In the memoir, A Year in Provence, Peter Mayle describes the Provencal’s outlook on cherishing time, spending money, and creating personal relationships highlighting the richer sense of life and community within Provence which contrasts to the lifestyle of America. The idea of cherishing time differs between Provence and America due to the relaxing nature of Provence in opposition to the hustling nature of America. The idea of spending money also differs between Provence and America due to the emphasis on what money should be used for in each place. Lastly, the idea of creating personal relationships varies between Provence and America due to the more personal and intimate gestures of Provence in opposition to the informal and cold gestures of Americans. Each item ultimately reveals that Provence contains a richer sense of life and community in contrast to America …show more content…
In particular, Mayle describes how Provencals spend their money mostly on necessities, particularly food. For example, when both Peter and his wife eat at a café, he “remembers being told that the French spend as much of their income on their stomachs as the English do on their cars and stereo systems” (Mayle 72). In Provence, the citizens carefully spend their money and pay for only what it is necessary despite the occasional impulse purchases. In opposition, Americans spend money on unnecessary items. Because of the frequent purchasing of unnecessary items, America generates the stereotype of being a “materialistic. . .and well known overtly consumer society” (Fool). Americans constantly buy items that have little need, yet continue to purchase such items as if they contain great significance or value. Since the Provencals place money where it needs to and have little distraction of unnecessary items unlike Americans, Provence has a richer sense of life and