I’m an American in Paris – these things will get you dirty looks here
France is just a oui bit different than the US.
One American woman who lives abroad in Paris shared a list of the five things that will get you dirty looks in Paris to TikTok – and some of them are so commonplace we wouldn’t even think twice about them.
Amanda Rollins, who goes by the username @americanfille on the social media app, has already reached over 1.3 million views on the video.
The first no-no on the list was eating while walking.
“The French don’t really snack,” Rollins claimed. “The one thing that you’re allowed to eat while you’re walking, only one thing, it’s a baguette, obviously. That’s the only thing that is acceptable to eat while walking.”
She said that eating anything else on the street is just “not super common.” The Francophile also explained that most people don’t really eat on the metro – their version of the subway – and that eating just happens mostly at meals.
In an email to The Post on Sunday, she explained that the video is a “generalization,” and that the tips are just from her observations living abroad.
“The things I mention are from my observations of life in Paris, my personal experiences, and what I’ve heard from French people. My word is not gospel (and if you believe it is, thank u but I haven’t started my cult yet), these are simply observations,” she wrote.
Rollins continued to The Post, “Life in France is different from the US in many ways, and these are just some of the quintessential American things that could raise some eyebrows over here in Paris.”
The next tip Rollins shared was not to speak in English loudly while you’re out and about.
“When I say loudly, I mean the volume that you normally speak at,” she explained.
“Listen, I love you guys, I am you guys, I’m one of you, this is some tough love here. You f–ing scream.”
Rollins then continued into the next piece of advice, which was that asking for a to-go box at a restaurant is pretty unusual among Parisians.
“That’s really uncommon, and it’s super not French,” she claimed. “You’re allowed to do it, I’ve done it before, it’s literally fine, I’m not saying you can’t do it, but because the portion sizes here are normal size … it’s not very common to not finish your meal.”
She admitted that if you do ask for a box, you might get some “looks” from others.
Her final two tips involved clothes – that wearing athletic clothing is not commonplace, and neither is being overly dressed up to go out to a nightclub.
“Athleisure is for the gym, or your home, your bedroom, actually,” she warned. “If you leave the house in like leggings or sweatpants or even joggers, depending on how they’re styled, you’re gonna get looks. I’t just not how people dress here.”
She continued, adding that wearing jeans and a top when going out on a Friday night is recommended over heels and dresses.
“You are not gonna see the full attire, the full mini skirts, heels, makeup,” Rollins said. “That said, you can do whatever you want, literally who cares if you get looks.
In the comments section of her video, many users seemed to agree with her take aways about the proper Parisian behavior.
“So what you’re saying is people in Paris have better etiquette. Im impressed. ♥️,” one person wrote.
Another seconded, “💯 on point! especially the eating while waking 😂.”
Others, however, seemed to be offended by the pointers.
“The way we don’t eat baguette EVER in the street,” someone claimed.
Another person typed, “Being in France sounds exhausting 😳.”
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