Culture Shock

Obviously you can assume traveling to a different country that there will be cultural differences.  Here is a rough list of some I've compiled during my stay in France thus far.  They tend to be general observations I find far-reaching, but understandably, they don't apply to everyone (end disclaimer).

1. Cereal - This is probably one of the first ones I noticed and also -possibly- the funniest.  I'll admit that breakfast in France remains an enigma to me.  Thus far I've encountered the bizarre melange of breakfast at the hostel, and then I've come to know well the free for all that is breakfast at my host family's home.  So... On my second morning with my host family I am visiting Isabelle (my host mother), her parents in the country at V.L.M.  As French culture dictates, the grandfather was bustling about serving me.  For breakfast he begins naming off various possibilities, and when he offers cereal, I accept (thinking it will be easy and familiar and not cause a fuss).  So he returns moments later with the box of cereal, a spoon, and a plate... Confused, I stare at my empty plate, my large bowl of coffee, and the cereal.  In my mind something is wrong.  Not wanting to commit some embarrassing cultural faux pas, I lean over to my younger host sister and ask, "Comment est-ce que je dois manger?" (How should I eat?) Looking equally perplexed by my question, she pours some cereal on the plate, hands me the spoon, and says, "Viola."  I've finished my bowl of coffee, and I ask her if I can pour the cereal in the empty bowl and put some milk over it.  She looks at me like I've suddenly grown a third eye and says, "Comme tu veux" (As you like it).  I've since learned to eat cereal dry -ok actually I eat breakfast after my host family has already hurried off to school so I eat my cereal with yogurt mixed in.  Don't judge me.

2. Coffee - This brings me to my next observation.  Ask yourself how many ways can you have coffee?  Then come to France and try to order a cup.  I rarely receive the same thing twice.  In general "du cafe" (some coffee) means you get a very concentrated, bitter, biting cup of espresso, and you'll look like a little girl if you ask for some sugar to go with it.  Milk is never offered with these little cups, that I've found anyway.  Also, cafe latte has a limited existence -meaning many places call it a "cafe creme" and therefore don't know what you're asking for when you mention a latte.  There are also noisettes, ristrettos, cappucinos, and more (did I mention MacDonalds serves all of these, and they're delicious?).  Usually I order a cappucino now because there are few variations.  Fat free milk is ecreme, but I haven't found a place that offers it outside of Starbucks.  Suffice it to say coffee in France is quite a different experience than in America.  Being an avid addict, I'll drink it anyway I can.  I've learned to drop some sugar in my espresso, close my eyes, and drink it like a shot.  Maybe if I were a better connoisseur I'd be able to distinguish the complex aromas and flavors... but I'm not.

3. Manners - I consider myself to have pretty good manners, but somehow those don't translate all the time.  In my experience, it's common to say "thank you" to a waiter when he refills my water or such which results in multiple thank you's said during the course of a meal.  In France, this is not considered polite.  It's overkill.  They most likely peg you as a foreigner, and either proceed to mock you or are offended thinking you're mocking them.  Either way something gets lost in translation.  Likewise "Je suis desole" or "desole" (I'm sorry) is much more reserved than I expected.  Rather French people tend to say "Pardon" or maybe "Excuse-moi" when they bump into you, misunderstand something you've said, or something else like that.  Generally, I've found saying "sorry" to be more for serious situations like if you've done something wrong, insulted someone, etc.  Also table manners are different.  My family is much more modern with three young girls, so these are more liberal.  Generally you wait for everyone to sit before you eat.  The head of the table serves you.  You don't get up without excusing yourself.  You wait for everyone to finish before the dinner ends.  It's common manners, but I think in the States it's not as big a deal.

4. Clothing - Before coming, we were warned that short shorts and short skirts are not ideal and are considered a bit scandalous.  In a country where advertisements in public places show half naked women, I had difficulty thinking my shorts or skirt could cause problems.  The truth is people do give you different looks.  I've had friends who were propositioned like they were prostitutes.  For such a liberal culture, the women dress surprisingly conservative.  The typical French dress I would say is skinny jeans, ballet flats/heels, shirt/blouse, cardigan/blazer, and scarf.  With variations, this is what I've noticed.  If a woman wears shorts, a skirt, or a dress, I've noticed they tend to wear tights underneath (even flesh-toned ones on girls who are in their 20s).  This isn't true for all.  In college areas I've noticed more shorts and skirts without tights, but I've had moments feeling uncomfortable baring my legs in France -which is not something I truly thought would happen.

5. Kisses - It's true.  When you meet someone in France, you give two kisses -one on each cheek.  Some areas it's three or four, but luckily in Lyon it's only two.  Some people don't do it.  Sometimes it's only reserved for when you first meet someone and not every encounter after that.  Sometimes it's a thank you when you give a gift or do something special, or it's a good-bye.  Usually I just follow the French person's lead.  Oh, and it's not a literally kiss too.  You just touch your cheeks together and make a kissing sound haha

6. French couples - Speaking of kisses, French people are stereotypical in their overt romances.  PDA abounds regardless of age.  Sometimes it's cute like a middle aged couple holding hands while pushing a stroller down the street.  Sometimes it's two college kids making out on the subway.  And sometimes it's two gray-haired people in each other's arms.  Regardless, people don't bat an eyelash.  They probably look at me more bizarrely for noticing.  Seriously French people like to French kiss whenever/wherever...

7. Water - You're probably wondering, Water? How can that be a cultural difference?  I'll tell you how.  I don't know if the French people have evolved or are a higher species or something, but these people barely drink water.  Coming from Texas summer heat, I'm used to a liter a day if not more.  French people literally will have a tiny glass or two a day then drink coffee, smoke, and walk the rest of the day.  I also rarely see them sweating, and I'm thinking it must be because they don't drink water.  It's something us Americans have grappled with poorly.  I end up drinking tap water half the time because water here is so limited and expensive.  Oh, and if you want it cold, good luck.  I've never received ice with my water.  Usually at restaurants you have to ask for a carafe of water which is sometimes sweating and is sometimes not and is probably taken from the tap.  I'll admit that's one thing I miss from American.  A large, ice-filled, freezing glass of water.  I'll probably have such a brain freeze when I get home.

8. School - This is something I've only recently encountered with my French professor when she came into class the second week, demanded we tear out answers to a homework assignment that wasn't meant to be picked up, and proceeded to call us "stupid Americans" and "tourists."  She also found mine among the stack, lifted it high into the air, and said, "This must be a joke."  We're all pale as ghosts, simultaneously pissed off and terrified as she tears us apart -in English like we won't understand her in French.  If a professor talked like that to students in the States, his days would be limited.  Apparently in France this is par the course.  Their mentality is tearing you apart will somehow inspire you to learn more.  In theory maybe it makes sense to French people.  In practice I don't see it working. French universities rank lower than many American ones in worldwide surveys, so there's evidence which method is more effective.  In any case, I end up dreading going to class because if she calls your name, you're going to be humiliated and torn apart before the entire class inevitably.

9. Driving - French people drive on the same side of the road as Americans... And that's where the similarities end.  Having driven through Houston traffic numerous times, I figured I had experienced some insane drivers.  Oh unleash the French on the Houston highways, and natives would be pulled over with their hazards on cursing about these crazy people.  If you can understand French traffic signs, you must be a wizard.  But then again no one obeys them.  I feel like everything is optional -stop signs, yield signs, speed limits, lines in the road, one way streets, stairs even... I have literally seen a man on a moped driving up stairs beside cafes, and no one seemed alarmed.  Everyone drives stick which means they're clutching, they're shifting gears, they're speeding up and stopping abruptly, cars are screeching and groaning... The streets are narrow and have sharp turns.  I don't know how many times I've expected a head on collision with my host mom.  Speaking of everyone drives mopeds or motorcycles, and if you think they're obnoxious in the States, come here.  They weave between traffic, they drive on the wrong side of the road, they speed aggressively, they're always honking their horns.

10. Toilets - Many times French toilets aren't free, and trust me, you should pay rather than attempt the free toilets.  There are these fancy ones that clean themselves along the streets, but I haven't had the chance to use them yet and I also think they cost money. One of the first things I noticed about public French toilets in the hostel, in the university, and elsewhere... They take off the toilet seat!  Nothing more needs to be said about that because you can infer all the difficulties and disgusting things about that... Toilets also are not a widespread availability (maybe it's a conspiracy with the lack of water).  You usually have to find a cafe, order a coffee, and then you can use the restroom.  I haven't found any in the metro.  The ones of the street are very very rare.  The other public options are usually so smelly, wet, and disgusting that you'd rather hold it anyway.

Thus, there are my observations thus far.  I'll probably think of some more and make a follow up toward the end of my trip.  A bientot!