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France is a country where hospitality, and a genuine concern for one's guests and making sure they're comfortable, has become almost an art form - and this includes their hospitality towards American tourists.

Of course, like any host, it can be difficult to deal with a rude or obnoxious guest, and this is an impression that sadly, I've seen a few Americans seem determined to leave with their hosts. (And any time we're in a country not our own, we are guests and should behave accordingly.)

Sadly, some tourists embody the term "the ugly American" - and act as if they were never taught even the most basic of good manners. I've seen tourists who go into restaurants, bars, and stores and speak loudly, butt in front of other customers, and speak only in English, as if they feel like their status as Americans afforded them special treatment.

These same people - who are often the ones who talk about how the French hate Americans, how rude they are and how they'll never go back to France - don't make the slightest effort to speak French, and they treat anyone who's not American - or at least English speaking - as if they're slightly "less than."

One of the many reasons I believe that the French are hospitable towards Americans is this: History in France goes back thousands of years, so an event that happened 50 to a hundred years ago seem like yesterday - which includes World War II. The French people - especially those whose parents fought in the war - still remember the Americans as heroes, who risked much to free them. (And if asked, they are often delighted to tell you family stories of what happened during the war, and of the brave American soldiers they met.)

Another reason is that the French people I know admire the Americans for our enthusiasm, our passion, and our belief that we can do anything we set our minds to.

It really doesn't take much effort on your part to get to see and experience the famous French hospitality first-hand. Are you lost? Just hold out a map and try your high-school French on any passer-by, and you'll see how friendly and helpful a typical French person will be.

Want to know the best restaurant in town? Ask a local.

Wondering where the best place to shop is, when is the best time to visit local museums, or how to find the least crowded beaches? All you have to do is ask.

Almost every French village and city has a local tourist bureau, and almost every one - hires people who speak at least a smattering of English. (In fact, most French children

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