My initial impression was this is like France in Florida. If you go away from the hotels, your French language skills will be necessary. For example even in the tourist office on the island of Tahiti in the capital of Papeete, no one spoke English.

Baguette is in every store. Houses will often have one box for mail and another for daily baguette delivery. There are community hula dancing lessons in open fields.

It is a very gentle place. The people are very friendly and warm. The forests are as comfortable as gardens because they lack mosquitoes and animals. Dogs, chickens and small crabs roam free everywhere.