Differences

The weekdays at Loyola are predictable and I often found myself going through the motions at certain parts of the semesters that I have spent there. I have always had a routine at Loyola but that is how I work best to ensure I am on top of my work, job, and still finding time for myself and my friends. Abroad is different. Not one day is the same as another. I am constantly doing something different, trying different restaurants, or traveling someplace new. Despite the general unpredictability, there are two days every week that I can be relatively sure as to how my day will pan out – Monday and Thursday.

These two days are the only days that I have class each week. Although that seems like the best gig ever, I am in class all day, without a single break between each one. Those days are inevitably long and my schedule forces me to strategically time manage my work in order to have everything done at once. That has been a challenge in itself seeing as I do not want to constantly be doing work and want to see Paris.

Regardless of the obstacles I have faced with my unusual class schedule, this is the typical outline for the days that I am in class: wake up by 8 in the morning, leave by 9:30, stop at the grocery store down the block for a water and lunch to eat on the go between classes, catch the metro, grab a coffee on campus, make it to my first class at 10:30, attend class until 5pm. After my classes I will either stay on campus to get work done, but usually I run errands and stop at another, my preferred, grocery store on my way home for dinner ingredients, only to finally make it back to my apartment usually around 6pm.

The reason behind my anecdote describing my typical school day is because during these days I spend my time in a more “local” part of Paris – not where tourists typically reside. This is where I truly experience the French and everything their culture has to offer – especially the differences.

The Metro

One major difference that I have noticed between France and the States is how elderly people are respected and treated. Obviously, the treatment of older generations has nothing to do with the metro itself but this is simply where I began to notice the stark contrast and continue to notice the ongoing respect.

The value of seniority has been a concern for a while back home now. Many people feel that respect for elders has dwindled due to various reasons – some being the use of technology and how they typically lack knowledge compared to younger people or just because lifestyles are exceptionally different. Regardless of why seniority is no longer as valued as it should be, I did not notice the difference between here and the USA until riding the metro.

Time and time again, young people continually give up their seats to elders. Although this may not seem like a huge deal, considering just how often it happens and my own personal doubt that it would happen as often, or even occur, in the states is enough to show the difference.

My Morning Coffee

I cannot live without coffee. I rely on my morning caffeine boost to kick start my day and get me going. Fortunately, there is a coffee shop on campus that I always pop into on my way to class. One difference that I noticed, not only at this coffee shop, but every restaurant/café/bar, is that “to-go” typically is not an option. The French love to sit and enjoy whatever they may be consuming – even if it is simply a cup of coffee or tea. They take their time and appreciate their food and drink. The idea that this culture values sitting and just being is refreshing. Growing up in north Jersey, and even at Loyola where students quite often Tapingo their Starbucks order to quickly grab on their way to their next class, I am accustomed to living a fast-paced lifestyle. Seeing people sit and truly take their time is a wonderful reminder that I do not constantly have to be on the move.

After Class Grocery Shopping

A third major difference between France and the United States is the differences between grocery stores. In the United States, supermarkets are truly super. There is everything one can imagine there – it is a one stop shop. In France, however, yes the grocery stores have the essentials but more often than not I cannot go to one place and find everything and anything I need from food to a cooking pan to a hair dryer. For example, I will absolutely be able to find ingredients for dinner at the same grocery store, but if I want a different type of meat (like sausage rather than ground beef) then I will have to go to the la boucherie, or the butcher. Furthermore, the grocery store will typically only hold one type of bread. If I want options, or if the grocery store’s stock ran out (which it typically does) then off to la boulangerie or la pâtisserie I go.