Bonjour tout le monde! I used to be within the U.S. visiting household for Thanksgiving and the longer I reside in France, the extra I notice that reverse tradition shock is really a factor. I’m initially from NJ, however my household now lives in Florida, and that’s a little bit of tradition shock in and of itself. The U.S. is big and there’s a lot variety relying on the place you reside. However while you add in the truth that I’m used to the French approach, reverse tradition shock turns into much more apparent. Let’s get into 10 issues that throw me for a loop each time I come again to the U.S. to go to after dwelling overseas.
1. No person’s puffing smoke in every single place
In France, you’ll discover that lots of people appear to smoke. You’ll see folks smoking on terraces, at bus stops, even whereas casually strolling down the road. It’s tolerated much more in France and form of seen as regular.
However again within the U..S? It’s like a smoke-free zone. Certain, Individuals do smoke and vaping is a factor, however smoking appears approach much less widespread stateside and is a bit stigmatized in some social circles. It’s not cool to smoke.
To provide you some details, based on the Worldwide Union for the Scientific Research of Inhabitants, in France, the smoking epidemic started later than in the US. The variety of cigarettes offered per grownup per day peaked within the US in 1961, whereas it peaked later in France in 1985.
Consequently, the prevalence of smoking is greater right now in France (31%) than the US (16%). In any case, being within the U.S. seems like somebody swapped my ‘regular life’ with a cleaner, brisker model of actuality. As somebody who’s delicate to cigarette smoke, this can be a main professional of being within the U.S.
2. Small discuss is alive and thriving
In France, informal conversations with cashiers or waiters you don’t know are uncommon. It’s not that they aren’t pleasant or don’t care; it’s that they’re respecting their clients’ non-public lives. If a French cashier you don’t know asks you ways your day goes or compliments you, you’re both dreaming or they’ve mistaken you for his or her greatest good friend.
Within the U.S., although, folks appear up for a little bit of a small discuss. “How’s your day going? I like your bag, the place did you get it? What are you as much as?” and so forth. I’m joyful to chitchat with folks, nevertheless it catches me off guard as a result of small discuss isn’t a factor in France, or no less than to not the identical extent that it’s within the U.S.
It’s not that nobody in France will ever chat you up and that everybody within the U.S. is a chatty Kathy. It’s nuanced, so for extra particulars on that, I wrote a submit on small discuss in France right here.
Photograph credit score: Shutterstock.com/mastermilmar
3. Tipping, tipping, tipping
As somebody who spent the primary 25 or so years of her life within the U.S., I do know all concerning the ins and outs of tipping, nevertheless it appears to have ramped up a LOT previously decade. Tipping stateside is in every single place and it’s getting uncontrolled.
In France, tipping is non-compulsory—it’s a bit merci should you had nice service. Leaving 20% ideas at eating places or tipping at a hair or nail salon are NOT compulsory in France. Within the U.S., tipping is necessary and never only for eating places—espresso retailers, massages, rideshare drivers, haircuts… the listing by no means ends.
It’s time for employers to start out paying staff a habitable wage and cease placing the onus on clients to make up the distinction.
4. Sunday productiveness is a factor
Within the U.S., Sundays are simply one other day the place you will be as productive as you wish to be, however in France, Sundays are sacred. OK, perhaps not sacred however many shops and companies are closed.
A few of my native supermarkets are closed on Sundays and the 2 which can be open shut at midday. Salons are closed and my health club closes at midday too. In France, folks spend time stress-free. They relax at dwelling, go on walks to the park with household… it’s not a day to be productive and that’s constructed into the tradition.
However within the U.S., whilst you can loosen up and take it straightforward on Sundays, you will have the choice to run errands, hit the health club, buy groceries, and even seize dinner. Final Sunday, I acquired my nails achieved, went grocery purchasing at 4pm and it felt weirdly rebellious, like I used to be breaking some unstated rule.
5. Pharmaceutical commercials are in every single place
“Uncomfortable side effects might embrace diarrhea, abdomen ache, complications, dizziness, confusion, dropping your left arm, your eyeball falling out, uncontrollable laughter and the urge to maneuver to France.” Alight, I’m exaggerating a bit however I do know you recognize all concerning the prescription drug advertisements we’re bombarded with on American TV. They’re uncontrolled!
You possibly can’t even get by way of one industrial break with out watching some dramatic industrial for the newest eczema or psoriasis drug. And the worst half is the jingles are catchy!!!!
Solely the U.S. and New Zealand permit direct to shopper TV pharmaceutical promoting, so which means in France, you gained’t see pharmaceutical commercials on TV or in magazines.
Coming again to the U.S. and watching advertisements for drugs with 10 seconds of advantages and two minutes of aspect impact disclaimers is wild. “Ask your physician should you’re wholesome sufficient to take this capsule which will trigger dizziness, nausea, or sudden existential dread.”
The French would lose their minds. It could be humorous if it wasn’t so scary. I can’t think about what foreigners should suppose once they see all of the pharma commercials.
6. Gun and ammo shops are… regular?
I grew up within the U.S., so the concept of individuals having weapons wasn’t precisely new to me, though my dwelling state of NJ required a allow to personal a firearm and there was no open carry.
However Florida, nicely it’s a unique story. Even earlier than shifting to France, seeing shops with indicators like this out entrance in Florida have been stunning to me each time I’d go go to my brother in school. However after years in France, the place the sight of a gun is uncommon except you’re at a museum or going looking, seeing shops casually promoting firearms and ammunition? It feels deeply unsettling. The U.S.’s perspective in direction of firearms is an entire totally different vibe and it’s not an excellent one.
7. Billboards for every part
The principle drag the place I go to is Interstate 95 and driving down the freeway seems like an infomercial. “Name this quantity in your salvation, authorized recommendation, a strip membership, or aid from again ache!” In France, billboards are much less widespread, and also you gained’t discover non secular promoting. There’s additionally no large business round ache clinics or private damage regulation.
However in Florida, nicely it’s a bit particular. You’ve acquired larger-than-life Jesus sharing a board with a private damage lawyer all popping oxys. OK, I’m half joking, nevertheless it’s next-level promoting. And distracting whilst you’re driving!
8. Gross sales tax is a shock each time
Purchasing within the U.S. after France is a little bit of a guessing recreation. You by no means know what the ultimate worth will probably be. Properly, except you will have a calculator and know every explicit state’s gross sales tax charges.
In France, taxes are included within the worth, so what you see is what you pay. Within the U.S., you’re doing math on the checkout. It’s like, “Wait, $19.99 + tax… Do I would like a calculator?”
Tom was caught just a few cents quick when he bumped into Dunkin’ Donuts (which is now simply Dunkin’ I feel) on his first journey to NYC with only a 5-dollar invoice and acquired one thing that he thought would whole slightly below that. He didn’t notice there can be gross sales tax and was embarrassed when he didn’t have sufficient money for his espresso.
For the non-U.S. of us studying, I’m certain his story is acquainted. At the same time as an American used to gross sales tax, it’s annoying to maintain monitor. There’s tax on garments in NYC however not in NJ. All of us pay by card nowadays however nonetheless, it’s good to know what the tax will come out to be forward of time. Anyway, inform me about your gross sales tax missteps under within the feedback.
9. Flags, flags, in every single place
In France, you largely see the nationwide flag throughout official occasions like a presidential speech, a sporting occasion, or outdoors metropolis corridor. The French flag will not be one thing folks show on a flag pole of their entrance yard.
Within the U.S. although, flags are in every single place and function decor, vogue, and much more. You’ll see them in entrance yards, on T-shirts, espresso mugs, you identify it. Individuals love their stars and stripes, and truthfully, it’s a bit overwhelming while you’ve been away for some time. Flags have grow to be a press release.
Do youngsters nonetheless say the pledge of allegiance in faculties? I don’t know if it’s nonetheless a factor however as a child, each morning proper after the bell, we’d all stand, face the flag, put our hand over our coronary heart and recite the pledge. On the time, it appeared regular and I didn’t suppose a lot of it, however wanting again, it’s a bit excessive.
10. Weight problems is tough to disregard
Coming again to the U.S. after dwelling in France actually opened my eyes to the weight problems epidemic. Weight reduction medication are fairly commonplace and nobody can deny that the U.S. has an issue with weight problems.
The CDC’s inhabitants knowledge from 2023 exhibits that in 23 states a couple of in three adults (35%) has weight problems. Earlier than 2013, no state had an grownup weight problems prevalence at or above 35%. Presently, no less than one in 5 adults (20%) in every U.S. state resides with weight problems.
In France, individuals are not all slim and wholesome by any means and also you’ll completely see obese folks, however weight problems is way much less prevalent.
Over the past 25 years, weight problems has grown in France, particularly amongst younger folks. Based on Ameli, 17% of adults are overweight.
Why is that this the case? Habits in France are totally different. Meals high quality is greater total. Meals are smaller, folks stroll extra, they take time to cook dinner and eat, and the listing goes on. Within the time I’ve lived in France, although, quick meals and processed meals have gotten an increasing number of widespread. I’ve KFC, Burger King, McDonald’s, Domino’s, and a few native quick meals locations all inside a 5-min drive of my home.
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Visiting the U.S. is at all times eye-opening and overwhelming, to say the least, nevertheless it’s additionally fantastic. I’ll at all times have a smooth spot for my dwelling nation. I’ve written about issues the U.S. does higher than France and likewise on issues I miss from the U.S. after dwelling overseas for a decade, within the identify of stability and all.
There’s a lot I like about each nations, however these reverse tradition shocks positively remind me how totally different our worlds will be.
Let me know within the feedback: Have you ever ever had a reverse tradition shock expertise? I’d love to listen to about it. Thanks for studying!
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