Society:

社会方面

We do the Bise (kiss on the cheeks) when greeting women. Number of kisses vary depending on the area you are in France, 2, 3 or 4 kisses. When greeting family you kiss everyone either male or female.

我们和女士打招呼的时候行贴面吻。在法国有很多种贴面吻的方式，在不同地区各有不同，可能吻2-4下，当我们和一家人见面的时候，和每个人都打招呼，无论男女。

There is free health care.

有免费健康保险。

Public school is free, you can have University degrees and never paid a dime. (only admin cost, few hundreds)

公立学校免费，直到拿到大学文凭都可以不用花钱（除了几百块注册费用）。

Generally when people get married and stay at family (not hotel), people invited would do a trick in their bed or during the night after wedding. This tradition starts to get lost, I think it was mainly in the country side.

一般来说，人们结婚时待在家里的时候（不是宾馆），被邀请的人要在他们睡觉的时候或者结婚之后的晚上闹洞房。这种传统可能要消失了，可能主要在乡村保留。

French have a lot of social benefits and still think pessimistic towards the future. (not a generality but seems more apparent when coming back for a visit)

法国人享受很多社会福利，却仍然对未来比较悲观（不是很普遍但是每当回来探望的时候这种感受就愈加强烈）。

There are lot of random traditions around the country. Getting chased by bull in a village (south), dress up as girl if you are a man and man if you are a girl and kiss everybody during the night during carnival (north-east), and more.

这个国家有很多罕见的传统。在村子里被公牛追赶的时候（南部），要男扮女装，在狂欢节的夜晚男人要假扮成女人亲吻每一个人，还有很多。

Work:

工作

French work 35h /week.

法国人一周工作35小时。

By default you have 5 weeks off every year. The more experienced you get and the more additional days you get off.

一年有五周缺席的机会。越有经验你的假期越长。

When you are paid monthly, you get an extra day off every month.

如果你拿月薪，你可以每个月额外多放一天假。

People can retire at age of 62.

大家62岁退休。

EDF (Public Electricity) / SNCF (Public Train Transportation) workers retire at 55.

国家供电系统，公共铁路交通工人55岁退休。

When arriving at work you need to greet everyone that works with you. Handshake/Bise depending of the gender. Can take a long time if you are working in a big department.

到公司的时候你需要和每个同事打招呼。根据性别行握手、贴面礼。如果你工作的部门人很多这可能要花很长时间。

All businesses are closed on Sunday. (vary a bit for touristy spots)

周日所有商店都关门（有些旅游景点可能不一样）。

Transportation:

交通方面

Pedestrians seem to cross a street wherever/whenever they want.

行人想什么时候，想在哪过横道都随他们。

You can travel to many countries either by train or plane for less than $100.

花不到100欧你可以乘火车或者飞机去很多地方。

Motorways are private in France and you need to pay to use them. (generally expensive)

在法国摩托车道是私人的，想用的话要花钱（都很贵。）

You need to drive at least 20 hours with an instructor prior being able to pass your driving license.

想要拿到驾照你要和教练至少开20个小时车。

Drink:

喝的

You got to get red wine with your cheese, that’s a fact!

你需要就着红酒吃奶酪，这是事实。

People drink aperitif prior dinner (1 or 2), it could be any type of long drink. Generally done when having people over or during weekend.

在晚饭之前要喝开胃酒（1-2杯），一般来说有人拜访或者周末的时候会多喝一些。

Also works after dinner, digestif (help you digest, well that what we think). Generally sweeter alcohol, just one glass.

晚饭后也喝酒，餐后酒（我们是这么想的，帮你消化）。一般来说更甜一些，只喝一杯。

French do not drink red wine outside dinner.

法国人只在晚餐的时候喝红酒。

Food:

食物方面

Meals take place usually at the same time everyday. People would rarely eat between meals and generally wait meal time even if hungry.

通常每天用餐时间一致。人们很少在每一餐之间吃东西，即使饿了也会等到开饭时间再吃。

Dinner time is usually around 8pm.

晚上8点左右吃晚饭。

When invited for a dinner, people usually bring flowers and wine.

收到邀请的时候，大家经常带一些花和红酒。

It's a common thing to have a 4 courses meal: Starter + main dish + cheese + desert. (Lunch &Dinner)

每一餐基本都是4道：前菜+主菜+奶酪+甜点（午餐和晚餐）。

Some catholic people would do a cross on the bread prior cutting it.

一些天主教徒会在切面包之前在胸前划十字。

We do not put bread up side down on the table as to respect it. From the expression: Il faut travailler pour gagner son pain = need to work to earn the bread.

为了表示对面包的尊重我们不会把它颠倒着放。表示：面包得来不易。

Kids’ snack could be just spreading butter on bread and powdering powder chocolate on top of it. Or take a piece of baguette and push a piece of chocolate bar in the middle.

把黄油淋在面包上，再撒上可可粉可能就是孩子的零食了。或者拿一个法棍中间夹一块巧克力。

Pregnant women eat unpasteurized cheese.

孕妇吃生奶酪。

Restaurant/Bar:

餐厅/酒吧

Tips are not a thing in France. Few euros are usually the norm if any are left depending of the price of the meal. (never a percentage)

在法国小费都不算什么。根据菜的价钱每个人都会留下几欧元的小费。

You need to ask the waiter/waitress for the bill or anything you want. They do not check on you every time.

你需要问服务员要账单或者问其他你需要的事情。他们不会每时每刻都替你检查。

When asking for a coffee, you are served with an espresso.

当你要咖啡的时候，端上来的都是浓咖啡。

You can drink in a bar with your parents when you are 16.

16岁的时候可以在父母陪同下在酒吧喝酒。