After living here for about two and a half months, I've really come to realize how many things about France are just...funny. Not necessarily haha-funny, just a little...funny. Anyway, just thought I would share some of my random musings about this funny country.
For example:
1. When doing laundry at home, expect to have a washing machine at your disposal and nothing more. Dryers do not exist. Neither does water softener. Leaving your clothes with this almost starchy feel to them - that is, after they have spent the good part of two days air drying.
2. When you are ready to go home after a night of fun and it is 1:30am, don't expect to find the metro open. DO expect to find at least one or two crêpe stands open every few blocks.
3. When sitting in your home, expect to have spotty cell phone service. When sitting underground, on the metro, expect to have flawless cell phone service.
4. Never have I seen more cowboy boots than in France - no joke.
5. It is possible to walk down one street and see eight shoe stores for every non-shoe store. Many of these shoe store are simply called "Shoestore." - the French are creative.
6. The pastry/coffee shop, Paul, may know what it's doing in terms of delicious treats, but they still have a lot to learn about the "to go" concept. A Café Mocha is typically served with chantilly cream (fancy shmancy whipped cream). However, when you get it "to go," you will receive a to go cup, filled with café mocha, and topped off with a small mountain of chantilly cream about 4 to 5 inches tall - very practical for an on-the-go customer.
7. Many times, while on the metro, you will encounter performers. Some of these performers choose to do a kareoke-style performance. There is one man in particular, who works the 1 and 2 metro lines, who sings songs in Spanish, particularly "Besame Mucho." This man, however, has not bothered to learn the actual words to the song. Though I have seen him perform repeatedly, he never gets the words right, and usually ends up repeating the same three sentences throughout the entirety of the song - but hey, we're in France, no one will notice.
8. Back when ice skating rinks were still up and running, it would not be surprising to find a large group of young children (ages 3 - 13) skating along to Lily Allen's hit, "F*** U." Always a great, kid-friendly song.
And now for the funny France encounter that inspired this post:
9. Sometimes, when you are walking down the street, you'll see a lady walking her dog. Except she is the only one actually walking:
Oh France. You are too funny.
Pretty sure that dog must be visiting from the OC. OC dogs don't walk, either.
ReplyDeleteThis is all very interesting to me. What do the French have against dryers?