How to Do It the French Way

Yeah, I thought that title would get your attention.

I’ve just spent two amazing weeks in France and England; two weeks that have taught me so much about being an ex-pat, and the concept of home, that I’m having a bit of an identity crisis. So while I deal with that, here are some other things I learned. This week, from our Gallic friends:

1.     It is possible to eat every croissant a bistro has.

2.     Pretty much every single street in Paris is gorgeous. Even the one with all the sex shops on it.

Yep, that beautiful.

3.     You can survive 95 degrees with no air conditioning. As long as you're in a house in France.

4.     Those picturesque French shutters work, unlike the weak echoes we staple to our houses in the US. They work for a reason.

5.     The French are friendly, warm, forgiving of a dodgy accent, and happy to help you try to speak their language.

6.     The French countryside is as beautiful as the pictures say. Ditto their boulangeries.

7.     French public toilets are nice. (I know!)

8.     You can remember your French degree after 20 years.

9.     The French see life in an entirely different way than we do. The whole ‘work to live’ not ‘live to work’ philosophy is real, and healing, and we should pay attention.

10.  I’d like to thank everyone for not being on strike while we were there.

Next time: England, or, You Can Buy Oreos in Tesco.
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