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French Culture
| Climate |
The northwest corner of France has a temperate climate. In the southeast corner it has a Mediterranean climate. Inland, it is hot, with stormy summers and cold winters. The mountainous areas (Alps) will have snowcover for up to half of the year.
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| Events / Festivities / Holidays |
Merry Christmas => Joyeux Noél
Happy New Year => Bonne Année
Happy Thanksgiving => Joyeux Thanksgiving, Bonne Action de gráces (in Canada)
Happy Easter => Joyeuses Páques
Happy Halloween => Bonne fête d'Halloween
Happy Valentine's Day => Joyeuse Saint-Valentin
Happy Birthday => Bon Anniversaire
Happy Saint's Day => Bonne Fête
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| Sports / Music / Art |
Soccer is the 'national' sport, though several other sports are enjoyed: basketball, biking (Tour de France), sailing, rugby, and tennis. It has been said that Pétanque is the most popular sport.
There have been several famous painters and artists from the 18th century and on, including Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso (though originally from Spain), and Cézanne.
Paris is home to one of the most famous and largest art museums in the world: the Louvre. Between the beaches, the Eiffel Tower, and great skiing, France is the 1st most chosen destination for foreign visitors.
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| Politics |
Officially, France is the Republique française (French Republic), and has been since 1870. But before that, since the 1st century, Kings or Emperors (Napoleon Bonaparte) have ruled over France.
Now, education is provided by the state, including at the university level. The legal drinking age is 18. Cars are driven on the right side of the road. And the Euro has become the national currency.
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| Religion |
Freedom of religion has been around since 1789. Roman Catholicsim was the state religion before then and France still maintains a fairly conservative Catholic attitude.
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| Dress / Food |
If you're worried about looking fashionable while in France you might wear out those high-heels. You should plan to wear comfortable cloths when visiting France because walking is required if you're to see "all the sights". The French are conscientious of their appearance, moreso than most of us in the U.S.. The businessmen do not loosen ties in the office and businesswomen are generally conservative (no flashy colors or jewelry).
Plan on a range of dishes, both in restaurants and homes, far beyond what anyone in the U.S.A. typically experiences. Wine that suits the food is a standard drink with everyday meals.
As far as visiting Canada is concerned, you might check the online weather forecasts before packing. (It's never a bad idea to check the weather for any foreign destination, so you can take appropriate attire.)
Food in Canada is very different than food in France. In Canada, the cuisine is not quite as high-end (generally speaking- there's no doubt, you will find exceptions).
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| Localization |
In speech and writing it's almost like comparing English spoken by the British versus English spoken by N. Americans. The pronunciation is different, accents are different, and words have different meanings. For example, in Canada the adjective plein can mean they are full of food or drunk- where in France, it means they are pregnant. (Just like the word "stuffed".) There are many idioms that differ, watch for them, and excuse yourself for your ignorance and then ask them what the phrase they used means. If you're polite, they won't mind the interruption.
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