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and "merci." Never, never address a waiter as "garcon." The word means "boy," and has the same connotations in French as it has in English.

2) Dress and behave appropriately for the culture. You're in Paris, not Malibu, so dress for Paris. Leave your flip-flops, baseball caps, saggy jeans, and t-shirts with the funny slogans at home. Spit out your gum, comb your hair, and stand up straight. If you have any metal bits in your face, take them out. The people I traveled to France with were all educators, and we dressed in our "teacher clothes." Everywhere we went we were treated well. In fact, several French people were surprised that we were Americans, since we didn't dress and act according to their stereotypes of Americans.

3) At least try to speak French. Before you go to France, go to the bookstore and get some recorded French language courses. The "learn French in a week!" recordings are a good place to start because they tend to emphasize the words and phrases that tourists need most. If you try to speak a little French to the people that you meet in Paris, very often they will answer back in English - even if it's only to spare themselves the pain of hearing their beautiful language mangled. Outside of major cities you will encounter fewer English speakers, so be ready to make yourself understood instead of demanding that people understand your English.

4) Remember that France is not an American amusement park. People live there, and when you travel to France, you are visiting their home uninvited. Yes, you are their guest, but the entire populace did not send you a personal invitation. You do not have the right to make demands. You cannot insist that the French do as Americans do or accept you just as you are, baseball cap, flip-flops, crackling gum and all. If you want an American-style tourist destination, the best place to find it is in the U.S.

So are the French hospitable to American tourists? Yes, if the tourists are hospitable to their hosts. To those who barge into France with anything less that politeness and respect for the French people, all I can say is, "Bonne chance!"

Learn more about this author, Karen Bledsoe.
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