7 Things I can do in France but NOT in the USA

[@jamesm.3967]

You can sit in a restaurant without feeling rushed.

[@bubbalong7646]

Right! In the US as soon as you finish eating your so-so meal even in a hoity toity frou frou joint, the servers start coming round asking if you'd like something more or asking if you'd like your check or giving you the check to hustle you out ASAP. In a French cafe or bar or restau you can tarry as long as you want and ask for the tab when you're ready. They know you'll be back! We Americans are turds in many ways.

[@shadowknightgladstay4856]

But you can't go to a restaurant in france in a rush.

[@Fugazinome]

You can also get ignored,or insulted by an unhygienic ,rude waiter .

[@leyza9450]

@@shadowknightgladstay4856 there is still fast food or places to buy sandwiches if you're in a rush 😊 but a lot of boss understand that it's not always easy to eat quickly in a restaurant, so if you eat your lunch there it's ok. Plus the pause for eating or bigger I think. One hour is good but it can be two hours which is alright to go in a restaurant but I personally thing it's too long 😂 you can take a good nap tho ^^

[@jennifertarin4707]

There was an amazing restaurant in Times Square (closed permanently due to COVID ;() That would allow me to sit and enjoy my book while eating and even for a time after I was finished. I loved it because the service was excellent, the staff super nice, the food divine and they left me alone for the most part.

[@sophied.1647]

The fact that there is no paid vacation for every employee in the US and that no-one is rioting is insane to me.

[@Cargnac]

they would lose their job if they were to riot

[@chicksie2388]

Many Americans are just too exhausted to riot! There are very, very few laws to protect workers here. (minimum wages, child labor laws, a short, meal break if you work X number of hours, and some safety precautions are about all we've got.) I am very certain that the single greatest priority of our goverment is protecting the right of the wealthy to become wealthier. If they actually were concerned with the whole "life, liberty and pursuit of happiness" bit, Amazon could never have become the behemoth that it is. We don't even make them pay taxes, let alone force them to give their workers the chance to use the toilet as needed during their shifts. Speaking of Amazon, do we really not have laws that can force them to give workers the rest of the day off when someone falls down DEAD on the job? Or even just force them to remove a corpse from a worksite immediately rather than leaving them on the floor while others must carry on with their duties?

[@gamermapper]

Unfortunately, third-world countries have a broken bureaucracy that doesn't let anyone change the system

[@SCGMLB]

In the US, I remember once on jobs that required people to wear uniforms that the law required employers to pay the employee $5 each week for the expense of keeping the uniform clean. Then a loophole was written into the law that if the employer kept a washing machine on the work premises they didn't have to pay it. However, the employer wasn't required to provide the employee with multiple uniforms. If the employee wanted to clean their uniform in the employer's washing machine they had to come on their own time to do it.

[@tommytube268]

The worst case scenario presented is not the norm. Factory work is very regimented, but has other advantages also! No riots tells the tale.

[@Hulkeq2]

In Belgium it's illegal for your employer to allow you to close off the year without you having taken your mandatory paid vacation. They get fined and it's quite a lot.. It's not a question of choice. You do not "choose" to take your vacation.

[@claudiaalrabiah563]

In Italy also

[@IRACEMABABU]

In France too. Vacations are mandatory

[@jamesdellaneve9005]

The food in France is absolutely the best. Their vinaigrette on the salad verde is amazing. You can even buy something in the subway and even that is great.

[@lnv7260]

hi you’re right ! just it’s salade verte 😊

[@astrama7102]

Vinaigrette : two volumes of oil for one of vinegar Most of us do it by ourselves since it's quite easy ;)

[@gamermapper]

Our country is extremely diverse BTW. While America is very huge, but mostly has the same Anglo American culture, although there are some regional differences, and there's groups like African Americans and Indian reservations with unique cultures, it's not that diverse. While France has a very big variety of culture between the regions.

[@cepahreinholt8710]

@@astrama7102 I put also put a spoon of Dijon mustard in mine.

[@christianc9894]

@@astrama7102 You have to add mustard, salt, pepper and some nuts if it's a vinaigrette to accompany a salad.

[@agmsmith4079]

The trains were definitely awesome in France when I was there.

[@wayneparke554]

Because most people can't afford a car. And those that do have cars struggle with gas prices.

[@mpivatympivaty9666]

@@wayneparke554 sorry but most people in France have a car, gas is expensive but european cars are much more fuel-efficient than american cars. Transportation is much more developed in France and in Europe in general, and in some places like Paris, you don't need to own a car.

[@mievaselli7910]

@@wayneparke554 Where did you get that idea? I am French and most people have at least one car per household, even most poor people. But in urban areas it is often more cost effective to use public transportation to commute to work or go out. Having your first car is not that big a deal here, and young adults will often not get one until they absolutely need to. My boyfriend only bought a car at almost 30, when he got a job that was hard to acces by public transportation alone. Before that we didnt it enough to be worth the investment.

[@pierrekiroule2827]

@@wayneparke554 Have you ever been in France ? Do you know French culture? Seriously. Except in Paris and Paris area..... More than 80% of couples have cars, often 2 ..

[@charlottebottin5051]

@@wayneparke554 people can definitely afford cars. Even fresh drivers have a car. Actually, when you live far from big cities it is NEEDED because small cities often don't have buses or not enough. But when you live in bigger cities, yes, public transports are prefered because it is cheap, because they want people to take it to reduce pollution

[@PlaggPlagg]

Honestly Picard saved us all during quarantine. This chain is awesome.

[@mathattaque]

Yeah if you don't want to cook it's perfect i love it

[@ckennepohl]

In Canada, we have M&M Food Markets (actually, "Les aliments M&M Food Markets"...needed to add the French part of the name). Same concept.

[@towaritch]

I' French and never was a customer

[@Gigi-fv9ky]

It sounds great!

[@kimc555]

@@ckennepohl haha I just posted that. Same sort of idea as Picards I think.

[@alicerenard4350]

As a French person, a baguette costing 2€ would be a crime to me. The idea of a baguette being expensive is just unthinkable

[@mj1234321]

Having ridden the TGV across France, and living in Acela country here in the northeast US, I'd say our version of high speed rail compares to France's version much like our healthcare and education systems compare to those in France - higher cost for a lot less in return!

[@OlivBach]

Fun fact : Acela is mostly design by the french train building company Alstom. It's slower than TGV because it cannot go faster on the existing lines.

[@davidwelch1981]

One other thing one can do in France that one can only rarely do in the U.S.: Enjoy your morning coffee and croissant and your afternoon glass of wine on the same pleasant outdoor terrace. In most small towns, the cafe is both the coffee shop and the bar. Which I find pleasant and refreshing.

How does any work get done?

[@nanskiboutski243]

@ Well... you know...it just gets...done...

[@bonsummers2657]

@ … by not having American perspectives, and being respectful of quality brews.

[@Pidalin]

@ Work is probably done by ordinary people, not by people you see sitting in bar or on terrace in milionare's house. :-) It's like that in all countries, when you are tourist, you see mostly other tourists - in hotel, in restaurants, etc....it looks like all people are chilling whole day in pub, but that people are probably tourists same like you.

[@gordonlawrence1448]

@@Pidalin Actually where I worked in France (Flight Line in Toulouse) you were looked at as odd if you took your own food for lunch. We all went down to the "cafe" which was a very large food wagon in a car park with several large tents in case it rained. The "cafe" was half the car park. The car park was privately owned but the owners took the attitude of "who cares? They park here and so do others because they are her so what is the problem?". Two hours for lunch on a Friday and one hour Monday to Thursday. So we were all just sitting about for a good part of the day just chilling in the sunshine with good food.

[@VelvetandToads]

As another American in Paris, who’s been here for decades, I can say you are so spot on, and Picard frozen foods are the best!

[@jean-mi1825]

I personally prefer Thiriet, but that's me... 😉

[@VelvetandToads]

@@jean-mi1825 crazy, I’d never heard of them. There appears to have been one a couple of blocks from me that has permanently closed, like so many places in Paris during Covid. Do you order online? Their Mediterranean shrimp conchiglies certainly look tempting. 🍤

[@franckr6159]

On holidays in France, 5 weeks is the MINIMUM mandatory holidays, but you have on top some 11 days as bank holidays (lost when on a week-end though), plus many people have an extra 3 to 4 weeks holidays due to RTT (work time reduction, only in large enough companies though).

[@towaritch]

that's one of the reasons that country is falling down down ...

[@franckr6159]

@@towaritch You would certainly love this, but... no, sorry, not going down (and btw tell us, from which country, going so wonderfully up, this asessment or wish comes from?)

[@OzKiltman]

@@towaritch 7th GDP in the world... not bad for a country that's falling down down down

[@philv3941]

@ could be much better

[@olivierclaverie6722]

Holliday are good for business : tourism (restaurant, hostel), various activities than toi will do only in vacation... Tourism is a vert big part of our economy, we need this vacations for this people to create this jobs.

[@ruzboutou]

Petite précision pour les vacances française, elle ne sont pas gratuite, elle sont une partie du salaire mensuel qui est capitalisé pour permettre d'avoir un "salaire" pendant les jours de congés. D'ailleurs quand vous travaillez en intérim ils sont inclus dans votre rémunération pour un montant de environ 10% des salaires payés.

[@RoyalSnowbird]

In France, women can go topless on public beaches while in the USA you cannot.

[@matzpimp]

Ya I get upset in America when everyone goes crazy when u see skin but killing and murder gore is ok on tv

[@matzpimp]

@Gary Richardson ok boomer

[@tommytube268]

That’s very true and old fat men wear speedos?!?!? Pretty girls may offset that horror

[@tommytube268]

Very Cool we all can discuss our countries benefits and how home is wonderful no matter where we live!

[@DavidandShirley]

To be fair, you wouldn’t want Americans going topless on the beach 😂

[@twofarg0ne763]

I'm a retired expat. I've lived here for the past 6 years. I just want to comment on work laws and vacation time in France. According to a French friend of mine who is a labor attorney, if a company were to terminate an employee without proper justification while they were on vacation the local work council could fine the company up to €500,000, plus they'd have to pay that employee their regular paycheck for 2 years or until they found another job. (Apparently, this happened to his brother during the IMF crises a few years back.) Basically, there are only a few instances when an employee can be terminated. They include: 1. Sexual harassment, 2. Criminal activity such as theft, giving away corporate secrets, or embezzlement, 3. Watching porn at work, 4. Physically or verbally abusing another employee, 5. Being drunk or doing drugs on the job. In the last case, the company could pay for rehab for the employee if they wanted to keep them.

[@lisalafosse6179]

I've been wanting to relocate to France for years.....It's my ultimate dream. Lucky you! Wish I knew where to even begin the process...thanks for your lovely channel, I am addicted!

[@roselinerussell4928]

Do it now you will not regret it

[@AlainNaigeon]

@@roselinerussell4928 Well, you may still wait until November 3rd :-) But you are welcome anyway at any time !

[@artnodulot1525]

lafosse is a french name cote ouest good luck

[@lisalafosse6179]

@@artnodulot1525 thanks!!!

[@lisalafosse6179]

@@roselinerussell4928 I just need to get my husband onboard ...

[@illapaSP]

I'm shoked by number 4, and more precisely by the fact that point is in this video. I'm french, so, having paid vacation is somthing absolutely normal for me, weather it's 3, 4, 5 weeks per year... It's an absolute right for everyone to have time to rest, to spend with family, without having to worry about money... And I'm very surprised that's it's not something that exists systematically in the US too.... And number 7 shocked me in the same way...

[@annakozoriz]

Public transport is amazing! I came to Paris hope on the train went to Lille … spend time there… hoped back on train change trains in Paris and went to Strasbourg…. Greatest train network I ever seen…. Officiant and quite cheap …

[@sandrab2753]

Picard is unbelievably good! When I was in France in 2018 I bought their cookbook. All the ingredients for the recipes are from their store (with the exception of fresh vegetables and dairy). It makes it so easy to prepare a meal.

[@aldonastraczek]

Picard c'est la vie !! Always have a bottle of wine in the fridge and some mini feuilletés in your freezer for impromptu apéro. La base ma bonne dame. And yes we loooove our holidays and healthcare. Did i mention not starting your adult with a massive dept is awesome? Your channel is very cool, it's always interesting to know how expats look at what we take for granted.

[@jean-mi1825]

Wine in the fridge? 😳😳😳😳... ONLY if it's White or Rosé. Red wine as nothing to do in a fridge. It shouldn't be hot, but it shouldn't be served cold either, my friend.

[@RGSuperfan]

I love Picard tooooo!!! You can find "plain ingredients" if you're in the mood for cooking /have time. But you can find also tasty ready made food if you're in a rush or lazy 🙃

[@OuiInFrance]

The diced onions are a godsend. When I cut fresh onions, my eyes are irritated for the rest of the day so I always have a bag of the Picard onions on hand.

[@thomasaquinas5262]

There are millions of things you can do in France you can't do here. It's very hard from Texas to go up in the Eiffel Tower, or see the Cote d'Azur, or explore wine country, etc. While we're on it, we don't celebrate Bastille Day quite as much as they do in France...

[@Abcdefu420]

Funny how we celebrate so many other countries holidays like Cinco de Mayo and St. Patrick’s Day but not Bastille Day....

[@Abcdefu420]

Ha! You can still go to Paris in Texas lol.

[@carlcushmanhybels8159]

@@Abcdefu420 there's paris, maine.

[@CathyDahut]

THANKS FOR ALL OF YOUR GREAT TIPS DIANE!!!! BEST WISHES!!!!

[@JohndeCrequy]

As a dual citizen (USA + France) who lived in both countries as well as in 10 other countries. Basically, everyone has different priorities. In my opinion, living in France has its pros and cons but it is the best place for me according to my priorities. I miss the US of course but visiting during my vacation is way enough

[@britt-sen]

we just got picard in norway, lol, im happy!

[@nathanangelus]

To the few skepticals from the USA who seem to enjoy giving the less money possible to their government... Of course our system isn't free, we pay taxes for it and taxes are like an investment based on solidarity ! Once our taxes are paid (taxes that are proportioned to our incomes), we don't have to worry about healthcare, we don't have to worry about our children's education, we don't have to worry about clean water or cheap electricity, we don't have to worry about public transportations, we don't have to worry about our security, we don't have to worry about losing a job, etc etc etc... Not having to worry about all those things is the greatest luxury in life !! By the way, we even get money from the government to help us buy a cleaner car or to make improvements in our houses like insulation... And we still have enough money left to enjoy good food everyday or to buy stuff or to go on vacations or to buy a nice house or simply to enjoy life... That's France and Europe in general !! And yes, maybe it sounds very arrogant, but when we look at the rest of the world, we, French and Europeans, are very proud of all that !

[@MsMesem]

Its all going down the drain now; a fortune spent on inaccurate tests putting money in pharma pockets. Ive also been told by several médical prof. That thé mutuelle system is unsustainable and is failing. Thé administrative costs of thé French system have to bé considérable; Its incredibly complexe compared to UK system.

[@MsMesem]

@tiestu Sadly many medical advances have been made via thé battle field.

[@MsMesem]

@tiestu You are assuming much. I said sadly; military and space advances are responsible for much technological development. I'd rather that each country invest in military than have a global govenment.

[@philv3941]

@@MsMesem to put everyone in a global war ? Are you serious ?

[@MsMesem]

@@philv3941 you have War on thé brain

[@MrBraindead101]

Love this video, thanks. I love the French medical system and still find mutuelles incredible (in a good way). Imagine medical insurance that's not allowed to take into account medical history or exclude pre-existing conditions. I think you should do a video on picnicking in France. Just like everything else to do with food, it's taken incredibly seriously here.

[@prenomnom9413]

The medical system in France is a part of the "social security" instaured by the communist party during the interwar years

[@chrisinnes2128]

Imagine a medical system then where you pay nothing at the point of use welcome to the UK and the NHS

[@aurelieb.4083]

Great video ! I live in France, and in my company we have 6 holiday weeks, AND we actually have a "prime de vacances", or Holiday Bonus, meaning we are paid 10% MORE during those weeks ☺️.

[@robertphillips6296]

I’ve seen where they can have 4 weeks off and the country all but shuts down in August, because it is a very popular month to take off work.

[@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188]

;-) In Denmark we are allowed 6 weeks vacation, and free doctors.

[@emmib1388]

@@finncarlbomholtsrensen1188 how do the Doctors pay for their living expenses if they don't get paid?

[@MrEstrelia]

@@emmib1388 in fact French pay the doctors, but they are paid back by the "sécurité sociale", and the money of the "sécurité sociale" comes from the taxes

[@emmib1388]

@@MrEstrelia exactly -- nobody works for 'free'...the payment may not be given at the time of the service, but someone pays for it .... and mostly by the taxpayers.

[@randomtux392]

So the Star Trek Enterprices Captain has a food store chain in France? Hmm figures.

[@Le7emeChat]

Picard, the stores, pre-date the Star trek TNG. In fact, in "nerd" french circle, the joke about ST,TNG captain was "In space, no-one will hear you surgelée" (surgelée = freezed/frozen food) ("Nerd" was not a known word/concept in France at the time, pretty much until the 2000s-early 2010s. Think Big-Bang theory show )

[@jean-mi1825]

🖖🏻 eat long and Francesper! BWAHAHAHA NB there's no such thing as Chateau Picard in France, though 🥺

[@olyvoyl9382]

Usually the first year (in the US) you earn one week vacation. The second year you typically get 2 weeks. Each employer has a set way of applying accrued additional time. Depending how long you stay with a company you can get several weeks off. Some let you carry it over to the next year. Some companies may not pay you vacation pay buy may allow a week or two unpaid if pre arraigned. Americans have several 3 day weekend federal holidays. That is okay for short trips away or just relaxing. And some others have company policy of extended break for everyone at christmas and new years.

[@leyza9450]

Medical and university costs in France are the best tbh 🥺🥰 I'm in an engineering school (3rd year) and I haven't really pay anything (small stuff like maybe 100€ at the beginning of the year) ^^ I'm even paid because I'm an apprentice, so I work in a company part time and I earn the "SMIC" (~1100 €) even if it's not a full time job... It's crazy how much of a privilege is that 😅 so the taxes in France may be expensive but we don't have to worry about those things. Same goes if you're unemployed, you can get help, there is so much social helps 😱 As a student and since I rent an apartment, I also get like 400€ from social helps per month. And on the campus, you can get a full meal for 1€ since the pandemic 😅

[@olivierdufour1966]

Bravo. C'était précis et pertinent. C'est très intéressant d'avoir votre point de vue.

[@grahammewburn]

France sounds fantabulous. Cheers Gray Australia

[@Silnius]

Great video!, I am a Canadian living in France since 2012 too. Married in 2011 in Fontenay sous Bois in Ile de France. Now living in Metz (Grand Est) there are actually alot of Canucks and Yanks in this city and there are walks where we meet and go out in Metz all together. Anyways, cool channel! ciao

[@MrRyanSandberg]

I am still paying for my US University ... and I went to a public one. But now I am doing my Masters at a European University, and my total bill has been €0,00. In fact, I got a stipend last semester for having good grades. I would never call it free. It is just paid for through my taxes, which are 20%. I have heard the argument students would be less focused if the tuition were so low. But I have experienced that very few students here go to University just for a degree. They tend to want to study. And our dropout rate is high actually. Because students don't feel they are going to waste money if they leave a program they do not like, or is not what they expected.

[@A.Rose.G]

Interesting about not continuing if unhappy. Money wasted is definitely a huge consideration in U.S.

[@tomd5678]

I live in the UK. Typical bloke I left my gallbladder issues until it got infected. I went to the hospital with sepsis. Had 3 types of intravenous antibiotics, morphine, oxygen, mri, ultrasound, xray and an operation to remove my gallbladder and reconstruct my bile duct. The cost was £0.00 pounds even without any insurance

[@paestum70]

I've lived in France now for 7 years and I have to say the healthcare system is outstanding. I had a fall from a ladder several years ago and smashed my elbow... fortunately all healed now but not without a lot of pain, doctor visits and scans. This could have cost me a fortune in the US. It didn't in France. For the skeptical, health care in France is NOT free. There is basic coverage but then everyone can choose supplemental insurance plans (mutuelles) according to their budget-- most are close to $100US a month. But there are ceilings the government sets for doctor visits and for prescription drugs. So if Pfizer wants access 67million French consumers it negotiates with France. In the US it's the polar opposite. Their lobbyists goes to Washington to ensure HIGHER prices. I really wish Americans would realize how much they are fleeced... it's NOT in the interest of anyone but big health/pharma.

[@JB52520]

Oh, we know. There's just nothing we can do about it. The insane wealth gap ensures that only the elite have enough influence to set the agenda, which happens to be taking more of our money.

[@paestum70]

@Sylvain D You're mixing a lot of things up. The French system consistently ranks among the best in the world on many paramaters (including preventative care). I'm not sure your assumption about months wait for specialists... there is an online system Doctolib where you can find many, many specialists... yes, the "conventionné 1" ones are 100% reimbursed and have the longest waits. But no worse than the US. Quite frankly, my waits in the US were far longer. Secondly, the CSG tax (which covers among some things, healthcare, unemployment and social security) is 22%. In the US it is 15% if you are self-employed, and 7.5% if you are employed. But what do you get for it? Not much. Imagine on a $100k salary health insurance costing $700 a month PLUS a $6000 deductible. That is $8400+$6000 out of pocket... or 14.4% before you can touch a dime in the US. That was my situation 8 years ago... since then, the insurance prices have increased dramatically. Nobody in France has to choose insulin or food. They don't skip doctor appointments because of co-pays. They don't get fleeced on prescription medication because big pharma hasn't lobbied to increase their prices. They don't get fleeced by their health insurance companies, again, because there is no army of lobbies like we have in DC. They don't lose their health care when they lose their job. They don't lose their home if they are in a car accident and end up in the hospital for a month. The US has a lot of good things but health care is not one of them. It leaves too many people behind and in the end, Americans are less healthy as a nation because of its serious shortcomings. Life expectancy in the US is FALLING. The issue of the system having a deficit is irrelevant when talking about the merits and/or lackings. I'll take my French system any day.

[@paestum70]

@Sylvain D I understand where you are coming from... I am not happy with France in other ways. But the US is no utopia... when things go wrong, and you don't have huge resources, it's a real problem.

[@paestum70]

@Sylvain D Yes I did. Believe me, I understand the US far better than you do. The fact that you are speaking of "crazy Democrat" state tells me you are not really understanding the US....... but good luck to you.

[@somenygaard]

I lived in Italy for years and most of Europeans vacation in August. I use to sublet my Appartment in July and August and those 8+ weeks I could pay my rent for 6 months . I was in the navy and would sleep on the ship or with friends during those periods.

[@andrew-xr1de]

The u.s.a. and Canada have a lot to learn about the cost of living. Good work France!

[@chrisk5651]

Sleep with …. friends?!?!

[@ansapo]

You live near Angers!! I've been a subscriber for a while and didn't know that! I was able to spend a month there when I was in college. I fell in love with that area.

[@OuiInFrance]

Yup, it's where my husband is from! Great town ;-)

[@jimjungle1397]

Many foods and drinks have price controls and / or are government subsidized in France, including plain bread, plain milk, etc. I was an American veterinary medical student in Belgium. My dorm was next to the university hospital and I knew many medical students there. Dentists generally make more money than regular medical doctors in Europe and require less education. Tuition was cheap and at the time Belgian universities had no entrance requirements, but they do now.

[@arthurcourtois101]

Very nice video to watch ^^ An interesting point about 'Grandes Écoles' is that in the best ones (such as the Écoles Normales Supérieures (ENS) or ENA ou École Polytechnique) students are even payed, often a little less or a bit more than 1000€ depending on the École, during their scholarship !

[@OlivBach]

BUT ... when leaving these school you either have to work for the state (as a teacher, searcher, in administration or state own company) or reimburse the fees (mostly, private companies pays for this when hiring one of these highly qualified students).

[@duncanandrews1940]

Good French wines at Lidl for instance - 1,95€ a bottle is not unusual. Direct from the local viticulteur, 4,50€. Exceptional wines are sold in supermarkets and can b bought for upwards of 25€

[@corinnecowper1339]

I'm Australian and I'm shocked that no paid holiday leave is mandated in the USA. We have 6 weeks paid leave annually plus a loading of 18.5% on top of our salary for holiday pay. We also have universal health care which you can top up with additional personal private health insurance.

[@OuiInFrance]

It shocks a lot of Americans too. ;-(

[@DylanNelsonSA]

You don't get an extra 18.5%. (Well you do on paper, I guess) What really happens is that you get paid less than you otherwise would for the rest of the year so that your salary plus the holiday pay is what the company would ordinarily be willing to pay overall. It's the same as how sales at stores are paid for with higher prices the rest of the year.

[@DylanNelsonSA]

@Grim Reaper I know that the policy is probably (I don't know; I'm not Australian) that you get a bonus on top of whatever your usual salary is. The point is that, as a result, your usual salary is lower than what it would be in the alternative universe where the bonus is not required. The employer has a certain maximum amount of money that they are willing and able to spend, and that amount doesn't change because they're now forced to give a bonus at the end of the year. The "extra" money has to come from somewhere, and as far as I know (but if you have evidence to the contrary then I would love to see it) the consensus among economists is that these kinds of costs are usually borne by the employee in the form of lower wages so that the total cost to company remains the same. (Or in more extreme cases, not being hired at all.) Just saying "totally wrong" does nothing to prove that I am wrong. Obviously the policy isn't that employers must lower people's salaries (or give smaller increases or whatever other schemes they can come up with that accomplishes the same thing because they'd have a hard time walking in and actually cutting salaries straight away), otherwise it would never get passed. But it is the inevitable effect of the policy.

[@lylecosmopolite]

In the USA, all white collar workers, unionised blue collar workers, and public servants enjoy at least 2-3 weeks of paid holiday leave, and subsidised health insurance through their employers. The ability to take 1-2 weeks of unpaid leave is often easy. I have never heard of a holiday pay loading in any country. The USA has free health care for those deemed indigent, and subsidised health care for those 65+. Much of the USA is rural and the low population density of rural areas mean that most private employers in rural areas are small and struggling. Such businesses simply cannot afford health insurance for their employees or paid holiday leave. This is why these niceties are not mandated by American law. All urban employers of any size do offer these niceties voluntarily.

[@zm6301]

In a capitalist society we negotiate these things, we don't expect them to be handed to us just for existing which leads to and entitled and ungrateful attitude.

[@TheMotorick]

Before I retired, my employer here in the US granted me 5 weeks of paid vacation per year. The problem was that nobody did my work while I was gone so I would have been hopelessly overwhelmed if I took all five weeks.

[@johnp139]

Sounds like a crappy employer.

[@abrahkadabra9501]

Kind of the same situation with me. Before going on vacation I had to make sure all the "fires" were extinguished. If not, I could expect a phone call from work on my vacation.

[@justcurious1146]

sounds like america. some us work and overwork , cover shifts and no one covers us.

[@davidthelander1299]

I am a self employed truckdriver. Who in the world will make my truck/insurance/mortgage/ etc payments if I shut down for 5 weeks. Don’t they have people like me in France?

[@elisabethrichard]

@@davidthelander1299 I don't think we have self employed truck drivers here, but I'm self employed. To take vacation, I save some money during the year. If I need to take some sick days, I get some kind of basic coverage from the Securité sociale (public healthcare funding), but the better option is to buy a private insurance on top of that to get better coverage just in case.

[@Lexoka]

It's not just that the Grandes Écoles are cheaper than their Ivy League equivalents, it's that some of them actually pay their students to attend.

[@anthonydesportes9968]

A tiny minority, like Polytechnique.

[@mariannelebris1424]

And the Écoles Normales Supérieures, and the ENTPE...

[@Arkansya]

they are public and it's the state that pays for the students are they have to work as civil servants for some years after that. These schools are at the core a training for high profile civil servants. If you don't work the 5 or 10 years required for the state afterwards you may have to repay tuition and salaries.

[@Lexoka]

@@Arkansya True, but companies that hire straight out of these schools commonly offer to repay all of that.

[@IRACEMABABU]

And ENSET....

[@reklovjj]

After 30 years in the States looking to finally retire in my birth country France.... I surely can say I love both countries yet France’s by far best for retirement

[@JeroenvanMontfort]

5:54 you corrected yourself, but what you said was actually correct: Paris-Brussels is 90 minutes by TGV, a little over an hour. 2h45m will get you as far as Rotterdam or Aachen, using the Thalys.

[@khaelamensha3624]

I may add a point for both health care and vacations. It is written in the law that if you do not take 3 weeks of vacation between june and september, your health security (your refunds) may be stopped as bureaucraty may think you did not take care of yourself. I must admit I work for 25 years and never ever heard this law to be applied but it exists.

[@brianhuggins9505]

Having traveled to France on several occasions the funniest thing was when I took an American Army unit to Spain by train. We witnessed couples having sex along the railroad areas in the country during the summer. The first couple caused my soldiers to hoop and holler at them. After seeing several my guys got quite and said I wish we were stationed in France not Germany

[@Dns.inceptiowl]

Your story is uniquely awesome 🤣

[@spaceskipster4412]

Americans don't have sex near the railroads...? 😲. 😂

[@vinsonparkhill752]

Olongapo.

[@LouisHenriD]

Hi, In France : Five weeks of paid leave (vacation) and eleven public holidays. I work in health care, May 1 (Labor Day) is paid double if I work it and I recover one day. For the other public holidays worked, I either have the choice to recover it, or I receive 25% on salary more per hour. But in companies, the staff do not work when it is a public holiday. In France, each month worked gives the right to two and a half days of vacation. This works by accumulating this right every month, and all vacations are at the employee's choice (compulsory long summer vacation between May 1 and October 31), either 2, or 3 or 4 consecutive weeks, the rest of the weeks. can be split the rest of the year at the choice of the employee. Social security (health insurance) and mutual. all employees contribute health insurance (deducted automatically from salary). the complementary health (mutual) is to be paid personally. It varies according to the age, the formula you take, and the one you have chosen (there are very many mutual companies), you just have to compare the prices and the advantages. For example, dental care, estimate: 7,500 euros, with good mutual: 2,500 euros (11 ceramic teeth). For all care, medical examinations, it's free. Visit to the doctor: 1 euro. (25 euros but thanks to your insurance, 24 euros are reimbursed. Visit to a specialist: varies according to the practitioner, 45 euros, 90 euros, or even more ... in the private sector, and when your doctor gives you a prescription to meet with a specialist , the consultation is free with the specialist (examinations included). People who do not have mutual funds for lack of financial means seek treatment at the public hospital rather than in clinics or private hospitals. Me on the other hand, I am curious to know how much Americans pay for their pack of 20 blond cigarettes? In France, a pack of JPS, or lucky strike costs 9.50 euros, and you?

[@Mike-dm5ut]

Everything you say about your job is true or comparable in the USA. 2 weeks a year are standard vacation paid. If not taken it is given at the end of year or can be used in other means. In some places educators can stack up vacation time and credit it towards early retirement. Cigarettes are regulated by state so cost varies across the USA- over half the cost in most states is due to taxes. Cost can range from $3 to $15.

[@LouisHenriD]

Thank you for your reply. November 3, 2020: Today is a Big day for you American friends. Whatever your elected president, I wish you all to be "Happy", in "Peace", and in "good Health", it is the Essential of the Life.

[@maureenmolleron747]

US citizen who moved to France over 25years ago. My husband is French and he asked me at retirement where I wanted to live. Due to the health care, the outdoor markets and exceptional food without OMG, I told him I will stay here. As she mentioned about doctors coming to your house. I woke up one night at 3am with intense chest pain. I have hypertension and in the US was an ICU nurse. The doctor arrived within 20 minutes with a monitor linked to the local hospital. The Cardiologist at the hospital decided to come herself with 3 EMTs. They took me to the hospital for further tests, and it only cost me, in the end, 100 euros. Of course after all these years here I am a full French citizen. Having worked as a nurse in various states in the US, I am glad I decided to stay in France. Couldn't work here as a nurse, but I worked as a manager at a Pharmaceutical company writing health reports for the FDA on new drugs. I went into pre-retirement at the age of 54, and the company paid me 70% of my salary until I hit retirement age. You don't get punk slipped in France.

[@maureenmolleron747]

Supposed to say PINK slipped.

[@davidcadman4468]

@@maureenmolleron747 I read it as Punk Slapped :) My cousin had a tumour behind her eye in Washington State. As an Army Vet she had the operation cost covered, put not post op, nor living expenses. A bunch of her friends and I helped cover those. Well over 2000 dollars US. I call that PUNK SLAPPED, by the system :) anyway, She made it.

[@davidcadman4468]

To edit a post, go to your name with the pointer, and on the right 3 vertical periods appear. Click on them and the option to edit your post will appear. Click on it and bingo your in :) I'm 73 and use KZbin a lot, TOO MUCH hahahaha. Cheers and stay safe.

[@A.Rose.G]

Your comment was really interesting...is it still a good time to relocate do you think in your opinion?. My dream, or the Netherlands. I am older with some autoimmune health issues from the U.S.

[@Lostouille]

et encore 100€ c'est du vol pour nous :')

[@andremauboussin2705]

I'm watching this now as Paris burns😥. Praying for Paris et la Belle France. I hope to return to the country of my parents and elders soon. Sending love and hugs to the French people from Texas.

[@LFiles48]

I would have paid €450 per year for my degree, and €600 for my master's degree, but I actually paid nothing since I had a public grant, which is granted to a lot of students, based on whether their parents make enough money to support them.

[@ccv3237]

Excellent explaining video! ♥ I wish many people would see this around the world. Liked, and subscribed.

[@sgregg5257]

I found it interesting that in Nice you can be on the beach with no clothes, but if you walk from the beach on the sidewalk in a swim suit you can get fined for indecent exposure. Of course you could not walk onto the side walk naked either, but swim wear is not street attire. Another thing about France is that they are not very litigious. I saw a motor cycle rider t-bone a car. The biker was okay as was the driver, they both yelled at each other for a few minutes then both went there separate ways, no exchanging of insurance, no cops nothing.

[@christianc9894]

If there are no injuries during an accident, the police do not intervene, the people concerned fill out an "amicable report" and send them to their insurance companies. That's all. If there are wounded, the "national police" intervene, in town and the "police station" in rural areas. They establish a report and research alcohol and narcotics. Note: in France the police officers are civil servants not electing "sheriff" or "prosecutors".

[@dmitripogosian5084]

In Canada cops will not come for this level of an accident as well. It is up to you to go to the station and fill the police report (which you will need for the insurance)

[@christianc9894]

Topless is tolerated everywhere on the beaches but not nudism, there are reserved places. Our relationship to nudity is not taboo like in the USA where people are puritans. In a clash without injuries the police do not have to intervene, why do? Then, if there is no damage or if it is insignificant, we avoid involving the insurance because of the bonus-malus system.

[@colargol3845]

Thank you for the Picard remainder :)

[@terencejay8845]

There's a meal for you; Picard et Ricard

[@VelvetandToads]

😂

[@kimc555]

In Canada we have a nationwide frozen foods retailer called M&M Meatshop .... it’s more than meat. Their frozen soup is so good. Esp French Onion Soup.

[@clairelo8419]

M&M cannot compare to Picard. It’s like comparing Via rail to the TGV 😂🤣😆

[@mnlpsvsapo]

I'm a portuguese living in France and I tottally agree with your list ; however there's one thing that you can do in France that it's forbidden in USA : drink in public places ; you don't have to hide bottles or beer cans to drink in french parks or places as long you don't disturb nobody . And you can buy alcohol and drink it when you reach 18 .

[@sylvieparise9084]

In fact it s also forbidden by law. But the police does nothing if you don't disturb.

[@ZE.brigitte]

I'm french, and I'm fairly certain it's one of "Those illegal thing that nobody care if you are good"

[@arvetemecha]

@@sylvieparise9084 I don't think so. You can drink outside as long as you're not drunk. On the contrary, if you drink at home or in a bar and go outside drunk, you can be detained for "état d'ébriété sur la voie publique", not even speaking of driving under the influence of alcohol, but just walking outside being drunk is prohibited.

[@RGSuperfan]

Besides the "congés payés" you can also have "special event" days off, such as your wedding, moving, death of a relative... Things like that. The amount of days depends of the field you work in (the convention collective)

[@nancywysemen7196]

picards sounds like my kind of store. exciting to hear about these "everyday" cultural finds.

[@myfranciefinds2214]

Bonjour. I love your channel it’s so helpful me and my husband well my future husband we want to live in Europe when we get retired or when he gets retired so your channel is so helpful. We want to live there like three months out of the year then come back home to the US then go back etc. etc. etc. I have been to Europe two times my fiancé has been so many times over the last 30 years we love the relaxation the food we enjoy going to the market to get cheese, breads and wine walking around looking at all the beautiful sights going to cafés and not be rushed we enjoy using the public transit to get around. My fiancé‘s mother is full-blooded German so he is fluent in German and knows some French so it makes it easier for us to get around but I would love to learn French and German at least enough words to help me out because I want to be respectful to people show them that I’m trying and it would help me out for getting around at the markets on my own. Did I say how much I love your channel. Thank you.

[@ludivineplume6421]

Je suis Française et en écoutant, par curiosité, ce que vous pensiez du pays, j'avoue que ça fait assez peur sur la vie aux usa. Par exemple, pour le coût des soins ou celui des études. 😢Malgré tout, c'est intéressant d'avoir le point de vue d'autres personnes, ça élargit l'esprit. Merci pour vos vidéos ^^

[@FB6418]

Les français qui vivent en France et n'ont jamais eu l'occasion de vivre à l'étranger ou de s'intéresser aux autres systèmes que le leur ne se rendent pas compte à quel point nous sommes immensément privilégiés de vivre dans ce pays. Beaucoup de français de l'étranger, dont j'ai fais partie, ont du mal avec les français qui se plaignent tout le temps de leur pays, c'est un peu indécent...

[@ludivineplume6421]

@@FB6418 ça c'est sûr, mais beaucoup ici aussi en sont fatigués :) C'est la mentalité qui est comme ça, pour autant, ce sont pas non plus 90% des gens qui crachent sur tout. Comme partout ailleurs, ceux qui crient le plus fort ne sont pas les plus nombreux.

[@nekomiaou]

@@FB6418 C'est parce que le français est un râleur qui veut tout le temps améliorer les choses que vivre en France a énormément de bénéfices rapport à bien d'autres pays dans le monde, au grand désespoir de ceux qui voudraient bien pouvoir exploiter les gens au moindre coût comme partout ailleurs. Mais c'est vrai par contre que beaucoup de français ne ce rendent pas compte de la chance qu'ils ont de bénéficier des luttes du passé. C'est heureusement petit à petit en train de changer, le capitalisme ne fait plus rêver grand monde en France.

[@user-yz1dl3eu8l]

@@FB6418 "en France a énormément de bénéfices rapport à bien d'autres pays dans le monde." D'où 40% qui votent MLP.

[@bouphasoutha]

Super, j'adore ce que vous faites.

[@OuiInFrance]

Merci beaucoup!

[@bfouryou3885]

Hello Diane, thanks for sharing. Goes to show that there are more than one ways of doing things and prioritise as a society. In France healthcare, education and family life are just as important as work. Vive la France :)

[@frederic6998]

Yes Picard is great. They have plenty of good food/meals.

[@gunner678]

Hey neighbor, I'm also an expat in France and I love it here. Vive la France! I took my dog (large and not well behaved, but lovely) to the restaurant earlier lol. We don't have Picard in the South West, but we had something similar to this when we lived in the UK 'Iceland' great store. I would never leave France! Salute et a bien tot!

[@philv3941]

Uk or Us expat ?

[@gunner678]

@@philv3941 UK although I have family in the US and Canada.

[@sebastiendine4834]

Hello, There is also the main competitor of Picard which is "Maison Thiriet". The Thiriet chain has several shops in the South West. They focus a lot on the delivery service with many refrigerated vans. This is very useful for people living in remote places and elderly people.

[@philv3941]

@@gunner678 enjoy your stay in France, sorry for you you have to live it during Covid times :(

[@mchess6141]

@Ms Bliss why is it disgusting ?

[@adas9848]

We also have a frozen food store in Canada M&M Food Store, but they are not as big and with less selection. Still very good food.

[@valeriewyndham1381]

Bonjour, Oui those 7 points are nice and important. Picard is great, good and convenient. I don't understand why there is no such thing in the US, frozen food is not appetizing here. I agree and 💕 all the other points. Thanks🤩

[@OuiInFrance]

There was a frozen food store based in NYC but I believe they went out of business. It had an unusual name, Babeth's Pantry or something like that. I feel like Americans would love Picard, so maybe one day...

[@christinelachance8012]

Valerie Wyndham ...The closest thing to Picard in the USA would be Traders Joe...They have a good selection at reasonable prices!

[@youllthinkofme2011]

One thing I didn't hear you mentioned is; top optional at the beach! or by the Seine actually. My son spent two week in France when he was twelve. He stayed with friends of the family and was so mad that we did tell him that before he left, lol ! He was shocked to say the least.

[@youllthinkofme2011]

@@TheWhale45 lol, I guess he was still pre pubescent.

[@TheSecretChateau]

In Europe, my job has six weeks paid leave per year guaranteed, and with triple loading. So not only is one paid their usual wage whilst on vacation, but they receive 3 times the amount as well. We usually go to France! I find the American system ludicrous. With wages so low in the USA, and with tipping normal, it's lovely to find that in France (the UK and within Europe) tipping is not expected and usually only given for exceptional service. To have to rely on tipping to supplement a wage is criminal.

[@manlud1628]

You know more than I do about our way of life !

[@constancemcgoff4394]

Another wonderful video which makes me wish I lived in France! Oui in France is tres bien.

[@pierrerichard870]

We welcome you! In France, we say : il n'y a que le premier pas qui coûte. Litteraly Only the first step costs something or the first step is the hardest.

[@bettier]

Thank you for all your videos! As someone from the US, worrying about healthcare is so normal and constant, it's sad. Question: I always have wondered, diesn't work pile up while on vacation? Who does the job while the person is in vacation? I have worked at places that offer good vacation but then I have to either make plans for who will do my work or I will have a lot of work to catch up on.

[@OuiInFrance]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching. Work definitely does pile up while you're on vacation but it depends on one's field and how their office works re: who will cover, etc. In some industries, it's slow in the summer so there's not a ton that piles up while the employee is on vacation. Or the work isn't urgent and they take it one step at a time once they're back, or arrange with a coworker to take on anything urgent. It just depends and there's no one answer that works across the board.

[@mchristiansen137]

I love the idea of a store dedicated to frozen foods! I do take the time to make my meals from scratch, (of course it is only for me. lol), but, I have seen my sister also do this and she has 3 kids, so it is possible if one disconnects from the electronic world.

[@alaindumas1824]

Paris-Brussels TGVs do take a little over an hour (1h22), not 2h45 as you stated in your "oops" correction.

[@chrisdenat7357]

Is Grad school programms the same as a Master's Degree? I'm from France, has a masters degree and it was the normal registration fees for those who paid. (I didn't I was on the CROUS program, which paid for my registration and gave me a monthly allowance). The four to five thousands euros a year is in private schools or universities not in the public ones.

[@tim1724]

In some parts of California (particularly in wealthy areas along the coast) it's pretty normal to take small dogs to restaurants that have outdoor seating areas. It's not usually allowed for indoor seating areas, though. And of course we have lots of inexpensive wine in California, for $5-10 per bottle. Mostly local wine, but sometimes Australian or South American wines. The cheapest brands at Trader Joe's can be as low as $2-3. Some of the cheap brands of wine are awful but some of them are pretty good.

[@L.Spencer]

I was going to comment that, too, that in San Diego many restaurants are dog friendly. I find it kind of silly to bring a dog to a restaurant, but I love dogs so I don't mind. I was amazed, though, when we moved back from Mexico and saw dogs being allowed everywhere, specifically Home Depot. Of all places, lol.

[@paulmakinson1965]

More things you can do in France and not in the US: girls can go to the beach topless, nobody will stare. In some out of the way beaches, people will even go nude. Beaches are public property, you can go to any of them, barring a military base (missile testing range at Biscarrosse for example). Beaches cannot be private property. On a motorbike, you can drive between the lanes of traffic (the etiquette says 3rd and 4th lane on the Périph, the Paris ring road), you can overtake a lane of traffic, go straight to the front at a traffic light. It is not really legal, but it is accepted and tolerated as long as you don't hinder others. And greatest thing of all, if you drive at most 12 hs in any direction from anywhere in France, you are either in another country or on the sea or ocean.

[@VCYT]

Can you buy a starship at that Picard shop?

[@OuiInFrance]

Only after you spend 500 ;-)

[@sietchtabr5120]

if you talk Klingon only

[@shoolkurt]

I like that you included Picard :)

[@philpeters5463]

One thing I noticed traveling to France for business is that having a bottle of wine (or two) with lunch, is quite normal! That is definitely frowned upon in the U.S.

[@jnpts]

When was it ? I saw this very rarely (I'm 63yo). For decades now restaurant managers are forbidden to allow customers to drink too much. In the event of a car accident, they would certainly be taken to court.

[@joannets3835]

🥳🎉🎊 you are the first USA person I know talking about Picard, it’s awesome! I like those stores, they are very convenient.

[@stephensheppard]

Love to hear more about your dog. From France? Do you take him on vacation or does he stay in a kennel? How does the whole dog thing work in France?

[@OuiInFrance]

She usually comes with us when we travel in France (and came on our canal cruises, on the ferry to Jersey, Channel Islands, etc.). When we go to the US, she'll stay with my in-laws who spoil her. I've written a bunch on how pet care in France compares to the US, so if my blog posts are of interest: www.ouiinfrance.com/pet-culture-in-france-vs-the-usa/ and www.ouiinfrance.com/having-a-pet-in-france-going-to-the-vet/

[@WildWillieWiccan]

@@OuiInFrance What about cats in France?

[@Laurent69ftm]

You said that a master's programme cost 5000 euros?? It'ss weird. I paid about 300 euros a year, which was the maximum price, and it was even free for students with a sholarship, and the price is around the same everywhere. Same thing for medical schools. Grandes écoles: public ones usually cost a few hundreds euros a year. (Some even pay their students to study). Private ones 5 to 10 000 euros a year. Prépas and BTS: free or a few hundreds euros a year (public) or around 1000- 1500 a year for private ones.

[@MsMesem]

300 if under 24 years....otherwise €6000

[@Laurent69ftm]

@@MsMesem What? I did it at 27 and it was the same price for everyone!

[@MsMesem]

@@Laurent69ftm No , the cut off is somewhere in the 20's. After that you are considered a self supporting adult .

[@Laurent69ftm]

@@MsMesem It has nothing to do with being self-supporting, I'm not talking about the scholarship (where there might be an age limit) but the price of a master's degree, which costs a few hundred euros (for non-scholarship students) because it's entirely state funded.

[@MsMesem]

@@Laurent69ftm I don't know where you are or how you know what mature students pay but they pay and especially in STEM its not cheap! You just pay for your enrolment and to sit exams.

[@Matthy63]

Love your video. Small nitpick. If you're spending 2 euros for a baguette and 4 euros for brie, it's either one of those really big baguettes or you're getting robbed, a flute is like 1 euro max (then again I lived in angers like 10 years ago and it was already kind of expensive lol)

[@Matthy63]

Brie I mean it depends on the shop and the brand or whatever I think I was paying like 3 euros and already it felt expensive.

[@deniaridley]

That's true. Bread prices are taken very seriously in France. Each bakery has the price list on the wall. Two euros for a "normal" baguette is VERY strange.

[@stephaneg]

Très bien! An other thing that's VERY different is the fact that all elections are held on a Sunday and people can actually vote very easily in person. Oh and that whoever gets the most votes actually gets to win...

[@Klaevin]

and the fact that the winner is the one who gets a majority, so if there isn't 50%+1 on the first turn, there's a second turn, so we get to keep our parliamentary system. in America, it's whoever gets the most votes who wins (so in 40,30,30, 40 would win) so the parties all naturally merge into 2. (in that example, one of the 30 parties would divide up into the others on the following election)

[@cottoncatt1186]

And there an other difference. In France we take the electoral process very very very seriously. Very very rarely some candidates use a small amount of fake voters but the process in itself is sacred to everyone, to every political party. The only voting places allowed are townhalls (even in the smallest village it stays open all day long and there's no gerrymandering) and the scrutany is carefully watched by the mayor, the suppleants and the town consil. The ballots are counted in the townhall and then an official act is redacted and the ballots scelled. The mayor calls the Prefecture (the departemental executive institution) to communicate the final or partial results in his town. The ballots are then transported by the mayors to the Gendarmerie or Police (both are police forces). They are then transfered to the Prefecture by those police forces. The act is checked one final time. People can also officially mandate an other person to vote for them (everything is checked in the townhall). There are no mailed ballots. The counting process takes place all day long and we usually get the results at 8 pm for the presidential elections or during the evening for more complex ones. It is fastened by the fact that different candidates or lists fo candidates are not on the same ballot. For exemple if you want to vote for the candidate Pierre, you only put in the enveloppe the ballot corresponding to his name. That's why I'm pretty disgusted by the US voting process : far too inneficient and vulnerable to manipulations at each step ... In short, it's a child joke made for the politicians to screw the voters in every way possible imo.

[@lylecosmopolite]

In Europe, state and local authority elections are always on a different day than national elections. Hence the national election ballot paper is much simpler. All of continental Europe requires that people have identity papers, and present those papers when picking up their ballot paper. Left of centre Americans ferociously resist having to prove identity in a way that Europeans have always taken for granted. This resistance if baffling... until you learn about themany ways in which certain localities allow corrupt voting and dishonest counting of votes.

[@patrickg8775]

@@cottoncatt1186 You are absolutly right !

[@zm6301]

@@cottoncatt1186 Sounds great, you should present this to the Dems trying to steal the election with 4am vote dumps and voting computer manipulations (Hammer and Scorecard) while blocking Republicans from observing and verifying the vote count.

[@johnsikes320]

I really like these videos...very cool.

[@martindalpe.photography]

we had our first baby in France ( I'm from Canada ) , we went to a private hospital dedicated to birth, I had to pay in front everything.... cost me 1700 Euros for 5 days in a private room, my wife had champagne ( 1 of January ) and foie gras, smoke salmon, etc.... top quality service. I sent all the bills to the French Health Care System ( it was before the health care card) and my mutuel... I receive in total 2546 Euros... Call them to tell them they have make a mistake, there anwser was 'No', since it was my first child, I receive Bonus of 500 Euros, they allocated 75 Euros for the taxi ( had sent no bill for that ) etc... best experience ever. second child was born in Canada..... Back to reality. :(

[@bazoo513]

5:00 - I must be getting senile - I was trying to figure out what does that mean, to no avail. Probably because I haven't tried saying it aloud. 🤦‍♀

[@majebrennan5668]

Our Great Danes have dined inside and outside with us in France.

[@paularubina3778]

You can enjoy quiet conversation in restaurants. No talking over others.

[@stuffnuns]

#3. “...not all Americans worry about medical bills...” Maybe not, but Most do. The medical insurance scam in the US sucks beyond measure. Every European nation has an actual health system.

[@WildWillieWiccan]

How does the approximate cost of living compare France v. USA ?

[@OuiInFrance]

Hi, there are so many variables that it would be hard to say across the board. Life in a big city in the USA will be more expensive than small-town France and life in Paris will cost more than in a small US suburb. It's hard to do an apples to apples comparison because the systems are different (healthcare, etc.) That said, there are a lot of factors that are specific to how people live. This link may be of interest: www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_countries_result.jsp?country1=United+States&country2=France

[@IRACEMABABU]

Before any comparison, you should learn what is the french "system", and how it works. Some american economists did this work and they told that french system is more efficient (that is, a french citizen gets more "things" for the same amount of money). But the way things are done is quite different. There's no simple answer.

[@RoodeMenon]

6:04 "Make it so."

[@anetkas]

This is absolutely off the topic, but I just love both your hair color AND glasses in this video! Very becoming.

[@Rachel-rs7jn]

That t-shirt lol! I think that about sums it up. You might have mentioned this on your longer list in the blog (I haven't clicked on it yet), but one thing that makes me really sad and frustrated is that I can eat good quality food in France just by doing normal grocery shopping and getting normal restaurant food at normal prices. Here in the U.S. it's so expensive (and actually challenging) to eat well! My brother-in-law has Crohn's disease, and here there are so many things he can't eat, and he's uncomfortable pretty much every day. In France (and western Europe in general I think) he can almost literally just eat all the food as it comes, from anywhere, and feel fine. It's crazy!

[@UltimateBargains]

Employers deduct the cost of your vacation (and all other legally required benefits) from what they budgeted to pay you when you're negotiating your compensation to get hired. The more vacation you want, the less pay you will receive. There is no free lunch.

[@mucsalto8377]

sorry, wrong. If you are at minimum wage, you get paid holidays in Europe, but not in the US. Quite important for an important number of people. For higher wages: paid leave is required by law, so it is not part of "bargaining the deal", it is mandatory. In the US, there is a lot of "free lunch" for bullssht jobs like lobby firms, consultants, think tanks etc.

[@ivansmith654]

My mother is French, and I was born in Paris France my father is American he came here at the end of WWII and I now live in Southern France near Perpignan (wine country) that is near Spain and I will never live without my wine and my cheese why because I am half French after all! Everything you said is all true!

[@dapabur1]

I am half Italian and I will not live without my wine and cheese either. It is a Mediterranean thing.

[@blueblubber6607]

There is one major point I would add: In France, actually in most of Europe (besides the UK) you have the right to walk [almost] where ever you want. In the US most of the country - besides the national parks - is privately owned land with big 'No Trespassing !' signs [you may as well be shot]. So doing just a little relaxing walk in the forest or the fields becomes a real problem. It is especially this - and the inexistence of 'real' holidays as you mention - which for me makes the US an absolute no go as a place to live. It is really not to provoke, but I never felt as unfree as I did when I stayed in the 'land of the free'. And: I am not French.

[@lylecosmopolite]

I can assure you that farmers do not like it when city people hike on their land during weekends and summer holidays. They also dislike when fishermen walk on their land to get to the banks of rivers and lakes in order to fish. A fair bit of the USA consists of national parks, state parks and natural reserves owned by NGOs (Nature Conservancy, Audubon Society, Bernheim Forest in KY). The Appalachian Trail consists of Federal land, and the same will soon be true of the Pacific Crest Trail. West of the Continental Divide, most rural land belongs to the Federal govt., and hikers can traverse any part of this land that is not fenced and gated.

[@blueblubber6607]

@@lylecosmopolite Sure if you walk over a field of crops, no farmer in the world would like that. But there is a dense network of dirt roads, paths and trails (in central Europe) where nobody has the right to stop you. Every stream even from a small size one has to be open access by law (not in the UK though). As you rightly point out, there are many reserves, federal land and trails in the US, but this is of not much help in daily life, when you live dozens of km (or miles if you prefer) away from it. The reason for this is simply historic: In most of the European countries farmland was divided among the heirs, so access even to the smallest plots of land had to be granted. This has not [yet ?] happened in the US. Again, don't take it as an offense, I am only talking about my personal life[style].

[@lylecosmopolite]

@@blueblubber6607 The English legal term for what you desribe is easement, and if a landowner does nothing for 21 consecutive years to interfere with people walking, biking or even driving over a dirt road, that dirt road becomes, legally, a permanent customary easement. "But there is a dense network of dirt roads, paths and trails (in central Europe) where nobody has the right to stop you. Every stream even from a small size one has to be open access by law (not in the UK though)." ME. Here in New Zealand sport fishermen have a legal right to cross through a farmer's land to access a fishing spot on the bank of a river or lake. But farmers routinely ignore this legal right, and get away with it. Farmers have higher status here than weekend fishermen. "As you rightly point out, there are many reserves, federal land and trails in the US, but this is of not much help in daily life, when you live dozens of km (or miles if you prefer) away from it." ME. I do not mind driving an hour or two to access the head of a trail. I was a Boy Scout in the USA 60 year ago, and there were quite a few trails in my neck of the woods, made up of dirt roads, and paths between farms. "The reason for this is simply historic: In most of the European countries farmland was divided among the heirs, so access even to the smallest plots of land had to be granted." ME. In the USA and MZ, people are leaving the land, and farms are consolidating. In New Zealand, only one son becomes a farmer. His siblings either get a share of the profits, or he takes out a mortgage and pays his siblings in cash.