I can honestly say this has been a very difficult experience for me to adjust to. Not because I was not learning and enjoying myself, but because I was not ready to adjust to a new culture so quickly. I still feel constant anxiety from almost everything, getting my purse stolen being one of them, but this has been such a freeing experience. I have learned so much about how the French live simply by having conversations with them.
My perception of French culture is that the lifestyle and culture there feel so much more relaxing to be involved in than American culture. I appreciated that people are more relaxed about eating and enjoying life, although I struggled with how long it took to get a meal. I knew that struggle came from being an American and if I grew up in this culture, I’d probably enjoy it so much more than I did.
I spoke to an African guy and an Indian guy who both lived in France for a couple of years. The man who was from Africa expressed how expensive Paris was and that it was hard for him to live there and adjust to this country. Whereas the man from India had opposite views about living in Paris and he said that it was not expensive. He enjoyed living there and said America was more expensive than any other country. When I listened to both, I realized that they came from very different economic backgrounds. It would make sense why the man from India viewed Paris as not that expensive because maybe the economy in India was like the economy in Paris. The guy who came from Africa might have come from a lower economic status area and this may have made it harder for him to adjust.
In conclusion, I've also had the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with locals, offering me a glimpse into the French way of life. Contrary to the forced niceness I often encounter in America, I appreciate the genuine, if sometimes brusque, interactions here. Additionally, I've observed the French prioritizing leisure and relaxation over work, a concept that has prompted me to reflect on my own approach to life.