Re: Totally OT: etiquette in text messages

On 2009-08-03 10:35:27 +0100, Judith in France <judith.lea99@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> said:

On Aug 3, 10:05 am, Sacha <sa...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
<snip>The French are very punctilious about such things.  I was asked to call
my French sil's parents by their Christian names and stupidly thought
that was an invitation to tu-toi them.  My Italian mil (yes, League of
Nations sort of family) gently told me I should still address them as
"vous", which I found very confusing.   I was with friends in France
who are English but had lived in their French village for many years.  
One evening we went for a drink with their French friends with whom
they played golf at least twice a week and saw socially on other
occasions.  My friends suggested that they move from just Christian
names to tu-toi.  There was a pause while husband and wife looked at
each other and were obviously a bit shocked by this.  Reluctantly - it
seemed to me - they agreed but I know my friends made a bit of a faux
pas.  ;-)   I'm just thankful we've got past the leaving of calling
cards stage!
-

I find it awfully confusing too especially the number of kisses one
gives and gets depending on how well known we are to each other. In
the last year something lovely has happened, Marie-Louise my very
elderly neighbour, kisses me as a member of her family and I have to
admit, I am more than fond of her.

Judith

That's a huge compliment! The kiss thing seems to vary from region to region, too. I've seen up to four going on in Provence. Makes you wonder if they have a high incidence of glandular fever! ;-) One Frenchmen I knew always used to kiss my hand which was quite swoon-making! But that's for married women only, IIRC.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

.

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