Opinion

The United States, From a French Perspective

Dustin Morris, Photographer
February 20, 2018

The United States is an interesting place; some readers would agree that America isn’t an entirely beautiful country and does fall short of certain expectations while exceeding others. What about a new perspective with some help from a French student? Her name is Charlotte, she lives in southern France, attends a boarding school, is about our age.

What do you think of the United States, and why?

Most of the time, when we are young, we have the American dream in mind. We see America like the country of celebrity and easy money. Most of us wanted to live in America when they were 12 to 15 years old. Then we understand that America is not Hollywood, there are others things. I also see America like the country of obesity, pollution, racism…

America is over represented in TV, you shall see our TV program during Christmas, only American TV movies about perfect families who live a perfect day with perfect children and many gifts under the Christmas tree. We have in mind your lawn, perfectly cropped and your white housed next to each other, the street of Desperate Housewives. Even your country borders are in straight lines.

Most of the musics we hear are produced in America, same for the movies. French movies have a really bad reputation in France, and I would like to know what Americans think about that. Americans have good artists and you have Clint Eastwood.

What stereotypes come to mind when you think USA?

The common stereotype we have about America is that all is bigger. Soda, pizza, cars, house, and people.

Many Americans think of the French as romantic people who loves their baguettes, croissants, and were berets; how do you feel about this?

If French people have the cliché that [they] are romantic, I don’t know where it comes from. We attribute the cliché of romantic people to the Italians. Maybe there are romantic people in France, but there are certainly not in high school.

We eat baguette, yes, everyday. Even if you go to the cafeteria in schools. The croissants are a really good French pastry, if you come in France, try the “pain au chocolat” too (and never call that “chocolatine”). I think the French gastronomy is one of the best thing we can have, we are [really] proud of it.

It’s funny that strangers imagine us with a beret and a baguette. It doesn’t bother us, in contrary to the stereotype of French people who smell bad and don’t take shower, which is, I hope you know it, not true.”

Do you have anything you would like to ask America as a whole? Why?

I am always thinking about what Americans think about France and French people. I am a bit paranoid about that. I just want to say to Americans that if they went to Paris, they must know that Parisians aren’t like French people. There are Parisians and others French, it’s really different. I would like to know if France is attractive to Americans. I always try to give a good image of French people to strangers.

So, the good and the bad. This is what it’s like to view America from the outside. All in all, it’s similar to us comparing other countries to their stereotypes and clichés. Some of them are true, while others are far from it. Thank Charlotte for her participation, as I wouldn’t be capable of writing this article without her.

The Owl

The Owl

The Owl

The United States, From a French Perspective

The Owl

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