The Paris Syndrome

Incurable romantic that I am, I’m spending my honeymoon in Paris. Now, my wife is Japanese, so I was startled to learn that at least 12 Japanese tourists a year need psychological treatment after visiting Paris. (Link.) Some of the reasons mentioned are the rude shop assistants, the dirty streets and the bag snatchers. To be honest though, I imagine this syndrome isn’t restricted to Japanese people or even Paris - any overly sheltered person going to pretty much any country in the world on their own and not as part of a tour group is liable to end up a little shaken. Reality versus hype. We all know which wins every time.

I’m going to make sure she’s fully briefed on all the cultural stereotypes, perhaps make up some new ones, and hopefully deflate the balloon a bit so she’s actually chuffed when she gets there. Although she might end up being mad at me for having lied to her, so that might also ruin the trip.

Decisions, decisions.

I know, I’ll just show her this -

Yup. That ought to do it.

Tuesday, October 24th, 2006 Bizarre, Humour Videos, Japanese News, Videos Trackback URL for this entry