Pourquoi en France

I knew that all countries have different cultures, but before arriving in France, I did not expect to get culture shocks because I already had a variety of experiences in different countries, including Japan and U.S. However, after arriving in France, I encountered many situations which shocked me.

The first thing which shocked me was, of course, the food. I know food is a common item to shock foreigners, but it still made me shocked. 

This is called “Tartare de Bœuf.” All foreigners would say this is not ready to eat yet, but it is actually ready. I knew what was it when I ordered because I asked my friends, but when it was served, I regretted a little. I ate this plate while thinking that “I am sure that I will get a stomachache tomorrow.” The taste was better than I thought. In fact, I liked it. And fortunately, I did not get a stomachache the next day. I would recommend it if someone asked me what to eat in France.   

The second food is “Escargots.” It is a well-known French cuisine in other countries, and many people recommend visitors to eat it. In Japan, we eat a similar food. So, I tried it, but I did not like it because the taste was just oil, and the part we can eat was too small. It shocked me because it was not better than I expected. However, Paris was so much fun to explore with my friends.

The second shock was the price of wine. Wines are usually expensive in other countries. I associate them only with special meals. But in France, wines are cheap, and the taste is better than those we can buy in other countries with double or triple prices. It is not really a wine, but my favorite is “cidre,” which is popular in Bretagne regions (the photo below). 

Third, I was shocked that there are not air conditioners in a house. I thought that all developed countries have air conditioners in buildings. On the other hand, in the residences, it seems that air conditioners are not as common as in the U.S. and Japan. During August and September, we had to stand the hot weather. However, in winter, I found that there was a heater which always warmed up an entire house. So, during the winter, the home was comfortable.    

The thing I did not like the most was smoking in public. In the U.S. and Japan, smoking in public have been more regulated. Even in the restaurants, there are separated tables for non-smokers and for smokers. On the other hand, in France, people smoke everywhere, such as at bus-stops, in restaurants, and in streets. Because I am a little allergic to the smoking, I had a difficult time. Particularly, at the restaurants, when a smoker was sitting next to my table, I was not able to enjoy the meals.

However, as a whole, I am glad that I came to France for my study abroad program. Rennes is a small town, but it is a beautiful place to live. I would like to visit this city again in the future.

Kikuchi Eiichi 

Soka University of America