Eight Important Cultural Differences Between France and the USA
You’ve surely heard the classic stereotypes about French people. They’re all baguette-eating, chain-smoking, protest-happy romantics! While not all French people live up to these clichés, there are plenty of interesting cultural differences between France and the USA that Jalen and I encountered during our stint with the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF), as graduate students in France, and in the French workplace. Keep reading to learn about some of France’s lesser-known norms.
Air Conditioning
On the whole, French people prefer to feel too warm than to catch a chill. Even if the French wanted to install air conditioning, heating and cooling ducts are rare in French buildings! Meanwhile, Americans consume more energy each year for air conditioning than the rest of the world combined. Needless to say, French people should pack their sweaters when visiting the USA and Americans in France should be ready to sweat it out!
Clothes Lines
The French, famous for their fashion sense, might be able to teach Americans a thing or two about laundry. While Americans throw just about anything into a machine clothes dryer, the French are much more likely to hang their clothing to dry on a clothes line or a drying rack. Skipping the dryer is better for the environment, for your clothing, and for your wallet! Though it certainly took some adjustment, Jalen and I quickly adapted to life without a dryer.
Recycling
Residents of France and the USA could both stand to improve their recycling habits, but the average French person’s efforts to sort household trash far exceed the typical American’s. Awareness campaigns, color-coded bins, and legislation encourage French citizens to faire le tri séléctif (sort and recycle household waste). While French people can be fined for incorrectly sorting recyclables, the USA has no recycling mandate at all. Where Jalen and I grew up, all recyclable items get discarded together, and residents can even opt out of recycling completely! There was a steep learning curve for us as we learned to sort and discard our trash to the French standard!
Pharmacies
In the USA, you might visit the drug store to purchase prescription drugs, over-the-counter medication, makeup, snacks, cigarettes, pet food, school supplies, and more! Not so in France. French pharmacies are strictly medical stores selling prescription drugs, over-the-counter medication, and homeopathic remedies with knowledgable employees ready to counsel customers. While having the sniffles in the USA might prompt a visit to the doctor, heading to a pharmacy for a chat with a pharmacien(ne) is all you need to do in France!
Achoo!
Saying “bless you!” after a sneeze in the USA is as normal as can be. Forgoing the two-word phrase might even come across as impolite. While the French equivalent of a post-sneeze statement, à tes souhaits/à vos souhaits, does exist, it’s much less commonly used. In fact, calling attention to a French person’s sneeze can be seen as rude or embarrassing to the sneezer! Ironically, while most Americans excuse themselves to blow their nose, French people have no qualms about doing so in front of others, or even at the dinner table! When it comes to affairs of the nose, France and the USA couldn’t be more different.
Small Seats
One of our more anecdotal observations has to do with the size of chairs in France – they’re tiny! At school, at home, and even at restaurants, France’s chairs offer little wiggle room. Our hypothesis to explain this phenomenon is two-fold. Firstly, the USA’s culture of convenience equals comfort wherever you go, meaning large, cushy chairs are the norm in American homes and businesses. Secondly, the USA ranks 12th in the world for number of obese adults, while France comes in at 87th place. Put simply, more Americans require larger seats than French people do. While both countries have a long way to go in the realm of accessibility for all, very petite chairs are one of the most glaringly obvious examples in France.
Personal Space
Americans need their personal space – and lots of it! French norms like la bise, or giving kisses on the cheek, and chatting with less than an arm’s length of elbow room can be jarring for Americans. What a French person might think is an appropriate amount of space to give a stranger, an American might consider an intimate distance reserved for close friends or family members. Contrary to popular stereotypes, Jalen and I count the French’s propensity to closeness as a great example of their warmness and kindliness.
Debate
French people are up for a debate anytime, anywhere! Politics, cultural events, art, literature, fashion, work, international affairs, and more are popular topics of very lively, sometimes heated, discussion. French people have mastered the art of sharing their opinions without being overly inflammatory, while Americans tend to shy away from confrontation or disagreements completely. Watching French people have a passionate argument and then immediately make plans to get coffee together can be confusing for an American! It’s a good idea to brush up on your debate skills and work on not taking things personally before spending time with French people.
French culture is fascinating, unique, and different from American culture in the best of ways – and this list only scratches the surface! What other cultural distinctions between France and the USA have you experienced? Let us know in a comment!
Move to a new city in France with two Americans!
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