France
France is such a diverse country. Did you know that at least half of the population is not native French? That’s right; many of them are immigrants from all over the world. Some people claim that they came as a tourist but never left! There is a fascination of all things French which carries over into the littlest things in our lives. For instance, have you have you heard of a French kiss? If you have ever been a teenager you probably have! No one really knows why that act of swapping spit and tongues is called French kissing, but there you have it anyway!

There are other little things that have seeped into our culture that originated in France, at least to a point. There is the proverbial French maid outfit you can buy at adult stores or costume shops. Do maids in France actually dress in the risqué wear? Not really would be the answer! French fries is also another universally known food that is not really French; real French food is a cuisine onto itself and is widely revered by countless chefs around the world. Even Christmas in France is a bit different. They do celebrate the holiday but instead of having a Christmas tree, they have a nativity scene and the children leave their shoes out over night by the fireplace in hopes that Pere Noel will fill them with gifts.

All the trivial things aside, France is a popular country to visit due to a variety of things. First of all, look at a map of France. You will notice that one part has the Atlantic Ocean as its neighbor and another part has the Mediterranean Sea. Some of the world’s most known beaches are French beaches. Have you heard of the French Riviera?

If you plan to travel to France, chances are that it will be on a flight on Air France, the official airline of the country. Because some of the shopkeepers in the country do not know English (or at least pretend they don’t), you will want to consult with a French dictionary and learn a few phrases. A French-English dictionary would be the optimal choice. You will at least be able to purchase souvenirs, order food and ask where the bathrooms are!

France has largely been shaped into the country it is today because of war. The French Revolution played a large part in its history and the French and Indian War did as well. Without that struggle and drama, France would not be the culturally rich and diverse country it is today. In fact, even their French flag was decided upon because of war. The flag is tricolor with three vertical stripes in navy, white and red.