My French adventure began in Bayeux, a friendly, quaint town where cows outnumber people. Bayeux resembles a village from a fairy tale more than anything else – it was like my childhood dream had come true and I had been transported to the scene from Beauty and the Beast where they all sing “Bonjour” to Belle.
The main street in Bayeux reminded me of a movie set – it truly made me feel like I was in a foreign country.
My investigation of French culture commenced with our first meal, in true French style. We were first served a cheese tart, then a savory chicken entrée and an apple tart with ice cream for desert. Even during that first meal, the cultural differences were evident. We had been briefed that sharing a meal is very important to the French; therefore it was crucial that we remember to be polite, and attempt to communicate in French as a sign of respect. This respect was mirrored in the servers’ and proprietors’ genuine concern for whether or not you were enjoying your meal. The responsibility the restaurant staff took for your experience was unlike anything I’ve experienced in the United States. However, there is a major difference in status of restaurant staff in France compared to the United States. In France, servers earn a good living and have been educated in the field.
Macaroons were a daily necessities in Bayeux…
along with a miniature cup of coffee!
After our first meal, we all decided to venture into town to see the Cathedral de Notre Dame de Bayeux. It was a magnificent sight. Fortunately, that weekend was the Festival of Cathedrals, a time when all the cathedrals across France organize activities including concerts, games and special events. On our first night, we had the opportunity to attend an organ and choir concert, a prayer service and see the Cathedral illuminated by only candlelight. The evening was truly an experience. Not only was I able to admire the beautiful architecture, but also immerse myself in a very prominent aspect of French society: Catholicism.
As a side note: one of my favorite aspects of Bayeux’s culture was that there was a dog in the hotel and almost every store and restaurant in the town. They were beautiful dogs and so well behaved, perching themselves in the doorways to greet you as you came in and out.
Our hotel’s puppy that we affectionately called “Jacques.”
After a week in Bayeux, we departed for Paris. My Parisian experience began with the sight of the Notre Dame Cathedral de Paris. After seeing the inside of its Bayeux counterpart, I immediately knew that I wanted to attend a service in the stunning structure. A few days later, a small group of us attended Mass at the cathedral. Although I am not Catholic, I enjoyed sitting quietly and taking in the ritual and beauty of the space. As a lover of music, the songs and acoustics mesmerized me. Being that Catholicism plays a central role in French history, I was happy to have the opportunity to experience it alongside our exploration of French history and art museums, the city and its cultural landmarks.
La Cathedral de Notre Dame de Bayeux
La Cathedral de Notre Dame de Paris
Art is a striking element of French culture. It displays both the value they place on beauty and creativity. We were lucky enough to visit the d’Orsay Museum of Art on a special night where all the museums in the city were open to the public, free-of-charge. The atrium of the museum resembled its former glory as a train station. But instead of being filled with trains, the space was inhabited by sculptures and paintings. As we enjoyed the works of the world’s greatest Impressionist, jazz musicians performing for the special event accompanied our perusal. I had always heard that France had an artistic culture, an observation confirmed by the massive crowd that was in attendance that night – along with the quintessential sight of a Frenchmen oil painting along the Seine River.
Reflecting on my time in France, my greatest challenge was the language barrier. I didn’t struggle in Paris as much as I did in Bayeux. For the most part, the Bayeux locals knew the necessary English for basic exchanges, but my French was limited to the simple yes, no, hello, goodbye, please and thank you. I found myself feeling very rude and ignorant whenever I was unable to communicate with a local. Although they were always very kind and understanding, I couldn’t help but think about all of the times I’ve been frustrated with someone in the United States that doesn’t speak English, and how the French locals were probably a bit frustrated with me. It certainly gave me a new perspective on the language barriers that many immigrants face in the United States – and generally our citizens are not nearly as willing to work with them as the locals of Bayeux were with me.