Until you laugh at plastic fish, Bush will be a mystery

Times (UK) ^ | May 25, 2002 | Ben MacIntyre

[Cloud William]

Actually,the way Kennedy said it translated into "I am a poundcake",and the Germans still crack up at it today

That line keeps surfacing in jokes, too. I know I've heard it used on The Simpsons recently. Of course, the snotty Europeans would scoff at my appreciation of that show. They'll continue the haughty behavior, even as their nations sink into the rising tide of Islam. C'est la Vie.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

I found the French to be very rude when I visited there. But I rather thought the lack of eye contact had more to do with privacy and personal comfort zone than rudeness. They live and socialize in so much more crowed conditions than most Americans. If you are physically near someone but are not acknowledging nearness by not making eye contact then your are still alone or alone with your group.

In a restaurant, for instance, where it is noisy, very bright, and the tables are on top of each other (as most restaurants in Paris are), you are alone and your conversation is private if you put distance between your group and another by not making eye contact with any but those in your own group or a waiter.

[RightOnGOP]

Those are very valid points, and I agree for the most part. It is true their surroundings are quite compact, and our own (especially in the South and West) are all Texan by comparison.

I only add a small bit more about the lack of eye contact: even store personnel who arguably should be trying to make eye contact with you sometimes avoided it. Also, several experiences in restaurants with poor service: waiters avoiding eye contact when your food was interminably slow. Of course, their idea of lunch is two hours, and we were always ready to eat and go. Dawdling is not the American way to eat.

[freebilly]

Or in a nutshell, the French suck.

What do you expect from a culture that invented snail eating?

[MarMema]

It's a good reason for why Bush and Putin have hit it off so well, in part, though. The same good natures and simple enjoyment of things, love of humor and friendship.

[Pokey78]

BTTT