Another Day in Paradise…AKA…. France by Tina Lott-Kamara

Today we learned a lot about the history of France. We learned about everything from the 100 years’ War to the American Revolution and World War I & II. One of the many facts that stood out for me was learning that France is currently in its 5^th Republic which began in 1959. I also learned that, like the United States, the unemployment rate (about 24%) is an issue here that the French government is trying to work on. Most importantly, I gathered that although I am in a very different place with very different people, there are many commonalities between the French and the American culture. Some of these commonalities include the desire for improvement in the government systems, stable employment, and overall growth as a country. I also noted some key differences between our cultures.

The French have a more laid back, relaxed way of living life. French people spend 3 to 4 hours during meals times, whereas most Americans eat in a hurry in order to get to the next task at hand. The French believe that time is of the essence. It is the present moment and who one chooses to spend his or her time with that matters most. In restaurants, the French do not expect tips, whereas in America, not leaving a tip would be considered rude.

Another difference between French culture and American culture is the level of closeness. French people prefer to stand in close proximity to one another. This includes when having a conversation, sitting or standing on a train, or having a meal at a restaurant. Americans prefer space and distance and will demonstrate this by taking a step back or moving away to increase the distance.

One final observation of differences between cultures include the school systems. In France, children stay home with their parents through college. Once they go to college, they often go to the local college near their home. America’s schooling system is set up quite differently, where children tend to venture away from home after high school.

A highlight of today was having French professionals speak to us about what counseling is like in France. We learned about licensure and credentialing requirements as well as their views on mental illness and substance abuse. It was very interesting to see how other cultures address issues. It was interesting to learn that in France, alcoholism is not a major problem, as French people drink socially and not in excess. In America, alcohol is often misused and there are treatment centers in all areas of the city.

Later in the day, we attended a presentation by Dr. Pat Thomas. She taught us that there is a difference between wellness and health and the two concepts should not be used interchangeably. She also gave us an experiential activity where we focused on one of the 8 pillars of wellness. When we came back together as a group, I enjoyed the sense of safety I felt in expressing my experience with this activity.

A nice run through the French neighborhood ended my day. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!