Our local travel group from Tennessee visited picturesque France in November of this year. We were divided into two groups and the tour buses took us across the countryside. Thirty seven of us were assigned to the group one bus. We had knowledgeable tour leaders, an energetic tour manager, and a skilled driver. Our tour manager helped us practice French etiquette. Bonjour is an expected greeting.
After a restful night, our tour began by visiting the iconic Palace of Versailles. The next day, we journeyed to the country side into Normandy. Visiting Monet’s countryside home and garden in Giverny was breathtaking. As our tour bus traveled through the rich pasturelands of Normandy to the city of Caen, we stared out the windows in awe. It was difficult to visit the D-Day Landing Sites, to include the American Cemetery, beaches, Pointe du Hoc Ranger Memorial, Airborne Museum and various other museums. We honored the fallen service members in silence. As a veteran and the daughter of a WWII veteran, I was lost in thought.
The beautiful and coastal Saint-Malo was our next stop. The views of the fortified Old Town were breathtaking. After visiting Normandy, I needed to see beauty of the city and enjoyed the delicious freshly prepared dinner with my fellow travelers.
On day five, we traveled to Le Mont St. Michel. Resting on the border between Normandy and Brittany, this world-famous pilgrimage site sits on the edge of the sea. We walked on the narrow cobble stone streets and shopped in the quaint shops at the base of the Abbey. Many of us walked up the 250 steps to explore one of the most beautiful monastic complexes in France. After a self-guided tour, we explored more shops at the base of the Abbey before meeting our group at the designated time.
The next day, we journeyed south to Loire Valley and explored the medieval village of Chinon. There, we toured a local winery and tasted some of the best wines France has to offer. We learned we would be spending two nights in Chateau de Beauvois, a 15th century castle frequented by King Louis X111. We felt like royalty and dined like royalty. Our tables were beautiful decorated and the food was delicious! The castle was my favorite place to sleep and dine. We had to open our room with a skeletal key and there was a wine cellar at the bottom of the castle. After breakfast, we headed to the picturesque center of Amboise where we had time to explore the spectacular romantic castle, Chateau de Chenonceau at our own pace.
On day ten, we traveled the French countryside to Paris, the City of Lights! We stayed in a grand hotel in the heart of the walkable city. The next day, we glided under romantic bridges during a scenic cruise on the Seine River and passed the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral. The following day, we went on an amazing panoramic city tour. Later that evening, some in our group visited the Louvre before meeting us for a farewell dinner in the beautiful and lighted Eiffel tower.
Many of us were first time visitors to France. We were surprised the hotel elevators, beds, bathrooms and rooms were small. We adjusted to sleeping side by side with our room-mates in our individual twin beds. We had full days so we were exhausted anyway. Most of the activity in France is outdoors, instead of inside.
We spent 12 days in France and did not see any evidence of poverty, but we know it exists in all countries. As expected, tourists are taken to tourists attractions. I grew up in abject poverty and was curious to know how poverty in France compared to poverty in the United States. My curiosity got the best of me; therefore, my research began after returning home.
France has a population of 68 million people, compared to over 345 million in the United States. The poverty rate is around 15.6% compared to 18% for the United States. The poverty rates, lines, and thresholds are calculated differently in Europe. In the United States, the poverty threshold is $26,246 for a family of four. This is significantly lower than the World Bank method used in Europe.
The country has universal healthcare. The government provides medical services to all people, regardless of their ability to pay. Universal health care may offer free services, but participants might still pay premiums or copays. Still, costs are usually lower than in non-universal systems. Funding is primarily derived from taxpayers. No citizen is denied coverage based on their ability to pay. Education is provided and funded by the state and is free for all children 3 to 18 years of age. Schooling is mandatory for children up to age 16. In private schools, 20% of the students receive public funding to cover personnel cost. This makes the school fees low. Higher education is free and funded by the state. There are two tracks to higher education. The first track is the standard university track. This means the only criteria for admission is a high school diploma. The second track is at a higher education institution. Admission requires competitive examinations.
In 2022, the hourly wage in France increased from 8.8 Euros in 1982 to 11 Euros for workers over 18 years. The minimum age in the United States has remained at $7.25 an hour for 15 years. In 1988, the work week was around 35 hours in France. This was for the employees’ health and well -being. Now, the work week is around 36.9 hours. This is still less than the 40 hours full-time work week in the United States. During our travels, we were warned that many restaurants and shops not in tourist areas are closed on Sundays and some on Mondays. Sunday means a day of rest in France. During the summer, businesses may shut down for a week or two in July or August. Dinner is usually between 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. This allows for longer breaks between the end of the workday before starting the evening meal. It gives people the time to relax and socialize before eating. Since lunch is the most indulgent meal of the day, there is no rush for an early dinner.
In France, it is common etiquette to greet the shop keepers with Bonjour or Bonsoir. This shows politeness and respect and sets the tone for the rest of the shopping experience. Failure to do so is rude in French culture. Tourists may be viewed as arrogant or uppity.
I did not see any overweight French people. Nor, did they seem to be rushed. They make physical activity a part of their day. Many people walk or ride bicycles. I observed people socializing with each other. We were used to being rushed during meals, but the French people took time to savor and enjoy the food and conversation. Meals are served in smaller portions, and include fresh and high quality ingredients. Butter and bread were a must at restaurants! Despite a high fat diet, according to research, the French have a lower rate of obesity and heart attacks. Natural saturated fats don’t seem to be the culprit. In addition to smaller portions, the French avoid snacking between meals, stop eating when full, and focus on dishes made from locally grown, fresh, and quality ingredients. Our energetic tour manager explained the French sugar content for products is less than in the United States.
The unemployment rate in France has increased to around 10%. This is higher than the estimated 3.4% in the United States. According to research, this spike in unemployment in France is related to the decline of industries and increase in the number of immigrants. There are pockets of poverty throughout France, but the poorest region is Hauts-de-France, approximately 94 miles from Paris. It has the highest rate of poverty and unemployment. The current poverty rate is around 14.5%.
The Ile-de-France region, which includes Paris, has the highest concentration of homeless individuals in France. However, there are not enough emergency shelter spots in Paris to accommodate everyone in need. Additionally, areas such as Grigny in the Paris suburbs face significant poverty rates.
There are many reasons for poverty. Some reasons have changed over the years. When I was a little girl growing up with my family in poverty in the segregated South, it seemed intentional. Dad, a WWII veteran, was denied employment. Today, most poverty may be related to a lack of well-paying jobs, limited education, substance abuse, and the high cost of healthcare.
I write about poverty and my travels to help encourage and empower others. My parent’s never gave up. They believed their five children would achieve and we did! It’s not how you start but how you finish!
When I was a young girl, I took French in high school and dreamed of going to Paris. I lived in a public housing project but never gave up on my dream. The day came when I decided to go on a trip to France with one of my best friends and a group of strangers. What a journey! We became a close group of travelers and we met new friends along the way. Our trip turned into an educational and fun adventure!
Who knows what adventure we’ll take next year, but I’m ready! Au revoir!
Francie Mae. December 29, 2024.
Reference
Bozio, Antoine;
Guillot, Malka; Puschnig, Luka; To, Maxime.”Inequality in France: 1968-2022.” Institute
for Fiscal Studies. Country Studies: Inequalities in Europe and North America. November
22, 2023. Website. Accessed December 29, 2024.