Did God Live in France?
Maybe you know the expression “How God live in France”? But what does that actually mean? When someone enjoys a happy life and, above all, free from money worries, it is often said that they live like “God in France”. Nobody knows exactly where the term comes from, but it probably originated around the time of the French Revolution.
Before the revolution came, there was an order of estates in France. The first estate was made up of the clergy, i.e. the pastors and bishops and spiritual princes. And these had a special position: For example, they did not pay taxes and they were doing quite well. And who can be closer to God than a pastor? This is how one came up with the term “How God live in France”. However, this is only one of the interpretations, there are others.
The French high speed train
The French appreciate the speed, but not by car – the speed limit of 130, sometimes even 120, applies on the motorways. But on the rails it is different. The TGV – Train à Grand Vittesse – which means nothing more than high-speed train, covers the distance between Marseille and Paris within three hours. From Freiburg to Berlin you need seven hours on the German train and that’s about the same distance. But on the special TGV routes, the train can roar at 320 kilometers an hour, which the ICE cannot do in Germany.
And did you know…?
In Germany, the neighboring country of France, waste separation is pretty normal. You probably know that the banana peel doesn’t belong in the yellow bag. In the meantime, there is also waste separation in France, but the French still don’t take it that seriously. Most of the time everything comes together somehow. So the Germans consider themselves the better garbage separators. But what many do not know: For example, a large part of our plastic waste ends up in the incinerator. So it’s better to sweep in front of your own front door first, as the saying goes.
Everyday Life
Everyday care for children in France
Most French mothers return to work soon after having their children. In France there are nurseries for babies. And the Ecole maternelle then takes on the task of childcare for small children. This is normal for French women; most fathers stay out of looking after their children.
Maman has to look after the children, do the household chores and also work – usually all day long. French children often do not know it any other way, they just come to a daycare center very early and later go to all-day school. But now many French people, and especially French women, are thinking about whether they want it to continue like this. Maybe the kids just want a little more time with mom and dad? This issue is debated in France, just as in Germany.
For a long time it was not customary in Germany to send very young children to daycare; these are still quite new developments. And here too, many scientists, educators, teachers and parents argue about what is the right way to go. How do you like it In kindergarten and school you meet your friends and maybe it’s great in the afternoon when you see each other and don’t have to meet again.
But sick in kindergarten and school, nobody wants that and sometimes you just need your parents. It would be best if everyone could choose, parents and children, what they want for their families. Maybe you should just let the children vote?
Life in the banlieus
Unemployment among young people from migrant families is particularly high. Many of these young people live in the banlieus, that’s what the suburbs of the large French cities are called. They live in high-rise buildings and large housing estates. They are dissatisfied with their life and often this dissatisfaction turns into violence. So they set cars on fire and damage things.
They want to draw attention to their situation. But often they are then even more marginalized, end up in prison and are even more dissatisfied. A solution on how to better include these children and young people in French society has not yet been found. Many French also believe that the migrants themselves are to blame. This is a heated argument in France, a country located in Europe detailed by ethnicityology.
Children’s beauty pageants
Fashion is a very important topic in France, as Paris is considered the center of fashion. There are now even fashion shows for little girls. French mothers dress their little daughters – six-year-olds do appear every now and then – like adult women and they then fight for the title of “Miss Mini”. They put on high heels, put on make-up, wear evening dresses and move like adult women.
Of course, it’s fun to dress up and put on make-up, but it makes a big difference whether you do it together with your friends in front of the mirror or appear at a public fashion show where a large audience is watching. These events should also be banned, of course it would be best if no one took part anymore, no one went there and no one was watching, then something like that would not have to be forbidden.
