Correspondence on 13/02/2012 KAI-TING CHANG, taiwanaise, 24 ans.
12th June 2010, it was the date that I will never forget. As a junior journalist, I was sent off to a small town in middle France, Angers. As a foreign journalist, I was not impressed until I was actually experiencing the lifestyles and slow paces here, with the abundant culture heritages and strong sense of amicability. This is my first impression of this city: lovable and tranquil. But the first impression faded when I started over my life here. In fact, before coming to France, I was all informed that I will be stuck in life availability here: language barrier, unavailability in transportation, administration…etc. Even though I have prepared to a certain level in mind, I still can’t help but confront something which are not very pleasant to me.
1ST ROUND: “PAS D'ANGLAIS” When I was in the train station, I tried to explain my problem in French and ask for guidance. I was not treated friendly by the acceuil but instead “pas d’anglais” as his reply. That reminds me in Taiwan, it will be a totally different situation when we confront a foreigner who seems anxiously lost. Anyway, this was not a very pleasant experience. Since language itself can reflect a cultural and represent its ethnicity, I can’t help but start wondering, what are the earth French people thinking? What will be their mindset? Anyway, if it will be the sense of ethnical superiority speaking, then as foreigners who can’t speak the same language, we should probably just try to respect and understand it. But in fact it occurs me that why people outside of France will automatically assume that people should speak English expect French people? That would be another huge topic of conversation.
2ND ROUND: ADMINISTRATION. I can’t say that in Taiwan the administration is faster and better than here, because we always complain and mock administrative are lazy people who work very slowly and no passion. Until I came here, I start feeling that it is much better in Taiwan! We can run at least 5 errands in one day and make lots of things done; but here, I should clean out a whole vacant day to go only to the post in centre ville, to fill forms, to watch clients pleasantly talking with workers without knowing people waiting in line… In fact, it was a part of French culture as one of the most elegant ethnic with the most elegant life pace, which I think it means: slow. It implements in several aspects: eating, talking, always late for rendez-vous…etc. But to make myself clear, all these are just generally speaking, it still depends on different people in different situations.
3rd ROUND: CULTURAL DIFFERENCES. Of course there is no doubt to say cultural shocks exist when two differences confront and bump each other; for example, when formage met stinky tofu (traditional Taiwanese snack, famous for its stinky smell), when wines met Taiwan beers, when luxury brands met street vendors, when French cuisine table manner met hot-pot culture (sharing food in a big round table, with chopsticks altogether in the pot)… Not to mention that we have at least 5 countries of cultures mixing together in this class, it will be my next step of learning: how to blend in and deal with cultural differences in a cross-cultural group? And furthermore how to grow up in cooperation with this group, and how “myself” can grow up in this country, and I can face and cope with all the differences and challenges within the cultural differences, and that’s what I anticipate myself to learn from this class.
In this piece of article, it seems that I pointed out many defaults and whatsoever, but actually what I am trying to point out is the difference. I would like to welcome and recommend people to come to Angers since it is really a nice place to slow down the life paces, to wash out the hustle bustle in our lives. Now, I can concentrate on my studies and squeeze out my time to learn cooking, wine-tasting, and to enjoy French lifestyles in Angers. And finally I realize that why we always applaud that French people know how to enjoy lives, that’s because it’s their way and mindset to appreciate every moment in a respectful way of living, which is what we sometimes ignore and less pay attention to.