French Etiquette - Meeting and Greeting People

While you are in Montpellier, you will meet new people and greet some you've already met.  Here's how to not look like a fish out of water.

General Rules

• Say "Bonjour."  When you enter a shop, say "bonjour" to the shopkeeper.  In the morning, greet your co-workers with a cheerful "bonjour" as well.
• Say "merci" and "s'il vous plaît".  Use these terms liberally because really, you can't use them too often in France.  
• Use titles.  Always address people as Monsieur, Madame, or Mademoiselle unless invited to call them by their first name.  Madame is generally used for women over 18 years old and Mademoiselle for a minor.  The exception is with female servers in a restaurant, who should be addressed as Mademoiselle.  

Faire la Bise

• The famous cheek-to-cheek kisses are done with friends and family, almost never with someone you've just met, although they may be done when meeting friends of friends.  When in doubt, follow the other person's lead.
• The kisses are used to say hello or goodbye and they should never be interpreted as more than a friendly greeting.  Hugs in France are not really done and are considered even more intimate than la bise.  
• In Montpellier, they do 3 kisses.  In Paris, it is usually 2 kisses.  
• Start with your left cheek against (gently touching) the other person's left cheek.
• Yes - you must make those kissing sounds!  Not a "mwuah" sound - just a quick and soft kissing sound.
• Never kiss their cheek.  You just make a sound - no lips touching anything but air.
• You may take your glasses or hat off to avoid bonking someone.
• It doesn't matter what gender you are.  Men do the kisses with men, kids do the kisses with kids.