Marseille is the second largest city in France, with a population of around 800,000 (Provence Web). There is a very large immigrant population, with the majority of immigrants arriving from North Africa. The people of Marseille are very proud of their city, and speak with a very distinct accent. Being a city on the Mediterranean Sea with lots of sunshine, Marseille residents spend a considerable amount of time outside. Our neighborhood is a middle to upper class area, made up mostly of families from other regions of France, the majority from Paris. They have moved here to slow down and enjoy life. They want cleaner air for their children, and to enjoy a life by the sea. Despite the diversity of the city of Marseille and the proximity of our neighborhood to downtown, the school my daughter attends, the one I will be discussing, has an all white student body. Out of the nearly 250 students, only a small handful are not French.
Ithaca is a small city in upstate New York. It is home to Cornell University and Ithaca College, and when college is in session the population goes from 30,000 to 75,000. Ithaca is well known for its liberal thinking, its dedication to being "green" and its year-round outdoor activities. Since 2001, Ithaca has been featured in at least 30 “best cities” lists. (VisitIthaca.com)For a small city, Ithaca is very diverse and has a significant number of international families. My daughter's elementary school in Ithaca is comprised of students from many backgrounds, with a large number whose first language is not English.
