In 1989, Swedish author Herman Lindquist published Rapporter från Mittens Rike (‘Reports from the Middle Kingdom’). The title of the book is ambiguous, as it refers to the well-known epithet for China that has come to symbolise its insularity and self-centredness in previous centuries. In this context, the term Middle Kingdom might be interpreted as a reference to France’s continuing tendency to see itself as a major player on the international political, economical and cultural stage, while in fact it is now a medium-sized power at best – as are all other European countries separately.
I haven’t read the book, but Rickard Hansen has. He sent in this map, included in the book. It appears to be a (rare) example of French self-deprecating humour: “The author says that the map was produced originally by a French magazine called Actuel.”
Mr Hansen, a Swede who lives in France, can vouch for the reality of some of the views/prejudices presented on the map: “The majority of French really do think that there is some sort of permanent winter in Scandinavia (…) Being Swedish, I think the French drive like crazy, they in turn think the same about Italians, and apparently it’s a good idea to lock the car there too!”
Some other characteristics of le monde, vu de Paris:
- Centre of the world, obviously, is Paris (which once had its own meridian, eventually losing out to the one in Greenwich).
- Paris is linked to the French riviera via the Autoroute du soleil (‘Highway of the Sun’), the south of France is sprinkled with vineyards.
- Further south are ‘Vacation homes’ (in Spain) and ‘Cleaners’ (who apparently all come from Portugal).
- ‘Our princess’ probably refers to Caroline of Monaco, the most flamboyant of republican France’s vicarious royals.
- Corsica features prominently (as it is a French island, and the birthplace of Napoleon; Sardinia and Sicily are not so lucky).
- The Italian mainland evokes one reaction only: ‘Lock the car’.
- Nothing much happens to the north of France: Scandinavia is plagued by an ‘Everlasting winter’, and Britain is simply a ‘Rainy area’.
- Lots of blank space to the east, which begins in earnest behind the Iron Curtain. Only Poland – then in the throes of anti-communist agitation by the likes of the Solidarity trade union – is deserving of a separate mention.
- Further east are only ‘Gulag’ and ‘Indochina’ – a former French colony, to be sure.
- Japan, surprisingly, is only known for its copy machines. Or is this a dig at Japan’s reputation for copying (and perfecting) other people’s inventions?
- New Caledonia, a rather small French dependency in the Pacific, is punching way above its weight on this map, much bigger than Australia (only good for ‘Kangaroos’) and New Zealand (‘Our enemy’, a reference to its stance against French nuclear testing on Mururoa, another French territory in the Pacific).
- Lybia gets a separate mention in North Africa as a ‘Terrorist centre’, while the rest of Africa’s northern half is labelled as ‘Our Arabs (poor)’ and ‘Our Africa’. Large parts of the area were indeed part of the French colonial empire.
- Depicted unfairly small is the rest of Africa, i.e. ‘Black Africa’.
- Beirut, another area with French colonial influence, is labelled as a ‘Gun market’, while their neighbours are ‘Oil Arabs’. Not so poor as ‘our’ Arabs, is the seemingly accusatory implication.
- Réunion, in reality a fairly small French island in the Indian Ocean, is shown hugely inflated – about the size Madagascar usually occupies on more realistic maps.
- Parisians’ view of America is fairly simple: there’s ‘Guyana’ (French Guyana is a small French territory between Suriname and Brazil, best known as the launch site for the European Space Agency’s rockets), Québec (Canada’s French-speaking province), Louisiana (formerly a French colony, now a US state) and, grudgingly, some room for Canada and the United States.
Thanks to Rickard Hansen for translating the map’s labels.
Beautiful map, as a french I agree, most of french really think that. That’s even more a map of Parisian than a map of French like say the title, a true french see its region as centre of interest and not Paris.
Indeed portuguese have since the 80’s the reputation to make house-cleaners name “Conchita”.
There are some personal interpretation but on the whole I agree this map is quite realist, even if that’s not my personal point of view, I would have change some things.
And our princess, refers (I think) more to Stéphanie and not Caroline because she is more known here.
However I don’t understand why New Zeland are “our ennemies”, maybe this map was created during a Rugby worldcup, the only thing in which french are ennemies with New Zeland.
Comment by Romain — July 13, 2008 @
I find it hard to believe that Poland should be on this map while Germany is left out.
@Romain
Does Poland really have a more important place in the conscious of the French than their long feared and hated, now merely rivalled neighbour?
Comment by marc — July 13, 2008 @
[...] do Stange Maps: um rario exemplo de francês fazendo humor com eles mesmos. Publicado na revista Acteul, nos anos [...]
Pingback by Paris como centro do Mundo « O Blog do Dodô — July 13, 2008 @
To Romain :
In 1985, French intelligence service (DGSE) sunk Greenpeace’s ship «Rainbow Warrior» at Auckland, New Zeland, because Greenpeace protest again french nuclear tests at Moruroa («Muruora» in Map are mistake).
This have a bad effect in relations between France and New Zeland…
«Our ennemies» are self-sarcastic, of course. Frenchs like self-deprecating humour.
Sorry for my English, but I am better in French, the language of Middle Kingdom. ;)
Comment by E-Ma — July 14, 2008 @
This is a Swede’s impression of a French chauvinist’s impression of the world… It would be more interesting if a French person had drawn it.
Comment by mould — July 14, 2008 @
No offense to the French, but I thought the point made was that the French aren’t so good at self-deprecating humor as other cultures. Which I don’t know if that’s true. I happen to be half French-Canadian, but I doubt that counts for anything among the France-French. I have heard very bad stories from Aunts that have visited France and been insulted and made fun of. I guess the Quebecois accent isn’t quite as endearing as the American accent is for the British. I mean, last time I checked, after the first “Yank” joke, most English people will lay off the visiting or expat Americans.
Comment by Michael Hancock — July 14, 2008 @
I agree with Romain (No. 1): This is not a map for the French, but a map for Parisians. No French person would make Paris that important, and only a Parisian would omit ‘la province’.
Apart from that this map gives a good impression of the parts of the rest of the world that the French are interested in. Perhaps a more serious series of such maps, one for each country, would be an interesting idea.
Comment by Marianne — July 14, 2008 @
Is “Middle Kingdom” really an epithet? As I understand it, having been to China, it’s a literal translation of the two characters which symbolize the country. Chung Guo.
Comment by Fargus — July 14, 2008 @
No love for St Pierre and Miquelon, Guadeloupe, and the rest?
Comment by Benjamin — July 14, 2008 @
[...] Discover more on Strange Maps [...]
Pingback by Frogsmoke.com - Behind The Gallic Fumes — July 14, 2008 @
“Guyana”? Interesting - that’s the name adopted by the British colony at independence. The French colony (which is still a colony) is “Guiana”.
An odd usage for purist French. Or was it altered in translation?
Comment by Rich Rostrom — July 14, 2008 @
[...] a ongoing set of updates about “French attitude” but since today is Bastille Day I’ll point to this map of the world as seen from Paris. If I wasn’t on strike right now, I’d explain why the commenter is wrong to assert that “French [...]
Pingback by William Vambenepe’s blog » Blog Archive » WS-ManagementHammer: don’t do it but if you are going to do it anyway then… — July 14, 2008 @
Imagine a world without France…
Is it possible? …
Au Revoir, Monsieur Zidane. A Bientot Mademoiselle Bardot.
Goodbye, Mr Pommes Frites.
Jump to http://www.themanwhofellasleep.com/france.html
Comment by alex — July 14, 2008 @
Hehe indeed Germany is more important than Poland in France, but in some places of Northern and Eastern France (paris including), there are many people who come from Poland. Maybe that’s for that but I don’t really know… But if I would live still in Picardie where 50% of my friends were of Polish origin I would have indeed put Poland on the map of France.
But a “middle-french” never go to germany and prefer go south in holidays, germany is something for economist and for those who search something else than sun, so I can understand that’s not on the map, but I would have imagine something like invader but that would have made a less fun map I think, because that’S not true.
This map is an interpretation among many other differents, that’s normal if some countries are not because with 200 things written that would have been less readable.
And forgive my french-english too :D
Guyane is Guyane so Guiana or Guyana are not important :D Rich Rostrom.
Comment by Romain — July 14, 2008 @
Given that this map is likely from about 1980 (given the references to the Iron Curtain, nuclear testing, etc.) the “our princess” might just be Princess Grace, who lived in Paris for many years before her death.
Comment by Charlene — July 14, 2008 @
Coming from “Actuel”? Hum… Maybe Actuel took from somewhere else than their own offices.
Anyway, it’s true this map is outdated. I remember having found (on a French forum) two maps : the first one being “France seen from Paris”; the second one being “Europe seen from France”.
Funnily, the last one shares a lot of points with this map. More or less.
I should try to find it again.
Comment by Picard — July 14, 2008 @
Re: Everlasting Winter
My French teacher in the 6th form told us that during one of her visits a small Parisian boy had asked her if it was really true that the polar bears had to wear coats when biking around town in Denmark.
Comment by Sili — July 14, 2008 @
can’t believe that.
Comment by Dejan Stamenkovic — July 14, 2008 @
Just as a point of geopolitical accuracy, French Guiana is not a territory of France; it is an “overseas region” or “overseas department”, which means it is fully part of the French “homeland”. It’s roughly analagous to Alaska and Hawai’i for the USA - an equal participant in the national government. As such it has more rights than a territory such as New Caledonia.
Comment by Ryan Hauck — July 14, 2008 @
I remember in the 80s there were plenty of maps like these, the world according to the French, the New Yorker, the British, you name it, sold as posters in novelty shops.
now if this would have been drawn by a true Parisian… there will be nothing outside of Paris. and certainly not that most useless non-Parisian France
Comment by jerome — July 14, 2008 @
The French hatred of Americans and of anything American puzzles me. They hate America, but they do everything in their own country to imitate the American lifestyle - albeit with a French interpretation.
I have a few innocent questions:
Does Quick really taste better than McDonald’s? Why do the French hate the Quebecois? You would think that the French would be grateful that Canada has a large French-speaking population.
It was always the French dream to use German and British money via the EU to achieve what Napoleon could not. Which country actually dominates the European Union today?
Would any French readers care to comment? Intriguing! Merci!
Comment by bourgeois pig — July 14, 2008 @
I want to know if it’s really the French who hate Americans or just the Parisians. And that could be chalked up to big city snobbery. I’ve had to work with several French engineers from Toulouse, and they are all quite amicable. I’ve known some folks, too, who’ve spent some time there and note that Americans are welcomed warmly at the bars.
Comment by El Santo — July 14, 2008 @
Is that little blob off of “Gulag/Indochina” Korea?
Also, I notice non-French South American isn’t labeled anything…
Comment by Lurker — July 14, 2008 @
hooray! stumbling across a blog titled ’strange maps’! love it. bookmarked.
Comment by diembe — July 15, 2008 @
To bourgeois pig re post #21
The French certainly don’t hate Quebecers. There is a number of French people studying or working at my university, and they’re good people. I think what the stereotype says, however, is that French people (or maybe it’s only Parisians) have an inflated opinion of their place in the world. They think they’re still a great empire. In this view, people from Africa, Belgium, Quebec, or even the rest of France are seen as “colonials”, so to speak, with a culture and a language that is somewhat “inferior”.
Now, never having been to France, I don’t know how true this stereotype is, but I don’t think it’s a very accurate representation of how French people think.
Comment by Marc — July 15, 2008 @
Funny. Perfect for Bastille Day.
Comment by Grace — July 15, 2008 @
#21. Is it not equally puzzling how the Americans hate the French too ? After all, the Republican revolution that started it all was modelled on French ideology, and the first thing immigrants to the new world see is “La liberté éclairant le monde”. Surely the power of that same underlying philosophy of the two nations can overcome such differences ?
Freedom Fries anyone ?
Comment by IanCroydon — July 15, 2008 @
Cheese Map of France!
http://cool-maps.blogspot.com/2008/06/cheese-map-of-france.html
Comment by Björn — July 15, 2008 @
Great Map. It is nice to put things in perspective from time to time.
Comment by Linda — July 15, 2008 @
[...] specifically read this post “The World As Seen From Paris” after an article writen by a Swedish author who lives in Paris. It is supposed to be an example [...]
Pingback by Seen this blog « Tales From My Planet — July 15, 2008 @
Kettinkje…
Eindelijk, de SpongeBob SquarePants Wiki -=- TT Assen 2038 -=- Pink Float -=- Lekkâh vers, Cheesburger uit blik -=- Oud en nieuw -=- Productie Mercedes SLR verhuist naar Polen -=- Geniaal, Beatbox een muzikaal maal -=- De wereld volgens Frankrijk. …
Trackback by 'N BEE 3 - 3gz.com — July 15, 2008 @
@ Michael:
“I guess the Quebecois accent isn’t quite as endearing as the American accent is for the British.”
The American accent? ENDEARING?
No, don’t think so… annoying, sometimes, other times just neutral.
Now supposedly, American women love Brit men’s accents. But maybe that is equally a myth, haven’t heard that firsthand…
Comment by AJ — July 15, 2008 @
The most striking thing about this map is its link to the year 1980.
Lots of the places mentionned are not important at all in Parisian and French minds today, but made the headlines at that time.
That’s why Poland (Solidarnosc movement) is mentionned and not Germany.
Same thing for Libya (bombing of the UTA flight full of French people), Lebanon (end of the civil war, with heavy involvement of French blue helmets), New Caledonia (Matignon agreements) and the princess of Monaco.
New Zealand is indeed considered “the ennemy” because of the tension following our nuclear tests in Mururoa. A tension culminating 5 years later with the Rainbow Warrior bombing. But that’s completely forgotten now (at least on the French side), and the Kiwis are only considered good ole rugby rivals nowadays.
As for comment #21, most of the French LOVE Québec and the Québecois (which, after having spent 2 years in Montreal, I know not to be reciprocal).
But it’s a very patronizing love : Quebecois are seen as very friendly, outgoing and hospitable, but a bit retarded, like a folksy cousin who’d have spent the last 300 years living in a cabin in the woods.
Most French picture them as flannel shirt-wearing trappers, breeding reindeers while listening to Céline Dion all day long. And their accent is considered very ridiculous, which makes it hard for some Quebecois to be taken seriously while traveling around France.
So the Quebecois are both very popular in France, and somewhat looked down upon… I suppose one could say it’s a very French behavior.
And about the (US) Americans. It’s definitely true they’re disliked, if not hated by some.
But it’s not more the case in France than in Germany, Spain, Italy… well, actually all of Europe and most of the world. Look at all the polls.
Needless to say it was quite different before 2003.
(Quick is Belgian, by the way, not French, and it sucks big time).
Comment by Quiche — July 15, 2008 @
I too am wondering about the dot near Japan, probably Korea, but I can’t think of a French connection (no pun intended)
Comment by David — July 16, 2008 @
[...] The world as seen from Paris show how the French view the world, on the great blog Strange Maps. [...]
Pingback by Links from the World Wide Web » GeograPhDy — July 16, 2008 @
The most striking thing to me, which I’m amazed no-one has commented on: why would a map originally published in a French magazine have most of its labels in English? Also note that the French name for Poland is “Pologne”, not “Polen”: the latter title seems to be the German (and perhaps also the Swedish) name for Poland. Why would l’Actuel use that title for Poland?
Another oddity — the map looks like it was drawn in a cheap piece of drawing software.
Why would a French newspaper publish a map with English-and-other-Germanic labels drawn in software that would have been obscure in the 1980s, rather than a map with French labels drawn by hand?
The book this image is alleged to have been found in seems to exist, at least, but whether on the part of the author Herman Lindquist, or Rickard Hansen, I smell a hoax. Can anyone confirm the “actuality” of this map?
Comment by Niel — July 16, 2008 @
Hello everyone,
This map is funny but I don’t think it translates our vision of the world. First the map must connected to the 80’s, early 90’s. Actuel was a counter-culture newspaper, very sarcastic. Drawn today the map would be different, this year, China would be the enemy, and the global vision of Europe has changed.
Moreover, it is not a french view of the world, but indeed a Parisian one.
Being French, from the west coast, I do know that our only enemy is ze English Kingdom (since Joan of Arc, I guess, actually I don’t know, It’ in my genes, tough I love lots of what comes from british culture).
I don’t think that the French are that self-sufficient; to my point of view, the common French people do know that the world has changed, so French do change, maybe slowly but what’s important is the trend.
The only topics you would have trouble to convince a French that he is not the best, is what regards food and wine. The rest could be discussed…
:-))
Comment by bertrand — July 16, 2008 @
French Polynesia, especially Tahiti, is absent.
Comment by éliane — July 16, 2008 @
@ Quiche (post #33):
The flannel Shirt is the folk dress of Canada! Most Americans think that everyone in Canada is just like Red Green! “If the Women don’t find you handsome, they should at least find you handy.” Classic!
Sounds like anyone who does not speak perfect “Parisian French” gets ridiculed by the French. Why is this the case. So the Quebecois must be viewed as “rednecks” when in France? Do the Quebecois speak an archaic form of French, which is more similar to the language of King Louis?
@ AJ (post #32):
British accents are not endearing to the Americans (except for the Monty Python show or Austin Powers). Americans view “the Queen’s English” as too formal, crusty, stuffy, and archaic. I guess a Spanish speaker from Central or South America would say the same things about the official Spanish spoken in Spain……
Comment by bourgeois pig — July 16, 2008 @
With all this talk about accents, I’m curious too about the difference between Canadian and French speakers of the French language.
I’d say (most) Canadian and American speakers of English are universally easier to understand than other English speaking countries. Maybe I’m just biased, but that’s what I’ve witnessed. Have the French drifted away from how their language was previously spoken (like the English supposedly have), or maybe the Canadians speak real slow French or whatever… you get the point. Does anyone know?
Comment by BAT — July 16, 2008 @
@bourgeois pig
You get the point, Quebecois are seen as rednecks. Not the bible-thumping gun-thoting kind of rednecks, but the friendly rednecks who’d gladly welcome you at their home and tell fart jokes during dinner.
Most of it has to do with the accent, which sounds very “peasant”, with some of the “A” pronounced “O”, and rolled “R”, like people with little education speak in Northern France (the Chtis). By analogy, it gives a backward image of the Quebecois.
There are also differences between the 2 dialects. Quebecois French is not more archaic than French-French, but substantially different, as it has evolved in isolation for 300 years.
Basically, both languages borrow a lot of words from English… but never the same ones.
And cursing in Quebecois is mostly made of religious words (chalice, christ), which is very odd for us French.
Comment by Quiche — July 16, 2008 @
Ha! I cannot imagine too many bibles being thumped in Canada. Canada tries harder to be more politically correct than even California! Although guns are illegal in Canada, I have heard of many houses being robbed during the day as a consequence…..
Does this mean that I cannot buy Quebecois “soul food” such as Poutine when in France?
I understand that the French do not want dialects in their own country. How would the French explain the origin of Alsacian?
More dialects in France:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utTbYm5iY1Q&eurl
Comment by bourgeois pig — July 16, 2008 @
To Quiche :
«Câlice», please, not «chalice» ! (Prononcer «colisss», with hard «c».)
And Quebecois are not rednecks. In scale of self-assurance, Québécois and Frenchs are not at the same level… :)
To Bat :
Differences between french of Québec and France : It is same language, but with not the same colloquial expressions and not the same prononciation. French in Québec have many diphtongs. Eg, the word «France» : French says «Fronce», Québécois says «Fra-ance». This are annoying for Frenchs only.
Signé : Québécoise «with accent and isolated since 300 years». :)
Comment by E-ma — July 16, 2008 @
To Neil (#36)
I guess the original map had labels in French, and Rickard Hansen translated them into English, without noticing that he’d translated “Pologne” as “Polen” instead of “Poland”. The graphics do in fact look a bit cheap, but it is after all a caricature. Maybe the original French labels looked a bit better.
To bourgeois pig (#39-42)
The “Queen’s English” would probably sound quite formal to Americans, but not more working-class British accents, I believe. Also I don’t believe guns are illegal in Canada. There are laws about what kinds of guns can be owned (which I don’t know, not being a gun owner) but there are many guns you may legally own. And while the policy of the French government at many times has been to try to establish a common language (and reduce dialects), it’s quite hard to stop people from speaking their language.
Quebec French does contain words that would be considered archaic in France, as well as many terms of naval origin, possibly because the Atlantic coast of France produced a fair number of colonists to Canada. It also includes loanwords from Native languages and from English (which are different from the English loanwords in France French) and some original terms as well.
To Quiche (#41)
What you think constitutes a “Quebec accent” probably isn’t how most Quebecers actually speak, or not all the time anyway. There are many accents in use here, some which are seen as more formal, and some less. If you want to hear formal spoken Quebec French, you can find many examples in, for example, the archives of Radio-Canada.
Do you have any examples of the speech of these uneducated Northern French peasants?
Comment by Marc — July 17, 2008 @
French people don’t just simply hate Americans, come on. It’s a love-hate relationship; it’s quite complex and often paradoxical.
And for that matter, French don’t complain only about Americans, they complain all the time, about anything; it’s a cultural thing.
To Marc (#44):
But don’t you think there’s something common to most quebecan accents though? I mean, I understand there’s a great variety but don’t they all tend to use the nose in their way to speak way more than the French? I honestly don’t know, what is your opinion on this?
PS: No, Quick doesn’t taste better than MacDonald’s, same crap. They don’t even make Sundays at Quick, how lame is that…
PPS : This is a GREEEEEAT blog, really interesting.
Comment by Pierre D — July 17, 2008 @
We shouldn’t forget that both French and Americans have a love-each relationship with the other. Americans also enjoy complaining about the French, often quite seriously. But at the same time they seem to feel a sense of cultural inferiority to most of Europe, especially France. Many Americans would tell you that art is better in France, that French movies are more highbrow, etc. So the relationship is very complex, in both directions.
I guess there are resemblances between the different Quebec French accents, even though I’m not sure how I would describe them in comparison to other French accents. What I was objecting to was the “Quebecers sound like French peasants” idea.
Comment by Marc — July 17, 2008 @
When in Paris recently, I found maps with the Paris Meridian on them. Couldnt see a way of getting them to you with a decent resolution
Comment by lordhutton — July 17, 2008 @
I’m not saying Quebeckers are rednecks!
I lived 2 years over there and can’t wait to go back. And I even like the accent, even though I never managed to catch it.
I just said it was the image they tend to have in France. An image I’m trying to correct when I have the occasion, but I’m only one man…
to E-ma #43, I was only translating calisse in English.
to Marc #44, accents certainly differ from one part of Quebec to another, but to a foreign ear, they only vary in intensity. i.e. stronger accents in rural regions, softer, and a more standardized one in Montreal.
We’re going more and more offtopic, but I think the comparison with the Chtis of northern France is interesting. Though substantially different, the accents have similarities (to a foreign ear, again). And both inhabitants have approximately the same image in France (well, the remaining of France).
There was a huge cinema hit this year called “bienvenue chez les ch’tis” playing on that image. You can google or youtube it if you’re interested.
The big difference is that in northern France, Chtis self-censor their accent out of shame when they go to the university, or move to another region. Which only leaves the rural and less-educated speaking with a noticeable accent.
In Quebec of course (and fortunately), pressure to speak a Parisian French is far lower, and only concerns a handful of elitists.
Comment by Quiche — July 17, 2008 @
When I see this map, I think first to the New Yorker cover of March 29 1976 of Saul Steinberg, «View of the World from 9th Avenue».
This 2 maps are a caricature of natural(?) and inavoidable(?) chauvinism and bias against «outside» world. If you laughing of this maps, your chauvinism and bias are probably very light and curable. But if you think it is a occasion for Frenchs or Americans (etc.) bashing, I not understand…
To Quiche 48 : I was only «taquiner» you.
Comment by E-ma — July 17, 2008 @
[...] 298 - The World As Seen From Paris [...]
Pingback by Guyana » 298 - The World As Seen From Paris — July 18, 2008 @
I’ve found an equivalent: the map of the worl as seen by the US:
http://www.jp-petit.org/humour/dessins3/monde_vu_par_americains.jpg
But no way to get the original french map of the worl (although I’m sure I’ve already seen it somewhere with it’s original french labels)
Comment by Javi — July 18, 2008 @
I am surprised that the people in France that speak different dialects and accents allow themselves to be shamed by the Parisians. Are there any signs in France that this may be changing? Why or why not?
I recall working with a couple of French years ago, and they told me that Paris is overcrowded, horribly expensive, and that the commutes to work are unbearable for most people. They told me that they regret the fact that anyone living in the provinces that is extremely talented and wants to have an excellent job MUST go to Paris to find work. How true is this today?
Comment by bourgeois pig — July 18, 2008 @
To Marc (#46):
Quite correct. Most Americans are known to be obnoxious tourists. The only Americans that feel culturally inferior to the French or Germans are the ones that study and/or work there for one year or longer. At that point they begin to understand the cultural differences and realize that other countries have superior ways of doing things. Most Americans know nothing about the outside world. It would be best for countries such as France to educate rather than brag.
Comment by bourgeois pig — July 18, 2008 @
to bourgeaois pig (#52)
it is still completely true, in most fields of work if you want to build yourself a proper CV you HAVE to spend some years in Paris. That’s what I’m doing now.
And i don’t think it’s about to change soon or any fast, France is a very, VERY centralised country, it’s been like this for centuries.
“overcrowded, horribly expensive, and that the commutes to work are unbearable for most people” - Yeah, totally. It’s the opinion most people from the Province have of Paris (and i shared it for a very long time). In relation to the rest of France, even big cities, the feeling is very different, very stressful and aggressive. I’m not saying this is worse than London or NY, no idea ; it’s just the contrast between Province and Paris that is quite violent and can be frightening. But honestly you get used to it fast, from the moment you live in it on, you just don’t look at it the same way.
And today i can tell you that there is NO place in France I’d rather be than in Paris, because of the huge cultural offer, the opportunities, the beauty of the city, the fact that most of my favorite movie take place in Paris, and so on… It’s a great place, it really is.
Comment by Pierre D — July 18, 2008 @
This is very particular view of one person (a foreigner) at a particular time.
And at any time, the “maps” that could be made from the point of view of a given group are of course quite revealing. Today, for example, the view of northern France as seen from Paris would be quite different than one year ago, thanks to “Bienvenue chez les ch’tis”, a very successful movie about a family “exiled” to the north. A part of France with an image of poverty, unemployment, and dying industries is now seen as charming. Likewise, gritty Marseille is the venue for a popular TV series, and has become fashionable, with the help of the extension of the high-speed line all the way to the city.
Even the “highway to the sun” is not important now as before, with Parisians tending to spend more time in holiday homes closer to home, thanks to long weekends offered by our soon-to-end 35-hour week. At the same time
Comment by Marc Naimark — July 18, 2008 @
to bourgeois pig #52
French with accents are not only shamed by the Parisians. People from Normandy, Brittany, Burgundy, the Loire Valley and Lyon all speak with the same standardized accent. That’s enough to create the impression of a “right” French accent, as oppose to the “wrong” more local ones. An oversimplified tentative for you fellow map geeks (i hope it works):
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/4163/accentshe8.gif
And actually, some Parisians have their own accent (”Titi”, equivalent to the cockney), and also erase it because of the social pressure. This accent is disappearing now.
And I totally second Pierre D. Personal example: I studied in a “grande ecole” (ivy league school) in Britanny, and I moved to Paris 3 months ago, to start working.
And out of my 10 friends from that school, none of whom originated from the parisian region, 8 now work in Paris. A ninth will soon do too. There is almost no alternative.
Comment by Quiche — July 18, 2008 @
Hehehe… if you think self-deprecating humor is something rare for the French, you 1) haven’t seen many French movies of the lighter genres, 2) have your own Middle Kingdom syndrome :-) (Cue in: there be dragons map)
On the map, I don’t know - on one hand, National Geographic conducted an international geography test a few years back, and French students were among the best performers (with Britons worst in Europe, USAmericans even worse, and IIRC Mexicans worst). On the other hand, I have a few anecdotes from France of people not recognising even neighbouring countries on a map.
Comment by DoDo — July 18, 2008 @
You all might want to check The World According To America: http://www.jigsawlounge.co.uk/kungfu/world/legend.html
…with other pages on the site with a lots of other According to… maps, including The UK according to America:
http://www.jigsawlounge.co.uk/kungfu/world/uk-usa.html
…and the World according to the Daily Mail:
http://www.jigsawlounge.co.uk/kungfu/world/world-dailymail.html
Comment by DoDo — July 18, 2008 @
It has nothing to do with “French self-deprecating humour”, but with lefty anarchist one (if originally published in Actuel, a magazine that doesn’t exist anymore).
Having been living in Sweden for 30 years, I know quite a lot about Herman Lindqvist.
For some unknown reason he is a French basher. He belongs to that category of ROYALISTS who think that the rest of the world is primarily related to the Swedish “ROYAL” model (he even implied that the French royals could have Swedish descent since he supposes that Von Fersen (the Swedish Ambassador to Louis the XVI screwed Marie-Antoinette). He has only lived 7 years of his life in Sweden and lives in a French UPPERCLASS district (Chambourcy) !!!
The wikipedia entry is eloquent (the Swedish one even more critical) :
“Herman Lindqvist (born 1 April 1943 in Stockholm) is a Swedish journalist who has served as foreign correspondent in many countries and authored a number of popular books on Swedish history. In particular his multiple-volume Historien om Sverige (1992-2002) has become very popular, but has also drawn criticism for lacking historical accuracy.”
Notice that the map is from pre-1989 so the depiction of the “gulag” wouldn’t be accurate today. For example the French have a very high opinion of the Swedes for their social model and historic ties (Bernadotte), but the north is still depicted as “winterland”.
I love it when Swedish royalists pick up their worldview from French anarchists…
Comment by OldFrog — July 18, 2008 @
Interesting, OldFrog.
There is such a thing as Foreign Correspondents’ Disease: when they do nothing but recycle the blandest common wisdom from local mainstream media, peppered with some prejudices brought from home and chatter caught on high-society cocktail parties.
It seems there is a worse case of that, the Paris-based Foreign Correspondents’ Syndrome: when the previous is coupled with utter hatred for a host country they wouldn’t move away from. Lindqvist is a prime example, another is the International Herald Tribune’s John Vinocur.
Comment by DoDo — July 18, 2008 @
This map is very funny to me. I find it, and some of the comments very reflective of my travels to France and Quebec. My family is from Marseille; I was born and raised in the United States. I have had people in Quebec pretend not to understand me and other accuse me of speaking (French) with a snobby accent. In Paris, a friend told me that it isn’t that people think my accent is American, and know I am one (an American), but rather they think I am from Province, stupide.
Apparently, my accent fits in nowhere in the world, because I have lived and traveled in too much of it to be truly colloquial anywhere.
Thanks for the map sharing. Too funny.
Comment by Christine — July 19, 2008 @
A few thoughts as an American of French ancestry, and who has lived in France:
-First, I don’t think “Middle Kingdom” is an epithet for China. If I’m not mistaken, that is the literal translation of the country’s name in Mandarin.
-The map seems pretty well-done to me, aside from some odd names for countries. I do think, though, that it should have made more of a dig at England than just “rainy area.” The French still semi-jokingly call the country “la perfide Albion.” (At the same time, Ireland and Scotland have always been looked favorably by the French, owing to their common rivalry with England.)
-Poland is a good inclusion. France and Poland have had historically strong ties. Poland is the one European country outside of France where Napoleon is popular, as he supported (or at least claimed to) Polish freedom from Russian rule. In addition, during the early 20th century, France took in quite a few Polish immigrants, who have assimilated pretty well by now (although, paradoxically, the French today have a particularly irrational fear of the “Polish plumber”).
-On France and the United States, it’s definitely a love-hate relationship, on both sides. In France, American things tend to be the epitome of coolness, while in the U.S., France tends to stand for a refined, elegant culture - tell someone that you went to a “French restaurant,” for instance, and it will be assumed to have been a top-notch establishment.
-Finally, those who are bashing American tourists might want to be careful: a newly-released international survey found that the French were the most unpopular international tourists of all European countries; only Indian and Chinese tourists were more unpopular among the 21 nationalities surveyed. Even the French themselves admit that they are a “pays de râleurs” (country of complainers) and apparently this reputation extends abroad.
Comment by JM — July 19, 2008 @
(Here is the link to that survey, for anyone curious.)
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1820358,00.html
Comment by JM — July 19, 2008 @
I ve seen another one going around facebook about how europe is seen by the french. That one is also quite accurate
http://philippe.typepad.com/philippe/2006/12/leurope_vu_par_.html
All the eastern europe are prostitutes
greeks are homosexuals
spaniards are lazy
english are alcoholics
irish are red-haired
germans are nazis
etc.etc.
french have also lots of “préjugés”,even though they claim to be the most righteous country in the world for “la révolution” and the human rights.
I just saw “shaft in africa”, there is a great scene were shaft just fucks up a french inspector about french laws.
Comment by Mario — July 20, 2008 @
Quebecois is derivated from Poitevain and Saintongeais dialects , because most of the first settlers came from the harbor of La Rochelle area ( today Poitou-Charentes ).
In 1789, l’abbé Grégoire ( a major figure of the Revolution )was frightened by the fact that half of the french population did not speak ( nor understand !) french, and that the other one did speak it very badly… since then it has been a constant ideology of ONE People, ONE Nation, ONE Republic ( “une et indivisible” ), ONE language, ONE capital city etc( the brightests in the entire Universe of course … )
And that explains why nowadays, even fading, the French look at themselves as the ONES…
A linguistic example : french officials claim that they will always fight for ” our so marvelous language threatened by the imperial domination of English ” , but on the other hand they refuse to sign a European treaty that protects regional languages…
” Forbidden to spit on the ground and to speak breton “, as it was written in the Cafés of Brittany sometimes ago…
About french-american love-hate, I will talk about my own french ( yes , I’m a snails-frogs-oisters’eater ! ) feeelings: we may sometimes think that American are dummies ( especially Bush-like ones )but we love them ! Their culture, from very popular to very sophisticated, is everywhere…Simply, we have often an ironical look at their paradoxal particularities: for example, pretending being a good Christian 20 times a day and enjoying regular high school slaugthery…
On the other side of the Atlantic, they can really be more “basic” and less humourous: I remember an MTV “Real Life” programm at the time of French-American UN-disputes about war-or-not-war-in-Irak: The story was taking place in Paris, and it was written on the screen something like ” our american teens did not suffer of any aggressions from the locals during the shooting of this episode ” … I was voiceless … They really don’t know the outside world: we use words, not guns ( strictly forbidden by the law ! )in France !
But rich Americans are, for more than a century now, spending millions for the preservation of Versailles and other historical or cultural sites…
USA : Remember La Fayette and Rochambeau !
France :Remember The Boys in 1917 and 1944 !
Step-Brothers like to quarrel…for eternity.
About Italy: it’s our twin-sister country and even if we are not kind with their shortcomings ( maffia, Berlusconi, …) we do remember that Leonardo Da Vinci, who died in France and left us ” La Joconde”, was born in Florence. And because of a strong immigration 5 or 6 millions french have italian roots…
Speaking of roots, you may be interested by the fact that more than 15 millions of people ( a quarter of the total population ) has a foreign background…
Comment by lp — July 20, 2008 @
nice blog - thanks a lot :)
Comment by Karsten — July 20, 2008 @
To lp (65) :
Que voilà une vieille rengaine! «Quebecois» not comes from French dialects but from French «bourgeoisie» of Paris of xvii-xviii centuries. Read this paper, «Les premiers immigrants et la prononciation du français au Québec» :
http://www.erudit.org/revue/rql/2002/v31/n1/006844ar.pdf
But return to the «subject».
In USA, bilinguism are not very widespread (except immigrants). I work (in Canada) with many french students : all speaks 3 languages : French, of course, English (of course!, and better of my English…), and one more European language).
I very like this blog.
Comment by E-ma — July 20, 2008 @
Sorry, in post 46 I meant a “love-hate relationship”, not a “love-each relationship”; I have no idea what that would be.
To Quiche post 48: interestingly enough, last Friday I went out with a few colleagues, including one from France, and the conversation somehow moved to this movie, Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis. One of my colleagues (a Quebecer) actually said that their accent, while different from a Quebec accent, does have some resemblances. So I guess I’ll have to see it when it’s released here in a few days.
I can understand French people having trouble recognizing the different North American accents of French. With some exceptions, the European French accents I’m familiar with sound similar to me as well. Still, I find it odd that you say that to your ears they vary only in intensity. If you listen to the broadcaster accents I linked to, I’m sure they’ll sound rather different from farmer accents.
To Christine post 61: I can imagine people in Quebec telling you you speak with a snobby accent, if your accent is a “textbook” European French accent. But pretending not to understand you? That surprises me, unless they really didn’t understand some of the words you used.
Comment by Marc — July 21, 2008 @
@ E-ma (post 67 ): about ” Here it comes the old cliché !”
So, Louis the XIV , XV , XVI were speaking french like a spanish cow ( or a spaniard Vascon if you prefer…) ;-)
Comment by lp — July 21, 2008 @
[...] • Strangemaps samlar kul och konstiga kartor, som den här om hur fransmän ser på världen. [...]
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To Mario (post #64)
Nice map!
Germans are nazis?! Do the French still think so? Interesting! I never thought that anyone born after WW II would still think such things. I have always thought the Germans were very sad (depressed), yet industrious people.
Ha! I like how the Italians are thought of as “thieves.” What would give the Italians such a label in the French mind? It would be interesting to see a map of the world according to the Italians.
To lp (post #65)
Americans know little about the outside world, as the educational system and the media (TV, radio, newspapers) are so horrible. If the French are sincerely interested in changing the way Americans think, then they should buy an American TV network. By the way, arte.tv (in either French or German) is wonderful!
The French complain about Americans as they leave Quick to find the nearest Starbucks, wearing blue jeans and listening to American (or is it French?) rap music!
Comment by bourgoise pig — July 21, 2008 @
To Neil #36
I found the map in Herman Lindquist book “Rapporter från Mittens Rike” which was published in 1989. The map has been scanned directly from the book. All the labels were in swedish (I found it in a swedsh book after all) and I have translated them (some mistakes there e.g. Polen instead of Poland). The author says that the map was originally published in a magazine called “Actuel” but I cannot vouch for that.
Comment by Rickard Hansen — July 21, 2008 @
Nice Eiffel Tower :D
Comment by Jared Stenzel — July 22, 2008 @
it’s true, and could have been worst!
it gave me an idea for a european map from paris …
From southern france, philippe
Comment by Maitresinh — July 22, 2008 @
To Pierre D (#54) and to Quiche (#56)
I can understand when a person graduates from the university, is single, in his/her early 20’s, and is eager to live and work in the big city looking for fun! This is also the case for big cities in the USA such as New York and Chicago.
But at least in the USA, when people get married and start to have families, they learn quickly that the big city is too dirty, too expensive, and too violent of a place to raise children. So they either look for a remote suburb, or they look for a smaller city near where they were from, maybe even a university town located a few hours away.
So when you leave for Paris, does that mean you can never come back to work in your département? Is it because few jobs exist in other areas of France? I thought that because of the European Union, France would be forced to decentralize……..?
Comment by bourgoise pig — July 22, 2008 @
@ bourgoise pig: France has 60 millions inhabitants and Paris catch 11 millions of it ( imagine Washington-DC with a sixth of the american population that is to say 50 millions )! The next ” big” cities are Lyons and Marseilles with 11 time less people. It’s hard to decentralize an ” urban black hole”…
Comment by lp — July 22, 2008 @
To Romain:
The name “Conchita” sounds terribly Hispanic to me, and not Portuguese.
Comment by Dorean Paxorales — July 22, 2008 @
[...] 298 - The World As Seen From Paris [...]
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To LP (post 76):
Paris is that centralized? Eventually, no one with a university education will live in the rest of France! And I thought Mexico City was crowded!
Comment by bourgoise pig — July 23, 2008 @
Les deux centimes miens: I have not been to Quebec since 1965, but I understand from some fellow travellers with a keen interest in the province that the old, barely understood provincial accents (”Joual”) have pretty much gone by the wayside. I will find out this octobre. As for Canadian attitudes towards France: Yes, there are those who carry a long grudge. (You sold us out on the Plains of Abraham!). That said, the classic of French-Canadian literature, Maria Chapdelaine, was written by a Frenchman, not a “vrai-Canadien”. Me, I speak a “Franglais”, and on numerous trips to France on business, I never had a problem as an American. Now, Paris? They treated me as well/abominably as would any New Yorker. (Londoners, on the other hand, are exceedingly polite.) Love the map! And love the comments from those now in Paris. Yes, it is the centre of the Francophone universe. You must be there of you will be no one. Myself, I prefer Bordeaux, or Montpellier, or Carcasonne, or Pau, but I salute you for going where your career will be put to the test. Vraiment, Paris vaut bien une messe!
Comment by lirelou — July 26, 2008 @
France belongs to G8 right ? Middle size is far far away
Comment by rba — July 26, 2008 @
I think most people have maps like this in their heads even at the White House and in other high places. It does not matter as long as one remembers that it is only imagined and does not construe it into axis of evil.
Comment by cantueso — July 27, 2008 @
@cantueso (post #82)
Perception is reality……..
Just curious, but for those people living in the border regions of France, is interest in learning the language of the neighboring country growing or declining. Why or why not.
Wouldn’t Paris start to feel the population pressure from the flood of all the job-seeking migrants from the provinces (The “Brazilian” syndrome). I thought that because of the European Union, the French living in the border areas would need to learn Dutch, Spanish, German, or even Italian………
Comment by bourgoise pig — July 28, 2008 @
The French-Polish thing does indeed go back to Napoleon, who (the Poles like to think) promised Poland “indpendence”, but later said it would only have been “a second Galicjia” i.e. a type of cultural-political autonomy but with economic subjugation. In any case it all came to naught cos N foolishly tried to invade Russia from the West.
Comment by Cudzoziemiec — August 1, 2008 @
I simply gotta protest: the portuguese don’t only do the “ménage”. We also lay bricks!
To Romain: No one in Portugal has ever been called “Conchita”.
Kudos for being unintentionally funny AND keeping up with the stereotype-humour topic all the same!
Comment by Nuno — August 1, 2008 @
Just an observation:
I just noticed that it doesn’t say “Pologne” or “Poland” but actually “Polen” on the map- which is the German name the country.
I’d guess that this is actually a jibe at Germany (being as unimportant/backwards as Poland), which would also explain why Poland would end up west of the Iron Curtain in the 80s.
Lovely map, as always!
Comment by Ottl — August 4, 2008 @
To Ottl (post #86)
Germany is unimportant? Perhaps, but as Germany has an economy three times the size of France, the French still look for creative ways to get German money without wanting to have anything to do with the German people.
I guess that according to the French, all countries east of the Rhein are backwards. The problem for the French is that France is becoming more isolated as “Europe” expands eastwards. Unlike France, Germany is in an ideal geographic position to exert strong influence on the countries in eastern Europe. It always has been this way - even during the Middle Ages. What choice does an increasingly isolated France have but to look south towards Spain and Africa?
Comment by bourgeoisie pig — August 5, 2008 @
French - Polish love is very old and comes from the 16ies when louis xvi who married Marie Leczinska and gave Lorrraine to her father. He liked to get allies on the east front of Prussia (Germany).
From this period, an important polish immigration integrates easily so Poland is more or less “family” for French people.
This crazy map is really a parisian view and not a provincial view. And Actuel was a very “parisian” counter culture newspaper.
Comment by Pierre — August 5, 2008 @
To Bourgeoisie:
Franco-German relations eh? Don’t get me started… ;)
You’re quite right of course- France is still in the process of getting over the fact that they’re not a “superpower” anymore, and the most natural rival in terms of prestige and influence certainly is Germany.
As a ‘Hamburger’ I have a prime indicator of Franco-German business relations right at my doorstep:
Whatever the current political climate in the EU, Airbus Industires very often mirrors it perfectly.
The recent EU expansions of course aren’t helping to resolve tensions either, as you already pointed out.
As a student of politics and a keen EU citizen, I can see and understand the French reserve towards Germany, but regarding Sarko’s new pet project (Mediterranean Union) and the immense anti-German sentiment that still seems to run deep in Poland, I’d say France has got nothing to worry about - for now… ;)
Comment by Ottl — August 5, 2008 @
@bourgeoisie pig (post #86)
German GDP is about 1.3 times that of France, not 3 times. Per capita is actually slightly higher in France.
Also, though I’m not “French-from-France” as we Quebecois say, I do read the French press, have done so for years and I can say with confidence that whatever opinions the French may have about German people, that they’re backwards is not one of them.
Comment by Phil in Montreal — August 6, 2008 @
To Ottl (post #89)
At the expense of eastern Europe, Sarko wanted to divert European Union influence and money to an area that France has historically controlled. I suppose once the European Union hits the “Russian wall” and cannot expand any further eastward, France will have a better chance…..
I am amazed that so many Polish people still dislike the Germans, but they do not complain about what the Russians did to them from 1945 to 1990……! Do the Polish people born after 1945 dislike Germany? I wonder how the Polish people feel about the (Silesian) Schlesien people?
The French empire no longer exists, but do not tell the French people that!
Comment by bourgeoisie pig — August 7, 2008 @
In #84, Cudzoziemiec writes: “In any case it all came to naught cos N foolishly tried to invade Russia from the West.”
I suppose it would have been a much better idea to invade from the north, eh? :)
Comment by Oskari Olematon — August 13, 2008 @
Very interesting map, even if dated.
Just a thought about the fact that it says “Quebec” on this map. This might be a little complex to explain, but many French people still use the term “Canada” when they think of “French Canada” (Quebec, essentially). That’s because they still use the old term, dating from the days of the French Empire in North America. So when they hear a Quebec accent in France, their reflex is to say: “Vous êtes canadien?”… When the reply comes “Je suis Québécois”, their reaction is usually “Oh yes of course, I forgot, that’s how you call yourselves now”. That’s the old Quebecois identity crisis right there, in a nutshell: from “Canadiens” until around 1900 (english-canadians called themselves “British”), to “Canadiens-Français” until 1965, followed by the now used “Quebecois”…
That’s why this map could have included the word “Canada”, but only in the sense used in France, meaning “where Canadiens (french-speaking) live”. The english-canadians are completely ignored, since they are undistinguishable from Americans.
Funny to see the French as the only people in the world considering Canada to be a french-speaking country! The rest of the world thinks of it as an english-speaking country (granted, with some kind of an Asterix village always threatening separation).
Oh, and one thing about the way French people view the Quebecois. While it is true that some of the patronizing attitude is still there (”they have a charmingly rustic accent”, and so on…), there has been a change in the last ten years, a period during which France has gone through a crisis of self-confidence. Quebecois are increasingly seen as dynamic, modern and as having something to teach France in many ways than one. Quebec has an advantage: it can show France how to be more efficient, “North-American style”, but without the advice coming from the USA. Slowly but surely, the relationship is becoming more equal.
Comment by Schmorgluf — August 26, 2008 @
Hi Romain “Conchita” is typically Spanish, go back to school and try get a bit culture out of your cuisine.
Comment by Jo — August 26, 2008 @
@Schmorgluf (post #94):
You wrote: “The english-canadians are completely ignored, since they are undistinguishable from Americans.”
You have just explained why the English-Canadians have an identity crisis. Want to anger an English-Canadian quickly? Ask him what part of the USA he is from. Other than the metric system, national health care, and the fact that the McDonald’s restaurants are cleaner than in the USA, how is Canadian culture any different than American culture?
I have heard of Quebec being called an “Americanized France” by people from France. Do the Quebecois also have an identity crisis? Does it tend to look to France or to the USA for cultural inspiration?
I am not sure what you mean by the French not being very efficient. Are the French just like the Italians, but always in a bad mood (to paraphrase the author Ulrich Wickert). Italians are not known for their work ethic…..
Comment by bourgeoisie pig — September 9, 2008 @
Hi!
I agree with the first comment by Romain: I, too, am French and cannot agree anymore with most of the facts that are presented here, but not all of them. Romain detailed everything. I had a good laugh, really !!
Comment by alexh — September 16, 2008 @
Hi!
This map is hilarious, and is actually a nice summary of the world seen from Paris!
I know that your statement regarding rare French self-deprecating humour was provocative on purpose, but believe me, we French arenot the last to make fun of ourselves currently…
Comment by Xavier — September 20, 2008 @
Edvige, the “big sister” in Paris is watching all the French people.
Google for this article: Tata Edvige Is Watching You
“The World As Seen from Paris” indeed! Your thoughts?
Comment by bourgeoisie pig — September 22, 2008 @
A lot of French immigrants to Canada are not too happy with what they see as the extreme feminism there. Google ‘Quebec feministan’.
“Do the Quebecois also have an identity crisis? Does it tend to look to France or to the USA for cultural inspiration?”
The Quebecois I use to work with expressed the most anti-French (France French) comments I’ve ever heard. Yet they also kept up to date with French society (movies, etc) in a way English Canadians do not do with regard to Britain. I think as a minority in Anglo-North America they look to France for cultural reassurance but also have a bit of a complex towards the French. A bit like Aussies and their mixed feeling about Britain.
Comment by Andrew — September 24, 2008 @
I know a number of expats in Paris - Quebecois, English Canadian, Indian, and Irish. They ALL say similar (unflattering!) things about Parisians, but positive things about non-Parisian French.
An especially common observation is that Parisians lack any curiosity about the outside world. Even those with Parisian friends say they are never asked by their friends about their native country or culture. Kind of like most of the Americans I’ve met!
Comment by Andrew — September 24, 2008 @
@ Andrew (Post #99)
Aussies have a mixed feeling about Britain? I always thought that they were British cowboys. Seriously, though. Please explain.
Quebecois? HA! Google for this article: ‘The Failures of French Immigration in Quebec’
Comment by bourgeoisie pig — September 26, 2008 @
Aussies and ‘Poms’ (as they call the English) generally like each other but the former have often suffered from ‘cultural cringe’ (google it) towards the Motherland. Australia is also full of Englishmen who never stop complaining about how Australia is not as good as England!
Aussie joke: how do you know a British Airways plane has landed at Sydney airport? Because the whinging* sound continues after the engine is turned off.
* whinge is British/Australian for whine
Jokes about the English, and Europeans in general, being rather unfamiliar with soap (’soap dodgers’) and daily washing are also common down under.
There is also a long and occasionally bitter (google ‘bodyline tour’) but mostly good natured sports rivalry between the two countries with the Aussies usually coming out on top and the English claiming the Aussies are unsporting and unsufferable winners and bad losers.
Some Aussies resent certain events that occurred during the two wars that made them feel like they were treated as second class. There’s a general feeling that the English condescend to them.
Comment by Andrew — September 27, 2008 @
@ Andrew (post #102)
My apologies to all readers. Andrew’s post struck a nerve, as I have also been treated as second class by several Brits on numerous occasions.
You wrote: “There’s a general feeling that the English condescend to them.”
As an American, I can recall meeting up with several Brits while a student in Germany. I was taken back by the snooty, conceited attitudes of the Brits. Although they were also guests in the host country of Germany, they were always eager to talk about the Germans as if WW II ended just five years ago! WW II is ancient history. What is wrong with wanting to live in the present. Don’t the Brits have a life?
I also cannot understand why the Brits style themselves as “superior” to people of other English-speaking nations. Other than excellent dead white authors and brilliant actors (good theatre), who cares about Britain? Many non-Brits would agree that Britain has bad weather most of the year(”rainy area” on the map), horrible food, “butch” women, a disproportionate number of people with bad teeth (toothpaste dodgers?), too many binge drinkers, and eccentric (weird) cultural oddities that exist nowhere else in Europe.
Just curious, but how “British” is Oz? I thought that mass immigration from other parts of the world would have long diluted the “British identity of Australia.” For example, the USA was once a British colony, but mass immigration during the 1800’s, mainly from central Europe, started to change that identity forever.
I am happy to say that “tall poppy syndrome” does not exist in the USA!
Comment by Ron — September 27, 2008 @
The map is already a bit dated. Where are the North Africans?
Google for this article (on Brusselsjournal dot com):
Even in the Ardennes. The Changing Face of France
One third of the population of France is African? Wow!
Comment by bourgeoisie pig — October 16, 2008 @
Bravo!!!
really nice map which remember me a map called “american world” i used with my students…in france! (i’m an history & geography teacher)
i add you in my favorites as “pro de la géo” and i will speak of your site very soon!
see u soon
my blog: http://curieuxlycee.blogspot.com
Comment by monsieur raingeard — October 19, 2008 @
the map “american world” is here:
http://curieuxlycee.blogspot.com/2008/10/introduction-la-mondialisation.html
Comment by monsieur raingeard — October 19, 2008 @
@ monsieur raingeard (post #106)
“American world?” Interesting! Actually, instead of Latinos, it should read “vegetable pickers, drug dealers, and Nike factory.”
I am not sure how Britain became the 51st state?!? Canada is the 51st state.
Comment by bourgeoisie pig — October 23, 2008 @
Thank you for your answer, i use your message to present this map to my students…i hope u are agree…
it’s here
http://curieuxlycee.blogspot.com/2008/10/le-monde-vu-de-paris.html
Comment by monsieur raingeard — October 24, 2008 @
Ha! Ha! As a somewhat francophile Italian, I have to agree with this map.
Funny thing is, when I went to Marseille two years ago, I locked my car but some !”£$% opened it nevertheless…
(luckily, there wasn’t anything valuable in it…)
Comment by roleplayingit — November 6, 2008 @