I love France. I love the language. I love the food (with the exception of pate de foie gras!), and I love the friendships I’ve made there. Having been to France a few times and having had a French friend stay with me in America, I have learned there are many perceptions that both of our cultures have about each other that are often untrue. In fact, I have found out that we are often more alike than different.
When my French friend came to the United States, she always wanted to wear American brand clothes such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister and Victoria’s Secret. She even bought these American brands as souvenirs for her family and friends. Conversely, Americans, despite what some may say, often have a fascination with anything French. Many Americans travel to France every year and others dream about it. On American TV and in the movies, Paris is often the backdrop. In addition, U.S. stores often promote merchandise that has a French theme. For example, you only have to visit Forever 21 to see clothes with the Eiffel Tower or French sayings on them.
When my friend from Paris came to stay with me, she shared some perceptions that the French have about Americans. She told me that many of her friends believe that Americans are all overweight. She said that she watched videos in school that showed Americans as being obese and loving fast-food meals. From the myths she had about Americans, she thought we would be eating cookies, cakes and ice cream at every meal, and she thought we would eat at McDonald’s daily. After staying with our family, she actually realized that our two countries’ eating habits had more similarities than differences.
Another misconception that my French friend had about Americans is that we are all wealthy. When we first drove her from the airport and pulled into my driveway, she was shocked to see my house. My house is nothing special here in America; it is simply a colonial. But, she thought it was huge. She mentioned that the houses in my neighborhood looked like homes she had seen in the movies. I learned from her and from my visit to Paris that houses in France are extremely expensive because of high taxes, so many people live in apartments or flats. Another reason she thought many Americans were rich was because of the cars we drive. She was amazed at the size of the SUVs and minivans, compared to the small cars in France. She thought that because we drove big cars, we must be wealthy.
Many Americans, too, have myths about the French. When I first told my friends that I was traveling to France, every one of them said, “Oh no, be careful! French people are so rude.” After hearing this, I was extremely nervous to travel to Paris. However, throughout my travels there, all of the French people were extremely nice to me. Many people even went of their way to help me with directions or translate if I could not understand. They helped me order in restaurants, find my way to the subway and even gave up their seat to me on a train.
Sometimes Americans also believe that the French do not like them simply because we are Americans. I never once experienced this during my trips to France. The French were respectful and kind to me wherever I went, and they often asked me questions about America and what it is like to live here. They wanted to know what school was like in America, what it was like to have a house with a backyard, and what it was like to be able to drive at 16 (in France, kids start driving at 18). During my friend’s stay here in America, she told me that many French people actually love our country and dream of traveling to the United States. She also said that many love the American flag.
In the global world we live in, it’s great to have an appreciation for and an understanding of other cultures. We need to become citizens of the world – whether that’s by learning another language, studying abroad, welcoming an exchange student into our homes or joining one of the many international clubs at Michigan State University.
“Voir le monde!”
