• Driving
• Religion
• Customs
• Shop types
• Useful Phrases
• Misc Info

Remember the French drive on the right-hand side. If you normally drive on the left, take extra care when entering and exiting junctions, joining main roads and entering or leaving roundabouts. Observe the speed limits in whatever area you are in, they are enforced rigorously. If you're caught doing just 25kph over the speed limit, you run the risk of having your license confiscated. Drive safely, for everyone's sake.

France is a secular Republic: in other words, the State and the Church are completely separate. However, several religions have a significant presence in France: Catholicism, the traditional religion of France; Protestantism; Islam; Judaism; and Buddhism, to name just a few. The best bit of advice that we can give here is to be tolerant and treat all religions and their followers with respect.

Christmas: Many old French traditions are related to the holiday season. Holding a puppet show on Christmas eve is very common and later at midnight, people attend church for the traditional Christmas Mass. After mass, they have a late Christmas Eve dinner, called le Réveillon (referring to the wake up or revival, alluding to the birth of Christ). Menus for this occasion change according to the region you are in but will usually consist of dishes containing turkey, capon, goose, chicken, and boudin blanc (white pudding).

Bastille Day: Celebrated on July 14, this is one of France’s most colorful traditions. The day commemorates the day The Bastille, a prison in Paris that was regarded as the symbol of the much-hated French monarchy of the times, was stormed and pillaged by angry mobs of French citizens in 1789. Called La Fête Nationale, many fireworks are set of as the day goes by, well into the night. Parades are also to be seen with dancing in the streets.

Bijouterie	Jewellry shop		Coiffeur	Hairdresser
Boucherie	Butcher shop		Crémerie	Creamery
Boulangerie	Bakery		Epicerie	Grocery store
Boutique	Shop		Fleuriste	Florist
Charcuterie	Pork Butcher		Mercerie	Drapery

bonjour	hello	tournez á gauche	turn left
bonsoir	good evening	tournez á droite	turn right
bonne nuit	good night	c'est lá-bas	its down there
au revoir	goodbye	c'est derriere	its behind
merci	thank you	c'est devant	its in front of
sil vous plait	please	c'est á cote de	its next to
pardon	excuse me	c'est prés de	its near