When people think of French, most immediately think of France, love, savoir-faire… But French goes far beyond national borders. Because of its colonial past, France gained a strong influence across various continents, an influence that still remains centuries later.
For example, did you know that the state of Louisiana in the United States was originally under French rule? Napoleon decided to sell the territory to the USA because it was too difficult to manage due to the geographical distance. Yet, despite this event dating back to 1762, a dialect strongly influenced by French is still spoken there today.
You may also be surprised to learn that France’s borders are much more extensive than one might imagine. In fact, you can easily travel to Guadeloupe, Martinique and Saint Barthélemy without even needing a passport, as these are some of France’s overseas territories. Not to mention that the euro is also the official currency there, so, as a European citizen, all you need is an ID card and a bit of money to enjoy a wonderful trip to the Caribbean!
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