Need to know the best way to be a Parisian? Ever puzzled what makes Parisians completely different from the remainder of the French? We caught up with French comic Olivier Giraud, whose one man present in Paris “How you can be a Parisian in a single Hour” has been seen by greater than half 1,000,000 individuals from world wide. And he defined all!
Olivier Giraud is a Parisian, a comic, an writer, and a legend. He’s a person who makes individuals roll off their seats laughing within the packed theatre he performs to in Paris along with his one man present the place he’s taught greater than 1 million individuals the best way to be a Parisian too – in only one hour. And in case your mother and father taught you to develop as much as be a form individual with values corresponding to politeness and punctuality, nicely neglect all that as a result of if you wish to be a Parisian Olivier says, you simply can’t try this. His brilliantly enjoyable present ‘How you can turn into a Parisian in a single hour’ on the ‘Théâtre des Nouveautés’, at Boulevard Poissonnières, is an absolute important Paris go to. It would clarify the cultural variations between Parisians and nicely, everybody else. And it’ll make you snigger out loud. And I promise you’ll go searching you in Paris with renewed awe. So college students, sit again, concentrate and prepare to seek out out extra about life within the Parisian jungle based on Olivier Giraud.
Are Parisians boastful?
In the case of Parisians – it’s nearly like we consider them as a separate race from the remainder of the French, possibly the remainder of the world. However what’s delusion and what’s actuality. Let’s have a look at among the cliches beginning with the well-known vanity of Parisians. Is that true? Or false? Are Parisians boastful?
Olivier Giraud We Parisians are all boastful. I imply, we stay in probably the most stunning metropolis on this planet. We converse French with none accent. We now have one of the best eating places. It might be such a pity to be a pleasant individual. So yeah, after all we’re all boastful.
Janine Marsh You say that, however I’ve to say that many of the Parisians I’ve met are good!
Olivier Giraud Most of them are good? Hmm however more often than not, when you see a pleasant individual in Paris, when you ask them questions they usually reply properly, they arrive from the ‘provinces’!
Are Parisians all slim?
Janine Marsh That is what everybody believes in all places world wide. And truly, I imagine it too, as a result of I used to be as soon as in Paris having lunch on the Cafe de la Paix, close to Opera Garnier. And it’s a well-known restaurant. It’s very gastronomic. And I used to be sitting there having a scrumptious steak chips. And a girl sat subsequent to me on the desk. And he or she was clearly French, and clearly Parisian as a result of she ordered a bowl of lettuce for lunch, only a bowl of lettuce, nothing else. After which she mentioned: “Can I’ve the ketchup please?” And he or she put some ketchup on it. And he or she had nothing else for the entire lunch that I used to be there, anyway, so true or false? Are all Parisians slim.
Olivier Giraud I’d say that Parisians are fairly slim. I used to stay in America for 5 years. And after I got here again to Paris, I used to be very shocked concerning the Parisians. And I checked all of the numbers. Like, in Paris, there may be solely 10% of the people who find themselves obese. And I believe it’s as a result of the individuals run on a regular basis. We’re strolling like greater than 5 kilometers per day with the Metro and all of the steps. And Parisians are very cautious about meals. Even on the meals market they attempt to discover like a great product, natural product. And we don’t snack. And there’s a cliche of the Parisians each morning with the croissant, the French baguette, the jam… all of the charcuterie and the cheese. We attempt to be very cautious concerning the meals and the best way we glance.
Janine Marsh It’s a very unusual factor as a result of everyone world wide assume French individuals simply eat croissants and, and chocolatines or pains aux chocolat and Nutella unfold thickly on toast and baguettes and desserts and wine and cheese all day lengthy. However really…
Olivier Giraud No, it’s not. It’s flawed.
Janine Marsh So what do you may have at breakfast?
Olivier Giraud Solely a espresso. A ‘cafe allongé’ which is sort of a sort of American espresso. It’s like espresso with scorching water. For Parisians – espresso solely, although typically if I’ve company in my home, I’ll purchase some croissants – possibly 3 times per 12 months…
Janine Marsh 3 occasions a 12 months!
Olivier Giraud Yeah. Or 4 occasions.
Janine Marsh Who eats all of the croissants then?
Olivier Giraud Who eats the croissants? I believe that the younger individuals, I believe the kids like the youngsters they love the ache au chocolat. Otherwise you say ache au chocolat in Paris or in any other case in South of France is chocolatine. It’s like an enormous battle in France. There may be the crew chocolatine and the crew ache au chocolat, who’re at all times combating. The children have the ache au chocolat you already know after faculty. They like to have one. In any other case, vacationers love the croissant and the ache au chocolat, however Parisians, not fairly often.
Janine Marsh I like a croissant for breakfast!
Olivier Giraud You don’t stay in Paris.
What do Parisians put on?
Janine Marsh My good friend Vanessa is a real Parisian. And he or she was born and bred in Paris, and she’s going to by no means ever depart Paris, she says. She additionally won’t ever ever put on any color however black. Significantly, I’ve identified Vanessa now for I don’t know, possibly 12 years and I’ve by no means seen her put on something however black trousers or black swimsuit or a bit black costume once we’re going out within the night. Is that this a Paris factor?
Olivier Giraud Sure, it’s. For me too, I put on solely black. And typically somebody is like, let’s be loopy, placed on some gray or darkish blue. However I believe Parisians attempt to really feel invisible, you already know. And you’ll see within the Metro, the vacationers with the flowers and black and crimson, like crimson, pink, yellow… However Parisians yeah, they wish to put on a darkish color.
Janine Marsh Wow, to be invisible. Is that as a result of it’s such a busy city? Nicely, you already know, it’s probably not a busy metropolis in comparison with London, I suppose, or New York, which is, you already know, fairly a bit larger. However I assume when it comes to France, it’s fairly a busy large metropolis. So being invisible is an efficient factor?
Olivier Giraud I believe it’s a great factor. And like Coco Chanel used to say, I like all color so long as it’s black.
Janine Marsh Do you put on black pyjamas?
Olivier Giraud On a regular basis? Black or gray.
Olivier Jauffrit What about pants?
Olivier Giraud Pants? Darkish blue denims
Janine Marsh Wow.
Olivier Giraud Solely. After which within the theatre it’s solely in black.
Janine Marsh So that you push the boat out with blue denims and a few flash of color amongst all of the black shirts and pants and socks. I have to say once you’re in Paris, you do discover lots of people sporting black. So proper now I have to assume that everybody sporting black is a Parisian and everybody not sporting black is both from outdoors of Paris or a customer.
Olivier Giraud Subsequent time you come to Paris Janine, solely in black.
Janine Marsh I’m really going to Paris on Wednesday, and I’m gonna put on black and see if anybody thinks I’m Parisian.
Olivier Giraud You need to.
What’s a Parisian BoBo?
Janine Marsh Okay, it is a query from a good friend of mine, who lives in London and she or he mentioned she went to Paris and she or he was overhearing individuals in a café they usually have been chatting they usually have been saying: ‘Bobo’, il est ‘Bobo, elle est ‘Bobo’. What’s a Paris Bobo?
Olivier Giraud So the time period bobo is a combination of two phrases. Utilizing the primary letters to every phrase. First ‘bourgeois’ which suggests a wealthy individual. After which ‘boheme’ as in Bohemian. The 2 first letters of every are ‘bo’, so it’s bobo. Translation: a wealthy one that lives like a poor individual.
Janine Marsh So does a bobo eat croissants for breakfast?
Olivier Giraud They’ll eat croissants however I believe they love the croissant with some pumpkin seeds! That is actually bobo and the bobo is sort of ‘we’ve got to battle to save lots of the planet’ for instance. They go on holidays like 10 occasions per 12 months. They go to the Reunion island, they go to America, they journey quite a bit. So I believe that they save the planet solely you already know with mates… speaking like this, however not doing that an excessive amount of.
Janine Marsh Do they put on black? As a result of that’s not very bohemian.
Olivier Giraud Yeah, they put some colors the bobo! A bit extra color and a little bit of flowers. You could find some bobos near Canal St Martin, within the eleventh arrondissement. You could find them each Sunday morning in a market shopping for like 10 euros a kilogram apples. However they’re so joyful like ‘yeah, it’s a great high quality’, after all for 10 euros! You discover a few of them within the nineteenth arrondissement, the twentieth and now in Montreuil. It’s a suburb with lots of bobos!
Janine Marsh So, if you wish to go bobo-spotting, head to Montreuil or the eleventh arrondissement. And spot individuals sporting black garments with a splash of color and possibly consuming croissants, for a real sight of Paris.
Are Parisian waiters impolite?
Janine Marsh: Proper, now this could be a troublesome query really. As a result of I believe there are two completely different solutions to this personally. However there may be one reply that I’ve skilled and it’s about Parisian waiters. when you learn any magazines, when you learn any web sites about Paris, individuals will go ‘oh, Parisian waiters, they’re so impolite. They’re additionally boastful to purchasers.’ You’d assume that going right into a restaurant spending cash by shopping for meals, shopping for wine and eating there that you’d be handled rather well. However how true is it {that a} Parisian waiter will likely be impolite to a shopper?
Olivier Giraud I’ll say that in Paris, we’ve got completely different sorts of eating places. In the event you go to a very excessive class restaurant, more often than not, I imply 95% of the time the waiter will likely be good, as a result of they’ve an enormous repute, they usually need to be good. However when you go to a Brasserie, even for Parisians it’s very laborious to discover a good one that’s like, once you arrive: “hiya, how are you? Welcome!” I believe it by no means occurred to me up to now 5 years. So yeah, okay, I’ll sit, and their facial features means, ‘ahhh, one other visitor, I’m fed up with this job.’ We’re used to this in Paris. However sure, so so many vacationers are very shocked about the best way they’re handled by the waiters. However that’s a Paris factor, it’s like this, and they don’t seem to be too good, however they are often quick. And also you eat nicely. And the issue is – the information are included in Paris, and in all of France. In order that implies that they don’t need to be good, as a result of the service is paid already. In America: ‘hey, welcome to the Cheesecake Manufacturing unit!’ They’re very good and you then give them a 20% tip. In Paris, maybe you can provide one or two euros if the service is sweet. However more often than not you permit nothing.
Janine Marsh You could possibly go right into a restaurant they usually may simply be completely terrible for you. And so they’re nonetheless going to get a tip, whether or not you prefer it or not.
Olivier Giraud Sure! There are some guests you already know, they assume the information should not included. In order that they add like 10 or 20%, even when the service is unhealthy, however, reallly they don’t need to be good.
Janine Marsh I haven’t actually had that many unhealthy experiences. However I’ve had the look that you just described, you already know the place I’ve walked in and simply requested for a cup of espresso. After which they have a look at me as if I’ve I requested for one thing actually unspeakable, fairly than a cup of espresso. However you’re proper – they’re quick. And also you get what you need.
I noticed an indication as soon as in a restaurant and it mentioned when you ask for a espresso and also you say ‘Bonjour un cafe s’il vous plait’ you’ll get it for one value. And when you stroll in and simply go ‘un cafe!’, you get it for a a lot greater value. I don’t know if that’s true.
95% of the time, you’re not going to get a impolite waiter in Paris. Easy as that. Smile, say Bonjour. Say ‘s’il vous plait’. You’re in all probability going to get a very nice joyful waiter. Yeah, yeah, that’s what I reckon.
The place to buy groceries in Paris?
The place does a typical Parisian go searching for garments? , I suppose all of us assume it’s going to be the Champs-Elysées, which is at all times filled with customers, however I’ve to be sincere, most of them do appear to be guests. So I’m assuming that Parisians go some other place.
Olivier Giraud Yeah, Parisians don’t go on the ‘Champs-Elysées’ as a result of there’s not too many outlets, it’s solely like very costly outlets. Parisians go to ‘Les Halles’, near ‘Chatelet’. It’s a spot the place you may have many outlets. Rue de Rivoli, now it’s higher than as a result of there’s no extra automobiles. And Rue de Rennes as nicely, within the sixth arrondissement. You probably have some huge cash you’ll be able to go near the Champs-Elysées, to Avenue Montaigne, for Dior, Chanel, Jean-Paul Gaultier… you already know costly outlets.
Janine Marsh Millionaire’s row huh? So the Parisians by no means depart Paris to buy groceries? Do they ever depart Paris?
Olivier Giraud After all we’ve got mates within the suburbs. However for us, it’s horrible to go to ‘Banlieue’ (suburbs). It’s takes so lengthy. It takes much less time to go to Greece than going to the suburbs, with all of the strikes! No, I’m kidding, nevertheless it’s laborious for Parisians to go to the suburbs. It’s not simple for actual Parisians.
Janine Marsh So out of your expertise. I imply, you mentioned you lived in America for 5 years. So is purchasing in Paris a bit completely different from purchasing in America or anyplace else for that matter. Is Paris purchasing, you already know, a particular factor?
Olivier Giraud Yeah. In Paris, lots of people like going purchasing on Saturday. And the service is like it’s in eating places. It’s humorous. , when you go to America: Hey welcome to H&M, welcome. My title is Tracy.’ They’re very good. In Paris, it’s completely different I imply, you, you get in, you don’t need to smile, you already know, you search for what you need, and you then depart. It’s sort of completely different.
Janine Marsh It’s very completely different. I imply, I went purchasing in Paris, and I noticed this stunning costume. And I went in – and it was within the store window. And I mentioned, Oh, I actually love that costume within the store window. Do you assume you may have it in my measurement? And he or she simply seemed me up and down and mentioned ‘non’.
Olivier Giraud Non – c’est pas doable
Janine Marsh That is what she mentioned. She gave me a glance that mentioned, I don’t need you to put on my stunning attire you aren’t worthy!
Olivier Giraud Once you’re Parisian and also you buy groceries, if the gross sales advisor ask you ‘you want some assist?’. Even when you want some assist, simply say ‘non je regarde‘. You want to be alone, you already know, you don’t wish to be disturbed by any person. And, if later, you want some make it easier to say ‘yeah, oh, come on, I want some assist.’ After which the individual comes and can make it easier to however simply look alone – and don’t ask for any assist.
Janine Marsh Simply have a look at the garments the place every thing is black within the nook.
Olivier Giraud Fully. You then depart.
The place do Parisians go on vacation?
Janine Marsh The place did Parisians go on vacation? I imply, we learn in magazines that Parisians go to ‘Ile de Ré’ or they go to Deauville. Nowhere else in France do they go. Often Provence…
Olivier Giraud Provence? Yeah, nevertheless it’s extra widespread to go to Deauville or Trouville in Normandy. I don’t like Deauville. It’s all of the wealthy Parisians going there you already know with the Chanel and Jean-Paul Gaultier’s outlets in all places, and the gorgeous automobiles. However when you cross the bridge you may have Trouville, which is like Deauville, however when you may have a bit much less of cash than Deauville. The climate’s not wonderful there, however Parisians go there for a weekend or a protracted weekend. In addition they go to ‘Ile de Ré’. And Brittany may be very well-known now – everyone desires to go to Brittany and, it’s humorous when the Parisians go to a Brittany, they costume like individuals from Brittany you already know the ‘marinière’, a shirt with stripes, you already know? And likewise the plastic boots…
Janine Marsh I believe we name them crocs.
Olivier Giraud Oh yeah, the crocs. It’s sort of humorous. You may see the Parisians in Brittany: all look the identical.
Janine Marsh Wow. So Parisians go on vacation they usually fling off their black garments they usually placed on black and white as a substitute.
Olivier Giraud After which for the bobo, they love tenting, you already know. The Parisian bobo, they go tenting. They spend a lot cash for a bit house within the nation. No water or electrical energy – they pay a lot, however they’re very joyful. All of us take August holidays on a regular basis. That’s why every thing is closed in Paris, when you’re searching for a bakery or perhaps a financial institution – every thing is closed in August more often than not.
Janine Marsh It’s astonishing, isn’t it? I can’t imagine it. Generally I am going on vacation. Or I am going out for the day in July or August and eating places are shut and there’s an indication on the door saying ‘we’re on vacation’.
Olivier Giraud C’est ferme !
Janine Marsh That is peak vacationer season. How are you going to be on vacation? Motels shut in July and August too! I like that in France you might be both a July individual or an August individual. And there’s a title for this and I discover it nearly unattainable to say August in French.
Olivier Giraud In the event you go on holidays in August, you might be an ‘aoutien’. In the event you go on holidays in July, you’re a ‘juilletiste’.
Janine Marsh Wow, I’m starting to get an image right here. It’s both Ache au chocolat or Chocolatine. You both go on vacation in July otherwise you go in August, so there are two completely different tribes occurring right here.
Olivier Giraud And August is much more costly. Every part is so costly in August. Greater than July.
How you can be Parisian!
Janine Marsh Is there one factor that you need to do or that you just shouldn’t do to make you look extra Parisian and fewer a vacationer once you come to Paris?
Olivier Giraud The way in which you costume – you already know attempt to put some black or gray. So many occasions I can see like vacationers and you’ll see they’re vacationers they’re sporting like a shirt with like ‘God Bless America’ with the cap ‘In America we belief’. No don’t take this cover, maintain it at residence. And if I see very smiley individuals on the road, I’m certain they’re vacationers. Don’t even transfer your eyes or lips or no matter, simply attempt to be depressed… And the best way you converse as nicely you already know. Once you go to a bakery (a boulangerie), and that is one thing that makes me snigger on a regular basis, the vacationers say: Yeah, we wish the crapes, crapes. No, come on, crêpes once you say crapes, you’re making three errors. It’s not a cray. It’s crrr crrr, it’s Crêpe. And it’s one crepe, 2 crepes. Even when you’re proper theres an ‘s” on the finish. You don’t pronounce it. So once you say crapes, you’re a vacationer. And, the largest mistake individuals could make is like: Yeah, we love Macron! Macron is our president. Macaron is a pastry. , that’s an enormous distinction.
Janine Marsh I’m responsible of getting mates who name him Macaron as nicely and Mrs. Macaron…
Olivier Giraud Emmanuel Macaron and Brigitte Macaron. Hmmm…
Janine Marsh You’re saying about don’t smile, as a result of typically I’ve to go to conferences with French individuals. And so they at all times say to me, you smile an excessive amount of. Folks received’t belief you. However I wish to smile. I’m joyful.
Olivier Giraud , once you’re strolling in Paris within the streets, and also you see individuals smiling, you’re like, what occurred? Why did they smile? What occurred? And we really feel just like the individual is bizarre. So yeah, don’t be good.
Janine Marsh So now we’ve got realized from this: at all times put on black, have a cup of espresso for breakfast and nothing else. By no means eat a croissant, by no means a ache au chocolat. Don’t smile, don’t put on a baseball cap. And you’ll be a Parisian in Paris.
Olivier Giraud You may smoke as nicely.
Janine Marsh Yeah. Nicely, you already know, I don’t assume I can condone that, really, Olivier, on this on this present…
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