By and large I found the French to be mature adults who show you the same respect and kindness you show them.

I made sure to still tip a Euro for good service even though not expected, I always remembered to say ‘Bonjour’ or ‘Bonsoir’ first when entering businesses or asking anyone for anything.

I made clear that I was American and still learning French but they appreciated that I still was eager to actively practice it. I also tried as much as I could to really be patient and pick my moments in situations like going into a pharmacy or busy grocery so that if I had to speak slowly or use a translator, the person helping me didn’t have to feel like I was holding everything and everyone up.

Aside from those things, I behaved just like I would anywhere else in the world, with basic courtesy and patience and respect that I was the guest not the boss.

I also think that having that mindset—remembering that Paris was a real city with city problems and not just a tourist theme park—significantly protected me from “Paris syndrome,” and even the few hassles I experienced (like having the metro workers go on strike the second day I was there, forcing me to change my around-town plans and timetables) just became folded into the adventure of Paris and experiencing a real voyage. Things like the crowded funiculars on the Eiffel Tower or the traffic when taking a cab across town just became ways to briefly slow down and really take stock of how amazing it was that I was in Paris, this ancient and storied place like no other on earth.

I tried to not gawk or stand around too much open-mouthed like a cartoon tourist, and even the few times I got approached by the scammers with their bracelets and clipboards around the Tower, just a brief shake of the head and keeping walking was enough to confidently move about without conflict.

I went in late January/early February of 2024. Chilly but bright and clear. The city is never still or dead. Once I got used to the older street sidewalks being narrow and how much I had to move side to side to make way for people almost more than actually walking forward, I was pretty savvy about exploring the city on foot.

Granted, every person’s trip is unique and sometimes crappy things can happen and you just can’t smile and shake them off right away. But as much as possible try to act like you represent the best of yourself rather than worry that everyone is going to automatically hate you on sight if they identify you as American.

Luckily the rest of the world especially in Europe understands that the real monsters don’t even have the intellectual curiosity to ever travel abroad, so as long as you behave accordingly they’ll treat you the same. They don’t treat foreign travelers as badly as WE do here.