Holy heck are cultural variations fascinating. I’ve been running a blog right here on Oui In France since 2012 and there’s no scarcity of fabric on the subject of inspecting the variations between life in France versus the U.S. I like writing about these things within the hope that it’ll assist put together you in your journey to France, or on the very least, provide you with perception into how the French do issues.
To that finish, listed below are calculations — or variations that relate to numbers and measurements — which might be performed in another way within the two international locations. A few of them you’d most likely count on, however a bunch had been new to me and had been issues I solely discovered about after transferring to France.
Issues we measure in another way in France
Notice: A few of these could apply to international locations apart from France, however since I stay in France, that’s all the time my reference level.
1. Gas effectivity. This one took me a minute to wrap my head round. I wrongly assumed that fuel mileage can be calculated in France the identical manner it’s performed within the US — simply with liters and kilometers as a substitute of gallons and miles. However that’s not the case.
Within the U.S., gas effectivity is measured as a distance. It’s miles per automobile per unit of gas quantity, so the variety of miles you possibly can drive per gallon of fuel. The upper the quantity, the extra environment friendly the automobile is. You normally see a quantity for metropolis and freeway driving. An older pickup truck or SUV would possibly get beneath 20 miles per gallon and a smaller automobile or extra trendy vans would possibly recover from 30 miles per gallon.
In France, gas effectivity is a measurement of quantity. It’s the quantity of gas consumed per unit distance per automobile, so liters consumed per 100 kilometers. Gas effectivity is expressed as what number of liters of fuel a automobile makes use of to go 100 kilometers. The decrease the quantity, the higher it’s in your pockets.
2. Faculty grades ranges. Within the U.S., college grades go from 1 to 12, in that order. It’s fairly easy and simple to recollect because it’s sequential. In France, the grade college names for elementary, center, and highschool are a bit totally different they usually don’t go in numerical order from 1 to 12.
Reality be advised, in case you requested me to inform you the French equal of fifth grade off the highest of my head proper now, I’d need to do a fast calculation as a result of I don’t know the grade names by coronary heart. I’m actually wanting them up for this submit so I get it proper! I’M SERIOUS!
I chalk that as much as not having children and probably not specializing in school-related issues and committing them to reminiscence (regardless of educating in two French colleges!).
Listed here are the names for every French grade degree:
Grande Part (GS): Kindergarten
Cours Préparatoire (CP): 1st grade
Cours Elémentaire 1 (CE1): 2nd grade
Cours Elémentaire 2 (CE2): third grade
Cours Moyen 1 (CM1): 4th grade
Cours Moyen 2 (CM2): fifth grade
Sixième (6ème): sixth grade
Cinquième (5ème): seventh grade
Quatrième (4ème): eighth grade
Troisième (3ème): ninth grade
Seconde (2nde): tenth grade
Première (1ère): eleventh grade
Terminale (Tle): twelfth grade
3. Blood strain & ldl cholesterol. Blood strain is measured in models of millimeters of mercury (mmHg) stateside and consists of two numbers, comparable to 120/80 mmHg. Systolic is the higher quantity and diastolic is the decrease one.
In France, it’s the identical measurement because the U.S., however the unit is cmHg, so centimeters of mercury. As you already know, there are 10 millimeters in a centimeter, so simply add a zero to the top of every French studying to have the U.S. equal.
For instance, if a French physician tells you that your blood strain is 12/8 (cmHg), add a zero to every quantity and also you get 120/80 mmHg.
Relating to ldl cholesterol within the U.S., it’s measured in milligrams (mg) of ldl cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood. In France and different international locations, levels of cholesterol are measured in millimoles per liter (mmol/L).
4. Credit score rating. This one doesn’t even exist in France! In case you’re not acquainted with credit score scores within the U.S., everybody has one and the very best you possibly can have is 850. It’s used to evaluate an individual’s credit score worthiness and something above 750 is excellent.
The next credit score rating means you’re much less of a threat to lenders so that you’ll have a neater time getting a greater rate of interest, credit score strains, and so on. Issues like defaulting on a mortgage, paying your payments late, making use of for too could loans in a brief time frame, and a wide range of different components all affect one’s credit score rating negatively.
In France, if you wish to get a mortgage, there’s no credit score rating concerned. You sit down along with your financial institution and evaluation your checking account, earnings, and some other loans. They do a calculation to be sure to have the means to repay the mortgage after which decide about whether or not or to not mortgage to you. Additionally, the French don’t actually use bank cards (debit playing cards, sure).
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5. Mattress sizes. Earlier than transferring to France, I by no means actually thought of that totally different international locations would have totally different mattress sizes. I figured beds can be a typical measurement in all places and didn’t give it a lot thought. However nope! A twin mattress in France doesn’t have the identical dimensions as a twin mattress within the U.S.
For reference, let’s have a look at a queen-size mattress. Within the U.S., it measures 60 by 80 inches. In France, a queen measures 160 by 200 centimeters (63 x 79 inches). Pillows aren’t the identical form both. I by no means purchased sq. pillowcases till I moved to France.
In case you’re within the U.S., these are my favourite sheets (truly, the entire retailer is nice!).
6. Ring sizes. French ring sizes are easy and are measured in millimeters. Simply measure the circumference of your finger and that’s your ring measurement. Sizes within the 40s-60s are the most typical, relying on the finger.
Ring sizes are tough basically as a result of even within the U.S., a 6 at one jeweler might not be precisely the identical measurement at one other place or in a distinct type. They’re fairly shut however ring sizing is usually a ache in case you aren’t capable of strive one thing on before you purchase it.
When a hoop is simply the tiniest bit too tight or too unfastened, it drives me nuts! Fortunately, my new favourite ring suits good. Phew!
Now add in French ring sizes and it takes the sophisticated nature of issues to a complete totally different degree. Whenever you’re procuring on-line and attempting to transform your American measurement to the equal French measurement, it may be hit and miss. Some measurement charts say a French measurement 51.5 is a U.S. 6 and others say it’s a 52. See the problem?
On that observe, French garments and shoe sizes are totally different as properly.
7. Gross sales tax. Relying on the place you reside, there could or might not be gross sales tax on no matter you’re shopping for. Even when there may be gross sales tax, it’s state dependent so it’s not all the time straightforward to determine the full worth on the register forward of time. The worth on the worth sticker isn’t the full quantity you’ll pay!
In NYC, you’ll pay gross sales and native tax on issues like furnishings and resort stays. It’s 8.875% on eating places and electronics, and also you pay tax on garments in NYC over 110 bucks.
Simply over the Hudson River In N.J. the place I grew up, state gross sales/native tax is 6.625% and there’s no state gross sales tax on garments, however there are exceptions like in case you’re shopping for fur clothes. Then, to change it up much more, there are 5 states that don’t cost any state gross sales tax in any respect: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon.
Turning to France and plenty of international locations in Europe, the full worth together with VAT (worth added tax or la taxe sur la valeur ajoutée, TVA en français) is the worth you see on the restaurant menu, on the grocery retailer and on the clothes tag you see on the mall.
It’s a a lot easier system in France and also you’ll know the full quantity you have to pay on the money register as a result of the VAT is already included within the sticker worth. No further quantity is added.
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8. Baking measurements. Within the U.S., recipes record out elements in cups. However relying on the way you fill your measuring cup, your half cup of flour won’t match mine.
In France, elements for baking are measured out in grams. It’s all by weight. One-hundred grams of flour when weighed on the dimensions is all the time going to be 100 grams of flour. Since precision in baking is tremendous vital, weighing your elements just like the French do makes lots of sense.
I’ve come to like recipes that measure elements in grams. Much less room for error!
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What different issues would you add which might be calculated in another way in France?
P.S. For extra data to arrange you in your journey to France, take a look at my e book!
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