I have a customer named Jessica Forde.  She is a French actress.  Her site is http://www.jessicaforde.com.  Some how over the years as I have with many customers we became friends.  Yesterday we were catching up as I helped her with a customer service issue. We talk about simple things, and I keep her abreast of my family.  Strange enough she and I talked last year and I can't help but think she saw my divorce coming.  Go figure. She lives in Paris and we got to talking about my opinions on France, the French people and the culture. 

If you know me, you may know that I know little of France outside of what my father told me when I was a young boy.  He traveled to France a few times and had a lot to share.  What little else I know of the country I know from pop culture, news and world politics.   I also had one story my ex told me of from a trip I paid for her to take with a girlfriend of hers.  She told me that when they spoke English the Parisians where rude to them, but when they spoke Russian, they were treated in a more dignified manner and got better service. 

I bounced this story off of Jessica and the stories my father told me.   In the end she taught me a whole lot and I must say my opinion of the French has been swayed a good bit.  Before this conversation my interest has been in visiting the south of France through the French Alps from northern Italy.  I've wanted to visit many smaller towns outside of Paris.  I even wanted to visit Paris itself for the museums and sights, but thought why bother if I'm going ...   more »