Apprendre une langue, c’est aussi apprendre une culture.
Quand j’ai appris le français, il fallait m’habituer à cette pratique culturelle qui consiste à coller ta joue (toute moite en début de soirée d’apéro d’été….) à celle d’un parfait inconnu.
Deux fois. En faisant un bruit étrange avec ses lèvres. La bise, quoi.
Si tu va aux Etats-Unis, c’est pire. Prépare-toi au “hug”.
Heureusement, il y a les expat blogs…
Car là, c’est pas juste la joue, mais carrément tout le haut du corps. Quand tu finis la visite d’une nouvelle crèche pour voir si ça convient à ton gamin…et au moment de dire Bye! See you soon!, la directrice se lance dans tes bras…
Je te laisse imaginer le awkwardness —la gêne — que tu peux ressentir si tu ne t’y attendais pas…
C’est pourtant exactement ce qui est arrivé à Yuko, notre invitée d’aujourd’hui !
True story, donc.
Yuko est française. Elle habite aux Etats-Unis, dans upstate New York depuis un an. Bien sûr, elle a dû apprendre la langue, mais ça, c’est la partie facile !
Quand on s’installe dans un autre pays, il y a un tas de trucs auxquels on ne pense pas.
Qu’est-ce qu’il faut faire (ou pas) pour se faire des amis ?
Qui peut t’aider à gérer le sentiment d’être super heureux + frustré + fier de toi + homesick + excité + perdu tout à la fois ?
Et quand peut-on lancer dans un hug ?
C’est pour ça que Yuko a créé American Dream En Famille, pour aider les familles françaises à réussir leur expatriation aux Etat-Unis et vivre leur propre rêve américain.
Si tu penses partir aux USA, je te conseille son site, plus qu’un expat blog, c’est plein de services pour rendre ta vie plus facile quand tu feras le grand saut ! C’est ici.
Voici un avant-première de notre discussion :
3:00 What made the US so attractive, in Yuko’s opinion
4:15 What aspects of the American way of life are the most appreciated
4:40 The things that were convincing enough to encourage Yuko and her family to move
6:00: What were the challenges of moving to the US?
8:30: How has it been integrating into American society?
11:00: What could be one of the biggest challenges for a French person in American society?
14:00 How American Dream En Famille helps expatriate families feel more confident about the experience
16:30 How Yuko makes expatriation easier for French families
19:00 Yuko’s biggest tip for living and working with Americans (especially regarding accents)
Prends-toi un grand verre de café glacé and enjoy the video!
And what about you?
Have you ever lived in a different country?
What challenges did you face? How did you overcome them? (Comment tu les as surmonté ?)
Have a fantastic week in English,
Christina
Hi Christina and everybody.
I really enjoyed this video with Yuko. Her experience let me think of my recent stay in Russia, Italy and France.
But I’d like to emphasize more the Russian experience. Yes, cultures are so different from a country to another.
As an African, the first challenge I was faced there in Russia was to be accepted by local people. And, surprise !!! It was so easy for me and for all my countrymen with whom I traveled over there. My first action was to try to take some pictures with these Russian people, just to check their “acceptance” of foreigners, above all Black people.
And, as I said, I was so surprised that each time I suggested to take some pics nobody refused. Some of them even used to ask for photo as well.
About difference of culture: contrary to French habit, Russian are used to drinking a toast many times while taking a meal. In the French system we drink a toast at the beginning when we’re eating in a group. Just one time. But when Russian are eating, they can clink glasses twice, three, four times, or more.
I found it friendlier and more sincere than doing it only on a single occasion (like in French system).
Of course, there are many other things to say about that great experience in Russia. But …
Bernard
Hi Christina
Always a pleasure to look at yiur vidéo. In this one it’s very interesting to see that we Can leave in a foreign country and particularly in us with an intermediate level of english. I’m working with your vidéo since one month and i really enjoy It. I think i improve myself every days.,in one month i Will work in spain for one ear and a half. It Will be awesome expérience. I Will let you know about that.
Thanks a lot for us behaviour, you know a kind of humor which Just give me want learn more whithout working
Speak better feal great 😉
Hi Pierre,
Thank you and welcome to the community! I’m so happy that this video is encouraging you! You’re right, you don’t need to speak a language perfectly to live in a country, make friends, work, and just have a normal life. Plus, if you’re always speaking the new language, you’re going to improve anyway! But you have to start somewhere, and also accept that you’ll always make mistakes. I still make tons of mistakes in French, and I’ve lived here for 12 years!
Your experience in Spain sounds like fun! And you’re right, it’ll be awesome! Please do tell us about it! I’d love to hear about it. Where are you going in Spain?
Have fun and see you soon!
Hi Bernard,
Good to see you here! And really, thank you so much for sharing your experience. It’s very interesting to read about your interactions with the Russians you met, and how they were very friendly with you. That’s so refreshing to hear in a world where so people are being divided by politics so much.
It reminds me of my sister-in-law, who went to China for a 6-week internship–a lot of people wanted to take pictures with her as well, because obviously she looks very different from the Chinese people (she’s tall, white, and has long blond-brown hair).
With the toasting, it sounds like the Russians are a very friendly people who like to have a good time! I’m sure you enjoyed your visit there!
All the best to you! Na zdorovie!