Away from home
I am still alive. I find myself in the U.K this week: a little bit of London and a little bit of Sheffield.
For the first time in more than 8 months I am back in an English speaking country. Despite the difference in accent, I can understand what people are saying. I can express myself with ease, I can joke, I can be charming, I can carry on a long conversation if I want to. Oh the joy. The relief!
And yes, I've already been to Starbucks for my grande soy latte.
I've had pub food and enjoyed the clean air of a non-smoking restaurant.
I drank beer at lunch on Monday. Something that would make a French woman shudder.
At the same time, I've made an ass of myself with my enthusiastic hellos when walking into a shop and have had to resist what is now the natural habit of calling everyone sir or madame.
Paris, you sure like your cigarettes, and I wish there was less dog poop on your sidewalks, but I think you've spoiled me forever.
I'll be back on Sunday. See you then.
posted by Michèle at 4:40 AM
12 Comments:
I catch my very "Parisienne friend drinking 1664 from time to time. Not a shudder in sight.
Love your little story!
Adn btw, aha my mum is French and she loves her beer for lunch or after work, so no worries there ;-) Mind you, we vome from the East of la France, so ;-)
Bet the smoke in bars and public places is not missed. Every time I come back, I forget!
You're back! Well, maybe not in France but you're back in the land o' bloggers. Yahoo! Hope you're having a splendid time in Britain. :)
Susanna (aka nagging Cdn in Jersey)
PS - Thanks for the email! My morning just got better and brighter!
Glad you're alive, albeit sans les dents. You missed all the action here in Paris. Fortunately (for you) you were out of town. I think it was the wine 'n falafel combo...I would stick to beer from now on if I were you too.
And what's more French that 1664?
the cigarette smoke is the killer for me and I love coming home to the clean air in Australia!
I don't like cigarette smoke either, especially in eating establishments (how can I enjoy my food?)
Looking forward to your re-cap of your adventures!
I hope you hve fun in England..... whilst I will be sitting here in front of the computer with.... mathcad Uhuh
Step in dog poop with your left foot! Alors vin non? and we do know that cigarettes keep them thin!
The pleasure to joke in one's native language, and to carry a conversation on the check out counter and drink Soy without belonging to a cult! You put all the differences in a nutshell!
But the cheese will bring you back! As they say: La vie est belle in France!
Have a good time and safe journey back home!
Paz
Sam, well your friend is a french woman after my own heart! Cindy from Food Migration and I had occassionally resorted to sneaking into an Irish bar for a pint, just to save face ;)
Bea, you get your mom up to Paris and have her show these women that drinking beer is ok! Perhaps they do, and Im exaggerating, but I haven't seen it yet. And yes, I do prefer smoke free restaurants.. clean air, sigh..
Susanna, thanks again for the nudge ;)
David, no trip to the dentist this time. But Im sorry to have missed your wine and falafel debauchery..What sort of trouble did you get into? Why do I always miss the fun stuff?
Cin, it really is hard to get used to going out for dinner and coming home smelling like you've spent the night in a bar, but until France becomes smoke free I am forced to adjust!
K & S, I find it particularly tough to adjust to here because in alot of places the tables are close together so you often have the smoke blowing right in your face. But such is life I guess. I still dont like it but Im definitely getting used to it.
Clare, mathcad? yikes. ;)
Corey, oh the cheese! yes, definitely the cheese. I've thought about that many times.. and now of course there is also the issue of the tea.. if I leave France its going to be a very. difficult. adjustment.
Paz, thank you!
Oh I know how you feel, I lived in Paris for a year and took a little trip to the UK (where my grans lives, my mum is british you see). I have never been so excited to see a starbucks or get some decent peanut butter, also what is up with french milk? it floats on top of tea, that is just so not right. But I still miss Paris.
Michele - you must let me know next time you come to the UK :)
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