You may feel a sense of loss in that expressing yourself in another language means losing the comfort of the personality through which you have learned to define yourself. But making the effort will pay off in ways that are incalculably enriching-learning French will open your eyes to a different way of thinking and living in the world, and enable you to share the concerns and feelings of the French. The French in general like to talk, and the language in all its richness gains much of its melodic quality from the long and circular phrases needed to express what could be said in a word or two in English or German. You might notice that people don't talk very loudly in subways, buses, streets or public places. This comes from the French distinction between public and private life.
Personal life is private and is handled discretely.
The French will not openly talk about or be overheard discussing family matters, emotions, or money. With this silent backdrop it's not surprising that tourists seem remarkably loud and obnoxious. French intellectual life, which often carries over into the popular culture, tends to be characterized by obsessive analysis and verbal gymnastics. This is a phenomenon that applies mostly to political, social, and social issues as opposed to personal or emotional ones. Very often, films shown on television are preceded and followed by a panel discussion or debate.