The French have a reputation for being rude and zealously protective of their beautiful language, often refusing to speak English to tourists even if they're able. (I had this experience with an SFR telecom operator who apparently had been instructed NOT to speak English to me.) No matter where I am in the world I try not to jump straight to cliche cultural conclusions, prefering to look for different patterns and trends and come up with my own.

What I can tell you for sure is that the reception I get from the French is very different to how I was received in Ireland and Scotland, where people literally invited me in off the street for a cup of tea. In the UK and Ireland most people I met were curious about what I was doing, in France most of them are  not. I should point out that my French is very basic, just enough to get me by but most of the snobs I've had have happened before we get to the talking part, so it can't just be a language barrier.

Warching the All Blacks in Paris I met Claire, (above) an ex-pat Kiwi who shared her theory based on 16 years of living in Paris. She thinks the French are the polar opposite of New Zealanders. Your average Kiwi is super friendly and will act like your best friend instantly but over time that might start to fade as you get to know each other. Whereas the French don't like you at all to start with but if you persevere and prove yourself over time they will embrace you as a friend forever. Because of the nature of my trip I don't have time to build long-term relationships which presents quite a challenge for me. Do you travel for people or for places? I'm very much a people person so the lack of connection I was feeling hit me hard - ending in tears on a couple of occasions. Sob sob!

Another French man I met explained that when he goes to the pub to meet his friends, that's why he's there - to meet his friends, not to talk to strangers. This insular theory might explain why only a handful of people have initiated a conversation with me so far, perhaps preferring to live in their own fromage flavoured bubble?

But then there's the odd person who doesn't fit the mold. Like a pastry chef I had an animated two minute discussion with yesterday who was actually interested in why I was cycling around the world on a bicycle. Maybe it was the French who invented the tough love concept? After two weeks of very little kindness, one pastry chef offers me a smile and a few kind words and I end up wagging my tail like a puppy.

There's also the possibility that it's not the French at all, it's me. In Scotland I cycled into each town as Indiana June, the intrepid adventurer but in France I roll in, trying to remember which side of the road to cycle on and avoiding eye contact just in case someone says something I don't understand. I'm completely intimidated like a meek little mouse and unless your name is Jerry, who wants to talk to a mouse?

Every day I'm in France my confidence grows and I find myself meeting the stares of the people I encounter. Just now, a couple of old woman were chatting away to each other, laughing at my cycle picnic so instead of getting embarrassed I offered them both a plum - an unexpected gesture on my part but it made them laugh and lightened the mood.

The French don't suffer softies, they respect confidence and the more I can hold my head up and get on with it the better reception I seem to receive. If you don't try, they definitely won't try, it's that simple. But if you can swallow your pride and make the first move you might be lucky enough to see a tough exterior soften before your eyes. Well that's my thoughts on it anyway… and if all else fails Italy and Spain aren't too far away. What do you think? Are the French as rude as some people would have you believe? Or are the millions of tourists that invade their country the ones to blame?

These observations are based on personal experiences I've had during about 6 weeks (total) that I've spent in different provinces of France, eating far too many crossiants over the past few years.