I love your take as a foreigner on USA, it reminds me my own impression when I moved to USA 43 years ago . I left Poland after 2 years of university on a 1 semester student visa and got stuck here due to a martial law lockdown of Poland on December 13th 1981 . My visa was extended and I was able to get legal employment and enrollment at university. I said “ I got stuck” , but the truth is I took to USA like a duck to water, I loved everything !
Hi , so happy you came and stayed!!! I must tell you I just recently tried to make cabbage rolls from Polish lady on RUclips- now they are my favorite food!!
@@AnotherBadyoga omg , I love this food ….it’s a perfect combo meal for everyone- vegetarians can make them with lentils and mushrooms instead of meat, rice haters can use buckwheat or barley instead, tomato sauce could be substituted with light brown, creamy onion , dill , parsley sauce. All versions are delicious, my sons and their totally non Polish wives absolutely love this dish , our little grandsons devour it. And it’s healthy, fresh cabbage is one of the healthiest vegetables , aids immune system…besides being a Registered Nurse , I’m a certified nutrition consultant.
@@dckrn oh my God, they did seem . Adaptable and my husband said try them with lentils so I’ve got them like five times in the last two weeks made them with lentils made them with buckwheat made them with barley and made them with rice. They were good every single time.
Thanks for presenting a more balanced view of the USA. As an American who has lived 15 years in Europe, I hear so much ignorant and negative perspectives on my country from Europeans who only believe the stories about the US from the media, but would never bother to visit in person. Americans can be ignorant about Europe but the reverse is also true
Really well put. People should explore the differences but shouldn't be quick to condemn what they don't know. When I first lived in Europe as a young man, I quickly found that I had to exclude Americans from my coterie. In their defense, every McDonalds in New York City was the same as every McDonalds in Los Angeles. And every toilet in New York City worked the same as every toilet in Los Angeles. The tendency towards standardization in the U.S. leads to a crippling presumption of its cultural superiority (...and nothing could be further from the truth). American acquaintances quickly became an embarrassment and a bar to exploring authentic European culture. My exclusionary protocol worked for _me_. The only possible downside is that I only sleep with French women, now (...shrug).
@HoppityHooper2 I don't really intend on visiting Europe due to current evenrs and for the fact most of them seem to hate us, much thanks to their trash media. I wouldn't be welcomed over there. Why would I visit somewhere that's hostile to me because of my nationality?
My partner is from Czechia, and she loves the general social acceptance in America. She loves that she can dress more how she wants when she wants and people will just accept it. They might think her weird or over dressed or underdressed BUT they still accept in most circumstances that it is her choice.
People in the USA ask about your ethnicity/ancestry because we’re proud of historic roots & assume everyone is. I for example am half Irish & Almost half Dutch w a tiny bit of Scottish. I can understand why it’s a little different in France/Europe. I’ve also been to Paris. Beautiful city & while I was always told Parisians came off as Rude I never ran into a rude person the entire time. Everyone was helpful & friendly.
When Americans ask about ethnicity, we're generally wondering what ancestry we have in common. I'm proud to be German/Irish and to bump into someone from one of those countries is a treat. Many of us know not just what country our ancestors are from, but what city as well. Expect lots of excitement and questions.
I agree, at least when they appear to be of a similar ethnicity. Otherwise I think there's often some judgement involved. Something I've noticed as an American living in Europe is a general lack of understanding by Europeans of what it means to be a country of immigrants, of having mixed ancestry and being separated from our families' cultures. I feel that in the US a lot of people are searching for a sense of togetherness and belonging, while many Europeans automatically have it without trying.
I agree. We don't hesitate to talk about ethnicity because we are proud of out heritage. I am Serbian/Polish.German/English, and I never mind telling anyone who asks.
All my grandparents came from Finland. So 100% Finn. My son is 50% Finn and 1/4 Scottish 1/4 Irish, the dirty mixed blood. I try not to discriminate against him too much. 🤫
Something to consider with the tipping machines. These touch pads tipping systems are fairly new to us here in the states. They started about five years ago and there's some stigma regarding them. When you're at a restaurant and have a server, you're expected to tip 20% because these servers make $4 an hour. However, at the counter, you aren't expected to tip at all as these servers are paid minimum wage. Corporations like Starbucks added these touch screen in order to not have to pay their servers more than our minimum wage, which is pretty low. One could say "You should tip them anyway" but the cost of the coffee or croissant actually covers the servers wages whereas in restaurants where you're sitting down, it does not. Servers you tip 20% serve you throughout the meal and take care of you whereas the person behind the counter punches some buttons and sends you off to pick up your own coffee. I wish people would boycott this touchscreen tip business. It's for the corporations benefit.
Things have changed so much... When I was growing up a tip was a gratuity for doing a good job. Like a metal for going above and beyond the call of duty, not just a participation trophy. It had nothing to do with your pay.
You are so right! I hate those "touchpads". I've always tipped waiters and waitresses, but I don't want to tip when I just pick up a pizza or a sandwich. I worked minimum wage at almost every job I had and was promoted according to my skill and work ethic.
Bonjour (or is that now Howdy!) Lucille: Papa Bear and Mama Bear are getting divorced and they're in court to decide on the custody of Baby Bear. The Judge asks Baby Bear, "Do you want to live with your mother?" Baby Bear replies, "No she beats me." The judge then asks, "So, you want to live with your father?" "Oh no, he beats me even worse." "Well who do you want to live with?" "My grandma in Chicago." "Why's that?" "Because Chicago Bears never beat anyone."
I think you’ve got a good perspective on the real America! I am a U.S. citizen and lived in Oregon, California, Texas, NY, Maine, Hawaii and South Carolina. I’ve lived in major cities like LA, NYC and Austin. I’ve also lived in rural areas. There are cultural touchstones that unite us a country and then there are vast differences and variety among the states. That’s why we are called the United States - state identity is rooted in our history and I think that’s a big thing people outside the country don’t fully understand. I enjoy your perspective and I love that you see the joy of America - the diversity, the festivity, the opportunities to start a business and live your life freely. I visited France for three weeks in 1994 and loved it. There are so many beautiful positives in both countries. Thanks for your balanced perspective!
As an American, I love our country! I do appreciate French culture though, especially the manners, elegance, and food culture. And yes, we live in Texas and the people are amazing here. Thank you for your nice comments!
Lucile, Really enjoyed your video today. Having just discovered you and subscribing to your channel, I smiled but want to assure you that here in America it is absolutely fine to ask someone new what their heritage is. Since we are a country of immigrants, it is something fun and insightful to do as say for example, in a get-together with friends and new acquaintances, I will ask. We learn and share sometimes guessing and seeing if we are right! I love anything cultural and love people from all over the world. My heritage is from Spain on mom’s side and Netherlands on dad’s side. My wife and I also love to travel and discussing backgrounds with people we meet, sometimes teasing or laughing about stereotypes in a good natured way. Reading facial features and or speech accents often enriches our experience. Many times it makes us want to visit their country! Travel and knowledge make us all more tolerant of differences and have a deeper love of all races, languages and religions. Anyway, sorry for the long rant! 😂 The very best of luck with your channel and I look forward to seeing all your videos as they are released! Much love to you guys!
(repost bc I didn't realize we could do this small donation) lovely video, I really appreciate how detailed, thoughtful, and empathetic you are when discussing culture differences. I have been bingeing your videos lately - I (American woman) am married to a Frenchman, and how I wish your videos had existed when I had started dating him ! If you have time/interest in this subject someday, I am curious on your take on a question that has been rattling around my brain for awhile : why is it that so many native English speakers do not learn foreign languages to "even" a medium (between B1 - B2) proficiency, and what could be done to improve this ? (Though I mostly speak for the USA, my impression from talking with intl. anglophone friends & the internet is that it is the same situation in the UK + Australia + even anglophone Canada). Thank you for your content !
Interesting! My point of view is that it’s because English is the “dominant language” and a lot of people around the world speak a bit of English. Growing up my teachers told me outright that I needed to speak English perfectly to get into the best colleges! I feel learning a second language is seen more as a hobby than a necessity in other places! I’m curious about your thoughts since we both are in an inter-cultural relationship :)
I’m a native English speaker and I have an immense curiosity for other cultures, including languages, and I find a lot of people tell me I have a head for languages, and that other languages confuse them (ironic considering a lot of other languages don’t have as much complication/inconsistencies as English does such as irregular verbs/pronunciation etc) I think a lot of people feel shame around learning new things and trying and not being immediately good at them, and I suspect a lot derived from school and perhaps unkind words and perfection being expected. I live on the border between England and Wales and I’ve been learning Welsh for 5+ years, it’s completely terrifying to speak to people in Welsh but once you get over that initial boundary it becomes incredibly fun and exciting, I would love if more people embraced curiosity about other languages. I also think people are so busy with work and their lives they don’t have spare time or energy to learn new things.
In the U.S. the answer is simple. The country is huge, travel is expensive, and 80 percent of Americans live within 200 miles of where they are born. Few have the money or time to travel abroad. French and Spanish are taught in schools but if you don't use it you lose it. Some of this has to do with not teaching different languages at an early age ( i.e 7 years old). The only way I could master and retain a different language would be to live in another country and immerse myself in their language and culture for one or two years.
Non-chain restaurants feed me on a deeper level - really well put. I love asking people about their ethnicity. There's no malice. I just love hearing about people different than me.
@@eleveneleven572 In Australia it's Pet, Darl, Sweetie, Love, Chook ... particularly from older women in shops. I'm 65, by the way, so it isn't ageist patronising. Mate is more common from young people, female to female, male to male, male to female, and female to male: it has expanded massively from adult male to adult male only.
@steelcrown7130 I'm a male in his 30s, living in a metropolitan area, and I'll say mate sometimes. But I rarely hear anyone say "love" or "darling" or anything like that.
I fully understand the ethnicity question in the US. Being a country of immigrants, people look for commonality to establish a connection. If there is no commonality, then exchanging your family history becomes a talking point.
I grew up in NYC and that's usually how we approach it here. There's also the matter of not wanting to assume someone's ethnicity and getting it wrong. Better to ask than assume.
Yea I'm from nyc and this is so normal and inoffensive. I've had cashiers at trader joes straight up ask if I was Jamaican. It's as normal as asking someone what borough they're from. Definitely a top 5 question.
I spent four years of my childhood in Barcelona and Naples, and spent a good bit of time deployed as a Marine, in Europe and Asia. I really enjoy watching people from outside the US talk about my country. I'm glad you enjoyed your time here, it's always interesting to hear outside perspectives. Now that I'm retired, I hope to spend some time in Europe and visit some of the countries I once lived in and those I visited. I hope you get to come back some time and enjoy our hospitality again. Thank you for your video.
At 5:21, I'm glad you recognize how Americans view their own ethnicities. Europeans frequently look down on Americans for not understanding Europe, but it's a two-way street. Instead of understanding the American point of view on this issue, Europeans frequently ask, "Why are you pretending to be some European nationality?" Yep, that's some ignorance there! As an American whose ancestors came to what is now the USA back in colonial days, I don't view countries such as the USA, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada (except for Quebec) as having developed a new ethnicity for the white inhabitants there--which is why this question of ethnicity gets asked in the first place. (Maybe people in these other Anglophone countries will tell me they view themselves differently--I dunno.) However, nobody in the USA seems to bat an eye when someone from Latin America describes their ethnicity as Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Brazilian, or whatever. Maybe because those countries were colonized by Spanish or Portuguese men who married the indigenous women? Does that count as forming a new ethnicity? There's an ethnicity on that map at 5:16 labelled "American" scattered across most of the South where African-Americans are not the majority. I find that odd, because where I live that label isn't used--even though there are plenty of people of that ethnic group who live around here. What they are is Scots-Irish who've forgotten where they came from. In my area, there was a big wave of immigration from 1890 to 1924. Although the floodgates of immigration were opened again in 1965, the new immigration didn't start affecting my area until well into the 1990's. When I was in elementary school in the 1970's, there were paintings of stereotypes of various ethnic groups still on the walls. I guess that was intended to get the kids of various ethnicities to accept each other as Americans, but it was fifty years out of date. Everybody in my area had long been assimilated by the '70's. My fifth-grade teacher once told us to ask our parents what our ethnic makeup was and be prepared to share it with the class the next day. The number one ethnic group in my area is German. Oddly, I was the only kid in the class who identified as German. I was forever afterward harassed as being a "Nazi"--despite the fact that my father served in the US Army during WW2. One kid identified as Russian, and he got the same treatment, except that he was called a "Commie." Old ethnic resentments can linger generations after assimilation, I guess.
The American way of saying “I'm Irish” to mean “My ancestors were Irish” is not done anywhere else in the world, so Americans who use that phrase pattern should get used to being questioned. The natural assumption is that “I'm [nationality]” means you were born in that country, especially to its majority ethnic group, and that you speak its dominant language like/as a native.
@@emultra759 I'm not so sure about the Anglophone world. Why are people of Ukrainian heritage in Canada so obsessed about Ukraine. Why does a South African guy say he's half English and half German?
@JRBWare1942 .. that’s fascinating.. as an African American, some of these thoughts have literally never crossed my mind.. one commonality that I do see though, is that Africans aren’t too keen on African Americans claiming Africa as an identity marker.. in part because we don’t know the specific countries of origin.. and then, even within the counties in Africa there’s a lot of ethnic diversity and pretty strict distinctions.. so saying “Africa” barely means anything for an American to say.. And it feels like doing a deep dive to be specific enough to be respectful or accurate would almost be a full time job for me lol.. but then again, maybe ‘Black’ in America has been pushed to become its own ethnicity for the aforementioned reasons (and others)?? It’s interesting, because growing up in a very very diverse area with a lot of 2nd generation classmates (East Asia, India, Middle East, central and South America, Africa, etc.) in addition to European Americans and African Americans.. it was always interesting when we talked about heritage.. it was beautiful and enriching to learn about different kinds of people (and I was fed by many moms and grandmas with many kinds of foods!).. but I kind of felt left out because I didn’t have an origin story outside of the states.. but in hearing your perspective, maybe feeling connected to a distinctly American-born ‘ethnicity’ was the answer all along.. I just never thought to look at it that way.. Kinda took it for granted.. And retroactively, I actually feel not so left out haha.. so, thank you! (I mean that sincerely).. At the same time, I wonder, what is it about being tied to specific European countries that’s meaningful to you, personally? You clearly have long standing ties to this country.. is there something missing from America that you get from identifying with your European roots? And referencing your point about no White ‘ethnicities’ in the colonies outside of Europe.. in your opinion, what’s stopping that from happening? And is there a space for there to be a “racially” diverse ethnicity in the United States that you’d be interested in being a part of? (I don’t mean any offense by any of those questions, I’m just very very curious.. because I haven’t heard this point of view before)..
I was just in Vienna, Prague, and Paris for 2 months and I loved not needing a car to get around. The monthly public transport pass in Vienna was only 51 Euros!
@@LucileHR No train from Paris to Vienna. I was in Vienna for about 5 weeks for work (my company's European HQ is there) and during that time I went to our Prague office for about a week (I did take the train to Prague). Then I went to Paris and worked remotely for a couple days and did about 2 weeks of vacation there. Paris remains my favorite city and I was able to be there when it snowed, which was a first for me! I stayed in South Pigalle for a week and then I stayed in the northern part of Montmarte. First time actually staying in both those areas and I loved them both! I know different places are different for everybody, but for me, I never feel so happy in a place as when I'm in Paris.
@@LucileHR It was my 4th time there and I already can't wait to go back. I have to force myself to not always book my vacations there, though. There's a lot to see in the world!
I live in San Jose and I love to take a train to San Francisco on Saturday morning, spend the day and return home in the evening! Traveling is so easy in California as well!
The distance from Brussels to London is about 2/3 of the straight-line distance from San Jose, CA to Los Angeles, CA. The train trip the lady in the video took from New York to San Francisco is like taking a trip from Brest, France to somewhere in western or central Kazakhstan. The distances scale and population density of the US are very different from those of Europe.
@@scottmcrawford "I live in the Seattle area and taking a train to the nearest country (Canada) would take more than 3 hours each way." Bear in mind that Antwerp to London via public transit is also over three hours, says Google Maps. 🙂 77 mph average. Since things are much closer together in Europe, the next country is much closer than that...Lille is only two hours away in a car, and that is in France. 🙂 But, the drive from Seattle to Vancouver is 2 hrs 46 minutes on paper (normal traffic, obeying the speed limit), and the train is 4 hours, so it's not that much slower than driving. Plus the drive is going to be more like 3+ hours because in both cases you have to stop at the border and do immigration. Amtrak Cascades is going 143 miles from Seattle to Vancouver and taking four hours so that's 35 mph. In theory it would be two hours if they increased the average speed to 70 mph, which would NOT involve HSR and be far, far cheaper than HSR. The maximum allowed speed on Caltrain down here in the Bay Area is 79 mph (though the average is 56 mph, still an improvement over current Cascades), very much NOT HSR, so the state of Washington would not have to do a huge investment to achieve that. Although you would still have to go through immigration, so I"m not sure how much faster it would actually be. You might only save like 30 minutes. 🙂
I prefer our tipping culture & the money is great. “A living wage” is to continue tipping for good service (20%.) I can’t stand the tipping option at coffee shops & places like that, which started during Covid. I only tip when I would grab a huge & difficult order or a dollar or two if it’s a regular barista. I don’t think anyone has to tip if they are already getting paid. **I tip well because I used to bartend for years & attempted to waitress for a month (I was awful!)
Restaurant wait staff historically have only gotten their half of the Social Security tax as a wage (...which gets withheld and paid to the Federal Government) - - not to mention where the tips are shared with non-wait staff. Traditional restaurants couldn't survive without you, the patron, paying that service wage. In France, by comparison, the service wage is included in the total - - it is not like the service doesn't get paid for. The only difference is the perspective of the patron. Tipping is really minimal in Europe because it truly is a "tip" - - a 'pour boire'. Where tipping has gotten out of control in the U.S. is where everybody else and his brother decided that they too were entitled to massive tips along with whatever wage or salary they were getting paid! I can live with the traditional restaurant model in the U.S. but the rest of it really needs to end.
@@lovesgucci1 I agree 100%! Tipping in restaurants gives us direct impact on both great servers… and poor servers. Love our tipping culture. But yeah, the ridiculous tablets now that prompt for tips everywhere are a joke. As much as I like the folks at my neighborhood Subway, I’m never going to leave a tip for my carry-out sub!
LOVED the diverse perspective in this. Seems like most of these types of videos are based on visits to just NYC or L.A. -- two places I've never even been; they're top tourist destinations, but only about 55% of us get to either place. From what I can tell, 20% of Americans have only been to 1-5 states outside the one they grew up in, so you outdid a fair number of us. So glad my parents took us out west (missed California), out east (just barely hit NY state), and southeast to Florida.
Just here to say Hi to Lucille and Bobby hope all is well and staying warm, I hear it's a bit cooler in France this time of the year.see you or Bobby in the next video's.thank you for letting me be apart of these wonderful journeys you take us all on.
The U.S. is very expansive. Consider focusing on one major city. One idea is New Orleans. It could even be video about how you as a French woman see it as an American city with French culture.
@@catsupchutney big cities are the way. Lots of people own cars here in the San Francisco Bay Area but you don't NEED one....like NYC we have lots of public transit. I'm 46 and I don't know how to drive. 🙂
Long distance Amtrak is particularly friendly, I mean you are on a train for many hours if not days, and you sit with strangers at your table in the dining car as a rail tradition due to limited seating space
My French wife did the same but started in Toronto for 3 months on buses. She met this Louisiana boy in 1979 while traveling on her last day in States and we married 2 years later on the same day as we met in 1981. Still together between the two countries.
@stepnik3791 Lequel d'entre nous a le meilleur moyen de transport ou quel pays a les meilleures femmes? Cela ne m'importe pas vraiment, mais bon, je ne couche qu'avec des filles françaises.
Many moons ago, my father embarked in a journey similar to yours (train from coast to coast) not because he wanted to but he undermined the size of the United States. Anyhow, when I asked him what's the scenic (beautiful!) state he has seen from his train spot he said COLORADO and all of us his five children know that it will always be CO that blew his mind away. ❤
I usually tip 15% to 20% in restaurants, where the wait staff takes your order and brings it to the table and you get a bill after you're done eating. Any place where you order at a register and they take your money in advance, I do not tip at all. These little "Guilt Pads" with tipping options are 100% ignored by me. Even my local Coffee place, that I visit daily, I don't tip. However at Christmas time, I bring them a really nice premium gift basket with Swiss & German Chocolates and other snacks as a "Thank You".
Are you planning to visit Montreal,Quebec,Canada? Apparently there are 4 million French speakers in Montreal, which has one of the largest French speaking populations outside of Paris.There is even a Notre Dame basilica there.Would love to see you review French Canadian food, compare life between Montreal and Paris, explore Quebecois culture.Apparently law states that all signage for Quebec businesses have to be in both French and English, with French signage always on top and larger.
@shinyshinythings Not surprised.Well, even on Canadian Airlines, announcements in English/French are required.Plus flight attendants are supposed to be able to provide service in French.Although there are around 7 million French speakers in Quebec province, they are surrounded by mainly anglophone provinces.So the Quebec govt tries to do whatever they can to keep the French language and Quebec culture.
Great video! The tipping culture here is out of hand. The only time I tip is for sit down service. Getting a coffee or fast food you are not expected to tip so don't feel obligated to leave a tip for that.
Thank you so much! Knowing where to tip is truly hard for me as a European! I tend to err on the side of over-tipping to not be rude but there's sometimes random activities where people tip and I feel like I didn't get the memo haha
@@LucileHR I visited Europe in 1984. Before I left the USA, I was given a little booklet as a gift. It had information about every country in Europe. One bit of information was how much to tip in each country. There was no country where it said tipping was not expected. Now I hear one RUclipsr after another saying that tipping is not expected in Europe. Did this change in the last forty years, or was that booklet a bunch of malarkey?
Great Video Lucile! I love ❤️ watching your videos, and the U.S.A is huge. There is no question about it, but it's so divided when it comes to health care, guns, & others that will drive anyone to leave there forever! Happy Sunday and Happy Holidays 😊 to you from London, England 🏴 ❤️💚🎅🎄✨️
Having travelled abroad quite extensively over the years, I have observed long waiting lines at US embassies applying for visas, compared to all other embassies.
@@dannogoo You need a tourist visa to enter the USA. Here in the EU we don't even need a passport to travel. That has nothing to do with migration. The USA and the EU probably have the same problems when it comes to (illegal) migration. Many people want to come, but they are mostly untrained workers. Not really the kind of migration that both of our economies need.
Great episode Lucile! I have just recently (within the past 5-6 months or so) become absolutely obsessed with learning French. Your channel was suggested to me because I watch a lot of French content on RUclips. Like your boyfriend, I am a Chicago native. I adore my home city. I moved to Texas within the past 5 years and it's much much different, but I just find it funny that you named Texas as one of the two states you would like to come back to while I'm in Texas dreaming about going to France. Thank you for your entertaining and informative content!
I feel it’s not a good comparison, Europe is not a whole. US might be a diverse country, geographically and ethnically, but they do have a common language and general culture. While we in Europe, don’t. There are countries the size of a small US city (or even town) with their own language, culture, ethic makeup, etc. The ethnic makeup is also a main trait of European countries, we’re not built on immigration so we’re quite individualistic (as countries I mean). This video is more of a France to US comparison but I did enjoy it.
@ And I feel that you are being arrogant and rude, which you are. The fact that you have illegals and people who can’t speak the official language of the country doesn’t change what I said. European countries are ethnostates, not built on migration like US, Canada, NZ, Australia (the British colonies). And the Spanish speakers in the US are not as ethnically and culturally homogenous as the Spanish people are. Now kindly take your attitude somewhere else.
@@marcuswhitaker8397 No, the board of health shut them down due to disgusting conditions with rats, mice, and roaches. Plenty of news reports you can Google.
Ms. Lucile, I think it's really nice you have the opportunity to compare and contrast France with the States. Both countries have wonderful and unique aspects to them. My wife is Japanese. We married in Japan. We were there for a few years before moving to the US. Experiencing the US through her eyes is wonderful and fascinating. You do have one critical flaw. You must abandon the Chicago Bears for the superior Seattle Seahawks.
As an American who visited France this summer, one thing I will say: I feel France (and the places I’ve been to in Europe in general) to be a much less aggressive and stressed out society than the US. I don’t even live in a large city in the US, just a medium city, but being in public in France and Europe felt so much more relaxing than being out in the States.
its because we have social rights and are less compelled to compete against each other instead of living together (even though neoliberalism is everywhere and we are losing our rights).
@@Ron898 "Because they don’t have to worry about going broke if they get sick." Neither do Americans. Most of us get our health insurance subsidized by our employer, so it's not a concern at all. The horror stories are from people who don't have either a salaried job or a union job.
@@neutrino78x well the fact that medical debt and lack of healthcare exists at all in the US, an incredibly rich country compared to many other countries who happen to do a much better job with healthcare, is definitely a problem. And it’s not just a problem for people who are uninsured. My girlfriend and I both have “great” insurance through Aetna. While vacationing in Hawaii my girlfriend cut her finger badly in the ocean on coral, requiring medical attention. It cost FIVE HUNDRED dollars for a doctor to sterilize and glue her finger wound because we didn’t have the time to drive 2 hours to a provider that took Aetna. We’re fortunate but for many in this country $500 is a huge unexpected expense.
In America most of us celebrate diversity. Most people that ask about ethnicity are just curious and are excited to meet someone from another country. I love meeting people from different countries.
the good things that you mention about the States are the things that I truly miss about it, but the bad things tend to be infrastructure based (and some systematic cultural stuff too, of course), and those are the main reason me and my French partner settled in France, but man, do I really miss the good things about the US, especially during the holidays here in France, I get the most depressed here during that time.
huh, the reason you left the US is one of the reasons we left Korea, lol, I loved it there (except for the pollution), but my visa was tied to my job and my job was starting to become obsolete in a way, the government was defunding a lot of it, and for some reason they made a rule that everyone had to change location every 4 years, and I really didn't want to do that since my French partner was at a university doing research and teaching and I didn't want to leave that general area, the location I was working at let me stay a 5th year but I signed a form saying I was not allowed to renew a work contract, and it's very difficult to change visa types in Korea you like already have to have the job lined up to request the visa change.
It is an interesting and truly a beautiful county as we have mountains, and deserts and beaches that are so different from one another even in one state like CA for example. It's very inappropriate here too to ask about ethnicity. My friends that get asked that question a lot get very angry about it. But yes people ask anyway.
@@monember2722 I highly doubt that it is just my friend group that gets offended. I do feel most people aren't asking with any ill intent they are just curious because the USA is such a melting pot. But to each their own with how they feel about getting those questions.
@@monember2722 Agree - Americans are a diverse population and conversation very often gets into ethnicity simply from a sense of curiosity and learning, and not meant as an attempt to pry or insult. Indeed ethnicity as a topic of conversation is very common.
Wow, I did that trip last year. Our train broke down in the mountains past Denver at a hot springs spa town, forgot the name but it was fun to explore while our engine came from Salt Lake City. I spent the whole time in the viewing car. I'm French/American and nobody asks what my ancestry is. I'm glad you saw Buc-cee's, the biggest gas station in the world on the way to Galveston. The tipping here has turned nuts, I went overseas and returned to something I don't recognize. It changed so fast, hopefully will turn around. I want your menu prices.
This was an interesting video. It's always nice to get other perspectives on places from people not from those places (or comparing them to places they're familiar with). Happy Trails to you!
I am Iranian in Germany, the best guy I know for talking is American. I spoke to him more than I have with my German friends for a year before meeting him. However, I run out of social battery fast.. idk how you guys have so much energy for talking. I cant keep up! I REALLY hope that my future wife is American or at least Canadian because It takes Germans 5 minutes to show basic human emotions.
Thanks for an interesting take on the U.S. I (and many family members) have often visited France and have enjoyed the country very much. Je parle un peu français, assez bien pour m’entendre dans la plupart des endroits de la rue, hôtels, restaurants. Et j’ai encore des collègues médecins en France avec qui je discute. Favorites: Paris of course - a unique city; Normandy (history and food!); Chartres; Strasbourg; Biot (actually all of Alpes-Maratimes); and others. I agree that most non-U.S. folks have no idea how large the US actually is. European countries I have visited (professionally or for pleasure) are much more compact (e.g., Sweden, Germany, England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy, Luxembourg). All have better rail coverage, but the distances are less challenging. You are correct about regional differences, but these have been decreasing as the population has been relocating more frequently for education, employment, etc. We would love to have you back here, but as one born and raised in NYC, I have to say I have no interest in returning. It has become too expensive and the political leaders don't have a clue how to manage the challenges. But I'm not going to go any further on my views about current political leaders!
I think it’s a matter of personality. I’m American but I am reserved and quiet so I enjoy France much more. In the US, you are considered a failure if you don’t make a lot of money or pursue material goods. In France it is much less so. I think the French have come close to perfecting the art of living, but it disturbs me that this is perhaps changing.
As a South African, now living in the UK, we found something similar. Back in SA, you're not necessarily a 'failure', if you don't make lots of money, but it's certainly more or less expected that you drive a big car, have a big house, live in a posh suburb, etc. Credit cards are often maxed out. In the UK, it's fine to drive a small car, have a small house. Lots of people don't have credit cards, only using debit cards. And there is far less pressure to show off 'wealth'. And it's much safer here.
As a new yorker myself, I know absolute bagel on broadway, they make great bagels. It's always good to go to the mom and pop diners or pizza places or a little hole in the wall chains.Instead of the big franchises, that's how I am whenever you whenever I travel. The thing about the US each state technically is like its own country. I'm from new york, but my grandparents are from South carolina.So, of course, it's going to be different. In terms of diversity, it's, I understand it could be different and different country's. But I think for me, personally, I get it more cause. Most people don't really know a person's background, and I'm always interested in telling people my background. My father is black, but my mother is Cherokee. All in all, this was a very insightful video that I think a lot of europeans who have reservations of coming here and understanding the country and things like that, this is great, this could be very helpful
As a native Coloradoan I appreciate that you could see some untouched nature from the train. I don't often get the perspective. Unfortunately development and massive fires have been a big problem. And hiking is often crowded in seemingly remote areas. So that aspect may not be as different as you think - there's just a lot of people on the planet. But do come back and enjoy the nature when you can. It is magical.
My Irish in-laws visited their daughter who lives near Seattle. They got bored and went for a walk. They got pulled over by the police and interrogated as to what they were doing walking along the road 😂
As someone who has walked around Seattle with no attention from the police I find yours a doubtful statement. In fact, the only time I have had contact with the police has been when I've exceeded the speed limit, and once when I was taking photos of trains at night that someone thought looked suspicious. All of those cases were understandable. In the end, I've just had a few speeding tickets and no misdemeanors or felonies.
@@Anon54387 - near Seattle could be a little town or a wealthier neighborhood that is over policed and I have no problem believing that if the Po-Po see something out of the ordinary and have time to investigate. My car was hit by a FEMA employee from Puerto Rico and one of our local finest told the poor fellow that he couldn’t drive in the United States with a foreign drivers license. I spoke up for the guy and told the policeman that Puerto Rico was part of the USA.
spot on regarding tipping although that`s increased since the pandemic..I am 66 when I was a kid 10% for good service 20% for superior waitresses and waiters only not bartenders...businesses encourage tipping because they won`t pay a living wage
I absolutely loved your post here. It was awesome. I love to travel and I love to travel to the state to travel and meeting people making friends experiencing the other cultures and France is one of my favorite places unfortunately, I've only explored Paris and around I wanted to explore more, especially like Provence and go to the south of France. You said a lot of things I've noticed about America and about France the differences anyway thank you very much.
Also, on getting asked your ethnicity, that's such a common thing in our culture in the US, b/c there is just a vast array of different cultures and ethnicities that comprise the country, so it's a very standard topic of conversation that help people get to know one another. It's more or less a positive thing. However, I can totally understand why that would be taboo in a country like France post WWII...
Totally! And I've gotten used to it/don't take it personally, but the first time I was asked that I was in shock, it's so much more formal than just "where are you from?" haha
@@LucileHR I think its because your English is so good people probably assume you are an American and so they just think to ask what your background is
> Also, on getting asked your ethnicity, that's such a common thing in our culture in the US, b/c there is just a vast array of different cultures and ethnicities that comprise the country I don't think that's the reason, since some forms ask you if you're Caucasian (weird word BTW), African American (weird word too), Asian, etc. The census in the US may ask such a question I believe. That has very little to do with culture. Such question would be illegal in France.
Having been myself to the USA, Spain and France I think you did a good job explaining some differences in a short time. As an investment banker, you could do better by explaining not just "average" income, but also mentioning minimum wages like the $ 7.25 that is way too low to survive. How do such people get medical insurance? Food stamps to just get enough food are distributed to 42 million inhabitants in the USA. The main difference between the more developed countries in Europe and the USA is mainly how the poor ten to twenty percent of the population is treated. For rich people the difference of living in London, Paris or New York is not significant, as they can get what they need anywhere.
Are you in the United States? That minimum wage you quoted is expired. That is a federal law passed in 2009. Currently companies are starting people at $16 and up. A few states have their own minimum wage, but most states don't. Companies pay what they have to pay to retain workers. That is called "letting the free-market decide." Also, the 42 million people you mentioned receive 100% free medical insurance from the federal government. And food stamps are supplemental. Those people are expect get out of bed and go to work every day like the rest of us. It is a country -- not a charity house.
We'd be happy to have you and your boyfriend here in Texas (which is a country unto itself) You no doubt were in Central Texas, which has the largest Czech population in the world, outside of the Czech Republic. Czechs are very proud of their heritage and actively work to keep it alive here. The old French Embassy still exists in Austin, dating back to when Texas was an independent Nation. There's some French influences, but much of Texas has German and Czech settlers going back to the 1800s. Of course, plenty of Mexicans, as Texas was once part of Mexico. Today we have people from nearly every country on Earth living here. We have 5 of the largest cities in the country, population wise, but we also have smaller, more laid back cities and towns. Really enjoyed your video!
I am American and live in Portugal. I really dislike the service in the US. It is too hovering, with many servers constantly coming at you with water, more coffee, etc. The goal is to get you up and out of there fast so that they can seat other customers. Not a relaxing way to dine. I'm in the US now for Christmas and can't wait to get back to Portugal where I can slow down.
03:27 "It feels like everyone has one of those massive trucks or SUVs. For me, as someone who like to bike or walk, it feels a tiny bit less safe because I feel that these are so big that if they hit me, I will die on the spot." This is not just your imagination, Lucile. Organizations such as Smart Growth America, which published the "Dangerous by Design" report, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirm that US pedestrian fatalities have gone up over 75% in the USA since 2010. Much of this increase in pedestrian fatality rates are directly attributed to the growth in popularity of these behemoth vehicles. In short, drivers of these vehicles not only drive more aggressively, but also (due to the height of the vehicles which block the view of pedestrians directly in front of them) these drivers don't even see who they are about to kill. It other words, Lucile, you are not just "a tiny bit less safe" as a pedestrian now... You are actually massively less safe!
Statistics say the passengers are much safer. A human is 5 to 6 feet tall. They can be seen over the hood. And you can see a cat 20 feet ahead of you while you are approaching. The visibility issue is backing up when children are playing behind your vehicle and some turning visibility. According to statistics, the most common accident in the United States is a pedestrian stepping off of the sidewalk directly in front of a moving vehicle. If you want to LIE and claim that the truck driving is "about to kill you," then you also need to LIE and say that pedestrians who step in front of vehicles are committing suicide.
@@Matthew_Loutner I don't know what statistics you are quoting, but it's verifiable that since 2014, pedestrian fatalities have increased in the US by a whopping 70%. That number is verifiable. Have the pedestrians become "dumber"? No... the number of monster SUV has increased, along with the "attitude" of SUV drivers that they "own the road". In my personal experience, after returning to the USA after 13 years abroad, I have been hit by SUVs seven times in six months. Each and every time, I was crossing the intersection at the crosswalk, including 3 times when I was in the crosswalk with the "Walk" sign illuminated. Every time, it has been an SUV blasting up from a side street, wanting to turn onto the main road. The drivers are checking left and right for approaching vehicles and it's a "race" to see if they can shoot into traffic before the other vehicles get to the intersection. The drivers literally NEVER check for pedestrians either already in the intersection or who are about to (legally) step into it. That's not even counting the distracted drivers, chatting with their friend in passenger seat. That's right, despite TWO sets of eyes, neither of them is looking out for pedestrians. That was the cause TWICE in me getting hit. Luckily (so far), I have managed to dive out of the way and only get "clipped". So, you can quote as many "statistics" (which you probably made up) that you like. My personal empirical evidence is that SUV drivers are both arrogant and ignorant.
It looks like you've had a chance to experience a lot of places! I'm from Colorado and what you said about the nature is true. I've spent most my adult life in Taiwan (mostly Taipei) and I love it, but other than loved ones, the thing I miss most about where I grew up is the nature. I spent so much time in the mountains, hiking, skiing, trail running, etc, that part of me is in pain living in a big, crowded city full of pavement and metro stations. Taipei does better than most, though. It's got a ton of parks compared to NYC, London, Beijing and other big cities where I've stayed.
Very true. Folks forget the US had massive networks of trains to most everywhere. But once cars became affordable, folks abandoned them. We used to have the tiny cramped cities and villages, but moved out to the burbs. Indeed once a area of a metro gets dence enough to be effectively servable by mass transit.. folks move out to avoid the crowding.
Please don't speak for all Americans . I have lived or visited all over the U.S. most public transportation was just fine. You might not be able to set your watch to it like in many European big cities, but it was efficient enough.
@@zumurudlilitYou definitely belong packed in a big city where you can take public transportation everywhere. I choose to live in Michigan, where I can hop in my car to go any number of places to enjoy the beauty of my large state. People aren't cattle.
enjoyed your thoughts on our country. most do not really know what they are talking about. One thing when you mention the empty place, for me those are the best parts.
3:30 About trucks, unfortunately, federal regulations over the past 15 years have mandated bigger, BIGger and BIGGER trucks, but the corner has turned on that as people that use pickups have been very much wanting small pickup trucks. Ford has created a very expensive one and Hyundai also has an expensive one. Thus, much cheaper and much smaller trucks are being imported from Asia and they are bought the second they come off the ships.
I am really pleased to have found this video. I will subscribe to help your numbers for sure. You are articulate and sweet. I didn't think about how a foreign person may feel if I ask them about their ethnicity. It makes 100% sense now; thank you. You're right, people may use it to discriminate. When I have asked, it's to share the joy of the other person's heritage! Wow, so eye-opening. Thank you.
Ethnicity - FYI, if I run across an attractive woman [like yourself], I’m often interested in her ethnicity, since I’d like to know where people who look like that come from. That’s a reason. I don’t lead out with this question, but over time, usually deduce from conversations.
My ancestors immigrated to the US from the French part of Canada. I am fascinated by people’s genealogy. I drive a lot of Uber rides and there are so many immigrants driving for Uber. Very interested in each in their background’s, and ask a lot of questions of the drivers. None seem to be offended. I started to inquire about my own genealogy, because of my curious last name.
Hey cars have gotten bigger in Europe. Also, I remember going there in the 70s and 80s you guys had tiny little cars now they’re the size of Toyota Camry’s and things like that. Lotta big cars in Europe.
I'm a retired American who moved France 7 years ago. Your observations are spot on. The US is huge. I don't have a car in France and I don't need one as public transportation is clean, efficient, and low cost. The US is far more consumer orientated than France because Americans purchase things they cannot afford on credit cards, thus Americans have much more debt than the people in France. I have no intention to going back to the US, other than to visit my children. I love France, the people, the food, and the countryside.
@@olliestale864 After my physical at the OFII was completed in 2018, I applied for a one-year visitor's visa 5 years in a row. I filed my tax returns in France and the US each year. I showed proof of residency (rental receipts, electric bills, and bank statements), and provided translated copies of my financial statements each year at the prefecture. When I applied for the 6th time they told me I was eligible for a 10-year CDS. That is what I have now. It was not too difficult, except during the pandemic, but since no one was allowed to travel it was not a big deal. Almost everything can be done on-line now.
I would lose my marbles not having immediate and independent transportation. I automatically am suspicious of anyone who wants to control where I go and when I do it. I absolutely NEED to be independently mobile!! I won't even ride in a friend's car to a destination; I must take my own so that I alone dictate when I leave and why.
I'm a retired Franco-American French mother, American father US army (RIP DAD) he came to France at the tail end of WWII, and I was in Paris a true dual citizen of both and lived in both however I only in the state! This time I have been here for some 22 years it was not easy getting back into the French way of life, but now I will never go back have you heard the French say if you have your bread, your cheese, and your wine you have everything well I got everything! Here is Southern France near Spain - near Perpignan) I have no car I do just fine, however you must live in the right area nearest buses, trains, and big box stores to shop and it is best to not live downtown Perpignan unless you love noise and lots of people! The one thing I can tell you that worth a million bucks, learn System D, and follow it the best you can, without breaking any laws (wink wink) it makes life way easier! Did you declare every dime you every made when in the States, well it is the same here something's can be overlooked but not everything there is a line to not cross find it that is what System D means, finding it and doing it with nothing to help you, and keeping it legal! Where do you start with luck, so to you the best of luck!
As someone that comes from a mixed family and then created a mixed family, asking someone's ethnicity is just a nice way to connect with them or learn about them. It is almost always followed by, "oh my brother is from there! My sister in law is from there! I speak that language!" We/I ask because we usually have a connection no matter where you're from. And if we don't have a connection to your heritage, you're about to become our connection to that place. Lol
I’ve been to all sorts of professional sports matches in Europe and the US. I’ll never forget the first time I went to a PSG match in Paris and I couldn’t even hear myself think it was so loud. But there are a lot of drunk idiots at US sports games too. On balance, my wife and I prefer Europe. Far more to do and far easier to get around.
Hi, from Canada here, and watching a Habs game at Centre Bell can get pretty loud, especially during the playoffs. As for travelling, I prefer going to Europe, even if I live 90 minutes drive from the US border via Autoroute 15.
We have a ultras culture although most people dislike them, sports in the usa seem more like entertainment or a pass time meanwhile in most of Europe football club are part of the culture of the city, you can get k because of it if you mess with wrong type of people or joke about their club, you usually inherit your club from your parents or family members, they threaten to disown you if you change club😂, in game day people aren’t “friends” anymore but rivals ect The idiots ultras from my club even invaded our training facilities and beat up the players for bad performance, ultras destroy team buses of rivals or if performance isn’t to their standard, don’t bring kids to derbies especially
Having lived in Grenoble (and other places in France) the food was amazing. Even the lower end food was so good and made with pride and care. Colorado and Texas are two of the best. I've been to 43/50 US states. Alaska and Hawaii are two must visits. They are so unique. Merci pour le video.
In a land where dreams take flight, Lucile embarked on a journey bright. A French girl with a heart so pure, Across the U.S., she sought allure. From bustling cities to quiet plains, She marveled at sights through windowpanes. Mountains tall and rivers wide, Each new scene, a wondrous ride. With every stop, her eyes would gleam, As she lived her American dream. Lucile, the traveler, full of grace, Found magic in each new place ♥♥♥.
I'm from the Chicago suburbs. There are so many beautiful places to see in the USA... My favorite places to visit are the Arizona/New Mexico desert areas (such big skies!) and the Bay area of California (San Francisco, Berkeley, etc.)... though the American South has world class food and it's hard to beat it. Thanks for sharing your video with us (that red turtleneck looks awesome on you). Best wishes always!
If you're a bears fan, you should come to Colorado. I have two black bears that visit at night from September to November until they hibernate. I also have coyotes, a fox, a Great Horned owl and a family of bobcats, but, fortunately, no mountain lions. It's the Wild West!😉
Bonjour! If you’re going mainly to large cities, you’ve missed out on the American Experience. Go to the smaller towns, get out in the country and meet the locals who haven’t been herded into the concrete prisons. Some of us escaped that tragic existence; the luckier ones never had to live like that to begin with!
Great video! Yours is a very balanced perspective, and you're so right about so many things. I don't drive (I'm in CA), and it's HARD not being able to drive, except when I lived for a few years in Los Angeles--the bus/transit system was much better than it is in the Bay Area--San Francisco is easily handled without a car, but as soon as you get into the suburbs, whoa--it's rough without a car. I once waited almost 2 hours for a bus before I found out they'd just cancelled the route for the rest of the day! What? "Not enough passengers", I was told. What? Who does that without warning? I had to walk 5 miles home, I was not amused! I'm very lucky my husband drives or I'd be sunk.
Honestly, if you really want to absorb what the US is really like, I recommend you go through small towns in places like the South (GA, TN, AL, Northern FL, TX), the West (UT, AZ), the Midwest/Great Plains (MT, WY, OK), Pacific Northwest (ID, eastern WA) and parts of New England (VT, NH) where you can see what life is like outside the main transit/travel hubs.
This is just romanticism and mythology. When the majority of Americans stay in suburbs, it's a stretch to say the real America is in small towns. It's not at all representative of the lifestyle of the average American.
“What the US is really like”? Anywhere in the US is what the country is like. This “real America” is a bunch of bs. Plus if you’re LGBT or non-white, some small towns may not be the safest place to be.
My Brit wife concurs with most of what you said, except she binge watched NFL games for 2 years and is now a pro at the rules and she never missed a KC Chiefs game on TV.
@05:40 ...People ask you this in France A LOT too... try to be a non White French and see for yourself. And it's not about the accent nor the last name, it's skin-color based, and people are quite bold with it! @05:44 " in France it's such a big no-no" ??? Delusional! 😂😂 "But, that's a light and fun video, so let's not talk about it...
In my European country is usually about nationality not ethnicity although since mr trump was elected some are trying to bring that stuff here but I still think is a minority but I’m not sure . French is quite nationalistic for a European country so it makes sense if is different there.
I love your take as a foreigner on USA, it reminds me my own impression when I moved to USA 43 years ago . I left Poland after 2 years of university on a 1 semester student visa and got stuck here due to a martial law lockdown of Poland on December 13th 1981 . My visa was extended and I was able to get legal employment and enrollment at university. I said “ I got stuck” , but the truth is I took to USA like a duck to water, I loved everything !
Poland is handling immigration much better than the current US situation. The Polish president is a cool guy.
My family left as soon as Martial Law was lifted. Been a Texan for 40 years since last Saturday
Hi , so happy you came and stayed!!! I must tell you I just recently tried to make cabbage rolls from Polish lady on RUclips- now they are my favorite food!!
@@AnotherBadyoga omg , I love this food ….it’s a perfect combo meal for everyone- vegetarians can make them with lentils and mushrooms instead of meat, rice haters can use buckwheat or barley instead, tomato sauce could be substituted with light brown, creamy onion , dill , parsley sauce. All versions are delicious, my sons and their totally non Polish wives absolutely love this dish , our little grandsons devour it. And it’s healthy, fresh cabbage is one of the healthiest vegetables , aids immune system…besides being a Registered Nurse , I’m a certified nutrition consultant.
@@dckrn oh my God, they did seem . Adaptable and my husband said try them with lentils so I’ve got them like five times in the last two weeks made them with lentils made them with buckwheat made them with barley and made them with rice. They were good every single time.
Thanks for presenting a more balanced view of the USA. As an American who has lived 15 years in Europe, I hear so much ignorant and negative perspectives on my country from Europeans who only believe the stories about the US from the media, but would never bother to visit in person. Americans can be ignorant about Europe but the reverse is also true
Realistically, many Americans never even think of Europe, at all.
@@HoppityHooper2 the trumptards don't, no.
Really well put. People should explore the differences but shouldn't be quick to condemn what they don't know. When I first lived in Europe as a young man, I quickly found that I had to exclude Americans from my coterie. In their defense, every McDonalds in New York City was the same as every McDonalds in Los Angeles. And every toilet in New York City worked the same as every toilet in Los Angeles. The tendency towards standardization in the U.S. leads to a crippling presumption of its cultural superiority (...and nothing could be further from the truth). American acquaintances quickly became an embarrassment and a bar to exploring authentic European culture. My exclusionary protocol worked for _me_. The only possible downside is that I only sleep with French women, now (...shrug).
@@HoppityHooper2 Because it's all about CHEINUH!!!
@HoppityHooper2 I don't really intend on visiting Europe due to current evenrs and for the fact most of them seem to hate us, much thanks to their trash media. I wouldn't be welcomed over there. Why would I visit somewhere that's hostile to me because of my nationality?
Loved our journey across the US 😍
My partner is from Czechia, and she loves the general social acceptance in America. She loves that she can dress more how she wants when she wants and people will just accept it. They might think her weird or over dressed or underdressed BUT they still accept in most circumstances that it is her choice.
I’m from the Czech Republic, living in Chicago and I do judge the low life’s who go shopping in their pajamas.
People in the USA ask about your ethnicity/ancestry because we’re proud of historic roots & assume everyone is. I for example am half Irish & Almost half Dutch w a tiny bit of Scottish. I can understand why it’s a little different in France/Europe. I’ve also been to Paris. Beautiful city & while I was always told Parisians came off as Rude I never ran into a rude person the entire time. Everyone was helpful & friendly.
When Americans ask about ethnicity, we're generally wondering what ancestry we have in common. I'm proud to be German/Irish and to bump into someone from one of those countries is a treat. Many of us know not just what country our ancestors are from, but what city as well. Expect lots of excitement and questions.
I’m a Coonass, that makes me what..??
I agree, at least when they appear to be of a similar ethnicity. Otherwise I think there's often some judgement involved.
Something I've noticed as an American living in Europe is a general lack of understanding by Europeans of what it means to be a country of immigrants, of having mixed ancestry and being separated from our families' cultures. I feel that in the US a lot of people are searching for a sense of togetherness and belonging, while many Europeans automatically have it without trying.
I agree. We don't hesitate to talk about ethnicity because we are proud of out heritage. I am Serbian/Polish.German/English, and I never mind telling anyone who asks.
Yep. It's comes from a desire to connect, not to discriminate.
All my grandparents came from Finland. So 100% Finn. My son is 50% Finn and 1/4 Scottish 1/4 Irish, the dirty mixed blood. I try not to discriminate against him too much. 🤫
Something to consider with the tipping machines. These touch pads tipping systems are fairly new to us here in the states. They started about five years ago and there's some stigma regarding them. When you're at a restaurant and have a server, you're expected to tip 20% because these servers make $4 an hour. However, at the counter, you aren't expected to tip at all as these servers are paid minimum wage. Corporations like Starbucks added these touch screen in order to not have to pay their servers more than our minimum wage, which is pretty low. One could say "You should tip them anyway" but the cost of the coffee or croissant actually covers the servers wages whereas in restaurants where you're sitting down, it does not. Servers you tip 20% serve you throughout the meal and take care of you whereas the person behind the counter punches some buttons and sends you off to pick up your own coffee. I wish people would boycott this touchscreen tip business. It's for the corporations benefit.
Isn't EVERYTHING?
Things have changed so much... When I was growing up a tip was a gratuity for doing a good job. Like a metal for going above and beyond the call of duty, not just a participation trophy. It had nothing to do with your pay.
Tipping should go away completely. Pay them what they deserve, as determined by the boss
You are so right! I hate those "touchpads". I've always tipped waiters and waitresses, but I don't want to tip when I just pick up a pizza or a sandwich. I worked minimum wage at almost every job I had and was promoted according to my skill and work ethic.
yea olny people i tip are waiters/waitresses and pizza delivery guy
Bonjour (or is that now Howdy!) Lucille:
Papa Bear and Mama Bear are getting divorced and they're in court to decide on the custody of Baby Bear. The Judge asks Baby Bear,
"Do you want to live with your mother?"
Baby Bear replies, "No she beats me."
The judge then asks, "So, you want to live with your father?"
"Oh no, he beats me even worse."
"Well who do you want to live with?"
"My grandma in Chicago."
"Why's that?"
"Because Chicago Bears never beat anyone."
I think you’ve got a good perspective on the real America! I am a U.S. citizen and lived in Oregon, California, Texas, NY, Maine, Hawaii and South Carolina. I’ve lived in major cities like LA, NYC and Austin. I’ve also lived in rural areas.
There are cultural touchstones that unite us a country and then there are vast differences and variety among the states. That’s why we are called the United States - state identity is rooted in our history and I think that’s a big thing people outside the country don’t fully understand. I enjoy your perspective and I love that you see the joy of America - the diversity, the festivity, the opportunities to start a business and live your life freely.
I visited France for three weeks in 1994 and loved it. There are so many beautiful positives in both countries. Thanks for your balanced perspective!
As an American, I love our country! I do appreciate French culture though, especially the manners, elegance, and food culture. And yes, we live in Texas and the people are amazing here. Thank you for your nice comments!
I lived in Texas for a few years due to the military. ❤TX
You want manners go to Japan it more a religion there
Lucile, Really enjoyed your video today. Having just discovered you and subscribing to your channel, I smiled but want to assure you that here in America it is absolutely fine to ask someone new what their heritage is. Since we are a country of immigrants, it is something fun and insightful to do as say for example, in a get-together with friends and new acquaintances, I will ask. We learn and share sometimes guessing and seeing if we are right! I love anything cultural and love people from all over the world. My heritage is from Spain on mom’s side and Netherlands on dad’s side. My wife and I also love to travel and discussing backgrounds with people we meet, sometimes teasing or laughing about stereotypes in a good natured way. Reading facial features and or speech accents often enriches our experience. Many times it makes us want to visit their country! Travel and knowledge make us all more tolerant of differences and have a deeper love of all races, languages and religions. Anyway, sorry for the long rant! 😂 The very best of luck with your channel and I look forward to seeing all your videos as they are released! Much love to you guys!
(repost bc I didn't realize we could do this small donation)
lovely video, I really appreciate how detailed, thoughtful, and empathetic you are when discussing culture differences. I have been bingeing your videos lately - I (American woman) am married to a Frenchman, and how I wish your videos had existed when I had started dating him !
If you have time/interest in this subject someday, I am curious on your take on a question that has been rattling around my brain for awhile : why is it that so many native English speakers do not learn foreign languages to "even" a medium (between B1 - B2) proficiency, and what could be done to improve this ? (Though I mostly speak for the USA, my impression from talking with intl. anglophone friends & the internet is that it is the same situation in the UK + Australia + even anglophone Canada). Thank you for your content !
Thank you so much for your donation! I appreciate you!!
Interesting! My point of view is that it’s because English is the “dominant language” and a lot of people around the world speak a bit of English. Growing up my teachers told me outright that I needed to speak English perfectly to get into the best colleges! I feel learning a second language is seen more as a hobby than a necessity in other places!
I’m curious about your thoughts since we both are in an inter-cultural relationship :)
I’m a native English speaker and I have an immense curiosity for other cultures, including languages, and I find a lot of people tell me I have a head for languages, and that other languages confuse them (ironic considering a lot of other languages don’t have as much complication/inconsistencies as English does such as irregular verbs/pronunciation etc)
I think a lot of people feel shame around learning new things and trying and not being immediately good at them, and I suspect a lot derived from school and perhaps unkind words and perfection being expected.
I live on the border between England and Wales and I’ve been learning Welsh for 5+ years, it’s completely terrifying to speak to people in Welsh but once you get over that initial boundary it becomes incredibly fun and exciting, I would love if more people embraced curiosity about other languages. I also think people are so busy with work and their lives they don’t have spare time or energy to learn new things.
In the U.S. the answer is simple. The country is huge, travel is expensive, and 80 percent of Americans live within 200 miles of where they are born. Few have the money or time to travel abroad.
French and Spanish are taught in schools but if you don't use it you lose it. Some of this has to do with not teaching different languages at an early age ( i.e 7 years old).
The only way I could master and retain a different language would be to live in another country and immerse myself in their language and culture for one or two years.
Just a delightful video! Please continue to honor us with your visits!
Non-chain restaurants feed me on a deeper level - really well put.
I love asking people about their ethnicity. There's no malice. I just love hearing about people different than me.
I never realized that old ladies calling me honey, sweetie, handsome, was only an American thing 😂
It's not really a thing outside of the South, either.
In the UK you do get called darling, my lover, luv etc.
In Latin America, they will call you many things that are similar
@@eleveneleven572 In Australia it's Pet, Darl, Sweetie, Love, Chook ... particularly from older women in shops. I'm 65, by the way, so it isn't ageist patronising. Mate is more common from young people, female to female, male to male, male to female, and female to male: it has expanded massively from adult male to adult male only.
@steelcrown7130 I'm a male in his 30s, living in a metropolitan area, and I'll say mate sometimes. But I rarely hear anyone say "love" or "darling" or anything like that.
I fully understand the ethnicity question in the US. Being a country of immigrants, people look for commonality to establish a connection. If there is no commonality, then exchanging your family history becomes a talking point.
I grew up in NYC and that's usually how we approach it here. There's also the matter of not wanting to assume someone's ethnicity and getting it wrong. Better to ask than assume.
Yea I'm from nyc and this is so normal and inoffensive. I've had cashiers at trader joes straight up ask if I was Jamaican. It's as normal as asking someone what borough they're from. Definitely a top 5 question.
Of pioneers
Americans are weird a .
I spent four years of my childhood in Barcelona and Naples, and spent a good bit of time deployed as a Marine, in Europe and Asia. I really enjoy watching people from outside the US talk about my country. I'm glad you enjoyed your time here, it's always interesting to hear outside perspectives. Now that I'm retired, I hope to spend some time in Europe and visit some of the countries I once lived in and those I visited. I hope you get to come back some time and enjoy our hospitality again. Thank you for your video.
At 5:21, I'm glad you recognize how Americans view their own ethnicities. Europeans frequently look down on Americans for not understanding Europe, but it's a two-way street. Instead of understanding the American point of view on this issue, Europeans frequently ask, "Why are you pretending to be some European nationality?" Yep, that's some ignorance there!
As an American whose ancestors came to what is now the USA back in colonial days, I don't view countries such as the USA, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada (except for Quebec) as having developed a new ethnicity for the white inhabitants there--which is why this question of ethnicity gets asked in the first place. (Maybe people in these other Anglophone countries will tell me they view themselves differently--I dunno.)
However, nobody in the USA seems to bat an eye when someone from Latin America describes their ethnicity as Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Brazilian, or whatever. Maybe because those countries were colonized by Spanish or Portuguese men who married the indigenous women? Does that count as forming a new ethnicity?
There's an ethnicity on that map at 5:16 labelled "American" scattered across most of the South where African-Americans are not the majority. I find that odd, because where I live that label isn't used--even though there are plenty of people of that ethnic group who live around here. What they are is Scots-Irish who've forgotten where they came from.
In my area, there was a big wave of immigration from 1890 to 1924. Although the floodgates of immigration were opened again in 1965, the new immigration didn't start affecting my area until well into the 1990's. When I was in elementary school in the 1970's, there were paintings of stereotypes of various ethnic groups still on the walls. I guess that was intended to get the kids of various ethnicities to accept each other as Americans, but it was fifty years out of date. Everybody in my area had long been assimilated by the '70's. My fifth-grade teacher once told us to ask our parents what our ethnic makeup was and be prepared to share it with the class the next day. The number one ethnic group in my area is German. Oddly, I was the only kid in the class who identified as German. I was forever afterward harassed as being a "Nazi"--despite the fact that my father served in the US Army during WW2. One kid identified as Russian, and he got the same treatment, except that he was called a "Commie." Old ethnic resentments can linger generations after assimilation, I guess.
The American way of saying “I'm Irish” to mean “My ancestors were Irish” is not done anywhere else in the world, so Americans who use that phrase pattern should get used to being questioned. The natural assumption is that “I'm [nationality]” means you were born in that country, especially to its majority ethnic group, and that you speak its dominant language like/as a native.
@@emultra759 I'm not so sure about the Anglophone world. Why are people of Ukrainian heritage in Canada so obsessed about Ukraine. Why does a South African guy say he's half English and half German?
@JRBWare1942 .. that’s fascinating.. as an African American, some of these thoughts have literally never crossed my mind.. one commonality that I do see though, is that Africans aren’t too keen on African Americans claiming Africa as an identity marker.. in part because we don’t know the specific countries of origin.. and then, even within the counties in Africa there’s a lot of ethnic diversity and pretty strict distinctions.. so saying “Africa” barely means anything for an American to say.. And it feels like doing a deep dive to be specific enough to be respectful or accurate would almost be a full time job for me lol.. but then again, maybe ‘Black’ in America has been pushed to become its own ethnicity for the aforementioned reasons (and others)??
It’s interesting, because growing up in a very very diverse area with a lot of 2nd generation classmates (East Asia, India, Middle East, central and South America, Africa, etc.) in addition to European Americans and African Americans.. it was always interesting when we talked about heritage.. it was beautiful and enriching to learn about different kinds of people (and I was fed by many moms and grandmas with many kinds of foods!).. but I kind of felt left out because I didn’t have an origin story outside of the states.. but in hearing your perspective, maybe feeling connected to a distinctly American-born ‘ethnicity’ was the answer all along.. I just never thought to look at it that way.. Kinda took it for granted..
And retroactively, I actually feel not so left out haha.. so, thank you! (I mean that sincerely)..
At the same time, I wonder, what is it about being tied to specific European countries that’s meaningful to you, personally? You clearly have long standing ties to this country.. is there something missing from America that you get from identifying with your European roots? And referencing your point about no White ‘ethnicities’ in the colonies outside of Europe.. in your opinion, what’s stopping that from happening? And is there a space for there to be a “racially” diverse ethnicity in the United States that you’d be interested in being a part of? (I don’t mean any offense by any of those questions, I’m just very very curious.. because I haven’t heard this point of view before)..
Identity crisis
As a young, black conservative said 18 years ago, "This is America; we're not better than everybody else. We ARE everybody else."
Well said
@@MrSophire Well said Brent-w2d and Mr.Sophire, from just an old Southern white guy!
I was just in Vienna, Prague, and Paris for 2 months and I loved not needing a car to get around. The monthly public transport pass in Vienna was only 51 Euros!
Oh wow, this sounds like such a fun trip! Did you take the sleeper train to go from Vienna to Paris?
@@LucileHR No train from Paris to Vienna. I was in Vienna for about 5 weeks for work (my company's European HQ is there) and during that time I went to our Prague office for about a week (I did take the train to Prague). Then I went to Paris and worked remotely for a couple days and did about 2 weeks of vacation there. Paris remains my favorite city and I was able to be there when it snowed, which was a first for me! I stayed in South Pigalle for a week and then I stayed in the northern part of Montmarte. First time actually staying in both those areas and I loved them both!
I know different places are different for everybody, but for me, I never feel so happy in a place as when I'm in Paris.
So nice to read that you enjoyed Paris so much! South Pigalle and the Northern part of Montmatre are two of my favorite areas too :)
@@LucileHR It was my 4th time there and I already can't wait to go back. I have to force myself to not always book my vacations there, though. There's a lot to see in the world!
don't need a car in the San Francisco Bay Area either. I have lived here all my life and I'm 46 and I don't know how to drive.
Love the video. I’m Australian who loves visiting Europe because these are so many villages and few big empty spaces.
I live in Belgium and I love to take a train to London on a Saturday morning, spend the day, and return home in the evening! Traveling is so easy!
Wow!... that's so cool!
I live in San Jose and I love to take a train to San Francisco on Saturday morning, spend the day and return home in the evening! Traveling is so easy in California as well!
The distance from Brussels to London is about 2/3 of the straight-line distance from San Jose, CA to Los Angeles, CA. The train trip the lady in the video took from New York to San Francisco is like taking a trip from Brest, France to somewhere in western or central Kazakhstan. The distances scale and population density of the US are very different from those of Europe.
I live in the Seattle area and taking a train to the nearest country (Canada) would take more than 3 hours each way.
@@scottmcrawford
"I live in the Seattle area and taking a train to the nearest country (Canada) would take more than 3 hours each way."
Bear in mind that Antwerp to London via public transit is also over three hours, says Google Maps. 🙂 77 mph average.
Since things are much closer together in Europe, the next country is much closer than that...Lille is only two hours away in a car, and that is in France. 🙂
But, the drive from Seattle to Vancouver is 2 hrs 46 minutes on paper (normal traffic, obeying the speed limit), and the train is 4 hours, so it's not that much slower than driving.
Plus the drive is going to be more like 3+ hours because in both cases you have to stop at the border and do immigration.
Amtrak Cascades is going 143 miles from Seattle to Vancouver and taking four hours so that's 35 mph. In theory it would be two hours if they increased the average speed to 70 mph, which would NOT involve HSR and be far, far cheaper than HSR. The maximum allowed speed on Caltrain down here in the Bay Area is 79 mph (though the average is 56 mph, still an improvement over current Cascades), very much NOT HSR, so the state of Washington would not have to do a huge investment to achieve that.
Although you would still have to go through immigration, so I"m not sure how much faster it would actually be. You might only save like 30 minutes. 🙂
I’m American and the tipping culture here is out of control. It’s ridiculous.
Actually pay workers a real wage and stop making customers subsidize their wages so that owners keep more money in their pockets.
I prefer our tipping culture & the money is great. “A living wage” is to continue tipping for good service (20%.)
I can’t stand the tipping option at coffee shops & places like that, which started during Covid. I only tip when I would grab a huge & difficult order or a dollar or two if it’s a regular barista. I don’t think anyone has to tip if they are already getting paid.
**I tip well because I used to bartend for years & attempted to waitress for a month (I was awful!)
Restaurant wait staff historically have only gotten their half of the Social Security tax as a wage (...which gets withheld and paid to the Federal Government) - - not to mention where the tips are shared with non-wait staff. Traditional restaurants couldn't survive without you, the patron, paying that service wage. In France, by comparison, the service wage is included in the total - - it is not like the service doesn't get paid for. The only difference is the perspective of the patron. Tipping is really minimal in Europe because it truly is a "tip" - - a 'pour boire'.
Where tipping has gotten out of control in the U.S. is where everybody else and his brother decided that they too were entitled to massive tips along with whatever wage or salary they were getting paid! I can live with the traditional restaurant model in the U.S. but the rest of it really needs to end.
@@lovesgucci1 I agree 100%! Tipping in restaurants gives us direct impact on both great servers… and poor servers. Love our tipping culture. But yeah, the ridiculous tablets now that prompt for tips everywhere are a joke. As much as I like the folks at my neighborhood Subway, I’m never going to leave a tip for my carry-out sub!
Stop taxing tips
LOVED the diverse perspective in this. Seems like most of these types of videos are based on visits to just NYC or L.A. -- two places I've never even been; they're top tourist destinations, but only about 55% of us get to either place. From what I can tell, 20% of Americans have only been to 1-5 states outside the one they grew up in, so you outdid a fair number of us. So glad my parents took us out west (missed California), out east (just barely hit NY state), and southeast to Florida.
Just here to say Hi to Lucille and Bobby hope all is well and staying warm, I hear it's a bit cooler in France this time of the year.see you or Bobby in the next video's.thank you for letting me be apart of these wonderful journeys you take us all on.
The U.S. is very expansive. Consider focusing on one major city. One idea is New Orleans. It could even be video about how you as a French woman see it as an American city with French culture.
Very important point IMHO. As a New Yorker I feel more at ease in London than the suburbs of Texas.
Vive les louisianais!
You are right Europe is chip.
@@catsupchutney big cities are the way. Lots of people own cars here in the San Francisco Bay Area but you don't NEED one....like NYC we have lots of public transit. I'm 46 and I don't know how to drive. 🙂
@@catsupchutney please make sure to stay in New York. Texas has enough losers from Cali coming.
Long distance Amtrak is particularly friendly, I mean you are on a train for many hours if not days, and you sit with strangers at your table in the dining car as a rail tradition due to limited seating space
The USA used to have passenger rail coverage every bit as good as Europe. It was all destroyed in the 1950's & 1960's.
My French wife did the same but started in Toronto for 3 months on buses. She met this Louisiana boy in 1979 while traveling on her last day in States and we married 2 years later on the same day as we met in 1981. Still together between the two countries.
Bears suck...need the Broncos
It took you only _2_ years??? It took the French girl that I sleep with and me _twenty_ years from the day we met to the day we married.
@@NestofWeasels Donc, qui est le meuiller entre nous et nos situations en tout cas?
@stepnik3791 Lequel d'entre nous a le meilleur moyen de transport ou quel pays a les meilleures femmes? Cela ne m'importe pas vraiment, mais bon, je ne couche qu'avec des filles françaises.
@@NestofWeasels Tout à fait d'accord!
Many moons ago, my father embarked in a journey similar to yours (train from coast to coast) not because he wanted to but he undermined the size of the United States. Anyhow, when I asked him what's the scenic (beautiful!) state he has seen from his train spot he said COLORADO and all of us his five children know that it will always be CO that blew his mind away. ❤
Bonjour, Lucile. Thank you for your insights. You are always so charming, and it's both fun and informative to watch your videos.
Lucile I love you compassion and breakdown videos :D
I usually tip 15% to 20% in restaurants, where the wait staff takes your order and brings it to the table and you get a bill after you're done eating. Any place where you order at a register and they take your money in advance, I do not tip at all. These little "Guilt Pads" with tipping options are 100% ignored by me. Even my local Coffee place, that I visit daily, I don't tip. However at Christmas time, I bring them a really nice premium gift basket with Swiss & German Chocolates and other snacks as a "Thank You".
Are you planning to visit Montreal,Quebec,Canada? Apparently there are 4 million French speakers in Montreal, which has one of the largest French speaking populations outside of Paris.There is even a Notre Dame basilica there.Would love to see you review French Canadian food, compare life between Montreal and Paris, explore Quebecois culture.Apparently law states that all signage for Quebec businesses have to be in both French and English, with French signage always on top and larger.
I think they’re even phasing out English in signage there.
@shinyshinythings Not surprised.Well, even on Canadian Airlines, announcements in English/French are required.Plus flight attendants are supposed to be able to provide service in French.Although there are around 7 million French speakers in Quebec province, they are surrounded by mainly anglophone provinces.So the Quebec govt tries to do whatever they can to keep the French language and Quebec culture.
There's a Notre Dame cathedral everywhere lol. It just means "Our Lady", it's not even just Paris that has one even within France itself.
Lucile, Such a cool vid. Your insights are on point.
Size of the vehicles also means they won’t see you either, they’ll only feel a minor bump they drove over
Thanks! I hope you plan a group trip in Paris. I’m there!
Thank you so much! I appreciate you!
Great video! The tipping culture here is out of hand. The only time I tip is for sit down service. Getting a coffee or fast food you are not expected to tip so don't feel obligated to leave a tip for that.
Thank you so much! Knowing where to tip is truly hard for me as a European! I tend to err on the side of over-tipping to not be rude but there's sometimes random activities where people tip and I feel like I didn't get the memo haha
@@LucileHR I visited France last year and it was hard to get used to not being expected to tip. I understand the confusion!
@@LucileHR I visited Europe in 1984. Before I left the USA, I was given a little booklet as a gift. It had information about every country in Europe. One bit of information was how much to tip in each country. There was no country where it said tipping was not expected. Now I hear one RUclipsr after another saying that tipping is not expected in Europe. Did this change in the last forty years, or was that booklet a bunch of malarkey?
Always great work, Lucy.
Great Video Lucile! I love ❤️ watching your videos, and the U.S.A is huge. There is no question about it, but it's so divided when it comes to health care, guns, & others that will drive anyone to leave there forever! Happy Sunday and Happy Holidays 😊 to you from London, England 🏴 ❤️💚🎅🎄✨️
Thank you so much for watching and happy holidays to you too!!
Having travelled abroad quite extensively over the years, I have observed long waiting lines at US embassies applying for visas, compared to all other embassies.
@@dannogoo You need a tourist visa to enter the USA. Here in the EU we don't even need a passport to travel. That has nothing to do with migration.
The USA and the EU probably have the same problems when it comes to (illegal) migration. Many people want to come, but they are mostly untrained workers. Not really the kind of migration that both of our economies need.
Great episode Lucile! I have just recently (within the past 5-6 months or so) become absolutely obsessed with learning French. Your channel was suggested to me because I watch a lot of French content on RUclips. Like your boyfriend, I am a Chicago native. I adore my home city. I moved to Texas within the past 5 years and it's much much different, but I just find it funny that you named Texas as one of the two states you would like to come back to while I'm in Texas dreaming about going to France. Thank you for your entertaining and informative content!
I feel it’s not a good comparison, Europe is not a whole. US might be a diverse country, geographically and ethnically, but they do have a common language and general culture. While we in Europe, don’t. There are countries the size of a small US city (or even town) with their own language, culture, ethic makeup, etc. The ethnic makeup is also a main trait of European countries, we’re not built on immigration so we’re quite individualistic (as countries I mean).
This video is more of a France to US comparison but I did enjoy it.
@ And I feel that you are being arrogant and rude, which you are. The fact that you have illegals and people who can’t speak the official language of the country doesn’t change what I said. European countries are ethnostates, not built on migration like US, Canada, NZ, Australia (the British colonies). And the Spanish speakers in the US are not as ethnically and culturally homogenous as the Spanish people are. Now kindly take your attitude somewhere else.
RUclips found me via you. A sneak injection of your video into my norm and voila! I’m hooked. Will binge watch. Great content and editing.
Sorry. Absolute Bagel on the upper Westside of NYC was just closed by the Health Department
No way! So sad to hear that!
Here's a link to the health department report (courtesy of the New York Times). It's absolutely *_dégueulasse_* !
Huh? It was closed because the owner retired.
@@marcuswhitaker8397 No, the board of health shut them down due to disgusting conditions with rats, mice, and roaches. Plenty of news reports you can Google.
Very nice video. I visited France with my family and enjoyed the countryside very much.
Ms. Lucile,
I think it's really nice you have the opportunity to compare and contrast France with the States. Both countries have wonderful and unique aspects to them. My wife is Japanese. We married in Japan. We were there for a few years before moving to the US. Experiencing the US through her eyes is wonderful and fascinating. You do have one critical flaw. You must abandon the Chicago Bears for the superior Seattle Seahawks.
Very fair commentary. I agree with a lot of what you said and I’m a Texan and I’m a major patriot. Thanks for sharing! I enjoyed your video much.
As an American who visited France this summer, one thing I will say: I feel France (and the places I’ve been to in Europe in general) to be a much less aggressive and stressed out society than the US. I don’t even live in a large city in the US, just a medium city, but being in public in France and Europe felt so much more relaxing than being out in the States.
its because we have social rights and are less compelled to compete against each other instead of living together (even though neoliberalism is everywhere and we are losing our rights).
major cities in general all over the world are like that.
Because they don’t have to worry about going broke if they get sick.
@@Ron898
"Because they don’t have to worry about going broke if they get sick."
Neither do Americans. Most of us get our health insurance subsidized by our employer, so it's not a concern at all.
The horror stories are from people who don't have either a salaried job or a union job.
@@neutrino78x well the fact that medical debt and lack of healthcare exists at all in the US, an incredibly rich country compared to many other countries who happen to do a much better job with healthcare, is definitely a problem.
And it’s not just a problem for people who are uninsured. My girlfriend and I both have “great” insurance through Aetna. While vacationing in Hawaii my girlfriend cut her finger badly in the ocean on coral, requiring medical attention. It cost FIVE HUNDRED dollars for a doctor to sterilize and glue her finger wound because we didn’t have the time to drive 2 hours to a provider that took Aetna. We’re fortunate but for many in this country $500 is a huge unexpected expense.
Love your perspective! Thank you!
In America most of us celebrate diversity. Most people that ask about ethnicity are just curious and are excited to meet someone from another country. I love meeting people from different countries.
Nope they re crybaby DEMONCRAPPERS
I'm sorry you had to leave and wish you many trips back to the states. I enjoyed your video, thanks.
the good things that you mention about the States are the things that I truly miss about it, but the bad things tend to be infrastructure based (and some systematic cultural stuff too, of course), and those are the main reason me and my French partner settled in France, but man, do I really miss the good things about the US, especially during the holidays here in France, I get the most depressed here during that time.
huh, the reason you left the US is one of the reasons we left Korea, lol, I loved it there (except for the pollution), but my visa was tied to my job and my job was starting to become obsolete in a way, the government was defunding a lot of it, and for some reason they made a rule that everyone had to change location every 4 years, and I really didn't want to do that since my French partner was at a university doing research and teaching and I didn't want to leave that general area, the location I was working at let me stay a 5th year but I signed a form saying I was not allowed to renew a work contract, and it's very difficult to change visa types in Korea you like already have to have the job lined up to request the visa change.
❤love your videos❣️So interesting your menus pricing are all inclusive…very helpful💥
It is an interesting and truly a beautiful county as we have mountains, and deserts and beaches that are so different from one another even in one state like CA for example. It's very inappropriate here too to ask about ethnicity. My friends that get asked that question a lot get very angry about it. But yes people ask anyway.
Yes, the nature in the US is truly breathtaking, I feel you could spend a lifetime exploring it and always discover new things!
Maybe just your friend group gets offended. Other people not so much. I've gone a lifetime with people talking about and asking about ethnic heritage.
@@monember2722 I highly doubt that it is just my friend group that gets offended. I do feel most people aren't asking with any ill intent they are just curious because the USA is such a melting pot. But to each their own with how they feel about getting those questions.
@@monember2722 Agree - Americans are a diverse population and conversation very often gets into ethnicity simply from a sense of curiosity and learning, and not meant as an attempt to pry or insult. Indeed ethnicity as a topic of conversation is very common.
Well produced video Lucile and a very good video to watch.
Wow, I did that trip last year. Our train broke down in the mountains past Denver at a hot springs spa town, forgot the name but it was fun to explore while our engine came from Salt Lake City. I spent the whole time in the viewing car.
I'm French/American and nobody asks what my ancestry is. I'm glad you saw Buc-cee's, the biggest gas station in the world on the way to Galveston.
The tipping here has turned nuts, I went overseas and returned to something I don't recognize. It changed so fast, hopefully will turn around. I want your menu prices.
Sounds like Glenwood Springs, they have what looks like an Olympic sized swimming pool cut into the ground around the hot spring.
This was an interesting video. It's always nice to get other perspectives on places from people not from those places (or comparing them to places they're familiar with). Happy Trails to you!
I am Iranian in Germany, the best guy I know for talking is American. I spoke to him more than I have with my German friends for a year before meeting him.
However, I run out of social battery fast.. idk how you guys have so much energy for talking. I cant keep up!
I REALLY hope that my future wife is American or at least Canadian because It takes Germans 5 minutes to show basic human emotions.
Woww Wonderful video, thank you! really enjoyed following your channel. Happy Christmas and Happy New Year 🎄💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎
Thanks for an interesting take on the U.S. I (and many family members) have often visited France and have enjoyed the country very much.
Je parle un peu français, assez bien pour m’entendre dans la plupart des endroits de la rue, hôtels, restaurants. Et j’ai encore des collègues médecins en France avec qui je discute.
Favorites: Paris of course - a unique city; Normandy (history and food!); Chartres; Strasbourg; Biot (actually all of Alpes-Maratimes); and others.
I agree that most non-U.S. folks have no idea how large the US actually is. European countries I have visited (professionally or for pleasure) are much more compact (e.g., Sweden, Germany, England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy, Luxembourg). All have better rail coverage, but the distances are less challenging. You are correct about regional differences, but these have been decreasing as the population has been relocating more frequently for education, employment, etc.
We would love to have you back here, but as one born and raised in NYC, I have to say I have no interest in returning. It has become too expensive and the political leaders don't have a clue how to manage the challenges. But I'm not going to go any further on my views about current political leaders!
Great video. I love that you have tried to work on small talk!!
I think it’s a matter of personality. I’m American but I am reserved and quiet so I enjoy France much more. In the US, you are considered a failure if you don’t make a lot of money or pursue material goods. In France it is much less so. I think the French have come close to perfecting the art of living, but it disturbs me that this is perhaps changing.
Chris, I don't believe most Americans consider someone a "failure" if they do not make a lot of money. That is too broad a judgement.
As a South African, now living in the UK, we found something similar. Back in SA, you're not necessarily a 'failure', if you don't make lots of money, but it's certainly more or less expected that you drive a big car, have a big house, live in a posh suburb, etc. Credit cards are often maxed out.
In the UK, it's fine to drive a small car, have a small house. Lots of people don't have credit cards, only using debit cards.
And there is far less pressure to show off 'wealth'.
And it's much safer here.
Where in the US have you lived?
I do feel that folks who don't make a lot of money are generally considered failures. That just a overly broad generalization.
I have never considered a poorer person a failure. I think those thoughts are mostly about how people judge themselves and their own life.
As a new yorker myself, I know absolute bagel on broadway, they make great bagels. It's always good to go to the mom and pop diners or pizza places or a little hole in the wall chains.Instead of the big franchises, that's how I am whenever you whenever I travel. The thing about the US each state technically is like its own country. I'm from new york, but my grandparents are from South carolina.So, of course, it's going to be different. In terms of diversity, it's, I understand it could be different and different country's. But I think for me, personally, I get it more cause. Most people don't really know a person's background, and I'm always interested in telling people my background. My father is black, but my mother is Cherokee. All in all, this was a very insightful video that I think a lot of europeans who have reservations of coming here and understanding the country and things like that, this is great, this could be very helpful
As a native Coloradoan I appreciate that you could see some untouched nature from the train. I don't often get the perspective. Unfortunately development and massive fires have been a big problem. And hiking is often crowded in seemingly remote areas. So that aspect may not be as different as you think - there's just a lot of people on the planet. But do come back and enjoy the nature when you can. It is magical.
Hiking is great if you know where to go
Enjoyed your post Lucile....Hope you return, we love folks with a lovely Heart & Soul!
My Irish in-laws visited their daughter who lives near Seattle. They got bored and went for a walk. They got pulled over by the police and interrogated as to what they were doing walking along the road 😂
Hilariously sad that happened!
Seattle has become challenged. Remember when protestors established their own "city" within the city?
As someone who has walked around Seattle with no attention from the police I find yours a doubtful statement. In fact, the only time I have had contact with the police has been when I've exceeded the speed limit, and once when I was taking photos of trains at night that someone thought looked suspicious. All of those cases were understandable. In the end, I've just had a few speeding tickets and no misdemeanors or felonies.
@Anon54387
I said NEAR Seattle...can't you read ?
@@Anon54387 - near Seattle could be a little town or a wealthier neighborhood that is over policed and I have no problem believing that if the Po-Po see something out of the ordinary and have time to investigate. My car was hit by a FEMA employee from Puerto Rico and one of our local finest told the poor fellow that he couldn’t drive in the United States with a foreign drivers license. I spoke up for the guy and told the policeman that Puerto Rico was part of the USA.
Thank you for the positivity!
spot on regarding tipping although that`s increased since the pandemic..I am 66 when I was a kid 10% for good service 20% for superior waitresses and waiters only not bartenders...businesses encourage tipping because they won`t pay a living wage
I absolutely loved your post here. It was awesome. I love to travel and I love to travel to the state to travel and meeting people making friends experiencing the other cultures and France is one of my favorite places unfortunately, I've only explored Paris and around I wanted to explore more, especially like Provence and go to the south of France. You said a lot of things I've noticed about America and about France the differences anyway thank you very much.
Also, on getting asked your ethnicity, that's such a common thing in our culture in the US, b/c there is just a vast array of different cultures and ethnicities that comprise the country, so it's a very standard topic of conversation that help people get to know one another. It's more or less a positive thing. However, I can totally understand why that would be taboo in a country like France post WWII...
Totally! And I've gotten used to it/don't take it personally, but the first time I was asked that I was in shock, it's so much more formal than just "where are you from?" haha
@@LucileHR I think its because your English is so good people probably assume you are an American and so they just think to ask what your background is
My ethnicity is 'human being' from Planet Earth.
> Also, on getting asked your ethnicity, that's such a common thing in our culture in the US, b/c there is just a vast array of different cultures and ethnicities that comprise the country
I don't think that's the reason, since some forms ask you if you're Caucasian (weird word BTW), African American (weird word too), Asian, etc. The census in the US may ask such a question I believe. That has very little to do with culture. Such question would be illegal in France.
She is not talking about forms.
@@dominikoeo
J’adore ce vidéo et les images du Amtrak … with my wife we took the train from LA to Chicago some years ago and we still talk about this trip ❤
Having been myself to the USA, Spain and France I think you did a good job explaining some differences in a short time. As an investment banker, you could do better by explaining not just "average" income, but also mentioning minimum wages like the $ 7.25 that is way too low to survive. How do such people get medical insurance? Food stamps to just get enough food are distributed to 42 million inhabitants in the USA.
The main difference between the more developed countries in Europe and the USA is mainly how the poor ten to twenty percent of the population is treated. For rich people the difference of living in London, Paris or New York is not significant, as they can get what they need anywhere.
People making minimum wage often don't have health insurance.
Are you in the United States?
That minimum wage you quoted is expired. That is a federal law passed in 2009.
Currently companies are starting people at $16 and up.
A few states have their own minimum wage, but most states don't. Companies pay what they have to pay to retain workers. That is called "letting the free-market decide."
Also, the 42 million people you mentioned receive 100% free medical insurance from the federal government.
And food stamps are supplemental. Those people are expect get out of bed and go to work every day like the rest of us. It is a country -- not a charity house.
We'd be happy to have you and your boyfriend here in Texas (which is a country unto itself)
You no doubt were in Central Texas, which has the largest Czech population in the world, outside of the Czech Republic. Czechs are very proud of their heritage and actively work to keep it alive here.
The old French Embassy still exists in Austin, dating back to when Texas was an independent Nation.
There's some French influences, but much of Texas has German and Czech settlers going back to the 1800s.
Of course, plenty of Mexicans, as Texas was once part of Mexico.
Today we have people from nearly every country on Earth living here.
We have 5 of the largest cities in the country, population wise, but we also have smaller, more laid back cities and towns.
Really enjoyed your video!
I've had many mediocre meals in Paris. And the quality of service is higher in the US because of that tip thing.
I am American and live in Portugal. I really dislike the service in the US. It is too hovering, with many servers constantly coming at you with water, more coffee, etc. The goal is to get you up and out of there fast so that they can seat other customers. Not a relaxing way to dine. I'm in the US now for Christmas and can't wait to get back to Portugal where I can slow down.
You're great at what U do! THANKS!
03:27 "It feels like everyone has one of those massive trucks or SUVs. For me, as someone who like to bike or walk, it feels a tiny bit less safe because I feel that these are so big that if they hit me, I will die on the spot." This is not just your imagination, Lucile. Organizations such as Smart Growth America, which published the "Dangerous by Design" report, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirm that US pedestrian fatalities have gone up over 75% in the USA since 2010. Much of this increase in pedestrian fatality rates are directly attributed to the growth in popularity of these behemoth vehicles. In short, drivers of these vehicles not only drive more aggressively, but also (due to the height of the vehicles which block the view of pedestrians directly in front of them) these drivers don't even see who they are about to kill. It other words, Lucile, you are not just "a tiny bit less safe" as a pedestrian now... You are actually massively less safe!
Statistics say the passengers are much safer.
A human is 5 to 6 feet tall. They can be seen over the hood. And you can see a cat 20 feet ahead of you while you are approaching.
The visibility issue is backing up when children are playing behind your vehicle and some turning visibility.
According to statistics, the most common accident in the United States is a pedestrian stepping off of the sidewalk directly in front of a moving vehicle. If you want to LIE and claim that the truck driving is "about to kill you," then you also need to LIE and say that pedestrians who step in front of vehicles are committing suicide.
@@Matthew_Loutner I don't know what statistics you are quoting, but it's verifiable that since 2014, pedestrian fatalities have increased in the US by a whopping 70%. That number is verifiable. Have the pedestrians become "dumber"? No... the number of monster SUV has increased, along with the "attitude" of SUV drivers that they "own the road". In my personal experience, after returning to the USA after 13 years abroad, I have been hit by SUVs seven times in six months. Each and every time, I was crossing the intersection at the crosswalk, including 3 times when I was in the crosswalk with the "Walk" sign illuminated. Every time, it has been an SUV blasting up from a side street, wanting to turn onto the main road. The drivers are checking left and right for approaching vehicles and it's a "race" to see if they can shoot into traffic before the other vehicles get to the intersection. The drivers literally NEVER check for pedestrians either already in the intersection or who are about to (legally) step into it. That's not even counting the distracted drivers, chatting with their friend in passenger seat. That's right, despite TWO sets of eyes, neither of them is looking out for pedestrians. That was the cause TWICE in me getting hit. Luckily (so far), I have managed to dive out of the way and only get "clipped". So, you can quote as many "statistics" (which you probably made up) that you like. My personal empirical evidence is that SUV drivers are both arrogant and ignorant.
It looks like you've had a chance to experience a lot of places! I'm from Colorado and what you said about the nature is true. I've spent most my adult life in Taiwan (mostly Taipei) and I love it, but other than loved ones, the thing I miss most about where I grew up is the nature. I spent so much time in the mountains, hiking, skiing, trail running, etc, that part of me is in pain living in a big, crowded city full of pavement and metro stations. Taipei does better than most, though. It's got a ton of parks compared to NYC, London, Beijing and other big cities where I've stayed.
Americans hate public transportation, we value our privacy more.. Europeans are so concentrated in large masses
Very true. Folks forget the US had massive networks of trains to most everywhere. But once cars became affordable, folks abandoned them. We used to have the tiny cramped cities and villages, but moved out to the burbs. Indeed once a area of a metro gets dence enough to be effectively servable by mass transit.. folks move out to avoid the crowding.
You privacy is very costly to the environment. I value nature and environment more than your privacy.
Not all Americans hate pub trans. Some of us are fine going without a car because we can. But that's rare in America.
Please don't speak for all Americans . I have lived or visited all over the U.S. most public transportation was just fine. You might not be able to set your watch to it like in many European big cities, but it was efficient enough.
@@zumurudlilitYou definitely belong packed in a big city where you can take public transportation everywhere. I choose to live in Michigan, where I can hop in my car to go any number of places to enjoy the beauty of my large state. People aren't cattle.
enjoyed your thoughts on our country. most do not really know what they are talking about. One thing when you mention the empty place, for me those are the best parts.
3:30 About trucks, unfortunately, federal regulations over the past 15 years have mandated bigger, BIGger and BIGGER trucks, but the corner has turned on that as people that use pickups have been very much wanting small pickup trucks. Ford has created a very expensive one and Hyundai also has an expensive one. Thus, much cheaper and much smaller trucks are being imported from Asia and they are bought the second they come off the ships.
I'd love a small, affordable truck. Not a $75 thousand monster truck.
Your observations are spot on. Being from Chicago, I LOVE the Bears mug on the table. 😄
Yes, the USA is a fun and sometimes crazy place to live.
I'd put in a slightly different way - It's a crazy and sometimes fun place to live.
@@billybudd5854 Yet Europe is very charming.
I am really pleased to have found this video. I will subscribe to help your numbers for sure. You are articulate and sweet. I didn't think about how a foreign person may feel if I ask them about their ethnicity. It makes 100% sense now; thank you. You're right, people may use it to discriminate. When I have asked, it's to share the joy of the other person's heritage! Wow, so eye-opening. Thank you.
Ethnicity - FYI, if I run across an attractive woman [like yourself], I’m often interested in her ethnicity, since I’d like to know where people who look like that come from. That’s a reason. I don’t lead out with this question, but over time, usually deduce from conversations.
My ancestors immigrated to the US from the French part of Canada. I am fascinated by people’s genealogy. I drive a lot of Uber rides and there are so many immigrants driving for Uber. Very interested in each in their background’s, and ask a lot of questions of the drivers.
None seem to be offended.
I started to inquire about my own genealogy, because of my curious last name.
Hey cars have gotten bigger in Europe. Also, I remember going there in the 70s and 80s you guys had tiny little cars now they’re the size of Toyota Camry’s and things like that. Lotta big cars in Europe.
You touched a bit on “the art of small talk” in America. If you could elaborate on how to do this that would be INCREDIBLE 🙏🏻
I'm an American who has mastered small talk so if you have any questions let me know.
I'm a retired American who moved France 7 years ago. Your observations are spot on. The US is huge. I don't have a car in France and I don't need one as public transportation is clean, efficient, and low cost. The US is far more consumer orientated than France because Americans purchase things they cannot afford on credit cards, thus Americans have much more debt than the people in France. I have no intention to going back to the US, other than to visit my children. I love France, the people, the food, and the countryside.
how was it getting your permanent residency?
@@olliestale864 After my physical at the OFII was completed in 2018, I applied for a one-year visitor's visa 5 years in a row. I filed my tax returns in France and the US each year. I showed proof of residency (rental receipts, electric bills, and bank statements), and provided translated copies of my financial statements each year at the prefecture. When I applied for the 6th time they told me I was eligible for a 10-year CDS. That is what I have now. It was not too difficult, except during the pandemic, but since no one was allowed to travel it was not a big deal. Almost everything can be done on-line now.
I would lose my marbles not having immediate and independent transportation. I automatically am suspicious of anyone who wants to control where I go and when I do it. I absolutely NEED to be independently mobile!! I won't even ride in a friend's car to a destination; I must take my own so that I alone dictate when I leave and why.
@@MrJest2 Obviously my life is much more laid back than yours.
I'm a retired Franco-American French mother, American father US army (RIP DAD) he came to France at the tail end of WWII, and I was in Paris a true dual citizen of both and lived in both however I only in the state! This time I have been here for some 22 years it was not easy getting back into the French way of life, but now I will never go back have you heard the French say if you have your bread, your cheese, and your wine you have everything well I got everything! Here is Southern France near Spain - near Perpignan) I have no car I do just fine, however you must live in the right area nearest buses, trains, and big box stores to shop and it is best to not live downtown Perpignan unless you love noise and lots of people! The one thing I can tell you that worth a million bucks, learn System D, and follow it the best you can, without breaking any laws (wink wink) it makes life way easier! Did you declare every dime you every made when in the States, well it is the same here something's can be overlooked but not everything there is a line to not cross find it that is what System D means, finding it and doing it with nothing to help you, and keeping it legal! Where do you start with luck, so to you the best of luck!
As someone that comes from a mixed family and then created a mixed family, asking someone's ethnicity is just a nice way to connect with them or learn about them. It is almost always followed by, "oh my brother is from there! My sister in law is from there! I speak that language!" We/I ask because we usually have a connection no matter where you're from. And if we don't have a connection to your heritage, you're about to become our connection to that place. Lol
I’ve been to all sorts of professional sports matches in Europe and the US. I’ll never forget the first time I went to a PSG match in Paris and I couldn’t even hear myself think it was so loud. But there are a lot of drunk idiots at US sports games too. On balance, my wife and I prefer Europe. Far more to do and far easier to get around.
Hi, from Canada here, and watching a Habs game at Centre Bell can get pretty loud, especially during the playoffs. As for travelling, I prefer going to Europe, even if I live 90 minutes drive from the US border via Autoroute 15.
We have a ultras culture although most people dislike them, sports in the usa seem more like entertainment or a pass time meanwhile in most of Europe football club are part of the culture of the city, you can get k because of it if you mess with wrong type of people or joke about their club, you usually inherit your club from your parents or family members, they threaten to disown you if you change club😂, in game day people aren’t “friends” anymore but rivals ect
The idiots ultras from my club even invaded our training facilities and beat up the players for bad performance, ultras destroy team buses of rivals or if performance isn’t to their standard, don’t bring kids to derbies especially
Having lived in Grenoble (and other places in France) the food was amazing. Even the lower end food was so good and made with pride and care. Colorado and Texas are two of the best. I've been to 43/50 US states. Alaska and Hawaii are two must visits. They are so unique. Merci pour le video.
In a land where dreams take flight, Lucile embarked on a journey bright. A French girl with a heart so pure, Across the U.S., she sought allure.
From bustling cities to quiet plains, She marveled at sights through windowpanes. Mountains tall and rivers wide, Each new scene, a wondrous ride.
With every stop, her eyes would gleam, As she lived her American dream. Lucile, the traveler, full of grace, Found magic in each new place ♥♥♥.
I'm from the Chicago suburbs. There are so many beautiful places to see in the USA... My favorite places to visit are the Arizona/New Mexico desert areas (such big skies!) and the Bay area of California (San Francisco, Berkeley, etc.)... though the American South has world class food and it's hard to beat it.
Thanks for sharing your video with us (that red turtleneck looks awesome on you). Best wishes always!
If you're a bears fan, you should come to Colorado. I have two black bears that visit at night from September to November until they hibernate. I also have coyotes, a fox, a Great Horned owl and a family of bobcats, but, fortunately, no mountain lions. It's the Wild West!😉
I'm an American. You have been very, very kind with your views. We have a lot of room for improvement on all fronts here in this country.
Bonjour! If you’re going mainly to large cities, you’ve missed out on the American Experience. Go to the smaller towns, get out in the country and meet the locals who haven’t been herded into the concrete prisons. Some of us escaped that tragic existence; the luckier ones never had to live like that to begin with!
You could say the same to North American tourists that only visit European capitals cities or countries like England,France,Italy maybe a Germany 😂
@ I often say EXACTLY that. Cities are awful, unless you like overcrowding, pollution, and crime.
Great video! Yours is a very balanced perspective, and you're so right about so many things. I don't drive (I'm in CA), and it's HARD not being able to drive, except when I lived for a few years in Los Angeles--the bus/transit system was much better than it is in the Bay Area--San Francisco is easily handled without a car, but as soon as you get into the suburbs, whoa--it's rough without a car. I once waited almost 2 hours for a bus before I found out they'd just cancelled the route for the rest of the day! What? "Not enough passengers", I was told. What? Who does that without warning? I had to walk 5 miles home, I was not amused! I'm very lucky my husband drives or I'd be sunk.
Honestly, if you really want to absorb what the US is really like, I recommend you go through small towns in places like the South (GA, TN, AL, Northern FL, TX), the West (UT, AZ), the Midwest/Great Plains (MT, WY, OK), Pacific Northwest (ID, eastern WA) and parts of New England (VT, NH) where you can see what life is like outside the main transit/travel hubs.
YES to this! Small towns in the US are so fascinating to me, I find them so cute and people are often very welcoming!
Nowhere do I feel more unwelcome than Smalltown, USA.
This is just romanticism and mythology. When the majority of Americans stay in suburbs, it's a stretch to say the real America is in small towns. It's not at all representative of the lifestyle of the average American.
@@416to613 absolutely correct.
“What the US is really like”? Anywhere in the US is what the country is like. This “real America” is a bunch of bs. Plus if you’re LGBT or non-white, some small towns may not be the safest place to be.
My Brit wife concurs with most of what you said, except she binge watched NFL games for 2 years and is now a pro at the rules and she never missed a KC Chiefs game on TV.
@05:40 ...People ask you this in France A LOT too... try to be a non White French and see for yourself. And it's not about the accent nor the last name, it's skin-color based, and people are quite bold with it!
@05:44 " in France it's such a big no-no" ??? Delusional! 😂😂
"But, that's a light and fun video, so let's not talk about it...
In my European country is usually about nationality not ethnicity although since mr trump was elected some are trying to bring that stuff here but I still think is a minority but I’m not sure .
French is quite nationalistic for a European country so it makes sense if is different there.
Very good resumee. I had the best time of my life studying in Santa Barbara, CA, and hard work but fun in Manhattan(lost weight:))