Last updated 13 October 2022
Culture Shock!
France vs America: 10 Intermediate Differences
This is the second of three articles covering some of the differences I’ve noticed after three years living in France.
What I’ve listed below are slightly more profound (and less immediately evident) differences than those mentioned in my first article: Culture Shock! 19 Observations from Living in France
1. Grèves (Strikes) are common and enjoy popular sympathy. The SNCF (Société nationale des chemins de fer français) even publishes advisories about when certain sections of the country won’t be serviced by their trains as a result of strikes. And they indicate how to continue going about your trip in other ways. See the SNCF grève page here.
2. Pay Period – There is only one pay period/month in France vs. two in America. Maybe that’s why personal savings rates are higher in France.
According to Statista, in 2019, households in France held 14.3% of their total revenue in savings versus the measly 7.5% in America. Due to Covid-19, these numbers are closer in 2020 (20.6% to 16.1% respectively.)
3. Fashion – People dress more fashionably in France, and a higher percentage of people are skinny or fit. In America, at least outside of the bigger urban areas, I’d always gotten the impression that looking good, or caring about looking good was not a very masculine pursuit. Whereas in France, if you leave the house, male or female – wearing new clothes that fit you well, and a scarf or other accessory, is the norm, not the exception.
4. Soldes (Sales) are defined by the state within certain periods of time and are illegal outside of those times. Items for sale must be well designated; usually in certain areas of the store. It is during these times that items can be sold at a fraction of their purchase amount. See this French government webpage for more information.
5. Workweek – The workweek is shorter, 35 hours vs. 40 in America. Perhaps this is thanks to the syndicates (unions) that are still a force in France.
6. Diet – Most French dishes contain meat or dairy, especially the traditional ones. Eating vegan or vegetarian is still uncommon in France and it can be a hassle when going out.
7. Vacations are taken by everyone, and often to other countries. Holidays are also more common than in the U.S. (toussaints, noël, hiver, printemps, août.) School vacations are even coordinated across the country – so that tourist hotspots aren’t completely devastated by the rush. See this government site for information on School Vacations in 2021-2023.
8. Arrêt de Travail – The Arrêt de Travail (Leave of absence sanctioned by a doctor) is required to take a sick day in France. I find this to be half brilliant and half idiotic.
If you need to take a day off work for sickness it makes sense that a trained and impartial third party should weigh in. But on the other side, why should people who probably need rest be forced to go visit a clinic? And doubly so if their condition is infectious.
In America, at least in my experience, people call in sick and are supposed to come back to work when they’re feeling better. Typically an employee will get a number of sick days every year to cover these absences. Sometimes they will even be rewarded when they aren’t used.
9. Academic grading – is done on a scale of 0-20 vs the American A-F system. In France getting 10/20 is considered a pass whereas to me knowing something only 50% is horrible/a downright failure. Questions are much more exact though, so it is very easy to miss points. I can’t seem to shake the idea that understanding the concept should be more important than knowing all the details by heart – so I’m not very converted to the French method. See a more in-depth article here.
1o. Masonry Construction – Most houses in France are built of masonry compared to the wood-frame style more common in America (the Northeast at least.) This even holds up in the countryside as seen to the left. My partner even tells me that houses look fragile in America!
Have you noticed any other differences between France and America? What about France in general? Please leave a comment below.