La Bise

One thing I definitely wish I knew about before arriving in Montpellier was how to properly perform "la bise", that is, cheek kissing. As an American (a very shy, easily embarrassed American), la bise is something I'm still rather uncomfortable with. Americans like their personal space which is why we settle on a distant handshake or a wave. I had erroneously thought that la bise was reserved for close friends and family members so I was caught off guard when I arrived at my homestay and my host sister's boyfriend was the first to approach me with a kiss. Shoving your face against a complete (really good looking) stranger's can be very awkward.
I had also falsely believed that a double kiss would suffice...But of course not! I am in Montpellier and here you triple kiss. The standard double kiss remains in the north of France (namely Paris) and there are some places in France where the double double kiss is commonplace. Oh, and you don't actually kiss cheeks. You place your cheek against theirs and simply kiss the air.
Lastly, la bise is both a greeting and a way of saying goodbye. Girls kiss girls, girls kiss boys and boys kiss boys.

Et voila, la bise!