Dodging smoke exhaled into your face, when you say something silly, is part of being welcomed into French culture. The risk of a smoke puff in the face never stopped me from asking questions and taking risks during my year living in France.
Playing mind-games and trash-talking tend to be required skills in almost any competitive game. Yet I never expected to hear the words "Canada Dry" used to rattle me, while playing boules in the South of France!
