Doing Business with France: Tips for Women
By Tracey Wilen

"Let me give you an example of what life is like in Paris for foreigners. I was in Paris on business. I had my wallet in my jacket pocket, and my pocket was picked. Fortunately, I had some cash in the other pocket and my bank card from the U.S. I went to the bank that was aligned with my bank back home and put my ATM card into the machine. The card did not come out. It must have gotten caught or something. So I went inside and with my best French, I asked the bank to help me get back my ATM card from the machine. They asked me for ID. I said that I was robbed, so I did not have any ID on me. The bank teller said back to me in French then we cannot help you until you have ID. After some dialog and lots of frustration, I jumped into a taxi to get back to my hotel to get my passport so that I could get back to the bank and get cash before it was too late. I gave the taxi driver the name of my hotel, again in my best French, and he said, "Get out and walk, the drive is not long enough." After a lot of arguing, he took me to the hotel where I went to get my room key, which you have to leave at the front lobby on your way out. The front lobby manager said to me, "Where is your ID for your key?Õ I was very frustrated by now, but said in my best French that the ID was in my room as my wallet was stolen. After a lot of arguing, they took me to my room to watch me get my ID to prove who I was. I then returned to the bank. I showed the bank person my ID and again asked for my bank card. They gave it back to me and said, "We don't take bank cards here. "I said why didn't you tell me that before, and they said, "But we did not know who you were." Very frustrating. Only in Paris will you find this absolute arrogance! (Atherton)

French Culture