The French shake hands with everyone (family, children, strangers), at home, on the way to work, at work, on the way home from work, etc. Thus, in an office that employs perhaps a dozen people, no work will be done for the first half hour, while those who have not met since the day before remind each other who they are.
However, it is important to remember with whom one has shaken hands on any one day. The French regard it as extremely bad manners to shake hands twice, as though one had not taken adequate notice the first time.
It is still the custom to say "Bonjour (how do you do)" and "Au revoir (goodbye)." to one and all when entering or leaving a shop or bar. This is not because the French are excessively polite. It is because they see acknowledging the existence of others as a way of avoiding being rude. For the French manners means civilization. Without rigid formalities (严格的礼节), the primitive in them would assuredly assert itself (表露).
Kissing is not so much of a feature of French life as others supposed. But when it does take place, it must be done properly, according to the rules. He correct order is left cheek, right cheek, left cheek – very formal, very stylized (程式化的). In Paris four kisses are sometimes permitted: left, right, left, right. It can be inferred from the first paragraph that before doing his daily work in an office, a French employee will spend some time _______.