Arriving in Paris in 3 days - advice please!

In 3 days, I%26#39;ll be in Paris on a trip with a youth group. We%26#39;ll be packing in as much as possible in our short 4-day stay. However, I%26#39;d like some advice or suggestions about things like shopping, language, dining, behavior/customs, or just general stuff. I%26#39;ve read a couple of guidebooks and studied French for 5 years, but I%26#39;ve still got the jitters! Any words of wisdom are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

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Alrighty then...nevermind!

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Ok, take a deep breath! Your question is very general, so I%26#39;d advise lurking on the forum and reading some posts to get ideas. In general, I%26#39;d say just enjoy yourself. Speak French to people and be polite. Greet shopkeepers. Expect dining to take longer than you think it will and ask for the bill (l%26#39;addition) when you want it. Try to relax and don%26#39;t worry if you can%26#39;t see everything. Come back.

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This %26#39;guide%26#39; by %26quot;Tom%26quot; is quite fun but informative... reading it might appeal to your youth group..

http://troi.cc.rochester.edu/~tdip/tomsguidetoparis.htm

The KEY things to remember:

1. you aren%26#39;t at home anymore - they don%26#39;t do it %26#39;your way%26#39;

2. things will be different - enjoy it

3. be very patient

4. ALWAYS say %26quot;Bonjour%26quot; and %26quot;Au Revoir%26quot; and %26quot;S%26#39;il Vous Plait%26quot; and %26quot;Merci%26quot;, and AKS %26quot;Parlez-vous anglais?%26quot; first

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Is googolplex related to alef nol ? (sp ?)

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If you try to use your French, people will be very understanding for the most part. They appreciate the effort. The previous poster is right: use %26quot;Bonjour%26quot; %26quot;Merci%26quot; %26quot;Au Revoir%26quot; %26quot;S%26#39;il vous plait.%26quot; Another thing to remember is that restaurant culture is very different from America. In the US, waiters return every 10 minutes to see how you are and if they don%26#39;t, we think they%26#39;re rude. In France, waiters leave you alone to enjoy your meal, and if they don%26#39;t, then they%26#39;re rude. So what would look like slow and unattentive service to an American is really French culture%26#39;s insistence that you savor your meal. Also, while a 15% tip is included in pretty much every restaurant bill, you should leave a couple more euros if service was good. Tipping hotel maids, on the other hand, is not generally done in France.

Don%26#39;t be nervous, people in Paris are very nice--despite their reputation to the contrary.