I love France.  Primarily the south, but all of France is ok by me.

Americans love to pick on the French.  It's en vogue to belittle them.  Along with using French vocabulary to emphasize just how bourgeois we Americans really are.  Pathetic.  Don't be one of them, mmkay?

I won't bore us all with countless Trivial Pursuit details, but seriously, let's get a clue.  That Nissan at least one of your friends owns, French (owned by Renault).  The clothes we're being sold, designed by a French designer, and they were cool in France about ten years ago.  A fair amount of pharmaceuticals you've ever taken, made by a French company.  Fine wine, cheese, perfumes, lingerie (even the word, come on), all French.  The 'Savoir Vivre' (look it up, ok), it's aaaall ... French. 

And granted, they were not much for warfare for quite some time.  Colonialism and imperialism are cards that the U.S. holds now though and the war-for-profit concept made to sound ok by our media is not something to be that very proud of.  If you disagree, really, just SHUT. UP.  My brain can't handle the stress of stupidity anymore.

So now if you're ready to repent your ways and explore the world, put France on your list.  Don't be a dingo either, and go see the Tour d'Eiffel, buy some post cards and go home. Rather save up some money, update your resume, quit your job, and go LIVE in Europe for a few months.  Come on, you can do it.  Life's neither that serious, nor that long. 

Before you go and as you prepare, you'll want to get 'Talk to the Snail'.  Yes, I know.  That was a long and possibly harsh intro, especially if you are in the category that I was referencing, in particular.  But you had to find out about your own tragic ignorance, sooner or later. 

Read the book.  It's a great way to understand the underpinnings of what makes the French appear strange, confounding, and possibly arrogant to those who were not taught how to properly interpret some of the cultural idiosynchrasies.  Besides that it shares insights with a fun twist, and pokes fun at the French just enough to where you'll still be able to feel good about yourself after reading it.  And it's motivating to get out of your own perception of the world and see something new.