In France, all high school students take the Baccalauréat, the university entrance exam. Their SAT basically. The tests are hardly similar, though, with the bac's essay questions digging a little deeper. Our professor in France shared the questions from this year's exam with us and two of them had to do with happiness:
Vivons nous pour être heureux? // Do we live to be happy?
Doit-on tout faire pour être heureux? // Should one do everything to be happy?
I found it interesting that both of these questions were asked as they beg largely the same question, revealing how happiness will always remain a highly debated topic among the "big questions" in life. Purpose, meaning, and all that. Admittedly, this is the kind of stuff that comes to mind while you're abroad.
To make a top score on the bac, I'd have to cite Aristotle and maybe mention Bentham's Greatest Happiness Principle, but I'll be more brief for BOD's sake.
Of course, everyone seeks happiness and fulfillment, and while every act should not be for the sake of your own happiness, there sure are a lot of things that can make you happy.
like...
where you are:
the gardens in Granada or
the Mediterranean in Mallorca,
how you get there:
touring the Plaza de España by bike
with Captain Caro
and her crew of chicas
what you're wearing:
matching pants or
matching flamenco dresses
or matching fedora hats -- how fedorable?!
what time of day it is:
Sevillan sunset on the 4th of July
what you're learning:
the Alhambra
was the Muslim palace in Granada
before it became the Christian court in 1492. And it is breathtaking.
what you're eating:
classic American burgers
for the 4th of July!
or drinking:
granizados, the Spanish slush!
what you're seeing:
view of the old town in Granada from the Alhambra
and of course, who you're with:
I don't know if I'd pass the bac, but as far as happiness goes, I have no doubt I'd rank in the top percentile.
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