Language

French is an important international language. It is an official language of the United Nations and is second only to English, in use between nations for communication, business, and diplomacy The French government has stressed the language so much that almost everyone in France speaks French, despite different nationalities and regional dialects French students begin learning their first foreign language at age 9, and instruction in a second foreign language begins at age 13 with English commonly the first one learned followed by Spanish or German second

Education
Schooling is generally free in France, unless its a private school. Schools in France have long days they usually go to school from 8:00 am to after 4:30 pm, but they have a two hour lunch The French educational system differs from the Northern- European and American systems in which it stresses the importance of development as an individual, independent intellectual rather than a productive servant to the government or a company. 20 % of all children in France attend Catholic schools, which are mostly subsidized by the state and not the church Secondary schooling lasts seven years (grades 6-12 in the U.S.) During the last 2 years of secondary schooling (usually when students are around 18), they are required to take an exam called the baccalaureat . There is great pressure to receive good grades on this exam because it determines whether or not they may go on to higher education. It also defines their future career possibilities.

Work
The minimum wage in France is 8.27 per hour which converts to $12.15 American dollars As of January 1st, 2000 the French have a 35 hour work week The government mandates 5 weeks of paid vacation to every salaried worker and most of the workers take these weeks off during the end of July through the month of August, so many businesses close. French teenagers do not normally have jobs

Government & Economy

The French Republic currently has 22 regions The current president is Nicolas Sarkozy and his appointed primeminister is Franois Fillon A president in France serves as head of state and executive head of government for a 5 year term. The president has no veto power but can rule by emergency decree in a crisis The national assemblys 577 members are elected for 5 year terms and the senates 321 members serve 9 year terms. The voting age is 18 Frances large industrial economy and welfare style government allow its people to enjoy the benefits of economic prosperity France major industries steel, motor vehicles, aircraft, textiles, chemicals, and food processing France is a world leader in wine, milk, butter, cheese, barley, and wheat production Exports include machinery and transport equipment, steel products and agricultural goods

Healthcare
Medical care is generally good and is available to all citizens through a socialized system The French healthcare system was ranked first worldwide by the World Health Organization in 1997 Prices and fees are fixed to be affordable by the government Some French citizens do carry private insurance cards to pay fees not covered by the government France has public hospitals and private clinics The French government has recently raised taxes on cigarettes in effort to curb the number of smokers in the country, in order to promote better health

Family
Both the immediate and extended family are seen as important Many people visit their grandparents monthly, and aunts, uncles, and cousins are part of everyday life Many children remain at home with their families until they finish their education Families try to get together as much as possible The average French family has one or two children, and enjoy a comfortable standard of living Pets outnumber children in many families and receive special attention

Holidays
The French celebrate many holidays such as: New Years (Jour de lan) - Flowers are presented to older family members and parties are held Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday) - In February, celebrated with parades, costumes, and parties Easter - Celebrated on Sunday and Monday in France. Labor Day (May 1st) - Marked by parades celebrates the coming of spring Bastille Day (La Fete Nationale) - July 14th , the French national holiday; commemorates the storming of the Bastille, which took place in 1789 and marked the beginning of the French Revolution. All Saints Day (November 1st) - When the French commemorate their dead, particularly family members. Armistice Day (November 11th) - The anniversary of the official end of World War I Christmas (Noel) - Most have a big meal on Christmas eve and attend midnight mass. Children leave their shoes by the fireplace for Pere Noel (Santa Claus) to fill.

Religion
Although 85% of the population is Roman Catholic, only about 8% actively practice the religion. Most French Catholics celebrate the various religious holidays and attend mass only once or twice a year Of that 85 %, about 58% baptize their children, and only half have a religious wedding With 8% practicing Islam, it is the second largest religion in France A small number of the people are Protestants(2%), Jewish(1%) or Buddhist(1%) Although surveys show thirty years ago more than 80% of French youth believed in god, today less than half believe. About 6% of the population claims no religion

Sports
The most popular sport in France is football (soccer) and it is the national sport The most watched sports are football, rugby, basketball, cycling, sailing, and tennis France is notable for holding and winning the football world cup in 1998, for holding the annual cycling race Tour de France, and holding the tennis Grand Slam tournament Roland Garros (The French Open) The most played sport is Petanque, a form of bowling that is played by about 17 million people in France, mostly those who live in the southern part of the country, most northern Frenchmen do not consider Petanque a sport Other popular recreation activities include: fishing, skiing, hiking, hunting, horseback riding, and golf

Food/Cooking
The French consider cooking an art, and French cuisine is famous worldwide French are most known for Baguettes and Croissants The First French cookbooks date back to the middle ages,and French standards were the early gauge of fine cooking The French try to resist foreign fast food because of health concerns and threats to France's small farmers. In spite of this many hamburger restaurants have opened across the country The legal drinking age for alcohol beverages is officially 18 French cooking is highly refined and involves careful preparation, attention to detail, and use of the freshest ingredients Cuisine varies by region and is heavily influenced by what grows locally, also the regional traditions are strong Good cooking is a matter of pride in French homes

The Arts
French literature, art, and architecture have greatly influenced the world In the 20th century, French writers helped introduce movements such as surrealism, existentialism and postmodernism The most famous examples of French architecture include the Eiffel Tower and Gothic cathedrals The French started the use of gargoyles on buildings The first photograph was taken in France in 1827. The first motion picture was shown in 1895 in Paris The first paintings in France are from prehistoric times, and were painted in the caves of Lascaux over 10,000 years ago The Louvre, in Paris is one of the most famous and the largest museums in the world

The Arts continued

The French also contributed to the film projector, and trick photography French cinema is sometimes intertwined with the cinema of foreign nations. Directors from nations such as Poland, Argentina, and the Soviet Union are equally prominent in the ranks of French cinema as the native Frenchmen. Well Known French writers include Alexandre Dumas, who wrote the two well known adventure classics "The Three Musketeers" and "The Count of Monte Cristo. Victor Hugo who wrote the novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame (known in France as "Notre Dame de Paris), that inspired the Disney movie, and Antoine de Saint Exupry the author of "Le Petit Prince" a well known French children's book.