Cultural Differences

Nantes!
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Since arriving in France, I have noticed so many cultural differences! But in truth, the French are very much like Americans. I look around and everything seems American, and then someone starts to speak and a different language comes out. It's really like the twilight zone. I was actually kind of disappointed at how similar it is – even most of the products in the grocery stores are the same! Nivea, L'Oreal, Nestle, Pantene, and more. The magazines are the same magazines, except in French (Cosmo, Vogue, Glamour). They have a few others that we don't have, but not many. Nantes isn't as quaint as Italy – it's become more modern. But after I got over my initial disappointment at coming to a more expensive America, I started noticing the differences. I love speaking French here, and truthfully now there are times when I forget whether I am speaking French or English, which is really surprising to me. The French words still don't come out as smoothly however, and today I was listening to music with Lancelot, my 11 year old French brother (adorable!!) and I didn't really understand the music, but I am getting there. I got some words (and truthfully many of the songs weren't about anything, so it was okay).

The biggest difference that I have noticed up until now is at the meal. Every night we have a main course, then some salad, then some cheese, then a dessert – which is usually a yogurt. The yogurts here are really sweet, almost like jello. Dinner never takes less than 2 hours and the entire family is always present. I was actually surprised that they only really drink wine on the weekends – never during the week. Definitely a disappointment for me, since we are living in the Loire Valley – the most famous wine region in the world! I think I shocked my family when I came home with a bottle on Tuesday – haha. I think they thought I was a total drunk. Though truthfully I just wanted to try the wine. We got through it, and they drank with me for dinner. Though it is amusing that the French never put their hands under the table during a meal. Hands should always rest on the table. In America we are taught to put our hands in our laps during a meal, but in France if your hands are under the table, some kind of hanky panky is probably happening. It's an odd cultural difference. Also at dinner there is always bread and it's find to just put the bread on the table. There are always crumbs all over the table after dinner because they just break off pieces and leave the bread directly on the table - no plate or table cloth. I asked my teacher about it and he said that is normal in France. Also the showers are odd, but I think everyone knows that. The shower heads aren't high up, you have to hold the shower head to clean yourself, it kind of gets annoying. And I know this might sound strange, but I was really surprised that I haven't seen one bidet. Not in the hotel, none of the houses....did the French decide to get rid of them?

Cultural differences create interesting errors

Anyway, luckily as the time goes by it's less and less important that I pay attention to every word. When I first got here if I didn't pay attention to every word someone spoke I would get lost or just stop listening. Now I am able to follow much more easily which is great, but I still have problems with the “r” sound – as in “rue” (street) or “arbre” (tree) or “nourriture” (food). My family sometimes makes fun of me because I am like a little kid. They call me “mignonne” (cute) when I have problems like that. It's okay though. When my host family tries to speak English they add the letter “h” in the word “old” as in “hold” however they forget to pronounce the “h” in “happy” making them “appy to see me.” They also don't have the “th” sound so yesterday when my french mother asked me what “bossering” was it took me about 5 minutes to figure out that she was saying “bothering” (and then another 10 to explain it in French). Think is “sink” and, oh yeah, the word “wi-fi” as in “wireless Internet” is pronounced 'wee-fee' because the “i" makes and “eeee” sound. My French mother also likes the way I say “Jack” as in “Jack Johson” because she says it's like a movie she likes where the main character is named Jack and in Franch the name “is “Jacques” and sounds more like “Jock” than “Jack.”

There are many stories of making errors in France, which could be an entirely new entry, but whatever. A friend of mine yesterday was with her host family and was speaking with an old man who asked her how she was doing to which she replied “je suis bonne” which should mean “I am well” but actually implies she is good in bed. He responded by laughing really hard and told her family about it, who also had a good laugh before explaining to her what she had said. She was a little embarrassed. My mistakes aren't as embarrassing however they are a little awkward. The other day I walked into a store and started to look around. The woman who worked there said in an annoyed voice “BONJOUR” to which I replied “bonjour madame” and then she nodded in approval. Like I was a good girl. I wondered what I had done wrong when I remembered that you are always supposed to greet the proprietor or the proprietress of the store as soon as you walk in with a “bonjour monsieur/madame” I guess I was rude. Also the other day I was taking the bus to school alone. When it came time to exit the bus I was a little nervous about getting off at the right stop because it was my first time. As I walked up towards the front door the bus lurched a bit and I stumbled slightly. I smiled to laugh at myself and made the mistake of smiling at the bus driver. If you smile at a man here, it means you are coming on to him and the bus driver made it very clear he was very interested in return by turning all the way around (while driving) to look me up and down several times with a big smile on his face. I couldn't wait for the door to open. It was awkward.

This weekend I am going on a tour of deux chateux in the Loire Valley. Je suis tres contente.

For pics of Nantes, click here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=37529&l=072b6&id=634047050

For pics of Paris, click here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=36996&l=b00b6&id=634047050