One of the most distinct differences that has stuck out to me while living in France is the public transportation system in comparison to the United States. I am studying in Aix-en-Provence which is a small town, compared to big cities like Paris, Lyon, Marseille, etc. Despite living in a smaller town, there is still wonderful public transportation. I can also easily walk to almost anything I need, although I do live in the most central part of Aix. However, if you do not live in the center of town, like some of my friends, you can easily take a short bus ride to access anything you need. The dependence on the bus system is so different compared to the United States; the bus is not commonly taken by most Americans. In addition, my host parents and most people who live here do not need a car. If you need to go a further distance the bus can take you to the nearby big city, Marseille, which is also where the airport is located. If you want to go to a different city or even another country you can easily take the train which makes travel much more convenient and accessible. Then if you do visit a big city like Paris, you can easily take the metro to get around the city.
Not only is the train a scenic experience, but it is also a cleaner option for the environment. Trains emit a substantially less amount of greenhouse gasses compared to cars and they have the ability to carry many more passengers at one time. Also in France, everyone is very environmentally conscious. For instance, we turn off every light when we leave the room, for laundry we are subscribed to a renewable energy plan so we have certain days that we do our laundry, and we are very careful of our water consumption. This was a big adjustment when I first moved here, since these efforts are not as common in the United States. Therefore, I believe the reliance on public transportation is also intertwined with France’s environmental efforts. While living abroad I will continue to enjoy and appreciate the public transportation system, with the hope that the United States will implement similar transportation initiatives one day.