After visiting America for two weeks, the French exchange students took note of several differences, as well as similarities, between French and American culture in their clubs, holidays, and sports.

After-school activities are wildly different in France

  The biggest difference between American and French schools is that extracurricular clubs are scarce in France. Most students participate in activities and hobbies outside of school, like rock climbing and horseback riding. 

“I think you have more clubs than us. We don’t have clubs. I mean, we have clubs, but it’s not as popular as your clubs,” said junior Romane Sempé-Huard.

   The French exchange students and the students at Masco share a similar level of involvement in sports.  The most popular sports amongst the French exchange students are dance, gymnastics, and horseback riding. 

  “I dance once a week for one hour,” said junior exchange student Leah Garel. 

  In France, soccer is the most popular sport. 

  While many American schools offer art classes and clubs, art is not as commonly taught in French schools. Most French students experience art during middle school, where it’s often limited to a one-hour class. After that, art tends to become more of a hobby than a subject.

  “Art isn’t very popular at school. Most people do it outside of school, like drawing or playing an instrument,” said junior exchange student Leah Garel. 

  Still, creativity remains a part of French culture. Some high schools even have special art sections that students must apply to, and there’s a large art school in Rennes where students can study art more seriously.

French holiday traditions differ greatly from America’s

   While Americans and the French obviously have their differences with things like sports, school, and after-school extracurriculars, there are still many similarities with holidays and food.

  America is far more invested and absorbed in its holiday traditions than those in France. They do not have the elaborate decorations that houses in America do, and kids in France do not trick or treat. 

“It was very surprising to see so many huge decorations, like houses with like skeletons, like bigger than the house, humongous things, also all the lights and stuff, very impressive. And a lot more people are, because you’re in costume, especially, and in the stores, everything is Halloween themed,” said junior exchange student Esther Tusien.

  They do, however, deeply enjoy all the lights and festivities.

“[You have] a lot of lights and decorations, we don’t have decorations in the streets,” said junior exchange student Luna Beuillon.

  France has different holidays compared to America. In France, they have the holiday La Chandeleur. La Chandeleur is a holiday where the people of France combine Pagan traditions with Christian traditions.

“[La Chandeleur] is the French holiday where we make crepes,” said Tusien. 

  Even though France is on the other side of the world, they have many similarities to American traditions. They also have some unique traditions that vary from America.