French-American Connection

Coming to Paris for the first time was a dream come true. Living in Paris for three months was beyond that. If it wasn’t for my three kids and my family, I think I would of stayed in Paris. I missed them terribly, and the distance between us made me feel blue. Thanks to technology (Skype) I was somehow able to stay sane. I met interesting people through the Accent program and made good friends. In the middle of the program, I was jet setting to different countries almost every weekend.  Flying for fewer than 60 Euros was a deal that I couldn’t surpass.  I must say that the most memorable trip was Normandy and Brittany.  Everyone in the group went. In Normandy, France at the Normandy American Cemetery Memorial we were able to step on American soil for the first time in months.

Seeing the American flag was kind of odd since we were in France. The French had granted this land to the Americans after WWII. I didn’t know that there was American land in France, nor did I know about the connection between the U.S and France. The only French gift to Americans that I knew about was the Statue of Liberty. I think that now, the connection between the U.S and France is not as strong as before. I remember back in 2003, there was an issue with the Invasion of Iraq that created a conflict between the U.S and France.  The U.S decided to boycott French goods and renamed French fries,  “freedom fries “. Luckily, this was temporary. Other than that I don’t know much about the political turmoil that might exist between the two countries. Cultural differences play a big role in political connections, and these differences always interfere in alliances. Since there are many differences among the two, I don’t believe there will ever be a 100% easy alliance between France and the U.S. 

The French Influence

France has a long history of spreading its language and heritage throughout the world. I was unaware of it colonial history and never imagined it’s former Empire had once occupied 1/8^th of the world. The French colonized for many reasons: growth, resources, modernization and power. In America it had colonized Quebec and Louisiana and other states in the U.S. Today in Quebec, Canada French is their official language. In New Orleans, Louisiana the French left a lot of cultural influence and in their cuisine, and in traditions.  A great example of this is the annual Mardi Gras festival which is well celebrated in New Orleans. In Mexico the French left their mark in architecture, cuisine (especially pastries) and laws. It is known that Mexican law is based on the Napoleonic code. France’s influence in Mexico’s architecture is evident in Mexico City’s El Paseo de la Reforma, which was modeled after Champs-Elysees. El Paseo de la Reforma was a direct route to Maximilian’s palace and it was the central part of the city. I cannot imagine what it would be like if the French would of stayed in power here in the States and in Mexico.

French colonization has left a mark through the implementation of its culture and language.  Unfortunately, through the years, the French language and cultures has been progressively disappearing in Louisiana. Luckily, the French cuisine is still prominent!  

European Identity and perks!

I must say that traveling to different countries within the European continent has allowed me to have a deeper understanding of the many varying cultures within the E.U. Although most E.U countries share the same currency, the Euro, they differ in their own cultural identity: different customs, different mannerisms, different language, different beliefs, etc…They take pride of whom they are and they know their history like the palm of their hand. I also noticed that unlike Americans they don’t say automatically that they’re European. I feel that the European identity is not really used by the Europeans. While in Dublin, Ireland, an Anglo speaking country, the Irish proudly adorned their city with proud to be Irish logos rather then stating, “proud to be European”. The same occurred in Milano, Barcelona, and other cities, which our group visited. The term  “European “is too vague.  

Although there is some sense of unity among the E.U, all member countries still safeguard their identity by stating their country of origin versus simply stating that they are European. Over the three months living in Paris, I noticed the many advantages that E.U members have. They have free access to most museums and attractions. Unlike the U.S, we don’t have this kind of incentives when it comes to museums. The most exciting kind of perks offered to Americans are discounts at amusement parks like Disneyland, which by the way only benefits Southern Californians. Being a citizen of a country that belongs to the EU, entitles you have the choice to study at any university within the E.U without paying additional fees. In the U.S, there is no such system in higher education. If a U.S citizen decides to study outside of their home state they must pay an additional out of state fee, which can cost a lot of money.

Living in Paris has allowed me to notice the many perks that a citizen of the E.U has.  I have also come to conclude that although the French are pro European Union, they have more pride in saying “Je suis Français”.