TED @ Macquarie University 2013

Exciting day today as I was in the audience of TedxMacquarieUniversity. If you are not familiar with it, the acronym stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design, and is usually offering live streaming and hosting of different talks and speakers that are reflecting about how to improve the world we live in. Our day was divided into four sessions and I will elaborate more on my top list but I can only advise you to find more information on the website about others!

Session 1: Allan Pease highlighting your power as well as the position, attitude and confidence you adopt towards others through Body language + Jodie Sangster from the Association for Data-driven Marketing and Advertising speaking about our data-driven society and the transactional, travelling and viewing revolution happening and the endless opportunities linked to that.

Session 2: Josh Stinson with his speech about luck, hope, regrets and how to force your destiny (and astonishing engagement proposal) and Melissa Foster from FoodOrbit emphasizing on the importance of local and healthy food and product freshness in our society.

Session 3: Professor Jennifer Hudson on how to prepare young generations to encounter difficult situations and face them rather than being risk-averse, the cocoon we're creating to protect ourselves won’t help us to overcome obstacles + Eddie Yacoubian giving advice to run successful events.  

Session 4: Baron Rohbock and the nature or conditionned behaviour through learning/experiences that applies to leadership.

However, some improvements can be done:

• The proportion of women/men introducing concepts was unequal (it might only be a coincidence)
• Most  ideas were general and global, and giving an ‘action plan’ to apply them after some talks would have been good (but I’ll figure it out).

 The other talks and performances from artists were also impressive and inspiring, I had a great time!

5 Clichés of French abroad

Following on from my article about Australian clichés, I wanted to talk about some prejudices that people might have towards French.

1. We are complaining a lot. French are never satisfied, in their country or outside of it, maybe because they are spoiled. However I think that travelers and expats are more objective. We tend compare what we have at home and in our adoption country quite often. By being more open we are also more tolerant of people but we also like to be treated with respect and fairness. As a real French, if I see any injustice, I will surely say something about it.

2. We love (are crazy?) about food and wine: for sure! I have said in a previous blog that the food diversity here is incredible and there are plenty of other cuisines so we do not need to focus on our own. But well, when you are away from your origins or traditions, you try to be close to it somehow, we do so with food.

3. French usually tend to get, or even stick, together. We like our comfort zone and being surrounded by people who you can easily communicate with is much easier to try with different people (a shame)! But is it the same for other foreigners?

4. French are not good with foreign languages: we are not used to speak and our knowledge is very limited and theoretical.. By simply listening to our accent, you are travelling to France. We can get rid of it but many people like it! Learning to talk should be an important part of foreign language education. But it will never replace the will and urge to make some efforts to create a dialogue (here, around or in France).

5. We are devoted to pleasure. Even if we are stressed, we know how to appreciate simple things in life (see #2) and we like to share moments with people. Another thing we are good at? Love! Our lifestyle is very close to hedonism (French philosopher Michel Onfray studied about gastronomy, arts, sensuality and sciences among others to define it).

Note: I was focused on an expatriate perspective in this post rather than a 'non-crossing border' one.

Suite à mon article sur les clichés australiens, je voulais parler des préjugés que les gens pourraient avoir à l'égard des Français.

1. Nous nous plaignons beaucoup. Les Français sont des éternels insatisfaits, dans leur pays et hors des frontières, peut-être parce qu’ils sont trop gâtés. Pourtant je pense que les personnes habituées à voyager et les expatriés sont plus objectifs. Nous connaissons bien notre pays de naissance et nous avons tendance à comparer le pays que nous avons choisi avec la France très régulièrement. En étant plus ouverts nous sommes aussi plus tolérants, nous aimons être traité avec respect et égalité par rapport aux autres. En tant que bonne française, si je constate une injustice, je ne resterai pas muette.

2. Nous aimons (beaucoup) la nourriture et le vin: ça, c'est sûr! J’ai dit dans un précédent blog que le choix et la diversité en terme de cuisine ici est impressionnant il est donc inenvisageable de ne cuisiner que français. Même si lorsqu’on est loin de nos origines et traditions, se rapprocher de notre culture par la nourriture est ce qui est le plus aisé.

3. Les Français à l’étranger ont une fâcheuse tendance à rester entre eux ou à chercher à se regrouper. C’est tellement confortable de communiquer dans la même langue avec les mêmes codes que notre côté frenchy reprend le dessus. Mais en est-il autrement pour des personnes d’autres nationalités se retrouvant en pays étranger !

4. Les Français ne sont pas doués pour les langues étrangères: à priori ce qui nous manque c’est l’apprentissage de l’oral, nos connaissances restant très théoriques. Ainsi en écoutant simplement notre accent, vous voyagez en France. On peut essayer de s’en débarrasser, mais les gens l’adore ! Apprendre à converser devrait faire partie intégrante de l’apprentissage des langues en France. Cependant, cela ne remplacera pas la motivation ni les efforts nécessaires pour dialoguer avec les autres (ici, ailleurs ou en France).

5. Nous profitons de la vie: même si nous sommes stressés, nous savons apprécier les choses simples (voir #2) et nous aimons partager de bons moments  en famille ou entre amis.  Un autre de nos talents ? L’amour ! Notre style de vie est plutôt hédonique, décrit par le philosophe Michel Onfray comme lié par la gastronomie, l’art, la sensualité et les sciences (parmi d’autres).

Note: cet article est rédigé du point de vue de l’expatrié plutôt que d'un profil voyageur.