Lycée International - Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Check-in to France Program September 19, 2011 Harriet Welty Rochefort

Transcription

1 Lycée International - Saint-Germain-en-Laye Check-in to France Program September 19, 2011 Harriet Welty Rochefort

2 CULTURAL ADJUSTMENTS - HARD BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE! A personal tale of adjusting to life in France Photo: Harriet and Philippe on their wedding day at the Mairie du 5ème arrondissement 3

3 WHO AM I? Author of «French Toast» (in English, French and Chinese) «French Fried» (in English and Chinese) And in 2012: «Joie de Vivre : Wining, Dining, and Romancing like the French» Creator of (6 million hits per year) 4

4 CULTURE SHOCK! SUMMARY OF TODAY S TALK 1. What YOU Discovered and I did too : The French Are Different! 3. How They re Different 4. Some Key French Values 5. Some «S» Differences That Meet the Eye 5. Do s and Don ts for Better Understanding 6. Celebrate the Differences! 5

5 YOUR OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE FRENCH Time long! The Gray Area and Rules-what rules? Complaining - gets results Relationships - build them! Work - the crazy meeting School - negative feedback Language - frustration 6

6 YOUR OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE FRENCH (2) Customer service - cold as ice cubes Dirt some rental homes, public toilets BAD WEATHER can t blame everything on the French! 7

7 SOME SOLUTIONS FOR CULTURAL ADJUSTMENT Make some French friends! Get into Paris if you live in the suburbs And out of Paris whenever you can Join a language class Join a wine tasting class Join a cooking class Hang out in a Paris bistro and test your French 8

8 WHAT YOU APPRECIATE Flowers in public parks and everywhere The French talk all the time so you can interrupt without being impolite Flexibility «no» is a starting point The French, when you know them personally, are friendly and helpful 9

9 WHAT I TOO DISCOVERED: THE FRENCH ARE DIFFERENT First cause of cultural misunderstandings - we THINK we re alike but we re not Important to UNDERSTAND and APPRECIATE the differences 10

10 HOW THEY RE DIFFERENT Asterix the Gaul is typically French! Against the rest of the world, fearless of the Romans Smarter than the rest of the world Main goal: to have fun, eat and brawl The French have A different vision of life : life is NOT just work! A different vision of the future : not necessarily happy A different vision of power : there is always a king! A different vision of responsibility : you are not alone! (solidarity) And many others. 11

11 SOME KEY FRENCH VALUES Egalité : the French value "égalité" above everything classical story of an American and a Frenchman watching someone driving a Cadillac no entrance exams for university salespeople put you down to prove they are not your slave! Intelligence : the French highly value intelligence in itself : you can always say that you admire someone who «failed everything but is so intelligent» 12

12 FRENCH VALUES (CONTINUED) Logic : nothing is more important than being "logique" : «cartesian» means intellectually consistent as opposed to pragmatic. even if your conclusion is pragmatic, efficient, cost-effective, etc..., when a Frenchman says "it is not logical", do not expect him to agree with you until you have addressed this objection. Privacy : the French do not like to mix professional and personal life and do not like questions about private matters 13

13 SOME «S» DIFFERENCES THAT MEET THE EYE The SMILE : NOT automatic! Customer SERVICE: the customer is NOT the King! SCENTS : from Chanel N 5 to Camembert and garlic! STYLE : THE strong point SLIM : How do they eat all that food and not get fat? STOPPING : The French STOP what they re doing for coffee and meal. No imperious need for instant satisfaction. No drinkholders in cars! 14

14 SEX AND SEDUCTION The Latin Lover Flirting Sexual harrassment The «PACS» 15

15 SPACE Some tips on moving in the French bubble When asking directions: FIRST, say Bonjour, Monsieur, Bonjour, Madame. SECOND, Ask if the person speaks English. THIRD, Ask your question, FOUR, Smile and say «Merci beaucoup!» In restaurants: LOWER YOUR VOICE In the streets :Look good for others (everyone s watching)! 16

16 «SECULAR» A SECULAR society : in France freedom of religion consists of NOT showing one s religious affiliation in public institutions Outlaw the Burqa?? «Good»? «Bad»? Different! 17

17 FRENCH SCHOOLS ARE DIFFERENT French teachers hard on students French high school teachers present only for their courses High absentee rate of teachers (not always replaced) In disadvantaged suburbs more time fending off trouble from disinterested, nonmotivated adolescents than teaching French teachers on high end (intellectually elite schools) spend time ONLY teaching and rarely spend time with students A French parents dream. 18

18 MORE DIFFERENCES. Consensus : boring! Criticism : good! and.. Food : still relished and revered! Attitude toward money (Shhh!) : secret, jealousy, and ignorance «Politesse» : rude? 19

19 CHANGING FRANCE Food: less time for meals, more fast food Hence, French women (and men and children) DO get fat Parents more involved in schools and much less strict with children People talk more openly about money (la crise) 20

20 DO S AND DON TS FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING 21

21 CELEBRATE THE DIFFERENCES Read «French Toast» And «French Fried» Be on the lookout for Joie de Vivre Spring 2012 Check out 22