One Month

That's how long I have now been in France. Well technically one month and one day. HOLY CRAP. How is that even possible? I know that everyone always says that it flies by, but I never expected it to go this quickly. It feels like yesterday that I was getting off the plane in Toulouse in a panic about meeting my host mom. It's freaky. Instead of recapping the week, which mostly consisted of me being mildly confused in class, here are some observations about life in France thus far:

On public transportation, whether it's the bus or the metro, everyone always offers their seat to elderly folks. Everyone also always says bonjour and au revoir to the bus driver. Now, I don't know if this makes me a bitch or a New Yorker but I don't think I will ever be able to give up my seat on the bus. If I am lucky enough to secure a seat, then I am sitting and staying. Sorry. I can get on board with being friendly to bus drivers, after all that doesn't really involve my own comfort being affected, but the seat thing, I don't know.

A confused bus

The myth that the French are smelly is true. I didn't want to believe in the stereotype, but alas, it is indeed a reality. I have never encountered as much BO as I have in this past month. I have smelled stinky hockey equipment and gross volleyball knee pads for years but nothing quite compares to being trapped in a moving vehicle with strangers who haven't showered in days. Deodorant is a thing people, come on.

Restaurants are completely different here too. For one thing, the customer is no longer king. It's not the job of the waiter to make sure you're satisfied for the duration of your meal. You need to be proactive about getting your waiter to take your order and give you the check. I mean I understand why this is the way that it is. People here can sit and stay in a restaurant as long as you like. You will never be ushered out after your meal so that the next group can come in. At least I haven't seen that happen. Plus the tip is built in to the price of your meal so waiters don't have to work hard to get a good tip. They know what they're making.

The French are much more energy efficient than we are in the states. Short showers (or no showers - see above) are the norm, it's rare that a family has a washer AND a dryer, and everyone walks or bikes or takes public transportation to get from point A to point B. It's not even like they're trying to be green, it's just a different way of life that happens to help the planet as well.

Conversations around the dinner table also turn in to conversations about school work. At least in my house, the parents are constantly on top of Simon about what work he did today and how much more he has to do tonight and how he could do it better and how he is just an utter failure. I'm exaggerating of course but the constant awareness of how important homework is is very different to how it is in the US. It also has to do with the way that the French parent versus how Americans parent. In France, children are told that they can't do something versus in the US where it's all about building confidence and telling your kids that they can achieve anything. The French are much more realistic. And it's not just me saying this, there have been books written about it. It's super interesting.

Wine and bread are food groups. They accompany every dinner, and sometimes lunch. Bread is at every single meal without fail. Around dinner time, I always see people carrying home baguettes to accompany their food. It's lovely. Both my eyes and stomach enjoy this habit. Cheese is also a staple and counts as a dessert. Hey, I'm not complaining.

American movies, television, and music are extremely popular here. I guess it's true that entertainment is the number one export of the United States. Sure there are French shows and movies, but the American ones are way more popular. Disney movies also hold the same value in cultural knowledge as they do in the US. I have spent multiple evenings with my host family singing songs from the Lion King and Aristocats after dinner.

I've learned so much in just this one month both about France and about myself, and I am so excited to keep on learning and experiencing new things.

My street!