THESE 7 THINGS ARE SMALLER IN FRANCE (than the US)

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  • Опубліковано 23 вер 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 237

  • @OuiInFrance
    @OuiInFrance  5 місяців тому +4

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  • @Hiro_Trevelyan
    @Hiro_Trevelyan 4 місяці тому +32

    Idk for other French people, but I grew up with the mentality that any debt = poor. If you owe money, you own nothing. Debt must be erased as fast as possible, and you should always live within your means whenever possible. I think we don't have this "debt culture" in France, in general. Don't spend money you don't have yet.

    • @susanparrott7785
      @susanparrott7785 2 місяці тому +1

      I’m from Pennsylvania and I was raised that way too. Live within your means.

    • @GoelWCS
      @GoelWCS Місяць тому

      I'm French and I do agree

    • @PetitAgent66
      @PetitAgent66 14 днів тому

      yep i agree, and now as French living in Canada, their credit card system is very shitty tbh and i really don't understand, they literally force you to live on credit. Everyone is mocking the chinese social credit score, but it's literally the same in North America 😬

  • @renferal5290
    @renferal5290 5 місяців тому +62

    I love France. The French are wonderful people. Everyone was so kind to me even though my French is very limited.

    • @maximemax6840
      @maximemax6840 5 місяців тому +9

      I'm French and I live in Montmartre, so there are tourists, far too many, people say that the French are mean (especially Parisians), I speak English but if you ask me something without saying "bonjour' before I don't speak English any more, 'bonjour' and 'merci', we give you information, we tell you about cheap and good restaurants etc. Politeness opens all doors for you.

    • @bilp_bloup_bot
      @bilp_bloup_bot 4 місяці тому +5

      @@maximemax6840 there's this one stranger who tell us we are nice, and you had to remind the world how annoying we can be lmao

    • @soldierblack5032
      @soldierblack5032 2 дні тому

      If you're polite and trying to tell something in french with sincerity I don't think anyone would be rude to you. They would at least try to help you if they are able to

  • @gregft1979
    @gregft1979 4 місяці тому +12

    It's not that things are smaller in France. It's that things are bigger in the US than anywhere in the world, for good or bad.

  • @PapaiUrsolino
    @PapaiUrsolino 5 місяців тому +24

    Back in 1998 I went to France to work on a technology project and I noticed so many 2-door cars. When I asked why they don't have more 4-door cars given the convenience, I was told "we don't need that, only if you have a big family".

    • @OuiInFrance
      @OuiInFrance  5 місяців тому +4

      Lots of 4-doors these days!

    • @jfrancobelge
      @jfrancobelge 5 місяців тому +4

      4-doors are more popular today, and in general nowadays the average size of cars in Europe, including France, is bigger than 30 years ago due to the SUV's trend - they are smaller SUV's than in the U.S. but still...

    • @leneanderthalien
      @leneanderthalien 4 місяці тому +1

      Today you cannot afford a 2 doors car because none are built sinze 20 years, very anoying for me because i did buy only 2 door cars sinze 30 years…

    • @marie34K
      @marie34K 4 місяці тому +2

      ​@@leneanderthalienI have a 2 doors car , bought second hand 3 years ago with few kilometers. It is small , fits anywhere I need to park 😊

  • @Valjao67
    @Valjao67 2 місяці тому +2

    Very accurate. You can add, smaller houses, cars, debts, hotel rooms, fridge…. Many things are smaller in France and for us visiting USA is also a surprise because everything is bigger. Food, drinks and car looked intimidating to me. These cultural differences are very interesting and explain a lot who we are and what matters to us from both side of the ocean

  • @MrStan0630
    @MrStan0630 4 місяці тому +10

    I have always stayed in Paris. The elevators there, whether in an apartment or hotel, are extremely small.

    • @Nicolas-ui4lo
      @Nicolas-ui4lo 29 днів тому +1

      That's because most of the elevators were installed as an aftermarket equipment, during one of the building renovations.

  • @olivierpuyou3621
    @olivierpuyou3621 5 місяців тому +15

    Why are salaries lower in France?
    Well, you can go to university virtually for free.
    When in the USA student loans cost you tens of thousands of dollars, in France it will be divided by 10 or 100.
    Currently I am taking paleontology courses for free as I am pre-retired, not to obtain a diploma (at my age that would be stupid) but just for my personal culture and this without spending a cent (apart from the cost of transport to attend the courses in the amphitheater).
    And if we have a lot fewer obese people in our house it's also because our packets of chips are smaller and we don't need big cars to fit big people in them.🤣🤣

  • @TheBunzinator
    @TheBunzinator 5 місяців тому +11

    Australian living in Bretagne here. I fully endorse all these observations.

    • @pnwesty7174
      @pnwesty7174 4 місяці тому

      We went to southern Bretagne last June - and we can't stop thinking about it. The food, drink, scenery, architecture, people - all were wonderful. We are visiting regions to see if we can find a place to retire early - it will be hard to beat. It ticked off boxes we didn't even know we had.

  • @regatta2k
    @regatta2k 5 місяців тому +32

    If I were you, I would reverse the title to: Why everything is bigger in the US. I mean the whole world has similar size of things (food, drinks...etc) as France. The only exception is the US, of course :)

  • @amblincork
    @amblincork 5 місяців тому +16

    The US obesity epidimic started with the introduction of ' low fat' foods which were pumped up sugar or sugar additives to compensate for the loss of tases resulting from law fat - many people are particularly sensitive to sugar in food whoch results in more energy being stored as fat. Bread doesnt need sugar but many breads now do have added sugar or sugar additives.

  • @Hepad_
    @Hepad_ 5 місяців тому +24

    Our landmass might be smaller but we've got the largest EEZ (that's the sea area we legally own) thanks to our overseas territories !

    • @OuiInFrance
      @OuiInFrance  5 місяців тому

      Interesting! What's your favorite one?

    • @mikesmith-rp1mb
      @mikesmith-rp1mb 5 місяців тому +1

      ​@@OuiInFranceMartinique, Reunion.....??

    • @fred972levrai
      @fred972levrai 5 місяців тому +2

      Martinique (with the right flag : Saint Michel's cross with 4 snakes!)

    • @caudron5926
      @caudron5926 5 місяців тому +2

      Non, la deuxième , derrière les USA.

    • @Hepad_
      @Hepad_ 5 місяців тому +3

      @@caudron5926 Non non, c'est bien la première ZEE du monde.

  • @williambarnes2696
    @williambarnes2696 Місяць тому

    Hi Diane, my wife Corinne and I have subscribed and have been enjoying your videos for months now… every time I see one I have the urge to write to you… you are a blessing… your attitude about France and the US is so honest genuine and respectful… to say that you are refreshing is an understatement… I just wanted you to know that you are appreciated and the internet needs more people like yourself. We love France and go there every year..

    • @OuiInFrance
      @OuiInFrance  Місяць тому

      You're so sweet. Thank you for your kind comment. ;-)

  • @benjaminlamey3591
    @benjaminlamey3591 5 місяців тому +6

    regarding the street and parking size, the european car sare also a bit smaller, which definitely helps. but it is true that the european cities do not have that much parking spaces as in the US. Also the city is more dense and therefore smaller in distance that makes walking easier.
    regarding the personnal debt, it probably starts with school cost and student debt, in france you do not need to accoutn for 5 or 600 hundred a month for paying back your student loan, that already makes life a bit easier.
    Personally, each time I land in the US, the first thing that hits me is teh size of the cars, and then the average size of coffee to go .

  • @markt4297
    @markt4297 26 днів тому

    I appreciate all ur info/videos. When I lived in Germany my GF worked for a Jewish account firm. She got all German & Jewish holidays. Also, 3 days a week, paid 1.5 hours to go to the gym.

  • @matthewjay660
    @matthewjay660 4 місяці тому +4

    Bonjour Diane. The 1st time I saw a Smart Car was in France in 1999.

    • @OuiInFrance
      @OuiInFrance  4 місяці тому +2

      Ever seen a Twizy?

    • @solaccursio
      @solaccursio 4 місяці тому

      @@OuiInFrance oooh, I love Twizy, so cute!!!

  • @pmichael73
    @pmichael73 6 днів тому

    Americans are surprised by the size of hotel rooms. They are used to tennis court-sized rooms. My room in Paris last month was small and two people with luggage couldn't fit in the elevator, but it was in perfect order. I even had a tiny balcony in the Mansard roof with a chair and a view of the Pantheon and the Eiffel Tower. Parfait!

  • @MarkBedford-m1o
    @MarkBedford-m1o 5 місяців тому +3

    Hotel rooms, unless you are at 4 star & up, tend to be smaller than what we get in US, though I have had some massive size rooms in older 1 & 2 star hotels. Restaurant tables can be small, just enough room for the plates.

  • @deborahrabine9956
    @deborahrabine9956 5 місяців тому +7

    We just spent two wonderful months in Cage Sur Mer, France (near Nice on the Mediterranean). Right away I noticed that the "large" coffee at our local boulangerie was smaller than the smallest that we get at home in the US but the wonderful croissants, baguettes and French butter make up for that! We were also surprised by the smaller size of the milk and the fact that it is shelf stable and not refrigerated like we experience at home. We were able to find some jars of prepared pasta sauce but they were tiny (maybe 1.5 cups as opposed to the quarts we get). There were quite a few other differences but the most shocking to me was the number of people who do not clean up after their dogs. Lastly, we mixed being able to buy black beans or refried beans for Mexican dishes. And we really missed having a clothes dryer! Overall, it was a fabulous trip!

    • @Uncoeurdailleurs
      @Uncoeurdailleurs 5 місяців тому +4

      I agree with you about the dog poop. I used to live in Paris, and I very often stepped on them. They were everywhere. Even in the most affluent areas.

    • @Belaziraf
      @Belaziraf 5 місяців тому +5

      @@Uncoeurdailleurs That's because the laws are not really enforced like it was in the first few years they were passed. I haven't seen a fine issued for dog poop for near 10 years.
      On the other hand, we can see a boom in parking fines with camera cars patrolling instead of the police and connected park meters.

    • @feraudyh
      @feraudyh 5 місяців тому +6

      Did you mean Cagne sur Mer?

    • @deborahrabine9956
      @deborahrabine9956 5 місяців тому

      @@feraudyh yes. Typo.

    • @feraudyh
      @feraudyh 5 місяців тому

      @@deborahrabine9956 it could be a Freudian slip. Cage evokes prison.

  • @steph744
    @steph744 5 місяців тому +6

    not US but similar, my first time in vancouver I went to a mconald's and asked for a large coffee . she gave me some sort of 40cL cup of coffee, I looked a her with wide eyes and said "I'm alone" 😅. that's the way I learnt about size!!!

    • @OuiInFrance
      @OuiInFrance  5 місяців тому +1

      It'll keep you busy all morning!

    • @steph744
      @steph744 5 місяців тому

      @@OuiInFrance later I was working in a tim horton's , when americans came they would complain about sizes being too small when they seemed gigantic to me 🤣

  • @Tony1771-yj8mc
    @Tony1771-yj8mc 4 місяці тому +1

    Ha I'm American. I'm 5' 10" and weigh 130 pounds. Just to say I'm fairly tall and thin. Yes, US restaurant portions are often pretty big. A to go box is always my best friend upon leaving a restaurant. I can't eat it all in one sitting.

  • @martinasandoval5326
    @martinasandoval5326 5 місяців тому +7

    I have been noticing the portions at restaurants getting bigger and bigger through the years.

    • @OuiInFrance
      @OuiInFrance  5 місяців тому +1

      100%

    • @BrandonLeeBrown
      @BrandonLeeBrown 5 місяців тому

      They are not meant to be completely eaten. They are made larger to justify the price increases. It is relative cheap to add some vegetables, crust, etc,, compared to increases in price. They have been increased in size to make the prices look reasonably increased.

    • @michellemobakeng5938
      @michellemobakeng5938 4 місяці тому

      More Americans living in France, not to mention the multicultural trend growing within its borders, means larger portions for everyone. Just thinking, were those restaurants you went to French?

  • @katrin712
    @katrin712 13 днів тому

    The movie Eat Pray Love was pretty right about Latin relation to food… on this topic, French, Italy and Spain are very much alike

  • @olivierobeuf7758
    @olivierobeuf7758 5 місяців тому +8

    You know what they say in France: "Tout ce qui est petit est gentil" (All that is small is nice).

    • @rowenn1729
      @rowenn1729 5 місяців тому +12

      tout ce qui est petit est mignon

    • @amblincork
      @amblincork 5 місяців тому +1

      Pity they didnt apply that principle to their Empire

    • @hazida5420
      @hazida5420 4 місяці тому

      Tout ce qui est petit est mignon, tout ce qui est grand est con...

  • @napalmglop1
    @napalmglop1 4 місяці тому +2

    Very nice view of the Port des pêcheurs in Biarritz at 1:03!

  • @rainymcg
    @rainymcg 3 місяці тому

    Hello Diane. My family originated from La Rochelle, Perche, Lorraine, Normandy, Paris and extending to Quebec.
    Absolutely adore this channel.

  • @ReckDrogeek
    @ReckDrogeek 5 місяців тому +4

    Encore une bonne vidéo =) Beau travail !

  • @PsiologaLilyValentina
    @PsiologaLilyValentina 5 місяців тому +5

    Hello! Some houses, hotel rooms, soda cans or juice bottles, are smalller in France.

    • @OuiInFrance
      @OuiInFrance  5 місяців тому

      Yup, very true!

    • @Belaziraf
      @Belaziraf 5 місяців тому +1

      Not "some houses" but in general. It the trend will get worse with stricter regulations about low carbon construction. Same floor construction ratio as in the past, thicker walls. And prices higher and higher as you have to conform to new regulations.
      This lead to promoters building even smaller spaces to optimize the costs.
      Soda and juices can be found in sizes fitting the average habits in Europe. 50cl, 33cl and 25cl (less common). But there is a trend for extremely small cans and bricks since the last 10 or so years. Madness considering all the speeches about environment and packaging wastes.
      Well the more you dive into it, the more paradoxes and strange things you'll find. Bad or good. It's all over Europe, but I believe, as a French, that France is a nice country to live in but also very frustrating in many aspects like administration nonsense, waste of time, etc ... There are many things they could have changed for the better but did not. There are many things they shouldn't have changed but did.

  • @santamanone
    @santamanone 5 місяців тому +5

    Another reason France (and most European countries) have smaller cars is they have shorter road trips. When your daily commute is up to 2 hours each way and an average road trip to see family is at least a day’s drive the extra room is just more comfortable.

    • @charleholst3881
      @charleholst3881 5 місяців тому +1

      I was stationed in the UK when I was in the Air Force. The roads, especially in the older parts of town, were narrower and had tighter turns, as the roads were laid out long before motor vehicles. This made smaller cars a necessity. There’s no way you could get, say, an F-150 down some of those streets.

    • @charleholst3881
      @charleholst3881 5 місяців тому +1

      We used to joke that the streets were laid out by a drunk surveyor riding a blind horse, following a snake with a broken back.

    • @santamanone
      @santamanone 4 місяці тому

      @@charleholst3881 yeah, I spent 4 years stationed in southern England. You could tell the ancient Roman roads: they were the straight and wide ones. There was some great 4-wheeling there.

  • @riccardob7774
    @riccardob7774 4 місяці тому +4

    Regarding Salaries. All over Europe Salaries are negotiated NET, while in USA they’re negotiated GROSS. To be able to make a correct comparison of the two, you need to consider what you’re getting in America, deduct your taxes, deduct your healtcare insurance, your pension, your student loans or school/college tuition costs. At that point you have quite a different number to compare with a french NET Salary. PERCEPTION is the word here. You “think” you’re making 6,500$ per month per family (average monthly income per family in USA, average). In reality you make 3,350$ per month per family. Still, all markets look at the 6500$ figure to establish prices and that’s how you get a cost of life double in the USA than in Europe, with similar salaries

    • @OuiInFrance
      @OuiInFrance  4 місяці тому

      Exactly, it's not an apples to apples comparison!

  • @stevedowler2366
    @stevedowler2366 4 місяці тому

    Bonjour. I'll add hotel rooms, bathrooms, shower stalls, stairs, hallways and elevators. And that's just in lodging. The RER and SCNF have smaller and fewer seats but the TGV is luxurious! We did not drive in Paris or Aix en Provence, St Remy de Provence or Villefranche sur Mer and never felt the need. We did rent a car for travel along the Cotê D'Azure from Toulon to Menton but for some reason they gave us a huge SUV-like thing that made small roads and parking difficult. Ask for the smaller car for a much easier trip.

  • @lindaolhava
    @lindaolhava 4 місяці тому

    Diane, I enjoy your observations. I am currently on a 2 month tour of France. In the US I drive pretty much everywhere as I live in surburban California. I am really enjoying the freedom of the public transportation. So much less stressful and in general pretty much reliable/on time.

  • @jean-baptiste6479
    @jean-baptiste6479 4 місяці тому +2

    Something you will never hear in France is the vocal fry. We all have a small voice with tiny intonations😂😂

  • @Pizzageek-jc4xp
    @Pizzageek-jc4xp 4 місяці тому +1

    Over half of new cars sold in France are SUVs and the new parking spaces are being made to accomodate that. I just hope it never gets like in the US. (the car culture, obesity (but that's increasing too) etc.) Electricity rates are some of the highest in Europe (since Feb 2024) The middle class is really shrinking , like in the US. But life is wonderful here...we're lucky.

  • @markbernier8434
    @markbernier8434 5 місяців тому +4

    Garages are shorter too. You have to know your clearance.

    • @OuiInFrance
      @OuiInFrance  5 місяців тому

      I'll have to look closely at that... you mean at private homes? I've never noticed!

    • @markbernier8434
      @markbernier8434 5 місяців тому +1

      @@OuiInFrance Public garage clearances are less than 2m. Homes tend to have ceilings at under 8' compared to North American where new homes are 10' or even more. ( To keep proportion with the larger rooms.) I've seen ads for apartments that would fit in my front room.

    • @shiso7237
      @shiso7237 5 місяців тому +2

      @@markbernier8434 that is true, most parks are limited to 1m90 vehicules. So maybe don't go renting a huge car if you want to make a roadtrip, you want to be nimble.

  • @LaPetitePlaneteDeRoxi
    @LaPetitePlaneteDeRoxi 5 місяців тому +4

    Your makeup looks so French ❤. Also smaller in quantity vs US ..

  • @jacquescalomiti1383
    @jacquescalomiti1383 5 місяців тому +1

    Thanks for your insights of the differences -always interesting!

  • @robertlambeaux897
    @robertlambeaux897 4 місяці тому +3

    Why to eat more that what you need ?

  • @GinaMarieCheeseman
    @GinaMarieCheeseman 5 місяців тому +2

    I am very intimidated by the large portions. I can often make two more meals out of the take home box.

  • @jenniferwightwick5158
    @jenniferwightwick5158 Місяць тому

    Hehehe, I did think that this video might be: "Things that are smaller in France... everything"!
    An unusual one, but toilet paper is smaller 🧻 (that's from someone living across the Channel in the UK)!
    Also, it's interesting to hear your different perspective...to me, France is a large country (the biggest in Europe, in fact), but on the other hand I once was told that it's the size of Texas!

  • @Steven.P.
    @Steven.P. 4 місяці тому +2

    0:36 the size of France is actually 247,800MI² (642,000km²), you forgot overseas territories (guyane, martique, guadeloupe, réunion, mayotte), even 259,460MI² (672,000km²) if you add collectivities (st pierre et miquelon, st barthélémy, st martin, wallis et futuna, Polynésie françaises, nouvelle calédonie, TAAF, Clipperton)

    • @OuiInFrance
      @OuiInFrance  4 місяці тому +1

      Hi, I was just referring to metropolitan France

  • @jml4774
    @jml4774 5 місяців тому +8

    My husband and I spent 2 months in Nice, France over the winter. We found the portions to be huge! We were surprised at how huge they were. We started to order one salad and share it, one main and share it, and one dessert and share that. I do wish that they offered doggie bags because it seemed shamefully wasteful to just throw out food that we could have eaten later or the next day. Our time there was wonderful, people were lovely, kind and friendly. I was sad to return to the USA. I just paid $3.55 per gallon for gas in Massachusetts, and I was shocked. We did not have a car in France, and we did not need one. We used trams, buses, trains and walk a lot every day.

    • @shiso7237
      @shiso7237 5 місяців тому +8

      hi ! Since 2021 french restaurants MUST provide doggie bags if asked, as a legislation was passed to reduce food waste.

    • @olivierpuyou3621
      @olivierpuyou3621 5 місяців тому +2

      If you eat a lot but your physical expenditure such as walking, rather than taking the car, is significant, the results remain positive for your weight and your body. Logic.

    • @singingcat02
      @singingcat02 5 місяців тому +3

      I second what shiso said, if you ask for a doggie bag they're legally obligated to provide you with one ! Don't hesitate to do so. It's a shame to waste indeed

    • @katastroffinthemood9208
      @katastroffinthemood9208 4 місяці тому

      Doggie bags are OK in France but sharing a main dish or a salad is not frowned upon. One can share a starter or à desert I could name restaurant being close during thé tourist high peak season to avoid having tables taken by such clients.

    • @jal051
      @jal051 4 місяці тому

      Family restaurants usually provide bigger rations than fancier ones. It may be that.

  • @damiendaigneau
    @damiendaigneau 4 місяці тому

    Excellent video as usual. But, BEST THUMBNAIL EVER! 😅. Bravo pour ton travail!

  • @mayavandecasteele7309
    @mayavandecasteele7309 4 місяці тому

    lol! We live in La Rochelle so great you gave them a shout out. Didn’t realise you were so close by

  • @StephaneDesnault
    @StephaneDesnault Місяць тому

    Portion sizes in restaurants and supermarkets are one driver of the obesity problem in the US.

  • @justine_machine
    @justine_machine 5 місяців тому +1

    I have a depth perception problem (stereoblind due to having strabismus as a child) and i'm always so nervous driving in france and europe in general. Parking and spaces are so small, roads are too narrow for modern cars and when it's a 2 way street with no lanes and no shoulder and no room for the 2 cars going in opposite directions and i have to try to back up and move to let them through i get so much anxiety. I noticed newer cars are trending larger in Europe too just like in North America and rental car companies always "run out" of the smaller cars too and just offer their larger vehicles which are completely incompatible with older european cities.

  • @marcelmarchon
    @marcelmarchon 4 місяці тому +2

    A venti is supposed to be 20 ounces. "Venti" literally means 20...

  • @buech8311
    @buech8311 5 місяців тому +5

    about cars and roads i went in us in Utah and one scenic road had big sign "biker be careful this is a twisty road !", it is a normal road for french guys ! in France we have very twisty road not only in mountain but also in country . so European's car handle better in curves that American one (not much right since 15 years) it is clear France village have been design for horse wagon. so the car must fit to these tiny space. really amazing in US to heard the gps said in 250 km turn left, it only happen on motorway in France. the country aren't the same size US have plenty of empty space, very very nice huge sized national parks and wild life is still wild . yellow stone was a great memory. I love the country side of US (I don't like any Bigs cities anywhere !). If you haven't see the grand canyon, arche park and the US country space you cannot understand why American needs 4x4 and guns and loves pickup truck. different country, different land, different needs and mentalities.
    thanks Diana for all your video always done with kindness when you compare France and US

    • @santamanone
      @santamanone 5 місяців тому +1

      You should also try the State Parks. Many are nicer than the National Parks.

  • @BarryRowell
    @BarryRowell 4 місяці тому

    Strawberries and that is a very good thing: I hate the Frankenfruit we have here in our grocery stores (farmers’ markets are closer to what I bought at a Franprix in Paris-which is not the best place to buy fruit, I know!).

  • @fruitarian
    @fruitarian 4 місяці тому

    Do you have any interest in Camping in France? The campgrounds are remarkably different. They also have municipal campgrounds, with a star system, to designate which amenities they offer. I think Americans would be interested to learn more about Glamping or holiday parks. I camped a little, on a recent trip, I'm an American, but my short trip just scratched the surface of what the country has to offer.
    If you do, the video might get some hits, because the subject doesn't get a lot of attention, except individual reviews of certain campsites, that are usually in German, posted to UA-cam.

  • @Jessica_P_Fields
    @Jessica_P_Fields 5 місяців тому +9

    I thought of something to add!
    Bottles of wine.
    It's much easier to find half size bottles of wine in France than it is in the US. Supermarkets in France usually have a decent selection of good quality smaller bottles of wine, which is great for me as a solo traveler. I love it!

    • @mariahr673
      @mariahr673 4 місяці тому

      Bonjour Jessica, dans les restaurants français, vous pouvez demander le vin au verre ! D’accord, ils n’ont peut-être pas toute la gamme de la carte, mais un choix très correct 😅

  • @jahoagland
    @jahoagland 5 місяців тому +1

    Great videos Diane! Question: if someone avoids simple carbs-sugar, white flour, etc-will it be an uphill battle for them to enjoy a trip to France?

    • @annepoitrineau5650
      @annepoitrineau5650 5 місяців тому

      Yes and no: whateveer recipes are being cooked in France and the USA, the French version will be less loaded with sugars and fats, and there are a lot of low carb, no refined sugar, low salt versions in shops. Also, restaurants will have options for veg and meat which are not loaded with the nutrients you want to avoid. There is a reason why there are far fewer obese people: food is not just nice (it is also usually nice in the USA), but it is made with good quality ingredients.

  • @jb3558
    @jb3558 5 місяців тому +10

    it is very rare to see an obese person in France and especially not rural France or in the South of France. Everything is done in moderation (except their Strikes and their taxes!). Like you say, their quality of life-style is far more important than either eating or drinking as much as they can. Sadly the UK has been mirroring the US for far too long to the point of embarrassment.

    • @patrickehresmann2404
      @patrickehresmann2404 4 місяці тому +1

      The date when obesity increased among the American population is well known : the early 70s, when president Nixon supported massive use of HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup) by the food industry to help the corn producers and thus get the farmers’ vote. I am French but i used to live in the U.S. and i can state that, although it is possible to find decent healthy food in the U.S., most of the industrial food found in large grocery stores is contributing to obesity. Corn starch is added to anything. For instance, if you buy plain yoghurt in France, it is only made of milk and lactic ferments. In the U.S., it contains corn starch to give it a more creamy texture. One day, i spoke to a civil war reenactor, who was showing me a picture of his brigade posing in uniform, old sepia style. He stated that his picture looked so realistic it could have been taken back in the 1860s. I said no, there is something that does not look accurate. He said what ? The uniforms, the buttons, the side arms, everything is absolutely accurate. I said no, there is one detail that immediately reveals this is a modern picture : obesity. Compare it with genuine pictures from the period, and you’ll see what I mean.

    • @paule8099
      @paule8099 4 місяці тому +2

      That's right , but obesity is increasing now among the French population, especially in the lower classes ( and so it is in the US) because of industrial food coming from the US way of life : burgers, colas, sodas , chips etc .

  • @vijaymujumdar5617
    @vijaymujumdar5617 4 місяці тому

    Portion sizes have gone down in US restaurants in past ten years, perhaps because of high decibel campaign by crusaders. But cost of servings has gone up substantially! Possibly, the crusaders were employed by restaurant industry to boost profits.

  • @bilong92
    @bilong92 4 місяці тому

    I think you could do the opposite, what is bigger in france. One thing I noticed is that regular chocolate bars in french grocery stores tend to come in 200g bars whereas in canada it is 100g or even less.

  • @MissNCGirl
    @MissNCGirl 5 місяців тому +20

    My Dutch friend's late father was shocked at American portion sizes. He thought it was gross.

    • @OuiInFrance
      @OuiInFrance  5 місяців тому +10

      Doggy bag all the way. Perfect for the next day's lunch!

    • @themonkeyking
      @themonkeyking 5 місяців тому +1

      Well my Japanese friend’s uncle loved American portions.

    • @amblincork
      @amblincork 5 місяців тому

      Well most of Netherlands could be put into New York's Central Park....

  • @jodi1979
    @jodi1979 4 місяці тому +1

    I was in Cognac in August 2023

  • @victoriamahon3765
    @victoriamahon3765 Місяць тому

    The sad part is it’s the US food that makes so many people overweight. Most convenience and processed foods in the US are less expensive than healthier high-quality foods and they’re packed with fillers like corn sugar emulsifiers and other chemicals that disrupt your body and your metabolism Among other things. I actually have a medical condition that interferes with my digestion and it’s well known among patient groups of this condition that moving to other countries actually improves your condition because the food has less chemicals and fillers in it. 🙁

  • @vivienhodgson3299
    @vivienhodgson3299 5 місяців тому +4

    And of course the huge portion sizes have absolutely nothing to do with the fact that America is the most obese country in the world....🥴! Frankly, I think that, portion sizes notwithstanding, the fact that you frequently have several courses at a meal instead of just main course and dessert more than makes up for the modest portion size, and in fact, I frequently find myself unable to finish a restaurant meal in France these days. (Oh the trials of old age!) However, I very rarely see an obese, or even seriously overweight French person, and it's quite obviously the CHOICE of food that is the secret. And I do not know a single vegetarian here in rural France, much less a vegan. Think about it!

    • @olivierpuyou3621
      @olivierpuyou3621 5 місяців тому +5

      I think physical activity like walking is also an important factor.

    • @annepoitrineau5650
      @annepoitrineau5650 5 місяців тому +1

      I know several vegetarians and one vegan in France, but you are correct: not like the USA or the UK.

  • @georgiapeach1327
    @georgiapeach1327 4 місяці тому

    Fridges! Wardrobes - television - but the clothes even cheap clothes is in my opinion better made.

  • @micade2518
    @micade2518 4 місяці тому +1

    Small is beautiful and precious things come in small packages ... ;o)

  • @erikhp35c95
    @erikhp35c95 4 місяці тому

    Great feedback. Taxes are also much smaller in the us. Government footprint is obese in France. We drink wine to forget!

    • @andrefava1028
      @andrefava1028 4 місяці тому

      Faux. On le boit parce qu'il est bon. Par contre, il paraît qu'on prend beaucoup d'antidépresseurs.

  • @rangamurali7667
    @rangamurali7667 4 місяці тому

    Interesting what may look quirky facts for Americans, but its a cultural difference that anyone traveling to France experiences first hand. Big houses, big cars, big salary, and long hours..where does it lead to. Old America is fading away, small towns are hemmed by and encroached by industries and big shopping malls, outlets.

  • @Daphneredhead
    @Daphneredhead 5 місяців тому +5

    France small... me Googling how much bigger France is compared to the Netherlands... 😏 (13,5 times btw)

    • @frenchguy7518
      @frenchguy7518 5 місяців тому +2

      It's all relative. Yes, France is the largest country in the EU. But it's also tiny compared to the US.

    • @olivierpuyou3621
      @olivierpuyou3621 5 місяців тому

      @@PascalDupont-ft7hd 675 417 km2, et ce qui est énorme c'est la ZEE zone économique exclusive, la deuxième au monde voir la première si on compte la Terre Adélie.

    • @bilp_bloup_bot
      @bilp_bloup_bot 4 місяці тому

      @@PascalDupont-ft7hd hein ?

  • @Lilbopprrr
    @Lilbopprrr 5 місяців тому

    Bonjour, My brain is not braining today, where is your guide please? I checked your store and only saw merch. Merci!

    • @OuiInFrance
      @OuiInFrance  5 місяців тому +2

      It's in the description box! Here's the link:
      bit.ly/3gzSWY5
      Thx for checking it out!

  • @Uncoeurdailleurs
    @Uncoeurdailleurs 5 місяців тому +6

    That explains why French people are " en forme. " ( in shape )

  • @lawrencebaker2318
    @lawrencebaker2318 5 місяців тому +3

    I think multi-storey car parks are the worst in France. So steep and narrow! I nearly had a stroke getting my rental up to the 6th floor of the garage to turn it in. Otherwise, no problems driving in France.

    • @OuiInFrance
      @OuiInFrance  5 місяців тому

      Oh man, yeah the 6th floor is a bit tedious!

    • @yagi3925
      @yagi3925 5 місяців тому

      A very simple solution: learn how to drive. Most Americans are very poor drivers, which is no small paradox for a car-centric country.

    • @davidpaterson2309
      @davidpaterson2309 3 місяці тому +1

      It’s so much more fun in a RHD SUV coming from the U.K. - try those tight turns in a Volvo with the steering wheel on the “wrong” side.

    • @lawrencebaker2318
      @lawrencebaker2318 3 місяці тому

      @@davidpaterson2309 I don't even want to think about it! Ouch!!!

  • @bjhelder
    @bjhelder 5 місяців тому +2

    Hotel Rooms!

  • @jeanmarieboucherit7376
    @jeanmarieboucherit7376 5 місяців тому +2

    You forgot one thing😮 Women tend to wear their hair shorter in France😅

  • @ninaelsbethgustavsen2131
    @ninaelsbethgustavsen2131 3 місяці тому +1

    France's small size...
    Only an American would say that ! 😂
    Love from Norway 🇳🇴

  • @brianbarcroft9167
    @brianbarcroft9167 5 місяців тому +2

    Yes but France is also an integral part of Europe which is larger than the US. And, as part of the EU any French citizen has the automatic right to jump in their car and and simply drive wherever they want withon the 27 member countries.

    • @frenchguy7518
      @frenchguy7518 5 місяців тому +3

      The US is about twice the size of the EU, though the latter has more people.

  • @steveblack5066
    @steveblack5066 4 місяці тому

    How about paper towels, small roll and sheets are half as big. Four to five sheets later, I've cleaned up the mess. And the final one that ticks me off is...drum roll....the toilet seats are too small. Take it from a 5'5" male who weighs 150 lbs, they are uncomfortably small and practically too small to get the job done. No visual required.

  • @mrsporty9669
    @mrsporty9669 4 місяці тому +1

    Metric please

  • @Rachel-rs7jn
    @Rachel-rs7jn 5 місяців тому

    I honestly prefer the smaller size of packaging, since I don't have a big family to feed. I waste so much less. But I definitely agree that the extra packaging is unfortunate if you need a bigger quantity.

    • @Rachel-rs7jn
      @Rachel-rs7jn 5 місяців тому +2

      P.S. Just bought the guide to share with all the guests coming to my wedding in July! ☺

    • @santamanone
      @santamanone 5 місяців тому

      I go through a gallon of milk on my own in just a few days (cooking with it as well as drinking it) With the family we go through almost a gallon per day. And I prefer to buy enough on a shopping trip to last at least a week but milk’s one of the things I just can’t fit a week’s worth in the fridge.

    • @OuiInFrance
      @OuiInFrance  5 місяців тому +1

      Thank you so much!! The big day is right around the corner. You must be so excited!

  • @fp2374
    @fp2374 4 місяці тому +1

    Yes France is about the size of Texas but its the second biggest output agriculture producer in the world, size sometimes don't matter its performance. Salut

  • @amiedetherese
    @amiedetherese 4 місяці тому

    The French don't carry as much debt as Americans because they haven''t had to pay student loans for schools like MIT, Caltech, Stanford, Yale, Harvard, Princeton and many more schools. Whaat is the French equivalent of those schools?

  • @steph744
    @steph744 5 місяців тому +1

    my guess before watching: people cars servings streets houses drinks 100% what else??

  • @francois-xavieresperance5007
    @francois-xavieresperance5007 Місяць тому

    Je n'ai jamais compris le principe de l'apéro. Quand tu as faim, ça ne fait que repousser l'heure du repas. Et ça donne de mauvaises habitudes, notamment avec l'alcool. Bref, c'est pas mon truc.

  • @bunsenk414
    @bunsenk414 5 місяців тому +1

    Everything is bigger in the US, even 20 in Italian translate to 24 in American

  • @jb3558
    @jb3558 5 місяців тому +2

    PEOPLE!

    • @OuiInFrance
      @OuiInFrance  5 місяців тому +2

      Yup, the obesity stats I mentioned are staggering

    • @deborahrabine9956
      @deborahrabine9956 5 місяців тому +1

      @@OuiInFrance I am a plus sized woman and I was unable to buy any clothes in France.

    • @OuiInFrance
      @OuiInFrance  5 місяців тому +3

      Yes, sizes are definitely more limited.

    • @annepoitrineau5650
      @annepoitrineau5650 5 місяців тому

      @@deborahrabine9956 Plus size people in France usually buy from catalogues or on line (Daxon, Afibel etc)

    • @singingcat02
      @singingcat02 5 місяців тому

      ​@@deborahrabine9956 Yup, sadly that's why most plus sized people in France actually buy on american websites/international websites or stores that generally have a much larger range of sizes than the typical french clothing shop, adapted to the american public. Size range in France is very limited (typically XS/S/M/L/XL/XXL and nothing over 2XL, with our sizes being consistently about 1 size smaller - our S is your XS, etc). Thankfully it's slowly starting to change.

  • @bjhelder
    @bjhelder 5 місяців тому

    Elevators!

  • @Lilbopprrr
    @Lilbopprrr 5 місяців тому

    The current exchange rate is €1 to $1.07 US dollars... I put the €1 and the centimes in to a converter and got a much lower number. What am I missing? Thanks.

    • @Lilbopprrr
      @Lilbopprrr 5 місяців тому +1

      Ah, I missed "liter". My bad!

    • @OuiInFrance
      @OuiInFrance  5 місяців тому +2

      yah, you have to multiply it by 3.78 (3.78 liters in a US gallon)

    • @Lilbopprrr
      @Lilbopprrr 5 місяців тому +3

      ​@@OuiInFrance And people in the US complain constantly about our prices, which are much lower. 😅

    • @annepoitrineau5650
      @annepoitrineau5650 5 місяців тому +1

      @@Lilbopprrr But I wonder if US citizens do not have less available income due to paying loans etc. It is not about how much money you have, but what you can do with it measured against what you (really) need to do with it.

  • @GenialHarryGrout
    @GenialHarryGrout 5 місяців тому +1

    When I lived on Lac Léman I would drive to Thonon-les-Bains and park in the centre in the underground car park and getting into a parking space was like playing Tetris.

    • @OuiInFrance
      @OuiInFrance  5 місяців тому +3

      Did you ever hit anything? Lots of people do. The columns and walls look like rainbows

    • @GenialHarryGrout
      @GenialHarryGrout 5 місяців тому +2

      @@OuiInFrance AT the time I was had a large Renault Estate car and you had to drive slower than a snail carrying a round of cheese. I never hit anything on any of my visits but I can understand why many people in that area drove small cars. Even spaces at the Cora Hypermarche were a bit on the slim side

  • @sarahferrell5458
    @sarahferrell5458 4 місяці тому

    HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE.
    American large portions are a stupid “substitute“ for a genuinely better life in France… but Americans are like allergic to realizing that.
    It’s SAD.
    I’m American by birth.

  • @ivanlefou9450
    @ivanlefou9450 5 місяців тому +3

    Help with the algorithm

  • @jobslolo7387
    @jobslolo7387 5 місяців тому +1

    vous oubliez tous les territoires francais d'outres mer... c'est aussi la france. en les prennant en compte on est ptet pas si petit.

  • @jouffroy47
    @jouffroy47 2 місяці тому

    Mais tout est petit en France considering how much the French use this to describe everything 🙃

  • @awellculturedmanofanime1246
    @awellculturedmanofanime1246 4 місяці тому

    ayo the thumbnail

  • @AtlantaGarden
    @AtlantaGarden 2 місяці тому

    Yogurts are smaller.

  • @JudgeFredd
    @JudgeFredd 4 місяці тому

    Let me guess...

  • @timwilliams19
    @timwilliams19 5 місяців тому +2

    I'm not sure driving like a local is such a good idea 🤣

  • @paule8099
    @paule8099 4 місяці тому

    Error : la superficie de la France est de 551 000 km2 environ . It's rather easy to find this information ! You should compare what can be compared and compare USA and Europe . Or compare France to some state in US (I'm French and am living in France) .

    • @bbmissionary
      @bbmissionary 4 місяці тому +1

      She quoted it in miles,not kilometers; the only “error” is yours. Lol.

  • @BeachyKeen-ub9rg
    @BeachyKeen-ub9rg 5 місяців тому

    👍

  • @Paul-p1p6m
    @Paul-p1p6m 4 місяці тому

    The ego of the people is also smaller in France than in the USA, even if the French think they invented warm water.

    • @OuiInFrance
      @OuiInFrance  4 місяці тому

      Def depends on the person!

    • @MoniqueBOUILLOUX
      @MoniqueBOUILLOUX 3 місяці тому

      Hello.... but in 1769 the French Joseph CUGNIER invented the first ''STEAM MOTOR '' engine ... from WARN Water. of course 😂...

    • @karinwestberg7960
      @karinwestberg7960 Місяць тому

      ​@@OuiInFrance and of the ankles !! Private french joke.

  • @fh-lk3fp
    @fh-lk3fp 4 місяці тому

    Les gros, la connerie, la débilité, l'ignorance (et c'est pas peu dire), la corruption, l'agressivité,la volonté de dominer le monde et tant d'autres choses négatives.

  • @matthill2166
    @matthill2166 5 місяців тому +1

    Lmao bien joué

  • @maureenm8462
    @maureenm8462 4 місяці тому

    Anything outside the usa is smaller😂😂

  • @maximemax6840
    @maximemax6840 5 місяців тому +3

    Une grosse erreur sur la taille de France c'est 1 227 112 Km², à savoir 551 695Km² pour la métropole et 675 417Km² avec les outres mers, je ne sais pas d'où tu sors tes 212 900Mi².

    • @OuiInFrance
      @OuiInFrance  5 місяців тому +3

      Bonjour, je ne pense pas que j'ai fait une erreur. La France métropolitaine = 551,695 kilometers squared (comme vous avez dit) et ca fait 212,900 miles squared.

    • @olivierpuyou3621
      @olivierpuyou3621 5 місяців тому +2

      @@OuiInFrance Bonjour chère madame.
      Oui vous avez raison mais la France ce n'est pas que la métropole, plusieurs millions de français vivent en France d'Outre mer. Soit 1 227 112 km2 ou 766 945 miles carrés.

    • @maximemax6840
      @maximemax6840 5 місяців тому

      @@OuiInFrance Oui mais tu exclues donc presque 3 millions de personnes, la taille de la France est en tout de 4334812Mi², regarde géographie now, sinon j'aime bien ta chaîne, ce n'est pas pour chipoter mais tu as dit France, je t'invite vraiment à regarder géographynow, tu vas halluciner. bisous.

    • @maximemax6840
      @maximemax6840 5 місяців тому

      @@OuiInFrance Oui mais tu exclues donc presque 3 millions de personnes, la taille de la France est en tout de 4334812Mi², regarde géographie now, sinon j'aime bien ta chaîne, ce n'est pas pour chipoter mais tu as dit France, je t'invite vraiment à regarder géographynow, tu vas halluciner. bisous.

    • @maximemax6840
      @maximemax6840 5 місяців тому

      @@olivierpuyou3621 Et si on part sur la Métropole il faut oublier la Corse alors, le calcul n'est pas bon. J'espère que cette réponse va arriver, les 2 précédentes ont été supprimer.

  • @judithburgess952
    @judithburgess952 4 місяці тому +2

    France is in a dire state. Talk about unemployment, homelessness, etc. Some people wd live to have your "problems" The government is a disaster. Like most other european countries. Frexit now..

  • @dannywest7587
    @dannywest7587 5 місяців тому +2

    Don't forget that presidents,smaller and weed,far more weedy,not to mention gutless and sneaky.

    • @marie-claudeguegan3219
      @marie-claudeguegan3219 5 місяців тому +1

      @dannywest 7587
      ????
      What presidents? Which ones? US presidents? French ones? Met them all, have ya?

    • @ybreton6593
      @ybreton6593 5 місяців тому +5

      vous parlez de présidents ? plus petit , mauvais , sans courage et sournois . de qui vous parlez et qu'est ce que vous entendez par cela vous faite référence à qui ?. je suis français

    • @ybreton6593
      @ybreton6593 5 місяців тому +2

      are you talking about presidents? smaller, evil, courageless and sneaky. who are you talking about and what do you mean by that you are referring to?. I am French

    • @olivierpuyou3621
      @olivierpuyou3621 5 місяців тому +2

      It's not the size that matters, it's how you use it.🤣🤣

    • @annepoitrineau5650
      @annepoitrineau5650 5 місяців тому +1

      De Gaulle, Pompidou (his wife was VERY tall and wore heels, so he did not look as tall as he was), Chirac and Giscard were tall. No idea about the others.