I have a lot to mention here, so I’ll just dive into it. Sorry if it is somewhat random and does not make much sense – proofreading a blog is just not something I want to do:
** 1. French meals / language issues.
I really enjoy the idea of meals being more social. The fact that we eat lunch at 1:00 pm every day is really nice. We usually spend around an hour talking about various things.
The problem is that I have no idea what is going on. AJ will translate some things for me, and I understand a little, but for the most part, I am completely lost. I sometimes wonder if it is better to know what is being discussed but be bored, or have no idea and be bored. Personally, I would rather know what is going on, but be bored, because not knowing is incredibly frustrating. It is a new feeling I have experienced. The frustration is new – not having the slightest clue really sucks. At some meals, it does not bother me at all, but at other times it does. I guess it depends how much is translated for me – if I have a slight idea of what is going on, it is ok. But if I am getting no translation, I just sit there like an idiot, bored. This is no fun.
That being said, I am learning some more French. Very slowly, of course. I can see how people who come to a foreign country for a year or so get good at languages. Ideally, I wouldn’t mind living in France for a year to get better at the language. But this is not an ideal situation, as there are other issues – work, food, culture – that would prevent this. Perhaps someday I will buy a house here and use it as a summer house. That would be nice. I would have to know more French to take advantage of this – but I guess it is a goal I will work towards.
** 2. Driving
So I have now driven in France. Not just around the block, either. I drove to Nantes, which is about an hour away. AnneJulie, her mom, and myself went to pick her dad up at the airport. Driving is not that different, but there are a few differences that should be noted:
- Roundabouts: They are everywhere. And they are bigger and more advanced than the “Best Buy” ones in Santa Maria. If you are going on the roundabout for half of it, you would start in the middle and basically slowly merge to your right. If you are going to the first exit, you would just stay to the right the whole time. It’s simple, but it’s just different because there are multiple lanes in the roundabout, whereas those Santa Maria style ones are just one car wide.
- Passing on the freeway: It is recommended that if you are passing a car, you keep your left blinker on. This way the cars behind you know that you do not intend to stay in the fast lane.
- Freeway driving: People drive on your butt and flash their high beams if you are in the fast lane and do not get over. Passing on the right is “forbidden”. People approach you from behind quickly and it does not seem like they want to slow down. From what I have heard in the past, it seems like French and German drivers are somewhat the same. Basically, “get out of the fast lane”. I had no problem with this because I constantly watch the rear view mirror anyways. It was rather strange, and it hurts my ego slightly, to see these little cars passing me going so fast. I was driving 120. Kilometers, of course. AnneJulie’s family has a 10+ year old Ford (something); I can’t remember the name of it. It is not a car that is in the United States.
** 3. Crepes
We went to a crepes restaurant for dinner last night. It was really good. I had two crepes: one with egg, cheese and bacon, and the second one had sausage and cheese. Bacon was actually ham, which made me ask what ham was then. Somebody at our table had a ham crepe, and I could not figure out the difference. Oh well. We had a lot of alcoholic cider, and that was good too. I have probably had more alcohol since I’ve been in France then I have had in the last year in the US, which says nothing, but still. It’s interesting how alcohol is more a part of the culture here.
**4. Greek food
I love Greek food. I had a chicken pita, which has lettuce and this cucumber sauce – which is white and I find it to have an interesting taste – in it. They then put some fries at the top of it, which you eat before the rest of the pita. It’s SOOO good. I guess it’s called Greek “gyro” food. I have been searching the Internet for recipes for this – and will have to experiment when I get home. I am hoping Santa Barbara (or maybe even SLO??) has a Greek/Mediterranean “Gyro” type of place to eat. That would be great.
**5. Cell phones
The United States sucks with their cell phones. It’s amazing how we have technology sooner in basically everything, except this. I realize there are plenty of valid reasons for this (US is slow to adapt due to having a better local calling system (free local calls), Europe is more tight for space for landlines, etc.), but still. Pathetic.
**6. The Beach (La Plage)
I have always disliked the beach growing up. I don’t know if it was just the salt water or the smell or what, but I never liked it. But here the beach is super nice. The temperature is really nice, there is usually a slight warm breeze, and it’s just so relaxing. The water is cold, but not as cold as the Pacific. I am slowly working on my tan – I hopefully will be tan when I get back.
** 1. French meals / language issues.
I really enjoy the idea of meals being more social. The fact that we eat lunch at 1:00 pm every day is really nice. We usually spend around an hour talking about various things.
The problem is that I have no idea what is going on. AJ will translate some things for me, and I understand a little, but for the most part, I am completely lost. I sometimes wonder if it is better to know what is being discussed but be bored, or have no idea and be bored. Personally, I would rather know what is going on, but be bored, because not knowing is incredibly frustrating. It is a new feeling I have experienced. The frustration is new – not having the slightest clue really sucks. At some meals, it does not bother me at all, but at other times it does. I guess it depends how much is translated for me – if I have a slight idea of what is going on, it is ok. But if I am getting no translation, I just sit there like an idiot, bored. This is no fun.
That being said, I am learning some more French. Very slowly, of course. I can see how people who come to a foreign country for a year or so get good at languages. Ideally, I wouldn’t mind living in France for a year to get better at the language. But this is not an ideal situation, as there are other issues – work, food, culture – that would prevent this. Perhaps someday I will buy a house here and use it as a summer house. That would be nice. I would have to know more French to take advantage of this – but I guess it is a goal I will work towards.
** 2. Driving
So I have now driven in France. Not just around the block, either. I drove to Nantes, which is about an hour away. AnneJulie, her mom, and myself went to pick her dad up at the airport. Driving is not that different, but there are a few differences that should be noted:
- Roundabouts: They are everywhere. And they are bigger and more advanced than the “Best Buy” ones in Santa Maria. If you are going on the roundabout for half of it, you would start in the middle and basically slowly merge to your right. If you are going to the first exit, you would just stay to the right the whole time. It’s simple, but it’s just different because there are multiple lanes in the roundabout, whereas those Santa Maria style ones are just one car wide.
- Passing on the freeway: It is recommended that if you are passing a car, you keep your left blinker on. This way the cars behind you know that you do not intend to stay in the fast lane.
- Freeway driving: People drive on your butt and flash their high beams if you are in the fast lane and do not get over. Passing on the right is “forbidden”. People approach you from behind quickly and it does not seem like they want to slow down. From what I have heard in the past, it seems like French and German drivers are somewhat the same. Basically, “get out of the fast lane”. I had no problem with this because I constantly watch the rear view mirror anyways. It was rather strange, and it hurts my ego slightly, to see these little cars passing me going so fast. I was driving 120. Kilometers, of course. AnneJulie’s family has a 10+ year old Ford (something); I can’t remember the name of it. It is not a car that is in the United States.
** 3. Crepes
We went to a crepes restaurant for dinner last night. It was really good. I had two crepes: one with egg, cheese and bacon, and the second one had sausage and cheese. Bacon was actually ham, which made me ask what ham was then. Somebody at our table had a ham crepe, and I could not figure out the difference. Oh well. We had a lot of alcoholic cider, and that was good too. I have probably had more alcohol since I’ve been in France then I have had in the last year in the US, which says nothing, but still. It’s interesting how alcohol is more a part of the culture here.
**4. Greek food
I love Greek food. I had a chicken pita, which has lettuce and this cucumber sauce – which is white and I find it to have an interesting taste – in it. They then put some fries at the top of it, which you eat before the rest of the pita. It’s SOOO good. I guess it’s called Greek “gyro” food. I have been searching the Internet for recipes for this – and will have to experiment when I get home. I am hoping Santa Barbara (or maybe even SLO??) has a Greek/Mediterranean “Gyro” type of place to eat. That would be great.
**5. Cell phones
The United States sucks with their cell phones. It’s amazing how we have technology sooner in basically everything, except this. I realize there are plenty of valid reasons for this (US is slow to adapt due to having a better local calling system (free local calls), Europe is more tight for space for landlines, etc.), but still. Pathetic.
**6. The Beach (La Plage)
I have always disliked the beach growing up. I don’t know if it was just the salt water or the smell or what, but I never liked it. But here the beach is super nice. The temperature is really nice, there is usually a slight warm breeze, and it’s just so relaxing. The water is cold, but not as cold as the Pacific. I am slowly working on my tan – I hopefully will be tan when I get back.
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