Defining Culture with Stereotypes

It's funny how many stereotypes of the French are true, and how many of them aren't true. For instance:

1. The French don't wear deodorant.
   As often as we poke fun at the French in the states for the smelly pits, this stereotype is a farse. I only encountered one smelly arm pit and upon critique of the individual I found if you planted his hippy, bearded face into a theatre or hipster group in Milwaukee he would fit right in. So, I would officially say the french DO, in fact, wear deodorant. In fact, they smell quite pleasant.
   
   
2. There are no fat people in France.
   This stereotype is as true as true can be. I saw only one fat lady and that was my first day here on the train, she was an employee on the train and a French woman. Being from America I found seeing an overweight woman a normality -I also don't mean she was 5-10 pounds over weight, she was what America has come to say "beautiful on the inside"- but the more days I'm here without seeing anyone over the average body size I realize how rare it is to see someone over weight. I actually find it really hard for someone to be over weight here because you have to walk EVERYWHERE and there isn't a lot of bad food here. Even with packaged foods it has less than half of all the bad things we find in American packaged foods. So, I feel that woman on the train has to be an anomaly among the french.
   
   
3. The French are stuck up and hate Americans.
   False. False. False. False. False. It's funny, the French are actually more pleasant with stranger interaction than Americans are. If you do encounter a snobbish Frenchman it's probably because you're in Paris asking a question in English at the Metro in the middle of rush hour. As long as you are polite, use formalities, and speak a little French they will happily assist you; usually they will pick up on the fact that you can't speak perfect French and will pay closer attention to what you have to say, and if they do speak English they will switch over with ease (if they can). When they find out I'm American they say “Oh you're from America! What region? Oh it's really cold there, you must have a lot of snow!” I have also come to find out no one knows where or what Wisconsin is, so I tell them it's an hour north of Chicago and their eyes light up with understanding. They also have no idea, truly, what cold weather is. Here it's between 40 and 50 F and it never gets below 30 F. I find it rather pleasant, when it's not raining, while others are huddling in their full winter coats. Pansies.
   
   
4. There is no public water.
   This is true. There are no water fountains. Period. Sometimes an establishment doesn't even find it required of them to let patrons use their restrooms or even supply toilet paper. So bring your own water and kleenex. The latter problem, however, does not happen often.... but you never know, so be prepared.
   
   
5. The French don't like American food.
   I haven't been able to find this applicable to me yet. All of the foreign kids always want to get hamburgers or pizzas when we go out to lunch which I find disturbing. I always say “hey who wants to go get a quiche?” (cuz they're so good”) and I get trumped to get get something I can find in a 10 minute drive in America. Does this mean they like American food? I don't really know yet. This is a stereotype I still need to uncover.

Side note: America, you are the only country that makes Coke with corn syrup. This is a serious problem because it tastes awful. Put real sugar back in your soft drink. Please and thank you.  

End blog 4.

Food Porn.