What are some differences between living in the U.S. and France?

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xalynn

It's rather difficult to try to compare the two countries. People from different regions of the two countries are different even in the country itself, least to say comparing them with another country. What I can think of right now, is pretty much generalisation and doesn't really always reflect things in every part of the two countries.

1) Language : obviously as you know, French in France, English in US

2) Politics : current French government is right wing, whereas in US following Obama's win it'll soon be left wing government in charge (although Obama is more of a centrist than leftist)

3) Currency : Euro in France, USD in US, and the current economic climate means Euro has favourable rate compared to USD

4) Trasnport : the public transport network in France is awesome and in particular in cities, one doesn't need to drive and can get pretty much everywhere on public transport. In US, pretty much everyone drives if you want to get from one place to another (if within reasonable distance) or fly (it is a huge country afterall). One thing in common - both countries drive on the right side.

5) Healthcare : French healthcare system is one of the most comprehensive whereas in US right now private insurance is essential or you'd better pray you don't get into health problem/accidents

6) Food : smaller portions in France when compared to those in US, and more variety too in France, incorporating a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, and spices. In US, a lot of the diet are quite meaty with little fruits/vegs, although if you're in image conscious cities like NY or LA, then it'll be somewhere different. France has more diversity with the food changing from region to region, whereas from somewhat limit experience that I have while travelling in US the food is more similar across the board.

7) History : very different historical records, France previously being a monarch ruled country until the French revolution whereas modern US as we know today is quite different from pre-15th century when it was lived by mainly indigenous people.

8) Civil/city planning : most places in American are planned in square grids whereas in France (or like pretty much of Europe) the cities grow from a central point outward and usually rather randomly. Definitely not to the extend of American grid system.

9) Religion : while France is predominantly Catholic there is less observation of staunch religious people as opposed to in the US. The French usually separates religion from the states.

10) Culture : of course there are major culture differences. French people don't say hi to random strangers. American smiles to just about everyone. French are individualists that try to test the boundaries at every turn. Americans are quite the opposite, and perhaps more law abiding. French believes they're entitled. American believes in working to get what they want. (I'm sorry for the terrible generalisation, I know not everyone, French or American, are like this!)

11) Work : France has 35 hours working week which the current president is trying to change. Americans tend to work much longer hours. France enjoys one of the highest number of holiday days, whereas Americans would be hard push to get more than 10 days paid holiday a year (or so I've been told!). In France, if people are unhappy over things, they go on strike. Not something that I've heard of in the US. (Are there even worker strikes in US?)

12) Love and relationship : surprisingly many French people I know puts a lot of store in passion, while Americans put more stock in romantic love. Sex is rated high up on the importance scale for many French. Homosexual relationship is more acceptable in France than in US. The dating rules are completely different (I don't even know where to start). Americans marry younger than the French would.

13) Philosophy : French people looooooves to have theories and philosphise over little things. Goodness know how much time I've spent on this little activity with my friends. It can be fun though. I never quite have this kind of conversations with most Americans I know and the handful few that do, they have been living away from US and probably pick up this habit?

I'm sure there are tons more difference that one could come up with. Hey, mankind and human interactions are very dynamic! :)

* Update *

Hey Rilifane, I guess you were talking about me re the food comment. ;)

Well, I'm stating what I found. Perhaps I've been very lucky, as I have friends who are foodies like me, and we manage to find some great places to eat in Paris be it French regional cuisine or foreign cuisine (although admittedly, not what's touted as Chinese food there - those are pretty bad!).

Even so, the variety I mentioned was really referring to French cuisine. From one region to another, there are a lot of specialties to the region. While my travel to US is limited (3 trips) I find American cuisine pretty much of the usual even though I was in different area. I wasn't trying to bring in the influence of foreign cuisine.

Again, different people, different experiences. Perhaps my disposition as a foodies means I seek out for something different everywhere I go, and my observation so far is I've got more variety in France than in US.

Now you've just reminded me of the best Mexican food I've had in LA... ahh...

Alessandra M

be careful, because you get great work hours and vacations but I heard that the system is rigged so that you may have great places all around you but they are too expensive for you to enjoy

I like French people because they are honest, and even the Asians that live there are more loose. (I am Asian so don't call me racist or something). Anyway, it is a great place to have fun and they are more open with things about sex or what. They are a very rebellious culture.

In America, everything is about religon and all this crap. French aren't into authority, which is why I want to go there as well.

It's a more free thinking society and culture. I like how the guys aren't afraid to dress up while some American guys think it's "gay" to put effort into dressing nice.

another major different I notice as a woman, is that if I go up to a French guy to try and make friends they get the impression that I like them so I suppose that would be a major difference that I notice

Very polite and very blunt
good friends stab you in the front

dreamergirl

With that much knowledge you should be fine... I have been to France recently and was very excited about their crepes. xD They are yummy! Try Crepe a nutella or crepe a nutella banana! Mhmmmm... delicious! Lol
Look it up in google, perhaps? Look what I found. ^ ^

http://www.frenchconnections.co.uk/property-for-sale/living-in-france.cfm

Jesus Touched Me

French have 7 hour work days and women get state nannies. People eat lots of cheese and whine. Oh, and theres lots of sex.

I never lived in the U.S. but I visited two times, I have cousins in Colorado. In France life is very good. We don't worry about money because if we lose our job we still receive money and health system is free. We go on holiday a lot. In the U.S people are in very bad health and they work, work, work, and have never fun or free time. American women have no maternity holiday if they have babies, it's a very cruel and egoist society.

In France we like to joke about sex and politics but American people they are always shocked by everything. It is very difficult to speak about different subjects, they say always "oh my god, oh my god" and are always scared of everything. They are not very open and are too much religious and naive.

American people are more relaxed in cinemas, they put their feet on the chairs in front of them but in France we don't do that. They hug and smile but in France we shake the hand, we smile too but after we speak with people, not before.

French houses are smaller but better. We have more modern things than in the U.S. It's same with cars, our cars are small but very nice design, not big square boxes like in America. France is more modern. In the U.S, people have wash-machines and hoovers like in the 1950's, like what our grandmothers have during the war! LOL! Everything seems very old in the American houses and bathrooms are bad and old like in England.

Jeans and clothes are more expensive in France but shirts and T-shirts and shoes have more style. But jeans are better in America, I buy 10 pairs in America!

France has more unemployed, it is hard to find a job. Wages are not very high but it's OK. Money is not the most important thing in our life, we prefer to have good meals and family life and holidays and pleasure and freedom.

In France there is more freedom, we can go to bars when we are young, there is not repression on everything like in the U.S. We can joke and people are not shocked. We can used bad word on the television and show naked people, we are not puritan like the Americans.

So France is not perfect but I am happy and lucky to live here. I can't imagine to live in the U.S, it's boring and I don't feel free when I am over there, I suffocate.

If you do not like france you will like QuÃ©bec, it's very nice and the people are very friendly and the food is good like in France. In MontrÃ©al they are horrible, very snob, don't go there! But in QuÃ©bec it's great. (I hope your dad is not from MontrÃ©al, LOL! Sorry, it is just my impression when I was a tourist there, I prefer QuÃ©bec people.)

Heather K

there arnt very meny hot guys in the US but in france.............
they are sooooooooooooooooooooooo sexy

Rillifane

Of course it really depends on what parts of France and the USA you want to compare when you talk about things like culture, sophistication and even personal morality. On that level there is more difference between New York City and Omaha than there is between the USA generally and France.

On a more practical level the French pay higher taxes and have higher unemployment but have benefits from the government including an excellent health insurance system and all but free university educations.

The French have far more government regulation and therefore less freedom (and I doubt anyone would dispute that French bureaucrats are some of the most officious, nit-picking and arrogant in the world). On the other hand, everything is centralized which makes for more uniformity unlike the often chaotic situation in the USA where every state makes its own laws. Of course, this reflects the fact that France is tiny compared to the USA. (All of France can fit into Texas with room left over for several other European countries).

The French value stability and security far more than do Americans.

Perhaps this reflects the fact that from the time of the writing of the American constitution, the USA has had precisely one form of government while the French, in that same time period, have gone thru a dozen different forms of government including several that were installed by a coup de d'etat or other extralegal means.

Another facet of this is that the French still tend to work for the same company or organization their entire lives. Even more indicative of their difference in attitude is that college students, when polled, list "government functionary" as their first employment choice while Americans say "Entrepreneur."

Its really rather funny to read an answer which says the French have more variety in their food. Nothing could be further from the truth.

While French cuisine is one of the glories of the world the French really have very unadventurous palates. Foreign cuisine in France, with the possible exception of North African, is almost invariably second rate and restaurant owners who I've spoken with about this say its because the French simply won't eat authentic foreign cuisine. Recently there has been a fad for Tex-Mex food and I can personally attest to the fact that what is served (at very popular places) in Paris is vile beyond belief.

What is true is that the quality of ingrediants is generally high but then the same high quality is also available in the USA if you don't shop at megamarts (and are willing to pay prices as high as the French pay).

The notion, as stated in one of the answers, that French homes are better or more modern or have more technology than those in the USA is strange. They are indeed, much smaller and often lack what are considered basic amenities in the USA. The average home size in the USA is 222 sq.meters and the typical American home has three bedrooms with 2 bathrooms. The average French home is half that size with only one bath. The notion that US homes are "old" is downright weird and I suspect that the average home in France is vastly older than the average in the USA. The overwhelming majority of American homes currently in use were built in the last 60 years.

None of this is to say that either country is better or worse than the other, merely different. What some people might find insufferable or indespensible another will find inconsequential. How one person wishes to live his or her life will not suit another.

CinderBlock

The language, the money, the politics. France is a great place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there.

Next on the Banned List

Hairy girls.. lots of them in france, but at least they are hot and NOT overweight

qriste

why do you want to move out of your country? why don't you like it? life in France is very different from what people think, it's not like in the films Amelie Poulain or the rest, it has changed a lot.

Carver M

Hairy girls and sails?

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