Through my first week in Strasbourg, France, I have learned a lot about French culture. One thing that stuck out to me right away was how the people are very formal. Whenever you enter any shop or restaurant it is important to say bonjour to the workers to show a sense of acknowledgement and sign of respect. Furthermore, during meals it is very apparent that restaurants are not trying to just turn a profit but genuinely care about their customers really experiencing the food and culture of their restaurant. Additionally, the French truly care about protecting their environment and keeping their cities clean. I have noticed that they are very hesitant to use materials that could be harmful and are very environmentally aware. Through this experience I hope to continue to learn more about European culture and how their day to day lives differ from mine in the US. I am also looking forward to traveling around different parts of Europe experiencing unique opportunities that are not available back home. My first week has been an absolute blast and I cannot wait to see what the next four weeks have in store.
