When we first arrived last week, our dean told us, in a lecture, that someone once said "the French are like coconuts, the Americans like peaches." Americans are soft and easy to get to the center, but once the center is reached it is a little hard. The French on the other hand have a tough outer shell, a little bristly and tough to get through. However once someone breaks open a coconut, the inside is sweet and juicy. I don't think I could have found a better way to explain the difference in personalities between the French and Americans.
The French are also not ones for superficial relationships. They only say hello to people they know, and if they really want to get to know you, they make a real effort. For Americans on the other hand, almost all of our relationships are superficial. You walk across campus, say hi to 20 people, ask how they're doing, and the conversation does not continue past that.
I think I am a coconut.
The French are also not ones for superficial relationships. They only say hello to people they know, and if they really want to get to know you, they make a real effort. For Americans on the other hand, almost all of our relationships are superficial. You walk across campus, say hi to 20 people, ask how they're doing, and the conversation does not continue past that.
I think I am a coconut.