Some of this is not what I consider typical for an American home-mainly, having 2 cars per person is something I have very rarely encountered. Everyone does have a car, because you really need to have one living in the US, but we’re not doubling up on cars-that would be way too expensive for most people. Also, I think 1-2 TVs in a home is much more common. I have never known anyone who had 6. 😂
Agreed. I have one car, two TVs, and zero ice makers. 😄Growing up we sometimes had extra cars lying around but only because my dad bought them cheap and fixed them up to resell.
'you really need a car living in the US' is a lies the car makers have been successfully instilling on the Americans to keep themselves in business and making Americans poor, hypoactive, often overweight because of that, and with poor air quality. It can be hard at the beginning, but owning a car is a choice, just like living in a city that won't respect your wish to use public transit, bike or your legs. I speak from experience of living in 6 states and 7+ municipalities in the US. It is easier in cities like Boston and harder in towns like West Hartford, CT, and Nashville, TN. The more you rebel and stand up for what's right, the higher the chance things will change (to public transit).
@@AY-ln1mk No, you don't understand. When people live in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by the middle of nowhere, they need a car. There are places in the US where you would have to DRIVE over an hour to get to the nearest bus stop. Imagine walking that distance? Not practical. In some places you need a car. But one person does NOT need two cars.
@@AY-ln1mk But you really do need a car. The US isn't designed for walking or utilizing bicycles. Public transport is unreliable and can be quite dangerous. The auto industry flourishes in the US because of the long distances of stores and our jobs.
Your parents have a lot of TVs, ice and cars even for Americans! I would say most families have 2 or 3 TVs, one ice maker and one car per adult. Realize that except in dense major cities you need a car to go anywhere. There is very limited public transportation.
The air conditioning is nice but I have found it is often set too cold so you need a sweater, but I think the a/ c is necessary in hot places and the tap with spray water is good too though these are readily available in Europe too. ROYAL MAIL in UK has just started a system for parcels where you can pay a bit extra when buying postage online for it to be collected from your house like couriers will do but drop off price is cheaper in both cases. Garbage disposal units add to sewage problems even in small particles it costs additional resources in filtering it food waste should be composted and collected separately as it is here in Scotland. 2 cars per person is excessive and am seriously not impressed by the over consumption in regards to tvs and cups etc. The planet has finite resources and just because you can afford 25 thermal cups doesn't mean you should have them. I can see that someone might need a van for work and a car for personal use but gas guzzlers on a drive is not something to be proud off. However this isn't really an accurate comparison small bed Paris apartment should be compared with a New York apartment or a french country house with a suburban family home I really like your channel but I think there is a misreading the room here
Yeah, when she said "most people in the U.S. have TVs in their bedroom, their living room, their dining room,...." I didn't think that was a fair statement. Clearly that's true of the people she knows but it's not true at all of the people I know. My parents and my sister's family only have one.
Agree. A TV in the common family room and maybe 1 or 2 elsewhere is probably more the norm. As to cars, absolutely. They are necessary to live just about everywhere outside of generally older big cities with established communities based around public transport. I have also found one vehicle per person is the norm with maybe one extra at most. We have had a series of "utility" vehicles (old cheap beat up late model work trucks) for diy and garden work which have been very popular with our friends and family as well as everyone "needed" to borrow it.
That is NOT a typical American house, far from it. Most people don't have 2 cars per person, most don't have 6 television sets, where I live people run their a/c at about 76-78 degrees and use ceiling or small electric fans. The main thing I notice when overseas is no dryers in homes. My friends in Australia and France (definitely upper middle class) dry their laundry outside on clotheslines.
I just came back from 19 months in France, and I have all these items in my California house, except that we have 1 car and (potentially) 2 TVs. I wouldn't say that this house is atypical for an upper-middle-class home.
@@amvytrading8541 That's quite true -- how did you guess? (When I first moved to California, many years ago, coming from Florida I was shocked to find NO SCREENS on our windows of the first apartment we rented. But you don't need screens in California, thanks be to God!) P.S. We don't have screens in our Paris apartment, either. I'm not sure that I've ever seen a screen on a window in France.
I'm thinking you have to own a house to be able to do that. We are American, but we own an apartment in Paris and smaller one in Narbonne (Languedoc-Occitanie), and it's written in the building rules for both places that you cannot hang laundry out your windows, or in the courtyard... no place visible, either from the street or by the other building residents. (My friends with a house in a medieval village in Burgundy have their own enclosed garden where they hang their laundry.) Whenever we travel to Portugal, I'm always struck by the laundry hanging out the windows. It makes for great photographs, but I notice it right away because I've never seen it in France. P.S. After renting five apartments in Paris, the first thing I bought when we got our own place was a *clothes dryer*! We have to keep it in the hall closet -- there's no other place for it --but it actually creates a nice "warm box" for our hanging clothes as well.
lol, this family is living better than most people in the US. This is definitely upper middle class white suburbia. They have 4 cars and live on a lake.....
The reason why the French do not use garbage disposal in their kitchen is because a family would usually finish everything that was prepared. At least in my time, plates had to be empty at the end of the meal and there was always a way to use left over. A pot-au-feu would feed us for days, left over ending up in soup or stew. And if in rare cases uneaten food remained, the dog of the house would help with that.
Oui mais il reste toujours des residus de nourriture dans les plats, qui finissent au fond de l'évier quand on fait la vaisselle, et qu'on doit récupérer et jeter pour éviter, à terme, de boucher celui-ci. C'est a cela que le "broyeur" (je crois qu'on l'appelle comme ça en france) sert. J'en avais un dans ma derniere maison (francaise) et c'était très pratique, meme si on finissait nos plats !
I would add in to your title that this is a not typical, or is definitely an upper middle class home in America. Lower middle class people and especially poor people definitely do not live like this in America! We don't have big yards, we don't have multiple cars, we don't have multiple ice makers, sometimes we don't have multiple Tv's. So to qualify this is a well-to-do, or solidly middle class home.
@@florencecousin5577 Coz in Europe people don't need those all stuff A car per person can be seen in France,but they don't need 2 per person coz the public transport is too good that people don't feel the need to use cars much often Moreover 1-2 TVs per house can be seen in France but I don't feel there is a necessity of 5-6 per person 😂
A big part of the differences are the differences between the city Paris and the suburbs. A more fair comparison would be with a rural middle class house in France.
I am one of them (rural middle class french woman) and everything seems accurate to me and to my neighboors. Maybe the only thing is that some people (but not me) do have two TVs : One in the living room and one in the master bedroom. As to cars, in a rural area, every adult in a household has a car but never more than that. When a family has two cars, there is typically a very tiny one and a bigger one for the family. Having two big cars is very rare.
I generally agree with your observations and videos, but some news flashs: - You can leave parcels for collection by La Poste in France in your mail box after requesting pick up online. Heaps of things you can organize online with La Poste. - You cannot do ANYTHING in the US without a car, hence loads more cars. Why would each person need 2 though? I don’t see anything to envy - Many of these items presented are just massive over-consumption and why the US consumes 5 times more energy per person.
I have 2 cars a sporty summer car Mazda Miata convertible & my Toyota camry plus a Toyota Tundra truck The roads with ice & snow get bad here so I do not drive the convertible in the winter
I live in Kentuvky, I know 0 people with more than one car per person and most of the time is just one car per house, not per adult. Also, I live in a metro area in Northern Kentucky, I barely use my car. My grocery store, hardware store, hair salon, tailor, and quite a few restaurants are at the end of my block. The car thing is for the wide open parts of the country. For example, in the Midwest of something is under a 15 hr drive (like the beach) they will drive vs. taking a plane.
I think it really depends on who works at what time. Americans being workoholics, it’s very rare to have all of the family members home at the same time on a work day. If parents work at the same time, they need two different cars. If their child works, they might also have a car. However, if people work at different hours, or have a work vehicle, family members use the same car.
An American family needs 3 cars (or more) incase one breaks down. Most Americans depend upon their vehicles for transportation to and from work. Unless, you’re living off the government and don’t work.
I think living in Paris is more comparable to living in NYC where pre-war buildings don't have central AC or maybe even the plumbing to support a garbage disposal and people don't drive as much or have the luxury of space to just fill up with stuff like 6 or 7 TVs and gigantic reclining furniture. What you have presented here is about lifestyle choices, not about typical homes in the US vs. France.
You are correct I think. Note that you do not need tha AC in France. Paris is same latitude as Newfoundland in Canada. NYC is same latitude as Madrid... However, American houses have larger garages, kitchens, living,... We very rarely have king size beds... Everything is smaller.
That reminds me of something quite funny. When my siblings and I would leave dirty dishes with food remains in the sink, my mom would always get mad and say "do you think we live in the US?". Because she had found out garbage disposal existed there and found them very convenient. Now when my husband is doing the same, strangely enough, I don't find it funny anymore 😂 The dog is beyond cute by the way 😍😍😍
You are so sweet and charming -- but really, you will be surprised if you travel in the US and learn that every home does not have a garbage disposal. I have never lived in a home or visited a relative's home in my big clan -- that had a garbage disposal. I don't even know how I'd work it. My guess is that maybe the next generation -- the kids -- have them.
Really? Only when I was a poor student did I live in an apartment without a garbage disposal. They have been in my life for over 50 years! That said, I use the compost bin for 95% of my kitchen scraps.
@@LauraMorland well that's fine. I suppose you thought it was important to add your personal experience because you live in a community similar to the one we see in the video. It's a beautiful neighbourhood. that doesn't change my comment -- I don't know anybody including my relatives who has a garbage disposal. They aren't poor. They just don't have them.
Bonjour -- Yes, I "thought it was important to add [my] personal experience" because I took issue with your statement, "My guess is that maybe the next generation -- the kids -- have them." I would assert that it's *not* a "next generation" thing. My father was born in 1919, and he installed a garbage disposal in our kitchen back when I was a kid in the 1960s. He was an underpaid college professor, and my mother was a schoolteacher. We lived in a simple house, with one car per adult. Contrary to your assumption, I don't live in a community remotely similar to the one we see in this video, and never have, but in my experience, garbage disposals are fairly standard kitchen equipment in most homes that I know about. They're not expensive -- you can get one for less than $50 at Home Depot, and are not difficult to install for anyone with handyman skills. Now I'm curious -- the next time I'm in a group meeting, I'll ask my neighbors for a "show of hands" how many have garbage disposals. (That being said, I do compost over 95% of my food scraps, so our disposal doesn't get much use. Luckily my city has weekly pickups for such.)
@@LauraMorland It's great that you are composting. I do know that garbage disposals aren't necessarily expensive. My point is simply that there are many many whole city neighbourhoods -- not poor neighbourhoods necessarily -- where you won't find a single garbage disposal. My suburban relatives who live in a beautiful split level house built in the 50s or 60s wouldn't know how to use one. it would be interesting to see by a show of hands how many of your neighbors have one. I think I'll start taking an unofficial poll myself just to check my perception.
I’m a French living in California where I rent a house. I don’t have a garbage disposal, nor an ice dispenser in my fridge (my mom does in France). I have only one TV. I had to replace the shower-head in the bathroom because how do you rinse up your bathtub when it’s fixed into the wall? And yes, I have AC, but my electrical bill is just insane! Just a few points here.
A Golden Retriever!!!! (the ONLY breed and every family needs at least ONE - more are better). With the exception of the screened windows, I prefer French homes...fewer gadgets and contraptions, fewer cars and fewer TVs! Life in Europe (France) is less consumer-oriented and more people and life-focussed....longer lunches, longer vacations, and much more "non-digital" time together.
I wanted to say this! Although honestly I missed the garbage disposal as well, even though I didn't even use it that much in the US. Also honestly her mom's home with the 6 TVs and 4 cars for two people does *not* seem typical but exaggerated... At least not in my circles!
Nice video!!!!!! To be more accurate you can compare an apartment in Paris and one in NYC and a country side house in the US vs a country side house in France.
I know people have already commented this, but knowing that you live in Paris and having seen your apartment tour, I think some of this is a city vs suburb thing too. I'm in my 20s and grew up in France with an American mom and a French dad, so I'm basically an older version of Élé except that I was raised in the suburbs in the Yvelines. We had a garbage disposal in our sink at one point but never used it, and now recently got a sink a lot like the one you showed in the video. We also had multiple TVs. I've also seen the water/ice dispensers on the fridge door in some houses, but it's less common. Having screens would be great, but it obstructs sunlight/the view I guess and the French are less iffy about a couple of bugs getting in. The lack of separation between front (and sometimes back) yards is a big difference. Also flags and pickup trucks! I'm moving in to a tiny apartment in a major US city after having spent confinement in the Yvelines suburbs, and from the housing perspective it definitely feels like I'm moving from the US to France rather than the other way around 😂
Some of it we have it in Hungary. Like the mosquito/bug screen, centralized ac, recliners, ice maker fridge, tvs everywhere. The garbage disposal is such a cool idea. But instead we have a compost for food waste in the garden. Not removing your shoes might be the first thing that comes to my mind when thinking of differences. We always take our shoes off once we enter someone’s house.
Many comments about cars below: My wife must commute every day so she has a fairly new car (2017 Subaru). I am retired so I have a 1999 Jeep for daily use and a 2004 pickup truck with a trailer hitch for chores. Our neighbors have two cars each plus their son has a new truck plus his older truck. Then again, we live in the country and use trucks a lot!
I have window screens here which are indispensable in summer. I don’t have air con but do have ceiling fans, which I only use if the temperature is really excessive. Keeping all the blinds closed during the day cools the house, uses less electricity & is actually better for the environment.
You are probably unable to order properly. Yet, France is not a hot country. People drink tape water without ice, however, cokes are always served cold, almost always with ice. Ricard always with ice. and most white wines come from the fridge or served in an icy seau.
Recliners are very popular amongst old people in France. It's very rare on more modern style sofas. What do you need all those TVs for?! Same for all those thermal jugs. Didn't you mention only 2 people live in that house? Bear in mind that even in provinces, houses tend to be way smaller in France than in the US.
@@pierren___ je ne pense pas honnêtement. Il y a des aspects culturels au delà du pouvoir d'achat qui font qu'en France personne ne met une tv dans chaque pièce de sa maison par exemple.
@@aldonastraczek Oui, et pour moi d’avoir une télé dans ma chambre ne serait que stressant. En plus, si chacun dans une famille regarde toujours la télé dans son coin c’est déprimant. On en a déjà assez de ça avec les portables!
My guess would be their many kids grew up in that house. Now the kids are gone off into life and mom and dad are left with the big house and too much space. This happened to my parents who had a large family. All the kids grew up, moved out, and then when the size of the house and yard became too much for them, mom and dad "downsized" to a small house and then a seniors condominium. Not unusual.
About the screens on the windows, in Paris pple like to lean of the window sometimes. To smoke or to have their Coffee. Small parisian appartement dont have any balcony or terrasse where you can chill. The screen would prevent that. And I know that because we putted a net on our windows for safety because of our cat. And since then it's hard for us not to be able to lean of our windows... Especially during this covid time.
We do have screens on our house in France. We have ones with magnets for the French doors and ones with Velcro for the windows-to be able to open and close the shutters. I do miss a garbage disposal!
@@pumpjackpiddlewick my husband bought the magnetic ones on line as well as the ones for the windows. The window ones have a strip of Velcro all the way around and are not on frames-they are attached to our window frame.
Please don’t miss the garbage disposals - they are very bad on local water sources/rivers, etc. Look up a local composting site and start a green bin in your house. We found one few weeks after moving to France, it’s sort of a co-op that we joined for €5/year, food grows on our composting site, which we can have, it’s lovely! And good for the Earth 🌎
Great Video i am glad you got to send time with your family this year . My family did have that many cars at least working one growing up we only had and one and we lived in rural Michigan my parents just could afford more than that. Also only had one tv and our house was older so it wasn't until the late 90s that we got windows with screens built in before that we had to place a screen in the widow when we opened it. It's so interesting to see what you notice when you come home from being way for so long. thanks for sharing
I'm just commenting here because this is your most recent video, and maybe you will have a better chance to see it. I have a request for when you get back to France: Can you please do a "What I eat in a day" (or week) video? I'm just so curious about how you as an American (now French, congratulations on that) woman eat in France. All the details, even the little things, like do you use a teaspoon for sugar for your coffee or tea, or do you use sugar cubes, or no sugar at all? How do you balance your meals? And did you bring any American recipes to France that your French family and friends love? Thanks in advance!
I just wanted to ask you about your diet in France vs how your diet was back in the states?? How did you get to lose all your weight that you gained when you while in France? Can you show us what a grocery store/market place looks like in France (if you haven't already)?
Hello Kate, You're in holliday at USA home so? I read a lot of comments from people who are "shocked" because there are several televisions, several cars. We then speak of overconsumption. But in fact, I guess your parents don't turn on all the tvs at the same time. On the other hand, one person can only drive one car, not two at the same time. So where is the problem? I suppose your mom and dad use certain vehicles rather than others depending on what they have to do: short trip, long trip, alone, with others, a lot of things to load in the vehicle, or not. In all case, your parents home is beautiful! :) Thank you for your always good mood and smile and hello from south France to all your family. Enjoy your holidays Kate and make the most of the time with your parents!
The problem is that cars, TVs, fridges, etc are not magically producted. To produce all these things there are people poorly paid and exploited, raw materials extracted from the ground with pollute ways, thousand of miles on polluting cargos. The ecological print of an average American is massive. It represents 5 planets to consume like an American (2.9 for a French). So, this is the problem.
@@eLLuLa69 You don't learn me something. But if I follow your thought, so why a smartphone for each member of the family whereas a few years ago a single telephone per household was sufficient?
I’ve been living in France for over 5 years and generally like French houses but man do I miss window screens, garbage disposals 👏👏👏 I also notice that homes in France don’t have ceiling fans. Especially as an alternative to AC, they are such a great option that doesn’t take up precious floor space.
It depends on where you live in Europe. If you live in a detached house then people also have two cars, multiple TVs, large fridge, even air conditioning. There is much more room for stuff you buy. For these reasons some people prefer to live in a town rather than in an apartment in city. It is definitely possible to live in Europe the same way you would in the US.
WoW!!!... I'd definitely be buying some of those expandable portable screens you can put in raised window frames, to take back with me to France, so I could have screens there to keep out the bugs!!!
screen windows make me feel trapped in my own house, although I understand that under certain climates, it seems unavoidable. What I noticed while traveling in the States was how old fashioned everything was. A few TV's in the house yes but we had one that was way trendier and new than what I saw. Same with the furniture, we have clean and simple lines for the kitchen and not old fashioned cabinets. Oh and carpets are a big no no in France. Oh and I do miss ice dispenser !
Bonjour from London 🇬🇧 I’m French & can agree on everything you’ve said. Although in the uk the English share more similarities, such as recliner couch, American Fridges (not all houses have them) just a few.
Be careful my European friends!!!! This is NOT standard in the US. There are definitely regional and economic differences to not make all of the things in her parents' house standard in all US households. My in-laws to this day don't believe me when I say in the house I grew up in (which my parents still live in), there has never been an "american" fridge (which in the US we call a "French door" fridge), and they find it even more confusing when I tell them that growing up the only people I knew with "american" fridges were Europeans living in the States 😂😂😂😂
Hello Emilie, 0MG hahaha I learn something here I really didn't know before you spaek about it! It's so funny 😂😂😂 I think it's because of the professional fridge we find in French restaurant kitchens that's named a "French door" fridge, isn'it? Thank you very much Emilie, very interesting comment!
@@pierren___ le frigo américain c'est celui qui au lieu d'avoir une grande porte qui s'ouvre sur le côté comme les frigos qu'on connait a 2 petites portes qui s'ouvrent verticalement mais au milieu. Il y a souvent de quoi faire des glaçons sur une des portes!
As a french, let me point out some stuff: - Even though it's obviously rare and not standard, you can find those kind of mailbox in France. My family has one.😅 - We have no garbage disposal in France because it's simply illegal. - We also have those kind of kitchen tape even if as you said in your video, it's not commun. - For the television, i don't think it's an american thing, more depending of the social class. Like I know french people who has TV in kitchen, living room and also each bedroom. - We also have those recliners couch. My family had some but yeah honestly i couldn't say if it's commun or not
First of all, what a cozy house with a spectacular view. I lived in the US as well, and cars are a necessity: at least one per driving person. I also noticed that most of them sleep out of the garages, that become a deposit for years of impulsive buying 🙂 When it comes to TVs, Brazil is very similar, but France and UK are economical: two TVs being the average, but there are others screens, like tablets, notebooks and mobiles that are used for the same purpose. What astonishes me in the UK are houses over 5 million Pounds outside of London without a closed garage: motorcycles and expensive cars sleep under the weather. Air conditioning is also an issue, as the houses are prepared for the cold, but can become a sauna during summer.
air conditioning is essentially considered wasteful and a great way to catch a cold (which tends to happen to me everytime I go to the US...) screen on windows are available, they're just an expensive option. garbage disposal is considered a dangerous device, hence forbidden. for the recliner, I just ask the dog to lay down in front of the couch ;). what ? no tv on the fridge ?
Well, if you look at high-end decor in the U.S., recliners are verboten unless it's the type that don't look like recliners. There is a lot of variation is what's considered acceptable.
Not to put a downer on the garbage disposal in the sink, but apparently they are awful for water treatment plants to then clean the water afterwards. Composting the food waste is a good bet :)
Great video. Thanks. I agree on the window screen thing. I also recently visited Spain and Portugal and there were no window screens there either. Some entrepreneurial types could probably make a killing there with a window screen company. It would just take a ton of advertising to make people want screens they didn't know they wanted. Also, I've been looking at real estate in France. Mostly Avignon, Nimes, Montpellier and the area. Condos mostly, and I find it interesting most of the two, three and sometimes four bedroom condos I've seen so far only have one bathroom. Some of the four bedroom condos have 4. I'm looking for a two bedroom 2 bath condo.
2 of us have 3 cars (at least when my daughter is at school) and we have 5 TVs - 4 on one floor (embarrassing) and we do run air conditioning all summer - but I think in most of the US, and especially on the east coast, it is very humid and extremely hot - triple digit, so I think necessary! Nice house! Oh, and we have an ice machine that makes something like 10 pounds at once!
In France, recliners are only advertised in magazines for elderly people. But your video makes me think that they could actually become trendy pieces of furniture, provided they get the proper design and colors. Thank for the video, your "american enthusiasm" is always a bit of fresh air :-)
I hate recliners! I was offered a nice one, --- free, and I wouldn't take it. You sit in them the wrong way or fast, and they'll dump you onto the floor!
Think I must be living the French way already!!! Albeit, do like my screens once the mosquitoes hit. .....As for that freakishly terrifying cupboard, your mum might consider gifting that thermos collection out this Halloween...(cider would be perfect!) 😘
You would see some screens in France, but only in the South and only occasionally; it's not very common. Love the mail pick up, the garbage disposal and the open yards. Do NOT like the frigid AC (in the summer, I keep our house much "hotter" than most US homes). We don't have as many TVs as your parents and none in the bedrooms (that's my preference but my American hubby agrees :-D ) Ice is a very US thing (my mother hates it when she visits; always asks for water without ice lol). I like the recliners (though it feels sinfully lazy lol). Fun video!
I wouldn't say *IMP* that this is the average American home. It's upper middle class for sure. I live frugally and I'm low middle class. My mother lives with me in a 2 bedroom/1 bath cottage. We have one TV in the living room (no cable - just streaming services) and she has a small TV in her room that only plays DVD's. We have two cars because of necessity because we both work and have different schedules but we also carpool to some places. Our house was built in the 1930-1940's. No dishwasher, no disposal and no central A/C, it's window units and in the winter the large window unit heats and we use space heaters as well. Oh and I have to use ice cube trays to make ice... we use ice only here and there! One thing that I HAVE on this list is the screens on the windows! Lol A lot of people in the US do have all of these things but a lot of people don't! I feel like a lot of those items are luxuries. I do agree with the other comments, lots of Americans over consume but my point is that lots of people don't! Either it be because of a conscious effort or financial status... Something I wanted to share from my observations (in middle class homes/lifestyles) is that instead of extra cars, I see novelty machinery. Either a boat, camper/trailer or sometimes a vintage car.
This is a fairly privileged view of the US lol I never saw a garbage disposal or air conditioning in a home until I was an adult and moved from the PNW to Arizona where A/C is extremely necessary. Certainly not so many vehicles or televisions! I'm sure you realize this and I find it genuinely interesting how experiences vary in our country even from region to region.
Haha, no screens were a big shock for me. I had to go to Bricorama to go and buy one and do it myself. My biggest shock though were the toilets in a separate room from the shower and sink.
@@Alex-df4lt But I don't understand why you would want to replicate? The lovely thing about different countries is different cultures, and things. Okay, and maybe add in the odd garbage disposal ;-)
This house isn't average, but a lot of what she pointed out is standard in most homes and even apartments. My pretty affordable apartment still has air conditioning, screened windows, I was pissed when I found out my unit didn't have a garbage disposal, and joke about how I'll know I made it when I have an ice maker fridge. Having a TV in the bedroom is very common for many people, having a TV upstairs and in the basement if you live in an area where basements are common. I've personally had two vehicles just for myself and it's not entirely uncommon for families to have something like a truck or "fun car" that's not daily driven, but not the norm. Yet you could say it's still more of an American thing because it's probably more common here than Europe.
Kate i agree on the screens not in france but then there are the shutters, and also a very thin almost veil like curtains that work well. The amount of TV screens throughout the homes is not what my parents, or even myself ever had, I am an american now living in Paris and I really appreciate the way many french if not all french people seem to be aware of overconsumerism. A good example is during meals, i have never seen any of my french family or friends have excessive amounts of food at the table (lots of bread yes :) ) during meal times. as an American I find it offensive when people have way more than they need or will ever use. many countries see americans like this but we are NOT all like this. sorry Kate i'm not try to say anything bad about what you showed just trying to explain that not all americans are like this. TY
The only thing I don't agree with is the kitchen faucets. We do have exactly the same in France in all modern kitchens. Of course if you only see tiny Parisian appartements, then the kitchen wouldn't allow such a big one, but even smaller ones have an in-built extensible flexible pipe and a choice of flow (showery or straight)
Everything seems reasonable except the excessive number of TVs - there is no excuse for that😊 If at least a couple of them were computer monitors it would have reasonable 😊
So many good memories! I'd actually say that when it comes to mail boxes the issue in France would be trust and stealing, I don't think I would be comfortable leaving parcels in an unlocked mail box in France... As for screens, I guess it depends on where you leave, this was one of the first things my Dad got before moving to his new home in the South ^^ you can find kits at Leroy Merlin and such! (very convenient!) At last recliners are more considered old people couch, they are getting more and more popular with more modern designs but yeah most people I know who own one are closer to 60! I would also think about the different living rooms/dining areas in American homes, I was surprised the first time to find 2 of each! Oh and the blinds situation is pretty common, gotta wear a mask!
While we certainly have "porch pirates" in the US, it is amazing how the vast majority of the time we can have packages left on our doorstep in plain view and not have them stolen.
Idk where she is from but I’m getting Texas vibes. Lots of people in Texas have 2 cars. Like maybe a truck or classic car and then a smaller daily driver for better gas mileage. Her parents also live on the lake so I bet they have money. Just look at those countertops and sink! And the whole air conditioning blasting in the house is very much a Texas thing with it being so hot here in the summer.
I’m from ireland and our homes are a weird mix of continental and American style. Our kitchens are very American but we also don’t have AC or bug screens
Super interesting! Being French, I think the mosquito nets aren’t as common because we don’t have aircon, and they reduce the breeze 😉 i think the coolest thing in your video (that i really wish we had in France) is the letter box red flag! Would save sooo much time if we had that ! Have a wonderful holiday with your family 😊
So true regarding the letterbox flag. No reason we couldn't have them here on our letter boxes. Wonder if La Poste will think of it? It would make sense, rather than having two Postal Workers come to your home on a given day.
@@pumpjackpiddlewickLa Poste tried 30 or 35 years ago in some villages in Haute Garonne. She regrouped the scattered mailboxes into what she called Cidex and she offered this service. It worked a few years......
I wish we had screens here in norway as well. buggies come in..my cat likes to play with them and the other day he went for a bumble bee. ugh, he had to rush his swollen face to the vet...
I don’t know if you can pull it off but we have a historic home with no screens and we purchase expanding screens that you place the cavity of the open window and then expand the screen and close the window to fit. You should shove a couple in your suitcase if you can! PS: I hate all of the excessive cars, A/C, TVs and I think recliners are super tacky and consume too much space. But I do love screens and our postal service!
While I somewhat agree with your sentiment, I find it too broad. First, keep in mind that not every American lives as the people shown in this video. My spouse and I have only 1 car between the two of us, and we're quite happy that way. Many homes (especially those who live in urban areas with higher population density) have no cars at all. And many Americans live in far more humble homes. Second, I lived in France for over 5 years. And I can say from personal experience that air-conditioning is very much needed there. Every summer I spent in France had at least one "canicule," and while you may disagree with how much Americans use air conditioning, an equally valid argument could be made for the French phobia of air conditioning. I'd also argue that, as much as Americans may over-use air conditioning, the French over-use heat. I have literally seen French people put on the heat in their homes when it's 22ºC (~72ºF) outside. I'd also argue that having screens on windows has nothing to do with "la sur-consommation à mort"... unless one enjoys serving up one's body as a "buffet à volonté" for every bee, mosquito or other biting insect who happens to pass by.
I live in southern France, we also have one only car for 2, and no air conditioning because I think it's way too bad for our planet and we both can live without it even if it's less comfortable: we have no heater either. In winter our flat goes down to around 15°C and in summer up to 30°C sometimes but never for too long and I feel 200% better knowing I'm not adding to this massive pollution. I think many french people feel the same? 😊
I don't know where you live, Sara, so I can't speak to the weather there. But I can tell you the last summer I lived in Paris (2016), there was a "canicule" that lasted 4 days; the temperature went as high as 36°C (97°F). And that was not the only canicule; it's just the most recent one that I personally experienced. It would be unfair to judge someone's use of air conditioning based on weather at a location other than where they live. For my part, I have lived most of my life on the US eastern seaboard, and I can tell you that if we had a summer where the temperatures only "sometimes" got as high as 30°C (as you say it does in your town), it would be *highly* strange and unusually cool. In July 2020 for instance, the US city of Atlanta saw high temperature exceeded 90°F (32.2°C) on 24 of the 31 days of the month. So, I invite you to spend one summer in Atlanta (or better yet: Orlando, or Houston, or Phoenix, or Dallas) -- *without air conditioning* -- and then tell me how Americans' use of air conditioning is unnecessary "sur-consommation." As for adding to massive pollution, I would equally love to hear an explanation of how running the heat when the temperature drops below 20°C (as many of my French acquaintances did) doesn't also contribute to pollution. 😊
@@asg2833 Your comment amounts to a strawman argument, since I am making no such attempt. I am making several points here. The first is that it is unfair to judge someone else's decisions without understanding what their lives are like, so (once again) I invite you to spend one summer on the US east coast *with no air conditioning* and then tell me how unnecessary it is. Until then, your comments are born of ignorance. My second point is that the French habit of turning on the heat any time the temperature drops below 22°C is no more sustainable than what you accuse Americans of doing. My third point is about the habit of people to see one video on RU-vid of one house in the US, and then assume that the US is monolithic and that everyone in the US lives that same way (although most people -- myself included -- have at one time been guilty of that mistake). In summary, the criticisms I am seeing here are overly broad, more than a little bit hypocritical, and born of ignorance.
Mailboxes... in rural areas, you just need to put a clothes peg on the door and the postman knows there is a pickup to be made. Cars, TV etc, the French are a lesser consumer-based population. Air Con, well it depends on the climate and also the fact that most houses are not built of wood, so don't need them. Window screens..... We have shutters that we close
The toilet paper shortage during the beginning of Covid caused a lot of us to install bidets. The shortage was fake news, but lots of TP was hoarded in fear. We have two bidets.
Effectivement, on en trouve, mais beaucoup plus dans le sud, tout comme la clim d'ailleurs. J'habite maintenant Perpignan depuis 7 ans (je suis de Paris à la base) et ici la majorité des maisons sont équipées de climatisation. C'est donc aussi une question de climat et de région.
For my standard this is very rich and excessive house :D (living in France) My husband and I got one tv and we don't even use it except once in a two weeks for movies or series, but we have 2 Personal computers, also couch was cheapest one we could find that look good (250 Euros), but most of the time I'm entertaining my self I'm in chair at PC. I would like AC but whenever I go to place that has it I get sick xD when we buy house we will have window screens 100%
Wow! i always thought that the red flag on your letterboxes were there to notify you when you receive new mail. By the way, can anyone open your boxes without a key?
My grand parents's home near Orleans built in the 70s had bugs screens on windows, but they needed anti gripping treatment so often that they ceased to maintain them and half of them became unusable... Air Conditionning in the US is absolutely crazy, on my first night there I thought I was gonna catch a cold (in the MidWest so there was no fences around the house I was in (in tighter neighbourhoods there were fenses thought), I remember that I turned off the AC near my bedrooù every night... I saw AC in France too, in Provence, but they use it sparingly. AC is insanely thirsty in energy and is, most of the time used wastingly in the US. There are other natural means to obtain the same effect, Arabic countries did that for centuries with cold air vents just like some insects do... Couches like that need a ton of space, they are not convenient in most European dwellings, especially in town. The family I was in only had two TVs and a computer, granted it was 20 years ago but they still had three cars in their yard. My Brit friends on the other hand have a TV in each room just like in Harry Potter and Prisoner of Azkaban... My favorite pick up thing in the US home I was in, the trash compactor.
La climatisation dans les maisons , je ne sais pas si c'est très répandu en France , sauf pour le sud , mais les nouvelles constructions sont réalisées avec des matériaux très isolant , et puis , bonjour les dégâts pour la planète avec la clim .Quand aux broyeurs sur les éviers , on privilégie les composts dans les jardins , ou la poubelle grise . (ordures ménagères)
I've never known anyone who has an icemaker in their frig. But, you are right American cold drinks come with WAY TOO MUCH ice, sometimes a full big cup of ice and only a little drink in it. I'm not a typical American, in that I don't even have ice cube trays in my frig once summer has passed.
Your parents have a lovely home! The view of the lake is beautiful. The big thing I noticed between France and the US is space. In the US, we have so much more space, so we can have a cupboard full of thermal cups--but in France, they'll only have one. When I was growing up, we had two TVs in our home: the family room and my parents' bedroom--and their TV was black and white! I don't blame your parents for having so many TVs: in a big house, you need them in other rooms. We have three, but I was thinking of a fourth for the back deck, but I'm still figuring out the logistics of having an outdoor TV--mostly cost, cable, and justifying the cost. There are some conveniences in the US (ice makers, BIG fridges, garbage disposals, Postal Service pick up, etc.) that gives me a pause when thinking of moving to France. It's those little conveniences that we get used to that are so hard to give up! Great video! Lots of things to appreciate about the US!
in my country we just buy these screens and put them on any window we want. Or all the windows. If you don;t like bugs, and let's face it, nobody does, just buy the screen in France
@@SueCFerg Maybe it depends on where you live. I live out west and I personally haven't seen any in new or older homes. But then a lot of old homes are redone as well so who knows
