Moving to a foreign country forces you to reevaluate a lot of things, particularly if you are like I am, alone for the most part. What I find myself reflecting on constantly is myself as an American. I can see myself, my country, my compatriots through new eyes, and this is fascinating. I've learned to love my country, and see all the positive things about it, yet at the same time note some of the negative things about America.
Things that are better in the US
- Choice! There's just more CHOICE in the US. With food, fashion, even lifestyle. True, the country tends to be homogeneous in areas of commercial development (strip malls!) and this is not a good thing.
- Customer service. Just doesn't exist here. YOU have to pay for 1-800 numbers!
- Relationships. People in general. Yeah, Americans CAN BE loud, fat, annoying, ethnocentric, etc. etc. But I've found that the AVERAGE American is a helluva lot friendlier and open than the average Frenchie. What's funny is at home over friendly or outgoing people tend to bug me. But here I find the French attitude of privacy and inwardness even more annoying. It's not hard to smile and ask someone how their weekend was! Relationships are another weird thing. I think in the US platonic relationships between the sexes is normal. Guys and girls are equals, and it's not uncommon to have many friends of the opposite sex, with no sexual tension whatsoever. Not the case here. Guys either want to be your boyfriend or want nothing to do with you.
- MEN! American men are just so....normal! Of course, it's what I'm used to, having dating exclusively American men (and now, a German, but he's American too!) Dating is...dating! You date a guy, or you don't. Seems like in general at home, people end up together after being friends first. Friends or coworkers, or having a mutual friend. Here, guys are not so subtle. They come up to you on the street to get your number, stare at you on the bus, train, wherever. And they're incredibly persistent. I never thought I'd say this, but Americans, with their games and hard-to-get nonsense are just...easier!
Things that are better in France
- Healthcare. It's free (almost.) It's fast. It's effective. People don't die just because they can't afford a visit to the hospital. People don't live in fear of a car accident or a disease.
- Education. It's not a money making business. All universities are run by the state, and thus all are equal. And presque gratuit. It eliminates all of the "Well, I went to an Ivy League school" bullshit that goes on in the US while also ensuring that even the poorest of families can send their children to college. Plus, people ARE actually on a level playing field. No special treatment just because your father is So and So, or because you have the money to donate to the university's science lab. You're judged soley by your intelligence. And hey, if you don't have the brains for college, no problem. Millions of Frenchies are successful and happy working in skilled or unskilled labor. And since they don't have to worry about massive health insurance costs, they're completely happy.
- Money. It SEEMS that the French are less obsessed with money than Americans are. Cars don't appear to be a status thing, and neither do houses. You don't see any sprawling McMansions here- families are content with cozy living quarters. Nor do I see an abundance of luxury cars. Yes, there's BMWs and Mercedes, but the majority of Frenchies drive their little hatchbacks. And are quite content.
- Public transportation. Basically, it's fast, cheap and awesome here. And it completely doesn't exist in the US. Could be because the US is massive. Could be because Americans love their big cars.
- The bread. 'Nuff said.
- The towns! What's with American towns! Maybe it's just Westchester...but my experience with towns in the US is that they just suck. There's a strip, maybe, of stupid stores, and then everyone lives in neighborhoods that sprawl out for miles from the center of town. I like these French villages and towns...like little, mini cities, with their own bakeries, grocery stores, train stations, bars, etc. You don't need to get in your car and drive 10 miles just to get a cup of coffee. Amazingly practical and quaint.
Things that are just...different!
-Laziness? Don't know. It's probably a good thing that the French are serious about their weekends, evenings, vacations, greves, etc. etc. More time with the family. But as an American used to schoolwork, part time work and more part time work averaging 50-60 hours per week...I just can't get used to it. I like feeling busy and productive, not like I'm lazing around all day. It's cool to have time to myself, and maybe if I was in a city I could use this time productively, but since Jonzac is so small, I don't DO anything.
I like your blog! yay! let's be blog buddies and bitch about France. I completely agree with you gripes about France. I have been followed home 4 times! When I look like shit with wet hair. Tres weird.
ReplyDeleteAlso yes, French people are weirdly reserved, but I find it is the same with most European people. Canadians and Americans are just more outgoing and friendly.
I think that extends to so many other parts of life. For instance, North Americans go to university to meet new people but a lot of Europeans go to university during the week and then go home on the weekends to hang out with their friends that they have known forever.
and your laziness paragraph is the BIGGEST difference.
ReplyDeleteI feel so guilty when I'm not productive and guzzling coffee to stay awake, and here they love free time! It's just taken for granted that I will like when classes are cancelled, when in reality I am begging for more hours!
I knew it about French guys. 85% of the "crazy" things I say turn out to be true.
ReplyDeleteRe: Laziness section. I'm surprised to see you write about your industriousness, considering you're not a Protestant like I am. Let me just point out that there is no Wikipedia article entitled "Catholic Work Ethic."
ReplyDelete