March has passed me by without much ceremony, but I guess the days always go by much faster here. It seems like just yesterday I was writing a frantic but excited post on my new host family and on my new home here in Paris. Now, any time I picture leaving here, I can't help but acknowledge the part of me that wants to stay forever. I don't think that I was expecting that after all I've gone through. Culture shock has a funny way of surprising you when you least desire it.
There are a few things that I think need more reflection here. If you are ever planning on traveling to Paris, this might help you. But most likely you will find that Paris is what you make of it.
1. The Cinema
French people have an entirely different view of the movies than we do. I guess it comes from their long history of artistic movements that it's only natural for them to treat going to the movies like going to an art gallery. I found out the hard way that they don't tolerate getting into the movie - as in commenting on how super excited you are that the movie is good. In my defense, the film was American and a super big deal. (Perhaps you have heard about The Hunger Games? If you haven't, you probably should check it out.) But another interesting fact is that they don't really discriminate against genres like we do. I just saw a second film at the cinema, an American action/comedy, and several of the audience members were elderly people. I would normally just chalk it up to the fact that it was the middle of the afternoon on a Tuesday, but there's something to this. In the US, you probably wouldn't find a 75 year old woman coming to the theater by herself to watch a movie in a foreign language that you knew was going to be about young people in love. It's just a thought, but the French of any generation are more willing to view a film as something worthwhile even if it is a comedy. Maybe we could learn something about their appreciation.
2. Architecture
I really wish that we had more historical heritage. Where I am from, most of the architecture is so new, you couldn't care less who built the building or when; you just care what you can do inside it. In Paris, there is such a rich architectural heritage. It's not just the Eiffel Tower that I'm talking about, either. Sometimes I think we are so naive in thinking that the Eiffel Tower is the most beautiful monument in the world. If you ask me, the area around the Eiffel Tower is what makes it significant - and the view from the top, which I am hoping to see very soon!! There are so many beautiful sites around every corner, so many stories about people and societies long past. If we had the same in America, I'd say it's something like going to Colonial Williamsburg but a lot older. And even the buildings that date from the nineteenth century are amazing. Like the Opera Garnier, for example. 'Nuff said.
3. Legend
I don't really know what makes Paris such a symbol of romance, but sometimes, I find it no different than other big cities. What makes the city special to me, though, is the French people. I don't know any other culture that is more proud of their heritage and their language. It is nearly 3 centuries after France's glory days during the Classical era, yet people still have this fancy impression of Paris and of France - including the French. They are proud to be the birthplace of the Rights of Man, of Republican spirit, of wine and good food. Not only that, but they'd tell you any day that America can't hold a candle to them. I have to confess that it's this kind of cultural pride that makes me love the French! We Americans think that to be patriotic we have to agree with the government, wear red, white, and blue all the time, and (some people think this, Yankees!) listen to country music. In France, your cultural pride is linked directly to the language. I wonder what it would be like if we anglophones had to learn other languages to get a job. I think we'd benefit from that kind of cultural challenge.
I'm sure there will be more reflections coming, but these were the most pressing today.
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