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Question 2. There is the stereotype of the French as elitist, which is probably not true. We think of art, wine, palaces and things like that, and determine that this country has a certain attitude. What we learned in the class should have completely dispelled such a stereotype. The first thing is that France is a rich, diverse and complex country. It has made important contributions to Western culture that today we might take for granted, especially in the area of individual liberty. France is home to a number of ethnic groups, ranging from those who have been there a long time to those who are relatively new. There is no one French person on whom a stereotype could even be based. We think about Paris, maybe, but there are many types of French people and down in Marseilles will be nothing like any stereotype we might have.

Question 3. There are many things that can be studied in France. The country is a good place to study art. Paris would be ideal for this, with its museums, art culture, churches and palaces. To learn about French oenoculture or viticulture, Bourgogne is a good place to do this, given how rich the region is with vineyards and wineries. You also need access to places to taste a lot of wines, and a good school for learning about wines. To learn about French culture in general, I would recommend going outside of Paris. This is because so much of French culture is fostered in other cities -- Lyon, Marseille and Lille especially. While some time in Paris would be required, these other cities, especially Lyon make tremendous contributions to French culture and they do so in a way that maybe cannot be found in the more worldly Paris.

Question 4. There are many things that a person could do with his/her free time in Paris. Planning a trip right now would probably point to a ski vacation in the winter. France hosted the winter Olympics in Albertville in 1992, and is a major skiing destination in the Alps in the winter. Another thing one can do in France is eat. This is a varied activity -- Paris for fine dining and ethnic cuisine (great Lao food, for example, or North African), Marseille for bouillabaisse, the ethnic cuisines of Bretagne, Pays Basque or Alsace -- one does not get bored eating in France. A third thing that can be done with free time in France is to cycle. Obviously, France loves cycling. Much of the country is flat or rolling hills. Only professionals and crazy people cycle in the Alps or Pyrenees but the rest of the country would be wonderful for the rest of us.