The culture shock that comes with the European dream
During winter break, I spent nine days exploring Paris with my family. This was my first time visiting Europe and I observed several culture differences between Europe and America.
During my trip, I shopped at food and flea markets, ate food at fancy and local restaurants and walked (a lot) all over the charming yet gritty city. Before my visit, I had done some research on proper etiquette in France. So I knew that tipping was not necessary and the unspoken rule about never ordering a cappuccino after noon.
However, after living in it, I realized how different the European lifestyle really is compared to ours. A major variation was time, and I’m not talking about the nine hour time jump from California. Here it is normal to see coffee shops and grocery stores open as early as 7 a.m., but in Paris this didn’t start until 9 a.m. Most Parisians weren’t even awake and walking the streets until 10 a.m.
Food shopping was one of my favorite things to do in Paris. When shopping for groceries at home, one typically goes to the closest Ralphs or Albertsons, where everything is available in one place. However, in Europe, people go to various markets for each specific food they need. I watched Parisians visit local cheese markets for artisanal cheeses, the butcher for the freshest cut of meat or a fruit stand for the juiciest pears. Not only do these markets have the highest quality foods since they specialize in what they are selling, but they are also beautiful. For me, food shopping in Paris is more of an experience than a chore. I found something new and intriguing at every market I went to. I even tried red currants, mistaking them for grapes, and although I wouldn’t eat them again, it was an exciting experience regardless.
In America, especially California, it is the norm to workout in order to be healthy or “fit.” It is easy to spot a gym every few blocks in California; but in Paris, I could not find one. Similar to New Yorkers, the primary mode of transportation for Parisians is walking. During my trip, I walked an average of 20,000 steps everyday without even thinking about it. It seems the French stay fit by walking, which is less intense than our ingrained workout culture.
There is a stereotype that French people are rude to foreigners, especially Americans. If you have ever seen the Netflix show, “Emily In Paris,” you know what I am referring to. According to my mom who lived in France for a semester in college and our French Airbnb host, this was accurate several years ago. But, during my trip, the locals were remarkably kind and welcoming.
Overall, I think European culture is more laid back, easy going and less rushed, which I very much enjoyed. When it comes to whether or not the preconceived notions Americans seem to have about the French are true, I think they are accurate to some extent, but it is the French culture that made my trip nothing short of amazing.
