A video taste of our three nights in Paris!

A New Perspective

It is so crazy to think that it is already March and that I have been living in Cannes for a month! I guess when you are having fun time really does have a way of flying by. I just wanted to take some time to reflect on the past month and all the changes in my lifestyle and especially the changes in my perspective on life in general. This sounds so cliche, but I have so much time to think here and after experiencing four entirely different countries and cultures already, it is impossible not to question the lifestyle I am used to. Of course life in the U.S. is comfortable and familiar to me. Everyone speaks English and I don't have to struggle to learn another language. I did well in high school and I go to a good university, life is good. But there is always going to be the question, could life be better? In my daily French class we spend a lot of time talking about the French society which I find so interesting. Here are some of the differences we discussed: 

1. In France, college (or university as it is called) is free for everyone. 

2. Because of this, virtually no one works during high school. It is thought to be far too stressful on the student. 

3. Every French citizen receives their universal health care. 

4. Every employer is required to grant every employee 5 weeks of paid vacation per year!! 

5. Lunch is the biggest and most important meal of the day and almost every business and school is closed from 12 to 2:30 so everyone can enjoy a good meal. 

Those are just a few of the many differences we discussed, but as far as I can tell, the French ways of life make a lot of sense. In my experience so far, the biggest difference I see as a result of their societal structure is that life is not centered around finding a job and working to get rich. Instead, everyone works to contribute to the society. Each person does the job they enjoy because it needs to be done. They make the money they need to get by and they spend the rest of their time enjoying life! They travel around the world and truly use their paid vacation to relax and spend time with friends and family. As shown by the amount of time taken for lunch, meals are an event. Most French are shocked to hear that we grab a sandwich "to-go" and eat it during class or worse, while walking to class for lunch. It is almost impossible to find a coffee shop that will serve you in a to-go cup here because even a coffee break should be a time to relax and sit down and enjoy the coffee from a real coffee mug. Life just seems to move at a slower and more tranquil pace here. Nothing is urgent or pressing. I am always relaxed here, I spend my afternoons after class leisurely walking into town along the beach or reading in my room or hanging out with friends in the foyer. There is so much more time to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area and to develop friendships with people. I am so much more open to change already. I feel like I really can do anything I set my mind to when I am here, from really being fluent in French and Spanish, to traveling the world, to doing PR for a non-profit company in Egypt! All I know is that I never want to say "I wish I could have done that..." Life is too short for wishes. The world is at my fingertips so I just have to go out and seize every opportunity!