My American Bubble

It's funny all the little things that we take for granted back in the States; we become accustomed to things being a certain way that we forget that other countries may not be as fortunate to include those luxuries in their daily lives. I was one of those individuals with a warped mind.

Since I have never been out of the country (with the exception of my birth) my mind was set in an American bubble. By this I simply mean that I perceived, or rather imagined, that for the most part the cultures were similar with the differences being attributed to the various dialects.

After a few days in France I arrived at the conclusion that my original premise was not only incorrect but was very ignorant and naive. I am almost ashamed to admit my stupidity; I fit the French's generic stereotype of Americans: ignorant and self-centered-- basically an "American Bubble".

I think one of the most important things we, as Americans, take for granted is our public restrooms-- correction, our FREE public restrooms. Although they my be disgusting and downright atrocious at times, there was no fee to urinate.

During my stay I found that it is customary in France to pay roughly 0,30 euros, depending on where you are just to use the local facilities. This is great and all since the money goes towards keeping the bathrooms clean (which I am in no way complaining about), but if you are like me and have a tiny bladder in which liquids go right through you, this system of paying to pee can present itself as a problem. Bathrooms can make up to 3 euros a day just from me alone. And to be honest, this notion of paying to pee is a little far fetched. My mind simply cannot grasp this concept because I have become accustomed to free facilities back in the States and because I would rather spend 3 euros on a sorbet framboise.

But isn't that why I came here; to experience a new culture with all their idioms and customs? Yes I came to learn about the art and architecture which has been around for ages, but I also came to experience a new way of living which branched out from my own. After all, there are billions and billions of people residing on this planet in which no one person is the same as their neighbor; different beliefs, customs, morals and so on. Copernicus did prove that we are not the center of the universe, so isn't it about time we stop acting like it; that we all break out of our own bubbles and experience the world for everything it's worth?