Tales from Abroad

Things I have learned while in France

1. No one here has ever heard of a pooper scooper despite the fact that 90% of the people here have dogs.

2. Food here is just a little different here than in the U.S. even if it says it’s exactly the same thing. Here are some examples: McDonalds’s ketchup (and ketchup in general) is sweeter, Coke is more syrupy, French Starburts are nothing like our Starbursts, and Rum here is disgusting.

3. Most things that claim to be American are things I’ve never heard of. Some examples: American Sauce (you can buy it in almost any store)- I’m not sure what it’s supposed to be but I think it might be a try at thousand island dressing although it tastes nothing like it, American bars/clubs- these are interesting to go into simply to see a bunch of rather strange people dancing in a 50’s style.

4. Customer service is an idea that has not been introduced in France.

5. French people often get excited when they find out I speak English because then they can practice theirs with me.

6. France is beautiful. It has so many different types of landscapes in such a small country.

7. French people seem to take a lot of pride in their jobs. I’ve seen McDonald’s workers and guys who pick up garbage off the street working as if they’ve got the most important job in the world. It’s nice.

8. The stereotype of French having bad body odor really is true quite often, especially with the older French people.

9. The steroetypicl image of a French guy in a beret, carrying a baguette, riding his bike is also true quite often.

10. French people like to have protests! And they like to strike and have riots and…. Basically, they are very active participants in their political, economic, and/or social system.

11. French people are really skinny! Or maybe Americans are just really fat!

12. The stereotype that all French people smoke is pretty much true. (Actually, probably around 70% do.) The streets even smell like cigarette smoke!

I know you don’t know me well so I just want to explain that if anything on this list came off in a judgemental way, it was not meant to, it’s just my kind of dry sense of humor coming through. I just thought that this list would be a fun way of showing a few things I’ve noticed since living in France that have stuck out in my mind. I have truly enjoyed my time in France and look forward to finding out even more about their culture. I have found that French people are probably the least like Americans of any nationality I have met here, and I have met a lot. I think this is very interesting. Perhaps due to the fact that the French are quite worried about the American influence, more so than people that I have met from other places. Or perhaps I just haven’t gotten to know many French people as well as I know people of other nationalities. The international students have tended to stick together since we knew no one upon our arrival and were all trying to meet new people, while the French often already had a base of friends. My lack of French friends could also be due to the fact that in general, the French don’t speak English very well. Since they don’t speak English very well and I don’t speak French very well, it can be difficult to get to know each other. But now I’m starting to ramble, so anyway, basically, what I would tell people about studying abroad is to come with no expectations, that way you can’t be let down and most of the time you end up being impressed.

“Good times and bad times, inside jokes, laughing, and traveling! These words sum up my time in France. I started out going to France alone, but I left with a family I will never forget. This first day I arrived I was welcomed by a host mom and 6 roommates that soon became my family. I was homesick for the first few hours but after that I always had someone around whether it was my family or my friends. My Japanese roommate turned 22 so my host mom held a birthday party for her. My host mom's parties were always grand. We all sat outside in her yard and spent the day telling stories, eating cake, and enjoying each other’s company. A day like that sums up my time in France. I have been back for over a year now and I still continue to keep in touch with my two best friends from France. I remember when I first met them we could barley communicate since they do not speak English and I do not speak Japanese. However, after a few weeks we were able to understand each other and have our own inside jokes. I also remember my first day of class back at UNI, I was so excited to talk and show off all that I had learned. My confidence in speaking went through the roof. I also have learned to incorporate French into my everyday life since I have been back. It is hard being away from it but I listen to music, watch the French news, read, and keep in touch with my friends from abroad, which has kept France within reach for me. Studying abroad has been a great experience and by working in the study abroad office I hope to share my experience abroad in hopes that others will catch the bug to study abroad.”

Kate O’Brien, French Education major, CIDEF, Angers, France

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