everybody put your hands up

So this post is going to dedicated not to things I have done or seen in France, but to what questions I am asked being an American.

On Friday I was asked to go to a history class for the terminale students (seniors) as they are studying the United States. They had questions they wanted to ask an American. I asked the teacher to give me a list of questions before I went to the class so I could be prepared beforehand. Some of the questions I received were easy, and a little amusing, like, "Are the roads different in France?" Other questions were more thought-provoking.

For example, "Is life in France or the United States more difficult?" I said that economically speaking, life is more difficult for poor people in the United States than in France. The French government takes care of poor or almost poor people much more so than the American government. (They're even going to help me, and I'm not French!) Yes, there are homeless and poor people in France, but the people who are at the tipping point are much less likely to go overboard in France. There is affordable housing everywhere, for families and single people alike, and it's not only in bad areas of the city.

As for myself, I said that life is just different in France. I'm getting used to not having a car and having a schedule that relies on those of other people much more.

I also am asked quite often how I feel about George W. Bush. And I'm open with my opinions, as in France in general people are more open for conversation on these types of things. I told the class that I did not vote for him. One student asked me who I voted for, and when I answered with John Kerry, the class began clapping.

Another question I'm asked often is how Americans perceive the French. That question is so difficult. Of course the French have a reputation for being a little snotty. But I still remember that time of "Freedom Fries" when Chirac basically said that Bush made a bad decision when we started a war with Iraq. Bush has said some bad things about the French, and some Americans have went along with him.

We had a long conversation on violence in the United States. Before I left, I knew that the crime rate of the U.S. is much higher than most other "developed" nations. But I didn't feel it, ever. Now I still read the Star Tribune online almost every day, and I'm shocked at what I read. It's Minnesota, state of 5 million, and there's a story of a recent murder every day. In France there are 60 million people. Since I've been here, I believe there have been 3 murders. The city of Minneapolis has a higher crime rate than the entire country of France. I told the class that I didn't realize truly how big a problem crime in the U.S. is until I left.

It was a very interesting class schedule. I'm still thinking about the questions they asked. I know people read this, and I would be very interested if people posted comments, especially on this post.