I have lived in France for nine years， but I cannot walk down the street without being recognized（认出）as an Englishman from 50 metres away，before I open my mouth. Why？

In France，the quickest way to recognize an Englishman is that he’ll be the one with the belly（肚子）and the shirt hanging out. Englishmen often wear shapeless black T-shirts，either too big or too small. However，Frenchmen are more formal in dressing. Their T-shirts have collars（领子）. Shorts have buttons and zips rather than drawstrings（拉绳）. Shoes look expensive.

Englishmen think of lunchtime at 1 p. m. ，but for Frenchmen it is 12 o'clock，one hour earlier. This may explain the sad looks if an Englishman arrives at a local restaurant at 1：30 p. m. At that time most restaurants don't have waiters. All the cooking and serving may be done by the boss and his wife. When you are shown to your table，just sit there and wait. Don't wave your hands to the waiters. Englishmen think guests should do something to make the waiters pay attention to them. But in France some bread and water will come first，then the waiters will take your order according to the rhythm（节奏）of the restaurant. Have enough patience（耐心）！