The culture in France is very rich, but different depending on what city you are in. Along the coast, festivals are very important, especially focusing on themes like the ocean, flowers, and agriculture products. In Nice, the Carnival de Nice lasts two weeks and is one of the most important festivals on the Cote d’Azur. It features floats, with different themes each year, as well as aspects of other cultures from around the world. In Menton, they just recently had the Fete du Citron that celebrates the productions of citrus fruits (specifically lemons) in the Winter. Going to these festivals is a really good way to learn about the culture of these cities and what is important to them.

I have found that learning French is easy, especially if you are learning through the school. Locals are usually willing to hear you out for the most part, especially those working in food/beverage industries. It is important here, at the least, that you greet people in French in order to be seen as respectful (and to get the best treatment). Some big culture shocks I experience here are dressing formally, relaxation, and the night life. Here, most people are “”dressed up””, compared to back home where wearing sweatpants or PJs out of the house is normal. French people also emphasize relaxation and taking breaks from work. The lunch breaks here are very longer than that of the US, where some don’t take breaks from work but just eat while they work. I think it is easy to adapt once you establish yourself in the city. I felt more “”at home”” when I found my favorite restaurants and cafes, made new friends, and learned how public transport worked. It can feel very overwhelming when first getting here, but once I got into a schedule, it was easier to adapt myself to the city.