French Culture Vs American Culture Essay

The cultural customs in France compared to those of the United States of America are similar in some ways, but also different in others. Speaking in terms of personal life, according to the Bering Guides entitled “Business Travel in France,” the French are much more interesting and spontaneous as they place more emphasis on joy than comfort. Also, the food culture in France is significantly different from that of the United States. Meals are more of a “social” (Bering) thing and typically last much longer due to coursing. I spent a few weeks in France my junior year of high school (as a part of an exchange program), and I noticed quickly that there were countless differences in the types of food eaten, too. The food is always eaten in moderation—

To start off, the work week is 35-hours, which combats unemployment and laying off employees. Due to this, business meetings are often times around 6 pm, right before dinner time. Getting more into the social aspect, when first meeting someone, you always use the formal “vous” when addressing them, and colleagues are never termed “friends.” Upon meeting someone for the first time, though, it is important to pass out your business card and make connections. Consequently, “knowing people” in the business world in France gives a large advantage to a professional because compared to the US, France has a much “more closed and tight-knit” business world (Bering). The French place emphasis on truly exploring multiple views and arguments with every decision that needs to be made and they love debating. Moreover, the conversations are always quick with “barely any pauses,” and they “will likely consider a hard-selling negotiating style rude” (Bering). Lastly, the French make fun of Americans for “[exaggerating]...admiration” (Bering) because they use more body language to show how they feel about another person’s work. The business world in France is much more focused and structured than in the United