Almost French (pages 167-184)

The second topic on these pages which caught my eye as worth researching and writing about is the service in French shops and restaurants.

Why is it such a noteworthy topic for me?

It is striking for me because of the way Turnbull commented on the service in French shops and restaurants, saying that it is either brilliant or absolutely atrocious.

Wanting to get the hang of this notion of hers', I went online where I found another person who sees eye to eye with Turnbull namely Stephen Clarke. Here is a short update on him for those of you who aren't familiar with his name:

Stephen Clarke is a British journalist, novelist, former stand-up comedian, comic-book stories writer and bilingual lexicographer. In brief, he is an accomplished individual. More than ten years ago Clarke moved to Paris and has been living and earning his bread and butter there ever since. His biggest success as a novelist so far was the book "A Year in the Merde" where he writes about the tough time Paul West, an Englishman, has in France.
If you wish to find out more about Clarke and his book, visit these sites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Clarke_(journalist_and_novelist)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Year_in_the_Merde

Anyway, in an article for Guardian Unlimited entitled "How to play the French service game...and win" Clarke gives tips about how to be appreciated as a customer in France. As the issues he mentions in this article are akin to those Turnbull mentions in her book, I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt on the service industry in France and to you a synopsis of Clarke's advice.

Clarke's tips:

1. You have to become aware of the fact that the French person offering service is not your friend.

2. Always look a French waiter straight in the eye and call your order out immediately.

3. When confronted with shop assistants gossiping, interrupt the conversation if you desperately need what they have on offer.

4. Never get worked up because you are not being served immediately.

5. And remember that in France the customer isn't king. (S) He is at best an equal.

To read the article in full, visit: http://travel.guardian.co.uk/article/2005/jan/23/france.observerescapesection3