Miscultured

baiser Noun, masculine (a) kiss; donner un ~ à qn to kiss sb, give sb a kiss; "bons baisers, Claire" "love and kisses, Claire" - http://www.french-linguistics.co.uk/dictionary/


Yes, most people have probably heard about it: how French people kiss each other on the cheeks.

I had heard about it before leaving for a one-month summer programme in France last year, but hearing about it was just not enough to prepare me for the real thing.

So, during the one-month period, I stayed with a host family who had five (yes, f-i-v-e) sons. One day, when we were having dinner, the 2nd son's girlfriend came over to join us.

She entered the dining room and gave a peck in each cheek to all members of the family, from the dad in his 50s to the youngest kid who was barely 6 years old.
I turned nervous. I knew I'd have to welcome her as well sooner or later, but I was not sure what to do.

It's like I was a total stranger to her.

So I thought I'd just offer her a handshake.

And, ya, when I was about to extend my right hand, her face was already positioned for le baiser. I had no choice, it's their culture. And I realised at that point of time that when the French people did it, they made some smooching noise as well although there's just cheek-to-cheek contact. Quite amusing.

My next le baiser was when I was leaving the house for Singapore. It's the farewell with my host mum and the youngest boy. The older boys, the dad, and I shook hands.

My French teacher here in NUS has told us before that even though the tradition of le baiser could still be found among French men, it's getting obsolete; blame it on the modernising world where affectionate and/or intimate gestures among men are frowned upon.