What a Difference

It's true that there are certain cultural differences between France and Spain, and when a Spaniard like myself has already lived for six months in the country of the Eiffel Tower, the rooster, croissants, the turn and the Marseillaise, I can say that it is true. Something I saw a lot in France is how they have a conversation. In Spain, one talks with a higher tone of voice as if your hearer were deaf and couldn't hear the person he or she is standing next to. In France, and especially in public places, people speak with a lower tone of voice and are very respectful.

Another thing I saw is the usage of trains on a daily basis, they prefer it more than the bus, which in Spain is normally the first option for young travellers. The train system is very well developed and there are many different travel times in addition to different fares for travellers. Of course, in Spain we use trains, but our system isn't as good as the French one.

Another difference between France and Spain are schedules. Our usual eating schedule is absolutely different from the French one. In the afternoon, the normal time to eat is just at 12 or 12:30, on the other hand, in Spain we normally eat later. For dinner, the French have the habit of eating at 8:00 pm, but normally, they eat at 7 or 7:30 pm. In Spain, this is unthinkable, because normally we have the habit of dining later. But mealtimes are not the only schedules that differ. Work hours are vastly different as well and the distribution of schedules is not the same.

I'd also like to make a small comparison between French movies and Spanish movies, that are truly different. For me, French films are in general better than Spanish movies, but I don't know how to do an exhaustive comparison to find out the "why".

Photo gallery