"I want to go back to wondering if Eurotrash means there are trailer parks in Europe now?"

Actually there are such places.... I worked in France a little and passed a "trailer park" on the train route between Gif Sur Yvette and Paris daily....

They seemed very destitute and living in squalor... Graffitti lined the tracks the whole way...

however, I found the french people far more friendly than the average new yorker.

I got lost on the rue saint jacques.... I knew a bit of french and I asked for help.... I ended up INSISTING that some go home because they were wasting too much time on me.... one guy had a bank security guard come to the door of the closed bank and offer me a phone, (I could have been a bank robber for all he knew) The French were far more concerned about me reaching my destination than I was... I got the DEFINITE impression that they got a thrill out of working with some one that only knew a little of their language.... pretty much every stranger I talked to dropped what they were doing to help me find the address I wanted...

I also found that the French love an opportunity to practice english with an american...

there was only one example of the RUDE french person.... I was trying to find a train station and I approached an elderly french woman...
"Pardon maddemoiselle, mais je parle un peu francais"
(ie "excuse me miss but i speak little french")
before I could continue to ask the way to the train she said:
"Oui, c'est vrai" (yes that is correct)
and walked away....

I would be angry, but think how often a comeback like that comes your way....:)