I used to be not too long ago requested “is there something you discover culturally totally different about dwelling in France?” Hmmm, how lengthy have you ever obtained I assumed to myself. As a Brit, I can let you know that after having a house in France for greater than twenty years, there’s nonetheless lots I discover that’s distinctive to the French – Very French Issues which can be generally charming, generally humorous or generally, simply plain odd says Janine Marsh.
French Pharmacies
Pharmacies. Within the UK, you’re going to get a pharmacy within the greater cities or in purchasing centres. In France it looks like each village has a pharmacy. I believe that it might be solely potential that France has the world’s highest focus of pharmacies per sq. mile. We don’t have any outlets in any respect in my village however the nearest village with outlets is a couple of miles away and has one small grocery store, one restaurant, one bar, two florists – reverse one another, and a pharmacy. There’s all the time a bit of outdated woman sitting on a chair within the pharmacy ready for her tablets and listening to the whole lot you say once you converse to the pharmacist – after which sharing the juicy particulars with everybody she is aware of.
French Florists
And I discussed two florists in a village of some hundred folks – properly alongside having the world’s highest focus of pharmacies, I believe it’s potential France additionally holds the file for florists!
French folks love to offer bunches of flowers for birthdays, anniversaries, as banquet items, at Christmas. It’s a practice to do that and so there’s a whole lot of want for florists.
There’s a complete tradition round choosing the proper flowers and making a bouquet in France. There’s even a giant France large contest for one of the best florist in France, known as the Coupe de France.
MOF in France – what’s that every one about?
Which leads me to a different very French factor. MOFs. Not the flying winged creatures however Meilleur Ouvrier de France, generally known as MOF, means “greatest craftsman of France” and it’s a title that’s awarded to one of the best of one of the best.
The idea was created in 1924. It’s a manner of preserving and selling conventional crafts. There are about 200 classes of awards for greater than 180 professions together with pastry making and cheese making, stained glass and violin making, ebook binding and boot making, hairdressing and denture making, even spectacles and boiler making. It’s form of just like the Olympics for handbook trades, with medals awarded to winners.
The French be taught from childhood that competitors is nice. As an illustration in school, youngsters are given little playing cards in the event that they do properly, they’re known as bon factors, good factors, and oldsters should purchase them to offer to youngsters at residence too, it’s about advantage, a reward system for doing properly, being good, working laborious. They’re inspired to hitch debating societies and win contests for speaking.
Animals in France
There’s even a Mademoiselle Poule and Monsieur Coq, Miss Rooster and Mr Cockerel contest – a magnificence pageant for chickens in France! You possibly can put up a photograph of your rooster on-line and a bit about their persona, resembling: “My title is Flora. I had an accident, I broke my leg. As a substitute of consuming me, my proprietor took me to the vet and now I’m a pet with one leg! I’m good, I eat, lay eggs and I hop! I really like tomatoes and sunbathing!” And other people vote for his or her favorite rooster!
How about although a pig squealing contest for people?! Ever August enthusiastic opponents imitate the noises pigs make in entrance of crowds of followers. Comfortable pigs, unhappy pigs, sleeping pigs…
And there are the canines. Or extra exactly canines in eating places and outlets. French folks like to take their canines to the restaurant with them. I’m not speaking doggy diners, I imply regular eating places.
Typically talking many eating places permit canines if they’re properly behaved, however they’re not allowed to take a seat on the furnishings, at your toes, or in your lap. Canines aren’t allowed wherever close to the place meals is being ready or saved so some eating places which have open kitchens won’t permit canines. However it’s been fairly a shock for me to see canines sitting in eating places! And queuing up in bakeries and even in outlets and supermarkets!
Croissant etiquette
Speaking of bakeries, right here is an odd cultural factor in France – dipping your croissant in your espresso, or your tartine, which sounds posh however is mostly a little bit of yesterday’s baguette with butter and or jam on. Who dips bread of their espresso other than French folks. Nobody I believe as a result of that’s simply bizarre.
Soggy bread. Simply no. And melted butter floating on the highest of the espresso. Eugh. The primary time I noticed somebody in France do this, I almost fell off my chair in shock. That is the land of haute delicacies, of sous-chef, Michelin starred eating places, celebrity cooks. Dipping buttered bread in espresso. Simply no.
Bonjour – king of the French language
And one other factor I’ve observed is how necessary social customs are. As an illustration, if I used to be misplaced within the UK I might simply say: excuse me, might you please inform me the best way to someplace and I might both be informed the best way or informed I don’t know. However in France they discover it insupportable, unattainable, incomprehensible to not acknowledge somebody earlier than asking them a query.
I’ve obtained used to it now and I all the time say Bonjour – please might you inform me the best way to someplace – as a result of if I don’t the individual may not reply out of shock that I didn’t say bonjour first!
Bonjour is presumably crucial phrase in France. It’s NOT acceptable to stroll into a store, browse, then ask a query in regards to the merchandise. As quickly as you stroll in, it’s best to say “Bonjour!” to the workers, then you could browse. If it’s essential to ask a query, it’s greatest to begin with “Pardon,” to get their consideration.
Purchasing in France
Which brings me to purchasing in France – and one other Very French Factor. You is perhaps used to going to outlets in your house nation the place the shopper is king. Or you might have a job the place it’s essential to bend over backwards to please the shopper as a result of in any other case you may get fired, after which how will you pay the mortgage, the payments, entry healthcare. In France – this isn’t an issue. The French work to dwell not dwell to work. The client just isn’t all the time king!
In France everyone seems to be equal within the eyes of the legislation, although in fact some could also be extra equal than others. Everybody has common healthcare and it’s not straightforward to fireside somebody.
Very French issues
And I’m going to finish on yet another Very French Factor. Superb desserts, bread and pastries – nowhere else on the earth does baking just like the French. But additionally nowhere else has a struggle on the title of a preferred pastry. Ache au chocolat or chocolatine?
Within the south it’s chocolatine, within the north it’s ache au chocolat. You say potato. I say potarto. And earlier than we go additional with the entire tomato/tomarto factor and name the entire thing off – I hope you’ve loved this take a look at a few of the distinctive, charming and enjoyable cultural variations that France is happy with!
Janine Marsh is the writer of a number of internationally best-selling books about France. Her newest ebook Learn how to be French – a celebration of the French way of life and artwork de vivre, is out now – a take a look at the French lifestyle. Discover all books on her web site janinemarsh.com
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