Receiving a dinner invitation in France is a wonderful thing. I may not remember EVERY dinner - but many of them -- going back to the 1970s remain vibrant partly for all the great food served - but primarily for the flow of conversation.
And as Christopher noted this past weekend, people love to talk here - so what do you do when your command of the French language is less than perfect? Take the roller coaster approach and enjoy the ride.
What I love about conversing in French is that - although conversations can be just as superficial - the boundaries appear to be wider. All the etiquette books tell you to avoid discussing religion, sex and politics, but in France, the only really taboo subject is money. (Probably a close second is work).
Be prepared to talk about your president. (and regardless of your politics, don't embarrass yourself by tearing him/or her to shreds). I'm always amazed at how people can discuss politics at great length here - and often - you may never really know how people actually would vote.
And I can guarantee you that you are bound to feel sheepish about how little you really know about your own country. A case in point: Which states border Lake Superior? Usually after a dinner out, I spend the next day googling on subjects ranging from the War of 1812 to the origins of May Day in Chicago.
Sometimes a simple question can create plenty of discussion.
Example: What's the difference between an onion and a shallot?
Although it may be more difficult to speak in French than in English (with plenty of pitfalls and gaffes for sure), sometimes I feel freer to speak my heart in a second language. And thanks to that, the words are getting easier to find - even in English.
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