Question of Etiquette

[larisselillie]

My host parents are throwing a small dinner party tonight, just them and two other couples. It seems like a charming idea, but I am confused on a question of etiquette. I am not invited to the dinner party, and because I was only informed this afternoon that it was happening at all, I also have no other plans tonight, meaning that I am here while

Comments

[_arak_]

Their French sense of things is probably at least as strong as your American sense of things. They probably assume that you know protocol, just as we might assume that they would know how we do things here. You've already mentioned to me that they do see you as childlike because your French isn't quite up to the level of a young French adult. I don't think you're being a bad guest at all. You're just in a new place with new customs to get used to. Don't overanalyze it.

I probably would have retreated to my room and stayed there for the duration of the dinner party, too. Strangers are scary. Strangers who don't speak my language are even scarier.