Have you ever heard rumor of the French being rude, or unfriendly? It's a common misconception on many Americans' part. The French culture is not the same as American.

       When we meet someone new, a complete stranger, usually the first thing we do is smile. We smile to show our openness to meeting this new person, and because this is what's considered friendly and polite. We also often tend to smile at strangers even when they've offended us, when we don't quite understand what they're trying to say, or other reasons that don't really warrant a friendly expression.

       The French are nearly the opposite. They don't smile at random people when they walk down the street, they don't smile in a conversation unless they really think that something is funny, or exciting. If an American were to go to France and grin at every new person they met, like we usually do here, the people would probably think you were a bit odd, and not return your smile. It's not considered in any way rude or unusual, it's just a part of the French culture that happens to be different from us.

       I find it interesting that something as small as a difference in facial expression between two countries can give the people in each such an odd conception of each other!