A Change of Pace

AYUSA Students At Picnic

        Before going to France, I thought a French household wouldn’t differ too much from my being raised in a household where European culture was predominating. Well, I was wrong. French culture is quite different from American culture, and it’s evident everywhere. 

      The French take their time to enjoy just about everything compared to my hometown. Hollywood, Florida is always running fast no matter what time it is.  Being that it is quite metropolitan as it is so close to Miami, there is always something available. Every store on every corner is open; ready to serve you at whatever time you want and need.  The people talk fast, walk fast and are so preoccupied that they don’t realize that life is bustling by them. 

            Here in Amboise, life is at a much slower pace.  The French take time to enjoy their meal and spend time with friends and family at meal times. Most everybody knows everyone in this small town.  You go into a café and the waiters know nearly everyone by name. Amboise is very laid back and  slow moving town with many tourists trolling the streets. There is time to notice the small things, and as you nibble on croissant and walk down the street, it’s hard to over look its magnificent views and beautiful scenery of the chateaux and the inner city.           

             The pace, too, of this town has a much slower tempo, measured out by the ringing of the bells when the clock strikes the hour and accordion players playing in the street for onlookers.  The tempo stems much from a change in transportation. You find here in Amboise that people ride around more by motorbike rather than by car. In general, there are also a lot more pedestrians and bicyclers everywhere else in the city. Since here, the distances are shorter you can mostly walk to anywhere you desire to go and you just take more time to get there. But in Florida, you just hop in a car, no matter if it is far or not. In Europe whatever is most economical

Street Performer

seems to bethe most popular way to go, and that might be by a train, bike, or by foot.

         Being in France it is quite interesting as I notice very small differences I would have never thought of until I was actually away from my home.  I haven’t had so much of an overwhelming feeling of culture shock; it is just the small daily ins and outs from home that I have to say I do miss. Amboise is such a magnificent place to have come to study and live. I do believe leaving and going home will be even harder than I suspected.

Zoe and I

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