Small Culture Shocks in France

Submitted by Nicole Pierpont on the 2018 winter session study abroad program in France sponsored by the Department of Art…

Traveling to Europe for the first time, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. I assumed that the biggest difference when I arrived would be the language. I wasn’t exactly expecting a culture shock because I knew that France was a more progressive first world country like the United States. However, I’ve been surprised by the increasing number of small culture shocks I have stumbled upon.

First of all, smoking here is not looked down upon the same way it is in the United States. There are no “swipe left” advertisements promoting how smoking is unattractive. Instead, there are more advertisements for how to clean your black teeth, since smoking is expected among the community.

The food is also a bit of a culture shock. Their breakfast consists of croissants, cheese and meat. For us, it feels more like a meal for lunch! The portions here are also comparatively small, especially their portions for water. They have tiny glasses of water at all restaurants unlike in America where there are giant glasses, and everyone carries around their water bottles to constantly keep hydrated! Of course, in the food category there are also common delicacies like snail and frogs leg that you can order almost anywhere.

Something else that has been an interesting difference is the look of the historical buildings in France. In the United States, our important landmarks that date back the farthest are usually made out of wood and are worn down if they haven’t been restored. Here, the historical buildings are covered in expensive stone like marble, sculptures, and tons of gold. It shows a huge difference in the history of France compared to the U.S., specifically in how the two countries came to be.

My first week in Paris has been amazing, and I already feel at home here. I can’t wait to see what the next three weeks has in store.

Snails are served in their shells