Oh my gosh, the French are so nice!

Because of all the talk, we expected Parisiens to be a bit cold and standoffish (not unlike many places in the U.S. we might name). But on the contrary, they are warm, friendly, and quick to smile and laugh. In fact, we have yet to encounter a single rude person, and have frequently been offered help even without asking. It's also great that nearly everyone speaks English! If only we could return the favor in kind.