grabs bikes and rides off laughing, suivez-les (follow them). Hang out at their destination looking aloof but dancing closer and closer until you’re so friendly you’re practically blood relations.
Do not try falling off your bike so they will stop at help you up (see no. 2, Don’t try this in Paris). And portez une casque (wear a helmet).
8. Join le Bdé (Bureau des élèves) at your university: ils organisent les fétes de la fac (faculté : school). This one might actually work, but I wasn’t smart enough to try it myself. Dites-nous si vous trouvez du success (tell us if you find success!).
Allez, go try it out. Bon week-end! Bon courage!
*Tout s’achète chez Monoprix! Seriously , only in France does the supermarché have beautiful lingerie but no deodorant aisle. I am not giving in to stereotypes. This is true.
8 Ways To Make Friends in France is a post from: French Blog
