TO THE EDITOR:
I spent last spring in Montpellier, France. I took five classes, lived in a multicultural environment with Brazilians, French, an Omani, Swiss and Germans, I volunteered as a tutor in a high school, I traveled often, toured too many museums — oh, and I had a great time while enjoying my well-rounded experience!
Au contraire to the opinion piece “Facing a cultural blackout abroad,” American students are not the only youth drinking excessively, and this article only perpetuates an unoriginal, tiresome and false stereotype.
Every weekend night, the youth of Montpellier were lined up at the local grocery store with wine, beer and liquor in hand. Usually afterwards, the nearly entirely French crowd would loudly enjoy their purchases on the steps of a cathedral in the city center.
Often, they were joined by the multinational student community, especially populated with Germans, Swiss and Brazilians.
Particularly in regards to Parisian drinking habits, I witnessed a 20-something Parisian friend down two bottles of wine in an evening.
I’m not celebrating the fact that young French men and women are also drinking dangerously, I merely want to point out that this fascination with the flawless, skinny (also not true) deity of moderation (except in smoking habits) that is the French “other” is based on another false stereotype.
It’s important to crack shells and dig deeper when analyzing your own actions and those of another culture.
Humans share more similarities than differences, and everyone can get sloppy.
Sara Skelton ’13
Global studies
Political science
