Though I'm having a splendid time discovering the wonders of France, I will admit that there are some simple pleasures from the States that I definitely miss from time to time. Just to name a few:
Peanut Butter: The French hate peanut butter. On the other hand, they adore mayonnaise.They think peanut butter is fatty (true), and just plain weird. If you have the good fortune to find it in France, you will only be finding a jar about the size of a thimble, or otherwise a slightly larger jar of "organic peanut butter"= crushed peanuts. Although I miss it, I wonder if I will still like this greasy peanut paste when I return to the States...what am I saying, of course I will!
Starbucks: While you can definitely find McDonald's (Macdo) in France, you will not find Starbucks or anything like it! Here, coffees are generally small, or (shall I say) *reasonably* sized, and are almost always served in chinaware. This is because French dining is a social experience! It's about sharing time and conversation with another person, not about getting jacked up on caffeine. It's about the people and the experience, not the beverage. You will never see someone walking in the street or sitting on a bus with a coffee in-hand...unless they're American. With that said, boy do I miss caramel macchiatos and mocha lattes! :P
Driving: I have not driven a car since the beginning of January! Oh la la! I miss the freedom of jumping behind the wheel and cruising to a friend's house, the store, wherever! On the other hand, I love being within walking distance of EVERYTHING in France! My biggest fear is that, upon returning to the US, I might pick up some of the bad driving habits of the French...in fact, last night I even had a driving nightmare!
Singing in English: Since I've signed a language contract vowing to only speak French with everyone in France, it's not often that I get to sing in English...especially with other Americans. In fact, I think the first time was with my host brother's wife (got that?). She was telling me that her students love the song "Don't Worry, Be Happy," and so we sang some of it together. I have to admit that I almost feel embarrassed to sing the song the way it's actually sung, considering the French always butcher the pronunciation...so what do I do? I sing in English with a French accent! "Dunt Whory...Beh Hoppy!"
Weird handshakes: I wish I could say that I've learned some secret provencal handshakes, but they just don't exist! Not even normal handshakes! In France, greetings are all about facial contact, possibly including a touch on the arm as well. I guess I'll just have to invent some secret "bises!"
Petting strangers' dogs: This is not socially acceptable in France, although it is about 9375758 times more tempting, considering the dogs are often not on a leash. If you ask to pet someone's dog, it's as if you're asking to hold their baby. So you just have to look. My one exception, I will say, was this past week in the Parc de la Torse. After I finished jogging, I was standing by the river to stretch, and I noticed someone's dog coming straight towards me. I tried to ignore him, but when he came closer and started nuzzling my legs with his slobbery ball, begging for me to play, I just couldn't resist. I looked around for the owner so I could get permission (or if not, so I wouldn't be seen)...no one in sight. So mystery-dog and I played tug-of-war and fetch for a solid five minutes. It wasn't until then that I thought to look at the parking lot right above us. There, a man was standing in the doorway of his vending trailer, just watching us. It was the owner, of course. At that point, I tried to play it off like the games were all the dog's idea (which they technically were), and just shook my head at him as he tried to give me his ball. I looked up once more, and noticed that the man was not only watching- he was smiling. Whew. I let myself play for a few minutes more, at ease, until I finally said "au revoir" to my park pup friend.
Tips: In France, the tip is almost always included in the bill. I really miss figuring out the tip myself, especially placing a monetary judgment on the waiter/waitress.................................................NOT. (Poisson d'avril!)
Note: Obviously I am excluding the things that really matter and that I truly miss, namely, all of you! But that should go without saying!
