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Eve Hagert Senior Projects France Country Profile Ms. Knight November sixteenth, two thousand-nine

“ Anything May Happen in France”  - Francois de la Rochefoucauld

__Geography- Climate__ France is a beautiful, unique, and artistic country located in Western Europe. It borders Germany, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, and Spain, and the French capital is Paris. Their religions are primarily Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim. France has many rivers that run through it, which gives it fertile soil. Thus with the temperate climate and soil, France is covered with fields of fresh vegetables, fruit orchards, grains, and wine vineyards. The fields usually have sheep, cattle, and chickens around them. In all, France has many abundant natural resources, which gives France a reputation for having amazing, fresh french food, and having green land year-round. France usually has mild summers and cold winters, but along the Mediterranean Sea the French get mild winters and hot summers. Occasionally in the north, northwest strong, dry, cold winds called “mistrals” blow..but it’s nothing compared to Wyoming!

__French influence on America__ The influence of France on America is outstanding. In fact, many Americans that go to study art, literature, and culinary training in France say that they’re teaching methods are amazing and top-notch. Years and years ago when French immigrants started coming to the U.S. they introduced America with breads made from yeast, artichokes, and they created omelets. Now days french manners and etiquette have taken it’s tole on the U.S. We started using vocabulary words such as hotels, chefs, and restaurants. But America has also influenced the French quite greatly. The French were always fascinated by American architecture such as the skyscrapers from New York. In World War Two after France was liberated, American soldiers celebrated victory with them. The french then learned American customs such as jazz music and chewing gum. They also were influenced by American pop-culture such as television programs, rock music, and movies. In fact, the French were so infactuated with Walt Disney that they created a Euro-Disney Land east of Paris. The theme park still had French culture initiated into it though; the French still served their cultured foods and allowed wine to be served with meals to keep their culture. It is the most famous European theme park today. The Americans also influenced fast food establishments such as McDonald's, and in January 2004 Paris opened up a Starbucks. After the World Trade Center fell, a french newspaper writer wrote an article on the tragedy, she wrote “We are all Americans now,”, and a majority of the French population agreed. In 2003 however Anti-Americanism started because the french president opposed the “American-led” war. (French are Republic). Many people in Europe were against what we were doing so they protested. They didn’t want a part in the war, so America reacted to this by massively boycotting French Products. The French are not Anti-American, they still use American cultures, and in 2003 260,000 French residents moved to the U.S. __French Cuisine__ Food is a huge passion to the French people, it is considered an Art. It is very refined and it has to have careful preparation, high attention in detail, and it is a rule to use fresh ingredients. It is very unique to different cultures because their cuisine also varies on regions, and what ingredients are locally grown. In fact, the french get up almost every early morning to buy the freshest herbs, bread, fish, fruit, and vegetables from a market. The french believe that there is no substitute for the freshest, most seasonable, local markets- which is the best. And they expect nothing lower than their expectations. No ingredient is ever wasted in a French kitchen. Bits of leftover bread, vegetables, and trimming of meat or fish are often later used as stuffing, soups, sauces, or garnishes. The chefs enjoy working with high quality pots & pans, skillets, double boilers, casseroles, battery sharp specialty knives, wire whisks, and wooden spoons. Their daily foods used are unique as well, and they treat each food category with respect. For dairy products, milk is used a lot to make creams, soups, and sauces though milk isn’t used a lot as a beverage. It’s usually considered for small children. French are also widely know for their cheeses! They use a variety of cheeses for casseroles and gratinee dishes. They are also popular sauces and garnishes. When the french want to really complement their meal, they have to be selective in what type of cheese they should use. They often serve cheese with fruits and wines at the end of a meal, followed by a dessert. Their fruits and vegetable are exquisite. Fruits are used in tarts, fruit souffles, and french puddings, and used to make wines, and brandies. Vegetables are used and served with sauces, simmered in soups, pureed into souffles, tucked into crepes, and are also cooled to be served with oil, vinegar, herbs, salads, or cold appetizers. Brussels sprouts, green beans, artichokes, peas, asparagus, and cauliflower are french favorites. Many french meats that awe use as well consist of pork, beef, lamb, & chicken, but the french (some, not all) also eat veal, liver, tripe, brains, kidneys, Tongue, and heart. They also eat a lot of snails, frog’s legs, sea urchins, mussels, scallops, shrimp, crab, and lobster French markets provide big varieties of smoked, pickled cured, prepared, and loaves of sausages in every type. Meats in France are often poked through with thin strips of fat so it increases the flavor of juices, and most french cooks braise their meat rather than dry-roasting so it increases tenderness of the meat. Most french people prefer to use old french meat recipes for stews, braising, & soups..in other words the french enjoy the food taking it’s time as it cooks. Duck, goose, and rabbit are used in seasons, such as holidays. Bread and grains are most important to french cuisine. In fact, french homemakers don’t bake their own breads and roles, they ONLY buy from a market or bakery. Most of the popualr breads used are those that are made out of white flower, though all breads they bake are crusty, chewy, course breads. The french don’t use a whole lot of whole wheat or rye. Fats and oils mostly used by the french are olive oil, butter, chicken fat, & goose fat. The sweets that the french make are simply amazing, and yet all so very rich in flavor. Chocolate is the area of french masterpieces, yet fresh fruit and cheese is the country’s favorite of all desserts. The french season their meals with various oils, spices, and herbs..al of them are used to enhance the natural flavor of their traditional dishes. Scallions, shallots, onion, garlic, leeks, tarragon, chives, rosemary, bay leaf, thyme, basil, and parsely are most popular used. Wine is also used a lot for flavoring. Usually the french eat very light in the morning, drinking coffee with milk and bread. In the afternoon they eat moderately, and at dinner they eat like kings. Usually at dinner they have a 4 course meal. Firstly they eat their large meal, followed by appetizers, then a salad, dessert which consists of cheese and or fruit, and then lastly a sweet treat. A big family rule for the french is eating with their families and discussing their daily events.

__Family Values__ Each member of a french family have certain duties and responsibilities. Families have only about two children because the government is trying to control overpopulation, though parents roles are still really important to them. As I said earlier, it is a rule to sit together for dinner as a family. Parents believe that having their children sit with them at dinner and having the kids show disciplined socialization is a result of their kids acting like mature adults. Parents believe that this will benefit the child for future success. Extended family gather on very special occasions and holidays to celebrate and have a feast together. The french believe that by having extended family around will provide social mentality and career support as the younger kids grow up and get ready to leave their homes and work. The grandparents play a big part in french family, giving their children and their grandchildren financial assistance. They support those who have lost a job or unable to receive one. When the child leaves to work, they tend to get a home or apartment close by their family, and on vacations they tend to spend time with their entire extended family. Family is very important to the french. The french also have a lot of pets, because animals are an important part of family and french society. There are sixty-eight million pets in France and sixty-two million people. France has the highest percentage of pets in Europe, and in fifty-three% of homes you will usually find a pet or two. Pets in France usually consist of fish, dogs, lizards, cats, and birds.

__Relationships__ French are very private people when it comes to public relationships. They have different rules of behavior and act different towards those who are friends and lovers, and those who they know on a professional level. They act differently around those who are in their social circle, and those who are not. French are polite in all sets of dealings, but it is only with their close friends and family that they get to be themselves. Friendship is a huge deal to the french. In fact it is almost a responsibility to be friends, because they believe you always have to be there when needed. Friends usually have frequent, if not everyday contact with each other. Some people say that it is very hard to make a casual acquaintances turn into a friendships, it usually takes a long time. The french usually have only a small, tight group of friends, and they all seem to have the same kind of social background in common. Their friendships often last for life with the french, they often meet up almost everyday and have drinks and lunch together. Now days french people are more relaxed with social identity. Though the french are very friendly, it is almost impossible to make friends outside of a social group. People comment a lot on the way french people spend a lot of time kissing each other on the cheeks. (kissing on the lips is only looked upon as passion-for lovers.) Family members and close friends ( both male and female) kiss each other on the cheeks when they meet and depart from each others company. This gesture is known as “La Bise”. In fact it’s almost acquired when greeting and departing someone, once on the left cheek, then the right. In formal occasions, men usually kiss the hand of a married women when greeting them instead of shaking hands. Many cultures also look up to France for their perfection in etiquette, though most other European countries are also very laid back.

__Education__ Kids who achieve top grades in primary school usually expect many awards and a great career. France has very high standards for those in school. They are taught very strictly and always are taught to show respect. There are many different levels of education, primary school, high school, college, and other big programs that are used to start young adults on their career paths. If you did very well in school for all years, most people higher you off the bat for a job. The French love professionalism and use of logic. If you have both of these factors, you’re pretty much good to go in life.

__Etiquette__ Etiquette has, and will always remain in French culture. It has influenced other cultures to act as they do at times. In fact a lot of countries learn etiquette from France because it is so high up in expectations. If you please a french person, you’re a god! To start, a kiss or a handshake ( meeting someone, profession) is the most common way of greeting someone. First names are only reserved and used for family and close friends, you should always wait till you’re invited to call someone by their first name, for it is a sign of respect to the french. You always are expected to say “Bonjour” (good morning), and “Bonsoir” (good evening), and “Au Revoir” (good bye) when entering or leaving a public building such as a shop or any type of establishment like your apartment building or at work. You are also ALWAYS to address a man as “Monsieur”, and a woman as “Madame”, otherwise people in France will think you are uncivilized, uneducated, and just plain rude. People of France communicate in ways so that they can tell how a person communicates by their social status, education level, and which part of the country they grew up in. When giving gifts to friends, family, or co-workers, ALWAYS try to gain their happiness. When sending flowers you should send them in odd numbers besides 13, which is looked upon as an unlucky number. Many French people still have old style prohibitions against sending and receiving flowers. White Lillie's & chrysanthemums are primarily used for funerals, red flowers (carnations) symbolize bad will. Most white flowers are used at weddings. If you somehow manage to send somebody wine, always make sure that it’s high in quality and expensive.

__Dinner Etiquette and Table Manners__ Let’s say that you’re invited to someones house from France for dinner. The number one rule is always arriving on time. Though the farther south of France you go, the more leisure and relaxed time is to them. Ten minutes or more in considered unacceptable, however if you’re in a jam, you can always call and try to explain on why you’re late. If you are invited to a very large dinner party you should send a gift (flowers are expected) the morning of the dinner party to show gratitude. It also brightens up someones day! Being at a dinner party you always have to dress sophisticated and professional. Fashion makes a big statement to them, and it tells them all about you in your choice of clothing, and they always need to look their best no matter what. Table manners are a little crazy now; The fork is always on the left and the knife is on the right. Usually most places give you a seating plan, in which you’re directed to your location for the night. You always have to wait for everyone to get their food and for the waitress to say “Bon Appetit”, then you have to say that to everyone at your table before indulging on food. While eating, your are certainly not to rest your elbows on the table, and your hands need to be visible, not in your lap. You are to finish everything on your plate, and when eating salad you are not to cut the lettuce with a knife and fork, you’re supposed to fold it. You are to peel and slice your fruit before eating it, and if you are still eating and do not wish the waiter/waitress to take your plate you cross your knife and fork over the plate (with the fork on top of the knife). And if you do not wish to have more wine with your meal, your to leave your glass nearly full so they cannot replace it.

__French Holidays__ France is noticed for their many festivals during certain times of the year. Their holidays are based on religion, history, and paganism. They have many different unique holidays. Example on January 6th the french celebrate the Three kings by buying a special cake and a crown. The cake is eaten as a dessert, and for those who find a bean in their slice is crowned for the day. On February 2nd, they celebrate the “feast of the virgin”, in which they eat crepes and pancakes at home. They also celebrate widely known holidays such as Easter, Saint Patrick's Day, April Fools, Mothers day, father’s day, Halloween, labor day, Christmas, and other unique holidays such as Music day, Victory in Europe day, Ascension Thursday, and National Day. Almost all of these holidays have huge feasts involved, celebrating them with friends and family., in which most workers get many days off.

__Culture__ The French culture has always been promoted by cultural heritage, and it deeply captures the interest of many countries. The image of France is generally looked upon as the land that has beautiful vast paintings, sculptures, unique architecture, and music. France is looked upon as a very artsy country- which is all 100% true. Art is probably the biggest tour attraction in France. Many people come to look at work in museums that many popular French artists have created, such as the ballet dancers at the Moulin Rouge, Pablo Picasso or Monet’s exquisite paintings. Architecture is also a main attraction, such as the Paris Opera House, and many other pieces seen all over the country. A lot of people also go to France to visit old attractions such as the Moulin Rouge, and cafe’s, which are splendid. Most people who go to french cafes leave with a french attitude of feeling all so sophisticated and artsy. Cafes are definitely a big attraction to tourists because they provide fresh coffees, amazing pastries, and artistic music in the background as people sit and relax their day. Music is also very unique in France. Most days teens there listen to Opera, Rap, Orchestra, and techno. Though people now listen to urbanized music, there are those who keep the tradition of listening to classical's. France captivated many people with it’s charm and artsy civilization. When it comes to sports they are only leisure activities that most people don’t play unless they’re on a great team. The French take more pride in intellectual achievements and thoughts than sports (they crave logic), though skiing is very popular. Most tourists usually don’t come to France to watch sports. Usually most people shop ( France is one of the biggest fashion capitals in the world) and go site seeing. The shopping there is exquisite and every place in town has their own unique style of clothing, combined with old fashion, to retro, to new looks. Most types of clothes are blended well, french people like to show off diversity and their own styles. Independence is also an important factor in France.

Eve Hagert