Everybody knows that French people like to go on strike. What probably even fewer people know is that for the most part, the strikes are an opportunity to have a big party/ parade in the street, with music and barbecuing and all-around a pretty good time. However, there are some deeply rooted traditions/ habits in the French culture that are strikingly (haha) different from those in American culture. I feel like I have a unique perspective after my experience working in Senator Schumer's office this summer, because I dealt with a lot of constituents and their complaints- I mean opinions. What I noticed right away was that there is no personal barrier to discussing politics with anyone. It is a free, open, unending discussion with anyone on any level of formality; despite the fact that they may seem like they are yelling viciously at each other, the next moment they are joking jovially like nothing has happened. In the United States, I've found that political discussions always turn personal. When has putting one's political views under scrutiny meant putting one's personal conduct under scrutiny? Furthermore, when did "you're a socialist" or "you're just conservative" become the end of an argument, instead of the beginning of a discussion?
In France, as their motto declares, there is more solidarity, more of an "all-for-one" feel to the way the public approaches politics. This probably can be partially attributed to the fact that many industries are much more centralized in France than in the U.S., so that when the government changes something, such as retirement, then many, many employees are affected. But in the U.S., instead of striking, I feel like there is one person and a small group who gets together and expresses their outrage, then there is some behind-closed-doors deal and all of a sudden the issue is over, and no one knows what really just happened. It is undeniable that America has deveoped a culture that is much more focused on the individual, and diversity and the myriad of opportunities available to the individual. I think it is indicative of cultural ideals that have been nurtured for centuries; I do not want to say that one way is better than the other, it just is fascinating to me to see how unspoken values and ideals can produce such a wide variety of cultures.
On the other hand, the educational differences are much more difficult to put your finger on. I've tried to solidify my theories over the past few weeks of classes, but it all started in the first week, during our "intensive language classes". They were supposed to be grammar/ language review, as well as an opportunity to ask questions to native french speakers/parisian inhabitants, though my class not at all the former and almost completely the latter (which was fine by me). We spent hours on "methodology", which basically meant learning how to write a paper all over again. Before I go into those differences, it is important to know that in the French (or at least the Parisian) school system, most schools are public, and the curriculums are all coordinated by the government, which means that you write the same types of papers and learn the same types of things. French high schoolers specialize around age 16 begin preparation for the baccalaureate exam (which is probably functionally the equivalent of the SAT, though it is much more difficult, requires more preparation, and actually tests real knowledge). After the test, there is no culture of choosing/ applying to colleges, and then moving out, going far away, etc. If you live in Paris, you go to the University of Paris, and the school within that that you choose is solely based on what you want to study. You live at home, and you pay probably around $800 per semester. Everyone gets in, you just have to wait in line for a few hours to sign up. Thus, everyone is equally prepared to continue the exact same type of learning they've been doing all their lives.
This makes things difficult for American students, who aren't used to having a set way to write assignments that travels from grade school all the way to graduate school. So we had to learn in one week what French students have been perfecting for 15 years. The structure is very specific, and my "intensive language class" professor was telling us that in larger classes the professors will just read your intro and a bit of the body to make sure the plan that you laid out is being followed, and then they read your conclusion. (for an 8 page paper... geez) A lot of American students are outraged at that thought, because in America you usually get points for ingenuity, creativity, thinking outside the box, and most importantly, for the "quality of your ideas" over the structure of your thoughts. Here, they emphasize having a logical, rigid structure to your paper, in which no idea is out of place, but at the same time that comprehensively covers every issue at stake. Furthermore, the introduction is not where you'll find the "thesis"; the intro is for the question you are answering, and you don't give the answer until the conclusion, where you don't even need a definitive answer/ to pick a side. These students have been thinking this way throughout their entire academic careers, which says to me that what is important in the French education system is very different from what is important in the American system.
So glad you could stick with me throughout all that, and don't worry, next time I'll put up some pretty pictures and only talk about touristy things.
