Over the past month, I have gotten acquainted with differences in cultural norms, both “deep culture” and “surface culture”. I have even started to try and embrace some of them in my own daily life while being here.
To start with “deep culture,” the concept of space here is one that has definitely taken a while to get used to. People tend to be closer together. When waiting in line at the grocery store, I noticed the next person behind me stands much closer than I am used to in the United States. Personal space is much smaller here, which is evident through more overt aspects of French culture, such as la bise.
Especially being near the Mediterranean, time moves much differently and is more relaxed here. I often sense myself trying to hurry from place to place while the people around me walk at a slower pace. At restaurants, I have noticed people taking their time more. In the United States, this almost feels illegal to linger for a bit after finishing your meal. There are more outdoor seating options here and it feels like there is a blurred line between the city and the businesses. They blend together with cohesion, whereas in Pittsburgh, there are distinct boundaries between the two.
This is something I have really come to enjoy while being here. I have been trying to adopt a slower pace and taking my time to enjoy being in the moment.
The most difficult thing to get used to here is how directly people communicate. At home, I feel like we try to “fluff” the things we say. My experience here has been that people get right to the point. Coming from Pittsburgh, it can seem a bit harsh at first, but it is not the intention.
As far as “surface culture,” in Marseille, there is a rich culture in art. The streets are lined with graffiti. While each artist has their own personal style, I would say the same is true for the fashion of the Marseillais. At University, people are dressed much nicer than in the United States. They wear more of a smart casual style with a nice blouse or blazer with jeans. On the streets, there is a wide range of fashion. Because of the city being a port city, there is also a very diverse population here. This makes many aspects of the city a blend between multiple cultures through clothes, art, and cuisine.
Another aspect of “surface culture” is cafe culture. There are many places to get espresso throughout the city and later in the day turn into a bar. My go to is definitely café crème.