Cest la Vie America vs. French Lifestyles Essay

Cest la Vie the States vs. cut Lifestyles - Essay ExampleIf one even questions the Statess natural superiority, he is seen with disdain, and is labelled a commie or America-hater. Often, the phrase American Exceptionalism is thrown around like its a birthright. Beyond the political and historical aspects of her inherent slap-upness, Americans alike see their superiority in American lifestyle, culture, the families and her great cities. It is judgment of conviction that someone stood up for that other great culture in the world France Just truism the name France or French makes many Americans cringe. Americans have called the French stop-eating surrender-monkeys, have been derided as weak capitulators to terrorists with blowzy morals and an eye toward lechery, have had the french fry relabeled freedom fry. Certainly, anything French is not very hot in some circles in America today. Thus, it is only with conviction and certainty that one can bank that on the dots of daily lif e, food and culture, the pace of life, and its great cities, one can only conclude that the French lifestyle is superior to the American lifestyle. Tres courageux In France, ones daily life is taken at a much slower pace and has a greater focus on leisure time and enjoying what life has to offer. It is not uncommon for business people to eat three or four-hour tiffines in France, enjoying conversation and a good bottle of wine along the sort. Certain French workers ar given subsidies for lunch expenses and bars/restaurants that honor those subsidies are ubiquitous (Chrisafis 1). There is a focus on enjoying eating times, and although in that location are fast food restaurants in France, they are not iconic as in America and eating food on-the-go in France is still a cultural faux-pas, and will engender stares and snorts. There are less malls and more of a focus on local anaesthetic specialty shops, like grocers, meat markets, cheese stores, chocolatiers, butchers, cobblers, and similarly specialized shops. Indeed, the cafe life--sitting out at a cafe, sipping a coffee or a drink, looking at the world pass by, is one of lifes great pleasures. In America, the foreign cafe is a rarity, and even if one finds one, usually one has one drink and must forget (turnover is king). The French lifestyle is much more condusive to a leisurely and introspective approach to life. It also encourages neighborhood shopping and more interaction with ones neighbors and a more connected way of life. Americans focus on the Protestant work ethic of hard work and sacrifice, and have less of a focus on enjoying life on a daily basis. Americans over-value hard work-- the working vacation is not uncommon but even expected in many professions. Fast food, eating on the go, dissipated meals, drive-thru lunches, coffee to-go, 70 hour work weeks, 2 weeks vacation a year, and shopping at the local cookie-cutter-anonymous mall are standard American life-style choices. In fact, America se es those as a point of pride in her citizens lives. Enjoying life less and refusing to slow down are typical American badges of honor. What do those French do with their extra time? With more free and leisure time, the French culture of course has developed a major focus on French achievements and artistic accomplishments while America tends to transplant itself from anything cultural if it interferes with her work-ethic. France takes pride in its centuries of contributions to the arts, humanities, literature, architecture, and music. This French obsession with culture cannot only be found in many great world-class museums, but on the streets and parks of her cities and towns. France shows off her great history and artists with globe adornments of art and architecture that