Things are smaller in France

Things seem to smaller in France than in the US.  Take toasters for example:  A big store like 'BHV' only has one toaster oven and like 50 toasters.

Anyway, I'd like to illustrate this point today with a parking lot.  I'm sure I'll show you other examples later.  So, take a look at this video:

I am driving my Smart car (practically the smallest car you could possible drive) in France, and look how hard it is to get into the parking lot...

By the way, refrigerators  are smaller too.  Did you know that in France the biggest models are called 'An American fridge'?  What we consider average in the States is huge in France.

Coffee makers are smaller, cars are smaller, roads are narrower.

Maybe that's why the French are so thin???

That's some food for thought, and this is Lindsay, signing out.

Why are houses gated in France?

Americans love gated communities. French love gated houses.

I think it goes with the phrase 'Vivons Cachés, Vivons Heureux' / 'The less everybody knows, the better off you are' (I apologize for a pretty bad translation). Anyway, the French are pretty private. Take outside decorations for example: ever notice in France that x-mas decorations are always great inside a home, but pretty sad on the outside? People are more reserved in that respect, which also has to do with respecting others. Americans are more outgoing in that respect. Yes, I miss the open front yards like on Desperate Housewives, because that's how I grew up. But there is also something nice about coming home and the comfort of being in an enclosed, private space. If anybody can enlighten me on the sociological explanations behind this, go for it.

Local ad for a French women's basketball team...

I work in marketing and advertising in the lingerie field, so I'm always on the lookout for ads our brands that hit me in one way or another.

found this ad for a local French all women's basketball team that just came out, and also happened to create a lot of buzz, but not in a good way. Associations of all sorts are in an uproar over this 'sexist and patronizing' ad campaign that 'treats women like meat.' The head coach defends the ad (he's the one who had the idea and worked on the campaign) saying that he doesn't understand why people are shocked and that when Rugby teams do the same thing (calendars, etc.) nobody seems to care. I think he's right. But maybe I'm becoming too French.

Tuesday Tips - How to survive a French office meeting

I really enjoy working in France. But it's different from many other cultures. The French love to think over things, discuss all possible solutions, and think over all scenarios before making any decision. This is good and bad. Sometimes you should think things out, and sometimes you should just do it...

1. Show up 15 minutes late. You'll be the first one to arrive.
2. Bring coffee and water. It might take longer than expected, and you're going to talk a lot.
3. Bring your blackberry. Check your emails during the meeting. This means you have lots of work and you are driven.
4. Be as theoretical as possible when you talk.
5. Prepare to argue. If you agree too much with people, you are considered weak.
6. Do not plan any meetings for at least an hour after the meeting is planned to finish. The meeting will go on longer than expected.
7. Do not expect to come out of your meeting with conclusions; instead you will come out with 'next steps' needed in order to draw a conclusion.
8. Write the meeting minutes. Keep a record of them because somebody at one point will tell you that they never said 'that' or it never took place.

How did big buses in France drive in such small lanes?

That's a good question. Thanks. You're welcome.

So, streets in France were built like hundreds of years ago. Pavement was basically poured over existing paths. And then came the buses.

I would like to congratulate all the French buses out there (not for your timeliness) for navigating through such narrow streets. I can't even drive an SUV without my palms sweating. You drivers must have gone through a really difficult driving school to learn your moves. I'm surprised I don’t see more bus accidents. I've never seen one now that I think of it.

Now let's be mean. Why must you break all the rules that exist, like pedestrian stops and right-of-way yields? It's not because you're a bus and French that you can trample over people. And why are you always, always running late? Aren't the schedules calculated on specific time frames?
And why must you break so hard at a stoplight? Not everybody is lucky enough to sit down for the ride...On the other hand, if you see someone running desperately down the street to catch you (that would be me on a daily basis) you generally wait...So thanks for that.

This is Lindsay signing out.

French driving lesson number two

As I promised, here's another French driving test question.

Ok, how about this one.

The traffic sign means:
A.  The traffic light is 50 meters after this point
B.  All traffic coming from other intersections must yield the right-of-way
C.  All traffic coming from other intersections must yield the right-of-way for the upcoming intersection
D.  The speed limit is 60K/H, 50 meters after the traffic sign.

Going out tonight? What is dinner in France like?

Like many different countries and cultures, the French love to wine and dine. When I first graduated school and moved to France, what struck me was how important dinner was during a night out with friends. Even when our main plans were to go to a concert with friends or clubbing, the evening always started with a nice dinner together.

And, it's still the same 10 years later, minus the clubbing...

So, typically everybody is invited around 8:30. Most people do not show up before 8:45/9:00.
Dinner starts with a cocktail that lasts I would say 1 and a half to 2 hours. So you don't actually start dinner before 10:30ish. And you start with an 'entrée' (an appetizer), then the main course, then the cheese, then the dessert, then the coffee or tea for girls, then the 'digestif' (whiskey, etc.) with an occasional cigar.

What do you talk about for so long?
1. FOOD, FOOD, FOOD! Whether it's the beginning, the middle of dinner or desert, food is the main topic of conversation. The more you get into the meal, the more food comes up. Like, "I love this cheese! Where did you get this? Speaking of cheese, I just found a great cheese store in town...etc." And it goes on and on.

2. Politics - You're not really supposed to bring politics up at the dinner table, but it happens 75% of the time. And people get riled up. No hard feelings.

3. Sex - When having dinner with friends, sex comes up pretty much every time. Don't by shy.

4. Wine - not to be confused with food; these are two totally different topics.

So, hope this helps if you're going out to dinner in France tonight.