by Jake Candelaria ‘12 Imagine two nations separated by an expanse of ocean that live two different lifestyles and are tied together throughout history. One may ask, “How different can France and the U.S. truly be?” During the excursion through France for sixty PC students, this question was answered very clearly. Though some of the students may have been turned off by the way that the French, and much of Europe as a whole, live, it is undeniable that the United States and France could learn a bit about each other just by crossing the pond.
One of the greatest misconceptions of France by Americans is the belief that the French are unwilling to speak English. Though it is true that France’s native language is French and they are extraordinarily proud of its development and widespread use, the French spoke English to all of the students who participated in the France trip. Students could sense some resentment by the French that we were unable to use their language considering that almost all of the people in France were able to speak English. It was disheartening to see so many teenagers in France who were able to speak English to us because we were not able to speak their native language. Speaking different languages should be a goal of American students so that we will be able to travel around the globe and interact with others in their own language.
Another luxury in America that contrasts with life in France and many other European countries is the availability and affordability of meat and other food items. France was incredibly expensive for all of the students, and a good amount of our money went into meals that we purchased during our free time to explore the various cities that we visited. Americans are also used to being able to pick up a cheeseburger from a drive-thru at one in the morning. In France and most of Europe, restaurants close relatively early and do not open up until late in the morning. This example highlights another important difference between France and the U.S. While Americans enjoy staying out late and crashing until the afternoon of the next day, the French take it easy during the day and, though they do go out at night, they live a much more relaxed lifestyle. The American hustle that can be seen across the nation is not common in France outside of Paris.
France and the U.S. are two nations that have been engaged together in history and often face much scrutiny from the rest of the world. Though we share our striking differences, our nations have many commonalities that have put us in the world spotlight for good reasons. Both nations have made huge impacts to the history of the world, such as the French and American Revolutions. Our nations have great standing and control in global politics, and they have collaborated on many great projects together. When we put the differences aside, we can see just how common the U.S. and France really are.
