What cultural faux pas should I try to avoid making in Epinal?

We asked people in Epinal if they could share any humorous cultural blunders they commited. For new expats, keep in mind that these incidents are an inevitable part of expat life. Learning to laugh about them is the key!...

"It is important to be aware of the cultural customs of Epinal, in order to avoid any potential social faux pas. In particular, it is rude to sit with your legs crossed in public, and making too much noise while eating is generally frowned upon. Additionally, it is important to dress modestly and respectfully, as it is considered inappropriate to expose too much skin. Additionally, it is important to be aware of social protocol when meeting people; avoid using informal language and address people formally before inviting a switch to more casual language. Finally, it is important to be mindful of punctuality; be sure to be on time for any appointments or dinner dates," said another expat in Epinal, France, France.

"Several times, the different layout of the calendar (starting on Monday instead of Sunday) made me miss important appointments. I had an appointment at the consulate on a Tuesday, and when I glanced at the calendar to buy my ticket, I saw that it was on the second day of the week so my mind automatically thought "Monday." After 2 hours on the train to get there, the staff informed me that my appointment was the next day, but were kind enough to accommodate my mistake and get my paperwork signed that day. It happened once more after that before I realized why I kept confusing my Mondays and Tuesdays, and now I always double-check the date & day of the week instead of relying on the column under which the date appears on a calendar. Also, when meeting with the mayor's assistant for our pre-marriage interview (so he could customize our ceremony) I accidentally used the familiar version of "you" ("tu") instead of the formal version ("vous"), which resulted in a puzzled look from him and an embarrassed yet slightly amused look from my husband. Fortunately, afterward my husband assured me that my accent made it kind of cute, and that most French people understand when it's a foreigner. The rules on when to use which version are still not crystal clear for me (and I have no idea when one can switch from "tu" to "vous"), and from then on I've always been very careful about how I address people I've just met. Sometimes I even craft my sentences specifically to avoid needing to say "you."," wrote a member who made the move to Epinal, France.

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