Big & Little Differences
Between
France and Canada
12
JULY, 2019
One of the most frequent questions we get asked since moving to Arras is, “what are the biggest differences you’ve noticed?” We have spent a lot of time observing, discussing, and laughing about how everything is “same same but different.” So I figured I would start a list of the big and little differences between France and Canada, according to two East Coast Canadians living in Northern France.
Same Same but Different
I don’t know how many times we’ve used the expession “same same but different” in the first five months of living in France. Whether it’s the light switches or the way to flush the toilet, everything is just a little bit different. As you read through this list, please keep in mind that it’s curated from the perspective of a small-town gal who has never lived in a Canadian city bigger than Charlottetown. I am certainly no expert, so I welcome you to please leave a note in the comment section below if you notice something that just doesn’t jive with your experience!
Of course the language is a major difference. Having grown up in New Brunswick, (the only officially bilingual province in Canada), je parle un peu de francais, and Ocel is completely bilingual. Most people here assume that all Canadians speak French, and they immediately know Ocel is Canadian the moment he starts speaking. They break into a big smile, ask him if he’s Canadian, and then tell them they just love his accent. With me, they’re a bit more confused, but I have found everyone to be very patient with my French communication style of poor grammar, blank stares, and wild hand gestures. I’m learning!
Without further ado, here is my list of the big and little differences between France and Canada.
Big and Little Differences Between France and Canada
So far, according to us, and in no particular order.
1. Renting a House
Most house or apartment rentals are done through agencies, although there are a few private listings on leboncoin.fr (the France equivalent of kijiji). The process involves almost as much paperwork as buying a house, including a waiver that absolves the city of any potential property damage caused by leftover explosives or ammunition from the wars.
2. Public Washrooms
Public washrooms, especially in pubs or restaurants, usually have one common area with sinks and mirrors, and then a separate room for men and women. I have often felt like I’m walking into the men’s room, and on more than one occasion have been able to see someone using a urinal while I wash my hands. Oh, and there are often no toilet seats . . .
3. Washrooms in the home
The W.C. (water closet) is a room with a toilet, and often nothing else. If it also has a sink, there is likely no hot water line running to it. The salle de bain, or bathroom, is usually a separate room which has a sink and tub or shower. I’ve learned that asking a waiter, “ou est la salle de bain” gets me strange looks. Instead, I now ask for la toilette.
4. Volets
Volets are like shutters, which are either closed manually or by eletricity, depending on the age of the house. Every house has them, sometimes on every window and even the doors. People close them every single night, usually around dusk. Driving through a town in the evening, and especially on Sundays, it looks like nobody lives there.
5. McDonalds
McDonalds here uses green instead of red for all of its main color branding. They also offer table service! Fast food in general is far less ubiquitous. We have a Subway and a Burger King, but they’re not located along every “University Avenue” type of road.
6. Lunchtime
Lunch is a big thing here. Employees generally get two hours for lunch, and lunch often involves a big meal and a glass or two of beer, wine, or champagne. (Even work lunches!) Because of that, many businesses are closed for the daily lunch break, including pharmacies, service shops, clothing stores, and more.
7. Restaurants
Restaurants open for lunch, close in the afternoon, and then re-open for dinner, usually starting at 7pm. Reservations are preferred, and dining late is the norm. Families often bring their children, even to late dinners, and there is rarely a kids menu.
8. Smoking
Everyone smokes, and smoking is everwhere (this is barely an exaggeration). There is no 15-feet-away-from-the-door rule, and it’s normal to see a shopkeeper or server smoking literally in the entrance to their business. It doesn’t seem to have as much of a negative stigma here, although the city is trying to crack down on cigarette butt littering.
9. Apéro
Kind of like happy hour, apéro is a time for people to gather for drinks after work and before dinner. This can happen in a bar, on a terasse, or at someone’s home. Usually there are light snacks like charcuterie, baguette, and jams to go along with wine, beer, champagne, or certain liquers. It is very common, and makes sense since dinners are much later here. I love a good apéro!
10. Coffee Culture
If you’re the kind of person who needs an extra large cup of java to get your day started, France may not be your place. There are virtually no take-out coffee places, and it’s rare to see someone carrying a large cup of coffee or insulated thermos around throughout the day. Instead, the coffee here is stronger, smaller, and meant to be enjoyed while sitting down. Cafe or espresso is served after both lunch and dinner. Even at a gas station, the largest coffee you’re going to get would fill about 2/3 of a regular styrofoam cup at home. (Pro Tip: the Paris CDG airport has a Starbucks in arrivals, so get your fix before heading out!)
11. Breakfast & Brunch
Breakfast and brunch are not really a big thing here. It’s a challenge to find any restaurants that serve hot breakfast, and weekend brunch line-ups just don’t exist. Instead, grab a fresh baguette or croissant from the nearby bakery, pair with with some cheese and fruit or jams, and that’s breakfast. You just need to make it through to your two-hour lunch break. (Or make yourself a big potato hash topped with scrambled eggs and a side of croissant.)
12. Bacon & Eggs
Sorry to break your bacon-loving hearts, but bacon just isn’t really a thing here. It’s not popular, it’s not served on every burger or stirred into every dish, and it’s difficult to find in a grocery store. Ham is the king. And eggs are much less a breakfast food and much more a goes-with-everything food. On burgers, sandwiches, pasta, and pizza, you’re likely to find an egg, even if it’s not specified on the menu.
13. Spring/Summer
Spring comes earlier and lasts much longer. From the moment I touched down in late February, there were already plants in bloom and green grass. We’re at a slightly higher latitude (50° here compared to 46° in Charlottetown), so we also have longer days through the Spring/Summer, and shorter into the Winter. On solstice day, the sky was vivid blue until almost 11pm. Our back “jardin” has been green and thriving since March (when many of you poor suckers still had snowstorms ahead of you.)
14. Swearing on the Radio
I’m still not used to this one. It’s very jarring to be driving along, listening to a sweet mid-tempo tune, when all of the sudden a big ole f-bomb assaults your ears. On public radio! Profanity here is rarely censored, I think mostly because the curse words we tend to favor in Canada don’t have the same meaning or impact here. So many songs just casually dropping swear words. EARMUFFS!
15. Bicycle Etiquette
Firstly, helmets are not mandatory. I am almost always the only cyclist wearing a helmet, which is a dead giveaway I’m not from here. Secondly, bike lanes are way better marked and more prevalent than anywhere I’ve lived before, including a separate bike section at the front of every stoplight. Thirdly, motorists seem to be much more cognizant of bikers, bike lanes, and sharing the road. I was very intimidated my first time biking on one of the busiest roads, including a double-lane roundabout with 5 exit points (eek!). But I made it through and I noticed that people in general have much more awareness and acceptance of bike traffic here. Win!
There you have it, just a few of the big and little differences between France and Canada. From swearing on the radio to public washrooms without toilet seats, we are getting used to the lovely little quirks of day-to-day life in France. It makes me wonder — what do the French have to say about our crazy customs?
I’m already working on my next list of big and little differences, which will include Cafe Tabacs, how to pick out fruit and veggies at the market, and the curious case of the missing chocolate bars.
Is there anything you’re wondering about? Have you lived in France before and have some items to add to the list? I would love if you drop me a question or comment below!
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Comments
What do you think? Would you like to know more about anything I mentioned? Let me know in the comments below.
(I love comments!)