For the week, we are analyzing the depictions of the people from Gaul (pre-France) versus the Romans (those who conquered France).
While I mentioned skiing a little bit, one of my favorite parts of the weekend in Chamonix was getting to know the other Dartmouth students on my trip. Since we are split into two sections, it is sometimes difficult to spend quality time with members of the other class, but living together in an appartment for a few days made that much easier. After skiing, we all played a long game of Monopoly! As a matter of fact, the Monopoly game was Lyon-themed and was in French! Instead of Park Place and the Boardwalk, Lyon Monopoly had places such as "Rue de la Place" and "Cours Franklin Roosevelt." Do you know what their English equivalent would be?
I spend a fair amount of time during and after dinner each night talking in French with my host family about my life and theirs, and tonight's conversation centered a lot around the differences between the United States and France. We spoke about healthcare, food, culture, politeness and hobbies. Our conversation highlighted the stereotypes (collective thoughts about other groups of people) about both America and France from a foreign perspective. I hope to use my time in Lyon learning more about the French lifestyle and making my own observations instead of relying on what others have said to me. It's always better to come to your own conclusions!
