On spring break of 2012, my school took a select group of French students to see France itself. Unless one counts going to the Bahamas on a cruise, this was my first time really leaving the country. Little did I know, but this trip would be a life changing experience.
We got a taste of the countryside, as the first place we visited was called Bayeux. It was unlike anything I had ever seen. It was not commercial like America; one could not imagine finding a McDonalds or Walmart downtown. America’s politicians talk about small business all of the time, but they don’t know small business until they visit small town France. Another interesting tidbit about Bayeux was the narrow streets and lack of cars. Sure, there were some people driving around, but for the most part, people walked around to do their shopping. Because the French buy their foods in season, there are few preservatives in their food. They only buy food for one or two days at a time; therefore, they can carry everything that they need. We in America need to think about adopting this healthy lifestyle. We would not only get the exercise we desperately need but also eat naturally as well. Bayeux is a prime example of what a small town could be.
The group then headed on to Paris, my absolute favorite city I have visited. There is a stereotype in this nation that the Parisians are very rude people, but my experiences prove otherwise. If one is not loud and obnoxious, the Parisians do not mind one’s being American. However, it is considered rude to be loud in a restaurant or café. Therefore, it is only polite to abide by their culture, as one is visiting their country. Another piece of French culture that is apparent in Paris is their appreciation of historic preservation. Like any major city around the world, Paris has a financial district. However, it is about two miles out of downtown Paris. Why is this? The Parisians did not want massive, modern buildings to be built next to former palaces and courts. They did not want the historic value of their city to be diluted due to new forms of architecture. They think it would be stupid to have a huge office building next to the Louvre. As a history nerd, I think this is an awe-inspiring concept. Nowhere in America do we have this mindset. In New York, one could have a modern building as a neighbor to a 250-year-old home. Modernism ruins the effect of preserving the past for future generations.
Although there are many things in France I admire, there are some things that I think we do better in America. For example, I did not like the aggressive driving style of the French. Thank goodness we had a bus driver because I would have had a wreck! They accelerate very quickly and are prone to bump into each other. The French have a bad case of road rage.
Overall, I think that there are many things we as Americans could learn from the French. They are a very sophisticated culture that looks back at their extensive past to improve the future. They attempt to resist corporatization, have a healthy lifestyle, and preserve their architecture. Certainly, America is among the greatest nation on Earth; however, we should look to these values to improve our own nation.
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1 Reply to “J’adore France!”
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Great information. I love travelling and the winter holidays are best to go out with family and friends. there are many places in India for the best winter holiday. here is the list 5 Best Winter Holiday Destinations In India
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Wow, that’s a great list. The Free Tours By Foot sounds amazing and such a great way to explore a city. Have you guys ever tried indoor skydiving? It’s not cheap, but it’s a great activity for the whole family. Some of the centers even offer a Virtual Reality experience. With more and more tunnels popping up it’s become quite easy to find a spot nearby. For those interested check out dropzone.com/indoor/ . They’ve got a nifty tunnel finder.
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Hi There,
Thank you for putting together a list for Fall vacation. It is so informative and exciting. We love the nature! We should be planning a trip to Aspen Mountain, Colorado soon. The infographic on emergency is so well done and very handy for travelers.
visiting california is always enjoyable. thanks for sharing your feelings about california. Have traveled any other countries? I’ve been travelling for last 2 years and I would like to share some of my great experinces with you. do you accept guest post?
Everything in this blog is nice. Fabolous infographic and presentation also. I also want to go there for these types of rides which are shown in this blog.
First of all, you need to find out what type of vacation each member of your family prefers. At lunch, dinner, or watching your favorite TV show in the evening, try discussing your upcoming vacation together. Listen to suggestions from everyone, remember where you have already visited and, taking into account the interests of the child, try to choose the right direction. It should be borne in mind all the details: the possibility of excess spending, the size of the vacation budget, the presence of health problems, interests, hobbies and hobbies. If you are organizing a trip with your child, you will have a wonderful joint vacation!
NYC is a great place to celebrate Halloween, and good opportunities for celebrity sightings too!
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The moon landing marked the culmination of America’s Cold War human spaceflight program and positioned itself as a global leader in science and technology. Apollo 11, the mission Armstrong and Aldrin flew with colleague Michael Collins, represented the U.S. accomplishing a seemingly impossible goal on a seemingly impossible timeline. Fifty years later, the world is remembering the historic mission and its impact on society and science, thanks to all these 50 COSMIC WAYS TO CELEBRATE SPACE.
I am also a collector of space memorabilia and I run a website dedicated to Space Exploration memorabilia https://www.space-collectibles.com . In fact, I leave in Paris, France. (Yes, that does mean I drink too much wine and eat too much cheese) . Since the age of 21, I became a big fan of Space Exploration as I studied in Cap Canaveral Florida, and worked with the engineers that put Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon. So, this is perhaps the reason why I became a pasionate Space Collectioner of photos from the space race in the 60’s from Nasa and Soviet programs. I whish I could be in all these 50 COSMIC WAYS TO CELEBRATE SPACE
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Hey thanks for such a nice article, there is nothing better than getting away with the fam or group of mates into the wilderness and just relaxing while staring into those embers. I go camping regularly and I know you stated unplugged but if you dont play an instrument I highly recommend bringing along a nice loud Bluetooth speaker to jam away with all of you friends into the late night. That and beer ofcourse.
Thanks again and keep up the good work
Hershey is such a fun town to visit with so many family-friendly activities. We loved driving up to spend the weekend when we lived in Maryland.
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Doing so saves money on your shipping costs. Most travelers are charged for gas as they are free. Tourists save money on car rentals and pay for their travels.