『지극히 사적인 프랑스』 (A Very Private France, or An Exceedingly Private France, 2019) is a book written by Aurélien Loubert, a native French professor and a TV personality currently residing in Korea. It offers a glimpse into contemporary French society viewed from the perspective of an expatriate. I think it's a useful introductory book to dismantle prejudices that Koreans tend to have towards France. The author points out the discrepancies between France's "image" and "reality" and offers a more nuanced picture. Some of the really interesting things for me were the following:

🔹While it is true that French people, in general, talk openly and frequently about politics, the high level of interest doesn't always guarantee the quality of the ensuing discussions. Many people do not take action, such as voting, to change the status quo, partly due to the overall disillusionment with the government.

🔹The protests of May 1968 marked a turning point (at least symbolically) from traditionally held values such as religion, authority, and patriotism to secularism and individualism. Children do not necessarily feel obligated to support and take care of their (aging) parents, but they think that parents are responsible for their children, as it was the parents' choice to give birth to their children. (?!) Also, teamwork is much less emphasized and anticipated than in some East Asian countries and the United States.

🔹Identity is thought to come from self-expression detached from the community. In fact, many people (especially teenagers) try to find hobbies and tastes in music, film, etc., that would distinguish them as "unique" apart from others. Most people thus develop a niche of things they like and want already in adolescence. This contrasts with many Korean students' lack of hobbies other than "eating" and "sleeping." (Oh, my!) However, this pursuit of expressive individualism also generates snobbism.

🔹Interestingly, while on the one side is pervasive individualism, there is a general preference for strong leadership on the other side, esp. in times of crisis, whether in the workplace or the government. The social structures are more hierarchical and rigid than some neighboring countries.

🔹The employee is the king, not the customer. (Really?) Make sure you greet the employee when you enter a shop.

🔹The civil servant is definitely the king.

🔹People don't often clean up after their dogs, leaving the streets dirty, possibly because they do not appreciate the feeling of "waiting on" or "serving" their pets. (For real?)

🔹It's rare to see the national flag of France as in some other countries. For many decades, especially for younger generations, it symbolized war, nationalism, extreme right, and xenophobia. But this notion is changing gradually, as it became a symbol of commemoration and solidarity after the November 2015 Paris attacks.

🔹Administration, social equality, education, and fake news — I can't recall the author saying a lot of positive things about these issues, and the more I read about them, the more I realize how similar the situations are in South Korea. But I'm honestly glad I don't have to go through the administrative hell in France!

I think I have mentioned more "negative" aspects of France, thus treating it unfairly (!), probably because I listed things that struck me the most. Overall, however, the book helped me see France as more "alive," bustling with conflicting interests, ideas, and movements, with all its complexities and beauties, full of people not very different from me. I feel more curious and eager to learn about France than ever before.