Upon arriving in France, it began to really hit me that I am, indeed, American. Previously visiting Ireland and England, I had not yet faced a language barrier—or any outright discrimination—throughout my travels. Although most of the French people I have encountered have been nothing but warm and helpful, I can definitely tell I am an outsider here. This feeling was most pronounced when we tried to enter the Caen Memorial Museum, and while there were many other large student groups entering the museum at the same time, only we were not allowed to bring in our purses and backpacks. Although not a very large inconvenience, it was still eye-opening to be discriminated against ever so slightly for our American-ness.
Getting into the sites that we have visited—the Caen Memorial Museum, Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, the Airborne Museum, Point du Hoc, the Muse de Armee and various cemeteries, to name a few—have proven to be equally foreign to me. The museums we visit almost all present France to be synonymous with the Allies, the Caen Memorial Museum claiming De Gaulle as Churchill and Roosevelt’s equivalent. All of the French museums took great pride in the French resistance and placed extra emphasis their contributions to the war, claiming that since France had a resistance at all that they are among the allied victors of the war. While it was admirable that some people in France resisted Hitler’s regime, the museums seemed to gloss over the vast amount of collaboration that ensued. Not only this, but the Holocaust exhibit at Caen was much smaller and less comprehensive than that of the Imperial War Museum in London.
Although I question these things, it is also worth noting that this trip is the first time I have experienced history from another country’s perspective. In London, I did not notice as much disparity between my American knowledge of the war and the information they presented. But in France, the differences were more noticeable. Going off of this, there were many instances in France that the war seemed a bit too sensationalized rather than memorialized. Obviously this is for tourist purposes, but the colorful pamphlets advertising the “D-Day Festival” in Bayeux and video-game like setup of the Airborne Museum—which made parachuting behind enemy lines feel like a Disney attraction—did not sit well with me.
The most impactful thing we did here, in my opinion, was visit the German, British, and American cemeteries. Each one was unique and inspired reflection, which I appreciate. We also placed Ohio State flags on the graves of fallen Buckeyes at the American cemetery that we learned about in class.
All things considered, France was not what I expected it to be. I have heard the rumors about angry French people who hate Americans, but everyone I interacted with was extremely accommodating and pleasant. There was even a sign on a restaurant in Bayeux proclaiming “We welcome our liberators!” The beaches we visited were austere and beautiful, and the town of Bayeux was charming as can be. Paris was also incredible, and even though I never had any desire to visit France prior to this, I definitely can’t wait to come back!
Eiffel Tower
Utah Beach
Richard Kersting (fellow Buckeye) grave at the American Cemetery