Being an Anthropology major, I couldn’t very well go this long living in France without making some cultural observations through an anthropological lens. Obviously, my notes on French people, daily life in France, and the French language are all cultural observations. But perhaps one of the things I’ve found most interesting thus far is learning what the French think of American culture. We’ve discussed this as a group during our Theology School afternoon classes, and also in more impromptu conversations at cafes like Brioge Doree.
I know what the stereotypical European thinks of the stereotypical American—loud, obnoxious, materialistic, wasteful consumption habits, rich, thin, blonde, etc. But what has been interesting for me and my classmates here to observe is the typical interaction the French people of Montpellier have had, specifically with students studying abroad.
Madame Laurence comments on my almost-daily habit of forgetting to turn off the lights when I leave a room. Even when I walk from my room to the bathroom (intending to return in a few minutes), I am scolded for leaving the lights on. Energy, she says, is very expensive in Europe. Wasn’t I taught to conserve energy in America? Well, yeah…we in Santa Barbara tend to consider ourselves environmentally conscious and responsible. Americans, Madame Laurence says, consume energy irresponsibly and aren’t disciplined to conserve like Europeans are.
My friends here on the program have commented on how their host families are surprised we don’t go out to the discotech or bars every single night. They’ve had American students before who are never home—out till 3 or 4 every night partying. You’re American, the families say to my friends, so you like to party right? You like to drink? Umm…sure we’ll go to a bar on Friday night. But Westmont students are a bit different than normal university students studying in France. They’re here to party mostly. We’re here to learn, with an emphasis is put on cultural discovery and language class, something most American students apparently don’t have. Not that we aren’t down to have a good time, but with a respect for our host families and our academic schedule of course.
Over dinner the other night, Madame Laurence and I had a conversation about eating habits. She thought all Americans ate burgers, like every other day. McDonald’s and Coke are seen as the icons of the American food system over here—she was surprised when I told her I didn’t drink Coke and only had burgers occasionally. She also holds the view that Americans eat way too much meat in general—you only need meat two times a week, according to her. That might explain why I ate a bowl of lentils and bread for dinner last night. I’d be losing weight like crazy here in France if it weren’t for the crepes and donuts and briogge and pastries that keep finding their way into my mouth somehow…
President Barack Obama has become the symbol of the American government and America in general. His policies are our policies, his decisions reflect our opinions—or such is the European view. I’m sure it was the same with George Bush. Europeans in general love Obama and so this doesn’t present any political awkwardness…but it’s hard to explain to the French that all Americans don’t adore Obama’s every move. After all, to them, he is America.
Madame Laurence and her colleague questioned me once about the American educational system. They were absolutely shocked at how must colleges cost in the US. In France, all universities are free to all students. How on earth could my parents pay for four children to go through the university system? I stumbled my way in French through an explanations of scholarships, loans, savings accounts, and student debt after college. How do American students pay off their debt, they asked. Well, they work, they live with roommates to save money, etc, I explained. Like in Friends? Yeah, kind of…I think I gave the impression that all Americans live like Rachel and Monica from Friends until age 33—in a small apartment, goofing off with roommates and drinking lots of coffee.
The French workday ends around 6 or 7—we eat late dinners at 8 or 8:30 usually. When I told Madame Laurence that most Americans get off work at 5, she wondered how we get anything done. We end our days so early, how are we efficient at work? It didn’t make sense to her.
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