Introduction: Not another book about France! -- PART I: FROM FAR AWAY: Welcome to France -- What makes the French so French? -- The weight of the past -- They drive me crazy! Ils me rendent dingue! -- PART II: FACE TO FACE ... : With the self -- With the family -- With the school -- With friends -- With romance -- With work -- With politics -- With religion -- With society -- Dialogue with two worlds -- PART III: COMING TOGETHER: FOR WHAT, AND HOW! : Rhone-Poulenc Rorer: case study of a successful French-American merger -- Working across cultures -- Professional guidelines -- How to succeed in an expatriate assignment: insights and guidelines.