Petite Anglaise

Ok, so I am going to try my best not to sound like a raging Anglo-Saxon feminist here, but it’s true that sometimes us women just want to have fun and enjoy ourselves! As a young (late twenties) single girl in a small rural French community, and the only Anglaise in the village, I tend to get rather a lot of attention from the local men, not all of which is welcome. Why oh why is France so full of “gros lourds” who seem incapable of having a simple friendly conversation and developing mutual respect without crossing the line (asking me out, declaring they’re in love with me, or simply stating that they would like to sleep with me)? Now I understand that “crossing the line” in France is not the same thing as in the UK, and that French attitudes to love and sex are totally different to ours (the French talk about sex more often and more openly, and it’s not considered offensive), and I am prepared for this – I have no problem with a bit of flattery or galanterie here and there – but the reason it all bothers me so much is because all I really want to do is be able to talk to people, practice my French, integrate into the community, find out who’s who in the village, learn some interesting things about the local area and its history, and develop some good acquaintances among the locals who will hopefully become good loyal friends someday. I’m not looking for love at the moment; I am single and very happy that way. I like my independence and freedom to do as I please, and enjoy having time to myself. The French guys just don’t get it. When I try to politely explain that I’m happy as I am and not looking for a boyfriend, they don’t believe me and continue to hassle me with more of the same kinds of comments. Ever since I split up with my last boyfriend a while ago, people won’t stop asking me if (1) I have found a new boyfriend yet, (2) whether I spent last night alone, (3) if I prefer women, (4) if I own any sex toys... For goodness’ sake! I thought that in France (more so than in the UK), anything concerning one’s love-life, (vie privée!), was supposed to be PRIVATE?? How on earth do French women deal with this sort of thing? I’ve tried everything: telling them truth (that I’m not interested and no, I’m not looking either), trying to avoid answering over-personal questions (doesn’t work – people just ask more and more), and trying to joke along with them by giving sarcastic answers to their invasive questions (which just feels so wrong, as I really don’t find this sort of thing funny, I just want them to shut up). What’s the best way of dealing with this kind of attitude without coming across as unfriendly? I really would like to get to know people on a friendly basis, but what does the average French girl say to a guy to ensure he gets this message? Any advice from real French women would be much appreciated!