daily living
GastronomyEducationEnvironmentDemography Economical Data Statistics
The French are said to be hedonists and many things which form part of
daily life are also part of the French culture: Wine, cosmetics, eating and
drinking, fashion ... important export articles on one hand, important
for millions of tourists on the other hand. We have learned a lot about
the French people - those of the South especially, and we have all read
many books so we think we know quite a bit about them ... the French of the South
sit - dry cigarette in one corner of the mouth - all day on the terrace front
of a bar-sport tabac, sipping Pastis and sometimes throwing three far too
heavy iron balls ...
The facts are a little bit different. France is still a country were
politeness is of utmost importance. Always - especially in the South - address people
formally and use polite phrases:Bonjour Madame, Merci Mademoiselle, Avec Plaisir, Monsieur. And never - never - address a French person by their first name, untill you are explicitly asked to do so. Your doctor is Monsieur le Docteur, the lawyer is Monsieur le Maître and don't forget: Monsieur, Madame, Mademoiselle. One should aim to be known as a polite
person. Even the French youth associate in a very polite way with each other compared to other European countries.
Having business relations with the French you'll soon find out that they prefer individualism to teamwork. Certain symbols are unimportant - the car may be bumped, but the suit will be an expensive one. Creativity is most important, personal ideas will be guarded obstinately, but anything new, unknown, will be considered in a sceptical way. Be patient and don't act as if you were an eccentric person, don't forget to be polite, communicative and open-minded. Relations, once well regarded, bwill last for many, many years.
Eating and Drinking
In each restaurant - even the smallest one - a table will be assigned to you. If you don't see the waiter ... go to the counter and ask for a table - even should the restaurant be empty. That's polite and the way it should be done!
The French prefer to have wine and litres of water with their meal. Beer accompanying lunch or dinner is a proof of barbarism, anyhow, an aperitif is
a clear symbol of culture. The menu is preferred to à la carte, especially for lunch. To do it this way saves time; moreover, it is much cheaper. You'll receive a starter, the main dish, dessert or cheese. Bread forms part of each meal. There will only be one invoice for your table; no individual invoices for each of the guests. Settle the invoice later with your friends - but
don't do it in the restaurant; everybody will immediately know that they
shared their dinner with a detestable, sticklering foreigner.
And there is the most complicated system of licenses, regulating what, and when someone is allowed to serve. These licenses - which are put up for sale - indicate, by a sign on the front of the bar or restaurant, which type of drinks (or meals) may be served. The prices for drinks must be well
visible for the guest. Oh, by the way, un demi is 0.25 l of beer!
Environment ...
Water in plastic bottles, steel-sheet and eternite production halls, illegal dump sites, cars rotting in gardens, plastic bags for all knickknacks, missing purification plants in many villages, burning garbage in backyards ... most Frenchs' consciousness for their environment is a little bit like save the forests - kill the beavers! Don't argue with the people of the South of France on environmental topics - it's not worth the trouble. Anyhow, things seem to be changing at last: The French government created 7 national parks, 132 protected areas, 463 protected water areas, and 389 protected coast parks as well as 35 regional natural parks. And biological products are doing very well - especially in the supermarkets of the departement of the Aude.
Educational System
The French school system comprises: preparatory school, ecole primaire, ecole secundaire, university.
Preparatory schools
Preparatory schools being the « ecoles maternelles » are similar to the system of the German Kindergarten and being of identical origin - the ecoles tricoter which were found in the Vosges mountains in the 18th century. The ecoles maternelles for children from two to five years form part of the French educational system.
Ecole Primaire
A combination with the ecoles maternelles compulsory for all children
between 6 and 11. Since 1991 the school time consists of three educational cycles:
le cycle des apprentissages premiers (initial learning in ecole maternelle),
« le cycle des apprentissages fondamenteaux » (basic learning, which starts in the Grande Section of the « ecoles maternelles » and which ends two years later while entering the primary school; followed by the last three years of this « ecole primaire » and engrossing cycle followed by the Collége.
Ecole Secondaire
comprises two stages. The Collège and the general, technical and educational Lycées form the first stage.
Universities
This second educational stage consists of the classical university (90), Grandes Ecoles - business and engineering universities - as well as scientific and technological institutes.
For further information on more than 5000 schools, universities and educational institutes please check the website of Etudier.
Demographical Data
There are sharp contrasts with respect to the structure of the population in the South. Toulouse (already located in Aquitaine) with its 0.9 Mio. inhabitants is the largest city of the region, with the highest growth of population of all French metropolis; but since the middle of the 19th century the country has already lost 50 % of its population; meaning that the density of population amount to less than 10 inhabitants/m³ in certain regions. Only the Toulouse area sees a growth of population due to the high-tech industries of aerospace and aircraft production.
