https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Always fascinating and frequently baffling, France is a country that often has people searching for answers on Google - but according to the search engine what are the most commonly asked questions about France and the French? https://www.thelocal.fr/20210812/sex-strikes-and-surrender-the-most-commonly-asked-questions-about-france-and-the-french Thu, 12 Aug 2021 17:26:50 +0200 sex-strikes-and-surrender-the-most-commonly-asked-questions-about-france-and-the-french Whether it's anti-vaccine sentiment or support for the far-right, French polls frequently throw up some surprising results - but how seriously should we take what the French tell pollsters? https://www.thelocal.fr/20211026/analysis-how-reliable-are-french-opinion-polls Tue, 26 Oct 2021 19:07:48 +0200 analysis-how-reliable-are-french-opinion-polls The traditional French greeting of a kiss on the cheek has suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic, but two thirds of French people have now returned to old ways. We asked foreigners in France whether they're ready to kiss again. https://www.thelocal.fr/20211019/la-bise-is-back-foreigners-in-france-divided-over-return-of-cheek-kissing Tue, 19 Oct 2021 17:45:09 +0200 la-bise-is-back-foreigners-in-france-divided-over-return-of-cheek-kissing After a year in Paris, British student Stephanie Stacey is heading home. She looks back on what she has learned, and which French habits she will definitely be hanging on to. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210916/the-5-french-habits-that-everyone-should-adopt Thu, 16 Sep 2021 18:28:31 +0200 the-5-french-habits-that-everyone-should-adopt The French curse word of choice is frequently an English one. The Local tries to get to the bottom of why the French are so fond of f**k - often in situations that would make an Anglophone blush. (Contains a lot of strong language). https://www.thelocal.fr/20190319/why-the-french-love-swearing Wed, 20 Mar 2019 00:51:13 +0100 why-the-french-love-swearing What is the price of rudeness? Between 90 centimes and €1.40, according to a sign in a café close to my home in the beautiful hills of Calvados. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210909/opinion-who-are-really-the-rudest-the-french-tourists-or-parisians Thu, 09 Sep 2021 16:41:39 +0200 opinion-who-are-really-the-rudest-the-french-tourists-or-parisians France's health passport - requiring proof of vaccination, Covid recovery or a negative test to enter venues including bars, museums and cafés - has been quite a controversial idea, but now at least one argument has been solved. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210825/the-health-passport-is-feminine-rules-french-language-guardian Wed, 25 Aug 2021 12:36:05 +0200 the-health-passport-is-feminine-rules-french-language-guardian It's one of France's best-loved pastries and a staple of most patisserie windows - but does the strawberry tart really have a secret sexual meaning in France? https://www.thelocal.fr/20190829/is-there-really-a-french-dessert-that-is-a-secret-code-for-swingers Thu, 29 Aug 2019 16:40:44 +0200 is-there-really-a-french-dessert-that-is-a-secret-code-for-swingers The land of fine dining where everyone sits down to a freshly cooked meal and a carafe of wine every day? Er, not exactly. In fact the French absolutely love fatty and sugary junk food. Here's what they really eat when they think no-one is looking. https://www.thelocal.fr/20210706/haute-cuisine-or-hotdogs-what-do-the-french-really-eat Tue, 06 Jul 2021 17:38:31 +0200 haute-cuisine-or-hotdogs-what-do-the-french-really-eat