Cultural Differences Of France And The United States

The word ‘culture’ originated from the French meaning, “to tend to the Earth and grow, cultivate and nurture.” (Zimmerman, 2015). Culture, in general, is something that varies greatly among different regions of the world. Even inside the United States, there are many cultural differences. This is true as well for France. The culture and people of France have been shaped by astounding historical events and the geography in which the country resides. The most common characteristics of France include its landscape, lifestyle, customs and traditions, its values and history. The Capital of France is Paris and the overall population is approximately 66,259,012 people (2014). The official language of France is French, approximately 88% of the total population speaks French. France is the second largest country in Europe and can be described as a channel that borders Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium. On opposing sides, France is bordered by the English Channel, Bay of Biscay (both parts of the Atlantic Ocean) and the
Hence, France does not have just one culture, but many. This can be compared to the description of the United States culture as the “melting pot” which depicts that there are many different types of people that one might encounter. Regarding French cuisine, complicated preparation, baguettes and lots of wine is essential no matter what socioeconomic level a Frenchman may be as it is the primary source of French socialization. Because of the availability of water, French people enjoy fish; the soil is rich allowing for crops to grow, the most common being grapes for wine. Fashion can be best described as fitted and unique, as it would be in what could be considered the fashion capital of the