I have so much to say but instead I’ll keep it short. I love this list.
I hate going by Richard but I prefer not to get the looks when I say I’m rich (wealthy.)
I love the outdoor markets and the ability to ask for fruit I want to eat next Wednesday. Can’t be beat.
I’ve experienced the line hold up and been the reason why others have had to wait because oops, I forgot to weigh it. lol. Luckily our Monoprix has a scale at the register for those of us. Leclerc does not and you have to run with embarrassment back the veggies section.
Just when I thought I had perhaps read enough posts comparing US and French life, yours came through and it had me laughing several times. The produce walk of shame! That still happens to me occasionally in an unfamiliar environment.
Paying most restaurant bills at the counter is something that I think has evolved over the years. I remember it feeling a bit cheeky in the 90s, even in the more casual or standard places you are referring to. It really is more practical.
And I am proud to say that for maybe ten years now, I've been fully thinking in Celsius, although I still remember Fahrenheit. I don't calculate but both are fully integrated. So that took what, maybe 25 years? I hope you live to see the day!
I have to laugh whenever I see "military time"... My great aunt Nien, (a WWII, Dutch war-bride) taught my sister and I how to tell time this way, before our first vacation to Europe. She called it "International Time". We, of course, needed it to travel on the buses, planes and trains overseas. When I found myself in basic training three years later our drill sergeant taught us how to tell "International Time". She said, "Because no matter where you are in the world, there are only 24 hours in a day and you better be sure you are at the right place at the right time."
But also, you had me doubled over laughing when thinking of the French pronunciation of your name! Just be grateful you're not a kid in school.... I can hear it from here...
I've got a couple of beer suggestions for you (based on what I like; I fully understand beer tastes are highly individual!). La Chouffe amber is excellent... And Grimbergen ambrée, while technically not French (I think) is widely available at most markets in France. Plus, Lori and I tend to enjoy trying pretty much any of those larger bottles with the resealable wire-and-cork closures. Don't despair! You'll find one you like...
Oh, I’ve found great beer here but—like the ones you mentioned—they are not French. I would love to be supporting small local French breweries. We’ll keep looking!! I’ll keep you posted.
I had an American friend in Budapest who tried to buy one apple so he pointed to the apples, then raised his index finger. The fruit seller looked at the apple, then looked at the sky ...shrugged and gave up.
That’s interesting. I’m a Free user. I’m guessing it might not work for me? (I also have the problem of having the former number of the guardian of an apartment building!!
I find fresh corn, on the cob, in our Grand Frais. Do you have one of these stores around Rennes?
We really liked Rennes when we visited last spring. I was impressed with the market and it was peony season 😍
We'd done a walking tour in Angers with a guide from Rennes who was into the mosaics created by Isidore Odorico and then his son. They did lots in Rennes, of which the front (and inside too I believe) of the Saint George public pool. The tourist office had a good brochure about it all.
Wonderful insights as usual ….but how is your air conditioner working ?? have any of your neighbors stopped talking to you bc you have caved into “chilling “
It works pretty well. It’s not as powerful as what I’ve had in the US, but it certainly takes the edge off. There are many French people still opposed to AC, but stores sold out of them!
Yes, the Monoprix "walk of shame". On a few occasions the line behind me was so long that I told the cashier I'd have to "forget" the plums or one item I had forgotten to weigh, not wanting 12 people to hate me for delaying them while I nearly jogged to the scales. And, I still "live on" my US height and weight, when a doctor asks. I also still need to do a Google conversion to figure out just how hot hot is, outside. The rest have all become 2nd nature now. 😊
I finally did that around Christmas time. My husband insisted on buying me some "sexy French" style underwear with or without me to pick it out. He sorta forced me to go to an Intimissimi shop and get measured. Fortunately I was still in double digits but just barely. The sizing is quite different here. 🙄
16 C is 61 F. 28 C is 82 F . 22 C is Costa Rica weather, 72 F.
I have Rick Steves to thank for that mental crutch.
From my developing negatives and photos: 20° C=68 °F
Brilliant!!
What a fun article! Where in France do you live? Greetings from a Philly. native living in Paris 20+ years.
Thanks, Shellie. We moved from Roxborough to Rennes, the capital of Brittany. It reminds me a lot of Philly.
I have so much to say but instead I’ll keep it short. I love this list.
I hate going by Richard but I prefer not to get the looks when I say I’m rich (wealthy.)
I love the outdoor markets and the ability to ask for fruit I want to eat next Wednesday. Can’t be beat.
I’ve experienced the line hold up and been the reason why others have had to wait because oops, I forgot to weigh it. lol. Luckily our Monoprix has a scale at the register for those of us. Leclerc does not and you have to run with embarrassment back the veggies section.
Good stuff.
My produce fruit moment at our marché was when I asked for an avocado for "demain," and he asked me to clarify WHEN tomorrow!
Wow that’s precision. I got some of the best cantalopes on a Saturday for a Tuesday. I was certain they’d be overripe. They in fact were perfection.
Just when I thought I had perhaps read enough posts comparing US and French life, yours came through and it had me laughing several times. The produce walk of shame! That still happens to me occasionally in an unfamiliar environment.
Paying most restaurant bills at the counter is something that I think has evolved over the years. I remember it feeling a bit cheeky in the 90s, even in the more casual or standard places you are referring to. It really is more practical.
And I am proud to say that for maybe ten years now, I've been fully thinking in Celsius, although I still remember Fahrenheit. I don't calculate but both are fully integrated. So that took what, maybe 25 years? I hope you live to see the day!
Bonjour Theresa!
I have to laugh whenever I see "military time"... My great aunt Nien, (a WWII, Dutch war-bride) taught my sister and I how to tell time this way, before our first vacation to Europe. She called it "International Time". We, of course, needed it to travel on the buses, planes and trains overseas. When I found myself in basic training three years later our drill sergeant taught us how to tell "International Time". She said, "Because no matter where you are in the world, there are only 24 hours in a day and you better be sure you are at the right place at the right time."
Great advice!!! Thanks for sharing it.
Yes, yes! The fruit walk of shame!
But also, you had me doubled over laughing when thinking of the French pronunciation of your name! Just be grateful you're not a kid in school.... I can hear it from here...
I'm finally used to it. It's so weird to, essentially, change your name in a new country, but they don't understand the American pronunciation.
I've got a couple of beer suggestions for you (based on what I like; I fully understand beer tastes are highly individual!). La Chouffe amber is excellent... And Grimbergen ambrée, while technically not French (I think) is widely available at most markets in France. Plus, Lori and I tend to enjoy trying pretty much any of those larger bottles with the resealable wire-and-cork closures. Don't despair! You'll find one you like...
Oh, I’ve found great beer here but—like the ones you mentioned—they are not French. I would love to be supporting small local French breweries. We’ll keep looking!! I’ll keep you posted.
And 40C is 104F. Not the most fun pairing to know.
We hit 41 here a few weeks ago!!! I learned that one fast.
I had an American friend in Budapest who tried to buy one apple so he pointed to the apples, then raised his index finger. The fruit seller looked at the apple, then looked at the sky ...shrugged and gave up.
I live in fear of forgetting to weigh produce
Yup, that walk of shame back to the scale is something to avoid!
This is a list of numbers that are spam calls:
0162 or 0163
0270 or 0271
0377 or 0378
0424 or 0425
0568 or 0569
0948 or 0949
But I think in August that they’re all illegal.
I didn’t know that about counting starting with your thumb!
And we just hand the check to the provider and have them fill it out.
Such good hacks, Anne. I owe you some properly-weighed fruit!
there's an Orange app you can download that alerts you to the spam calls so you can block them, it's great!
it's simply called "orange phone". Sometimes I get 2 spam calls per day, 5 days in a row - it's wonderful to see them blocked on my phone
That’s interesting. I’m a Free user. I’m guessing it might not work for me? (I also have the problem of having the former number of the guardian of an apartment building!!
good question... it's an app, not necessarily linked to my Orange account, you can install it and see if it works
Terrific piece, Theresa, but I have one disagreement: there are may good beers here, mostly from the northeast.
No mention of doing without corn "on the cob"...
Oh, tell me about it!!!!
I find fresh corn, on the cob, in our Grand Frais. Do you have one of these stores around Rennes?
We really liked Rennes when we visited last spring. I was impressed with the market and it was peony season 😍
We'd done a walking tour in Angers with a guide from Rennes who was into the mosaics created by Isidore Odorico and then his son. They did lots in Rennes, of which the front (and inside too I believe) of the Saint George public pool. The tourist office had a good brochure about it all.
Thanks for this! And thank goodness I learned the “weigh your own fruit” thing just days before leaving for Paris this year. Embarrassment avoided!😅
Wonderful insights as usual ….but how is your air conditioner working ?? have any of your neighbors stopped talking to you bc you have caved into “chilling “
It works pretty well. It’s not as powerful as what I’ve had in the US, but it certainly takes the edge off. There are many French people still opposed to AC, but stores sold out of them!
Yes, the Monoprix "walk of shame". On a few occasions the line behind me was so long that I told the cashier I'd have to "forget" the plums or one item I had forgotten to weigh, not wanting 12 people to hate me for delaying them while I nearly jogged to the scales. And, I still "live on" my US height and weight, when a doctor asks. I also still need to do a Google conversion to figure out just how hot hot is, outside. The rest have all become 2nd nature now. 😊
One thing I have not done yet is buy a French bra. There's something about my size being in triple digits that's a real turnoff!
I finally did that around Christmas time. My husband insisted on buying me some "sexy French" style underwear with or without me to pick it out. He sorta forced me to go to an Intimissimi shop and get measured. Fortunately I was still in double digits but just barely. The sizing is quite different here. 🙄