Cultural Differences
I have now been in France for about a month and a week and time is flying by. There is one thing that i have noticed during my sejour here: that is the Cultural differences. I know this should come as no surprise to you or even me. But it was, the culture is very different here. But before I explain; let me give you a tour of the secret garden.(click the Link)
Didn't you enjoy that tour? I should be a tour director or something like that. Any-who the culture here is very different. Not a surprise at all; somehow it kinda was for me. I am now finding out that America is a very different world from Europe . And well I am very American. I Like to go by the name "The Kid Who Screams America" mainly because with my garb and occasionally after an ILLINI win i like to chant the alma-mater in the streets of Paris with my fellow Illini (who shall be identified as Bro Chill and BM). Its Quite the sight.
One of the first things which is a great culture shock to me is the portioning of food. I know, I sound like a fatty but I can eat and drink quite a bit and the portioning here just doesn't cut it. I can drink alot of water, pop, juice while eating. When they give you one glass and do not come back to fill it up at all; can through you off and leave you thirsty as a camel in a desert without a hump. When my host mom makes food she makes food; she dishes out the portions of a normal size. Not skimpy but not "Duncan sized" ( I ave three brothers and we can all eat A LOT; therefore our meal portions are usually huge) this leaves me hungry two hours later. I kid you not. Now, I could just get seconds but that is just asking for a stereo type of American over-indulgence (next topic).
The funny thing about the seconds dilemma is that when we eat with her sister, Nelly. Nelly always forces seconds on me and the conversation usually goes like this:
Nelly: you want more?
Me: No, thank you
Nelly: I know you want more
Roseline (Mme Germain): Leave him alone; he said he doesn't want anymore.
Nelly: You know he is just being shy he wants more
Roseline: Do you want more?
Me: No, thank you
Nelly: Yes you do {proceeds to take my plate and gives me more}
Me: {finishes the plate without problem}
(Translation by: Andrew Duncan)
I like to say I am on the Paris diet ; consitsting of hunger. I will also note: that Nelly thinks i am withering away. Its true and not a bad thing. My host mom always says that if she lived in the United States she'd be fat, reason being our food is soo much more fattening. I agree. The McDonald's here doesn't make me feel like i'm gonna have an heart attack after I am finished with my meal. Which is disappointing because that is one of my favorite feelings about Macdo (French abbreviation for McDonald's ) in the US. But alas, I guess this puts me farther away from death and one step closer to my goal of living to be 101 years of Age.
Well another cultural difference is the size of things. Americans like it bigger better and faster. Not the case for the French the like it smaller. A lot of the French that I have met, I don't mean all of them, think that everything in America. I tell them how big my house and yard is and they are amazed. Maybe its just Parisians.
Well my last difference, for this post at least, is the Money. EVERYTHING IS EXPENSIVE, my word ican't go anywhere without almost fainting from the price. I think its because I'm cheap. Its actually gotten better meaning that I have accepted he fact that I am living in a city and that its an expensive. BUt honestly let me take you back to my favorite reference point: McDonald's. A double cheese here cost two Euro the equivalent to about $3 US. (not my first time noting this) Its sad and also keeps me away from Macdo. Jk no it doesn't. But clothes here are the same prices but in euro meaning you are paying more money. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Well that is all for now
A+
Didn't you enjoy that tour? I should be a tour director or something like that. Any-who the culture here is very different. Not a surprise at all; somehow it kinda was for me. I am now finding out that America is a very different world from Europe . And well I am very American. I Like to go by the name "The Kid Who Screams America" mainly because with my garb and occasionally after an ILLINI win i like to chant the alma-mater in the streets of Paris with my fellow Illini (who shall be identified as Bro Chill and BM). Its Quite the sight.
 |
| Notice: The Small Drink |
One of the first things which is a great culture shock to me is the portioning of food. I know, I sound like a fatty but I can eat and drink quite a bit and the portioning here just doesn't cut it. I can drink alot of water, pop, juice while eating. When they give you one glass and do not come back to fill it up at all; can through you off and leave you thirsty as a camel in a desert without a hump. When my host mom makes food she makes food; she dishes out the portions of a normal size. Not skimpy but not "Duncan sized" ( I ave three brothers and we can all eat A LOT; therefore our meal portions are usually huge) this leaves me hungry two hours later. I kid you not. Now, I could just get seconds but that is just asking for a stereo type of American over-indulgence (next topic).
The funny thing about the seconds dilemma is that when we eat with her sister, Nelly. Nelly always forces seconds on me and the conversation usually goes like this:
Nelly: you want more?
Me: No, thank you
Nelly: I know you want more
Roseline (Mme Germain): Leave him alone; he said he doesn't want anymore.
Nelly: You know he is just being shy he wants more
Roseline: Do you want more?
Me: No, thank you
Nelly: Yes you do {proceeds to take my plate and gives me more}
Me: {finishes the plate without problem}
(Translation by: Andrew Duncan)
I like to say I am on the Paris diet ; consitsting of hunger. I will also note: that Nelly thinks i am withering away. Its true and not a bad thing. My host mom always says that if she lived in the United States she'd be fat, reason being our food is soo much more fattening. I agree. The McDonald's here doesn't make me feel like i'm gonna have an heart attack after I am finished with my meal. Which is disappointing because that is one of my favorite feelings about Macdo (French abbreviation for McDonald's ) in the US. But alas, I guess this puts me farther away from death and one step closer to my goal of living to be 101 years of Age.
Well another cultural difference is the size of things. Americans like it bigger better and faster. Not the case for the French the like it smaller. A lot of the French that I have met, I don't mean all of them, think that everything in America. I tell them how big my house and yard is and they are amazed. Maybe its just Parisians.
Well my last difference, for this post at least, is the Money. EVERYTHING IS EXPENSIVE, my word ican't go anywhere without almost fainting from the price. I think its because I'm cheap. Its actually gotten better meaning that I have accepted he fact that I am living in a city and that its an expensive. BUt honestly let me take you back to my favorite reference point: McDonald's. A double cheese here cost two Euro the equivalent to about $3 US. (not my first time noting this) Its sad and also keeps me away from Macdo. Jk no it doesn't. But clothes here are the same prices but in euro meaning you are paying more money. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Well that is all for now
A+
Comments
Post a Comment