Mouais... Obviously, that must be yet another American local thing.
Californians are cool to us Frenchies when we're actually over there, just as all Americans anyway.
They're grumpy at us when we're in our country, but when we travel in theirs, they're quite friendly.
I guess we French should do the same. Being gentle and welcoming to tourists and potential immigrants, while aggressive to strangers abroad.
It would be a bit mean, bitchy, however.