Fun France Facts: Sippin' and Grubbin'

From the interesting to the trivial to the the mundane to the hilarious, here's an ongoing list of things that I have come to learn or realize during my months spent in Lorraine, France. Come back next time for 3 more.

Fun France Facts, Volume III: Sippin' and Grubbin'

Yes, what a surprise: talking about eating and drinking as a part of French culture is like mentioning drinking beer and eating donuts as the culture of Homer Simpson. It goes without saying, right? This is something that I love about the French: they are all about soaking up every ounce of pleasure while wining and dining. To ensure that this happens, they do the following...

1) C'est pas l'heure/ Il faut s'attabler:

 In America, you eat whatever you want, whenever you want, wherever you want. In America, it's about convenience and swiftness. In France, it's about taking your time, sitting at the table, and having a proper meal at the proper time. One way that they ensure this happens is that restaurants and shops close down during the afternoon between lunch and dinner. In addition, grocery stores only stay open til around 7:30 or 8:00. That's right, no late night trips to the grocery if you have a hankering for Doritos. No Cheesecake Factory staying open til 11pm to eat a late dinner. Not only do the French view this  "eating at the right time " as a great way to enjoy a meal the most, it's also seen as a way to maintain a proper healthy lifestyle (to stay thin) and keep the family together. Almost every night, French families eat together, whereas, I believe, this part is deteriorating in the US.  

2) Wine Country: "Everything in Moderation, even Moderation." I've often heard the French joke about the fact that their are viewed as alcoholics from abroad. However, I find it to be the contraire, mon frère (sorry, I had to). Yes, of course you have your alcoholics, but apart from that, I really respect the French's moderate attitude towards alcohol. In fact, alcohol is really just another vessel to better enjoy the meal (what a suprise!). You have an "aperitif" like white or port wine before the meal. During, you usually drink red. Then, sometimes after, an eau de vie or a liquor as dessert. As it is usually only consumed with a meal (which usually lasts for a long time with many courses), alcohol is more moderately consumed. In this sense, I believe it is a more "healthy" approach. Alcohol is something one can enjoy instead of just getting schmammered.

3) Les règles: OH MY! The rules of eating. There are so many that I doubt that I have them all down. If a French person is reading this, feel free to correct me. Okay, here we go...

• Eat with both hands: fork in the left, knife in the right. Use the knife to "shovel" the food nicely onto the fork. This is actually something that is customary in many countries in Europe, but is not present in America. In the USA, we normally only eat like that while cutting a steak. Otherwise, it is polite to leave the hand you are not using resting under the table in your lap. Yet, in Europe, you are seen as poorly brought up if you eat like this.
• Keep you hand on the table at all times: This goes along with the point above. You must keep you wrists and hands on the table during the whole meal...even in between courses when there is perhaps a long break. In America, we are taught to keep your hands nicely folded in your lap in between courses. In Europe, as I have been informed, this is seen as peasantry.
• The bread stays on the table next to your plate, not on the plate. Bread is a huge part of the French diet, but it has it's own place during the meal. It will be used to eat with the meal (shoveling the food a bit) and after to render the plate clean.
• The salad is eaten after the main course. Not before.
• The appetizer is called "l'entree" where as an "entree" is the main dish in America (just one example of a false cognate from French).
• After the meal, one can be offered cheese to eat instead of dessert.
• A part from drinking wine, I have noticed that, in general, the French barely drink anything while eating. In fact, they barely drink any water at all. Just coffee and a lot of wine.

AH! Okay, that's all. Now go eat some Macaroons (another obsession of mine while in France)... ...and come back next week for 3 more Fun French Facts!

Fun France Facts Friday on Sunday: High School

From the interesting to the trivial to the the mundane to the hilarious, here's an ongoing list of things that I have come to learn or realize during my months spent in Lorraine, France. Come back next Friday for 3 more. (OOPS, this time, Friday came two days late).

Fun France Facts Friday, Volume II: HIGH SCHOOL

For two school years in a row, I've been teaching high school/ middle school in Lorraine (Nancy-Metz Academie), France. There have been many common running themes that I find quite bizarre compared to my American high-school experience. Keep in mind, I only speak for my experience in Lorraine. The rest of France could be different (but I doubt it).

1) Toute en noir:  So we know what the "typical" American girl high school look is: hair perfectly in place (usually bleached), preppy style, perfectly applied makeup, tan skin bronzed from the tanning bed.

But in France, this "so American" look isn't common...not even one tiny bit. Nope, here, the "chic" girl is head to toe en noir. Black knows no boundaries. Black, messy hair. Thick black eyeliner, black leather jacket, black skinny pants, black heels, black Longchamp little purse...AND I must make this distinction: this "toute en noir" is not at all a "goth style." It's not even grungey-rock 'n roll style. It's just, well...French.

2) Popularity Deficit:  I was shocked to find out that popularity doesn't really exist French high schools; I thought that the popularity factor was just a natural element of the adolescent human nature. Weird, right?
Instead, the students more-so just have their group of friends and that's it; they're friends usually from being in the same classes. ...there aren't even different categories of students (the jocks, preps, stoners, goths). So, this can be viewed as a great thing, right? No life-long complexes from not being a popular girl/guy. Well, first I must point out that the kids can be just as cruel. Second, when I realized perhaps WHY there is no popularity, it's not so sweet...which leads me to my next point:

3) School=Work & Only Work:
Okay...continuing from the last point, essentially, I believe, popularity isn't present because there is no "high-school" culture in France. School is a 8-5 job; the students are there to work and only work (even though most are super lazy to even do that).

There are NO school sports, no extracurricular activities, no proms, no musicals, no homecomings, no graduation ceremonies, no high school Senior traditions, no yearbooks, no school pride. However,  I believe the popularity deficit exists for one key reason: no school sports. Lack of team sports= no stars of the school. No Freshman girls drooling over the Senior star quarterback. No cheerleaders performing for pep-rallies. There are not even grand assemblies where certain students are in front of the whole student body. So essentially, the community aspect of American high school is completely void. That's why my students always say, "Oh, la chance!" (ah, the luck!) when I discuss high school in America. If only they knew how much I still hated high school...even with all the fun stuff.

 But, of course, now, after being in France, I highly regret not enjoying my time more during high school..."the American way." Also, upon reflection, I realize that high school was a lot more fun than I thought at the time. Unfortunately, that seems to be the name of the game in life...

Whelp, that makes 3..'til next Friday (or Sunday, in today's case).

France vs. the USA

I found this adorable blog, Paris vs New York, and I had to share it with you. Although geared towards the comparison of the two cities, I believe these cultural differences extend past the city limits of both countries. 

Le café:

La Romantique:

Le pain:

l'obsession:

la façade:

le réalisateur (the director):

le surnom (nickname):

 les vieux:

Passport Frowns Turned Upside Down

 

(outfit details= headband: Camaieu; top: Forever 21; skirt: Zara; belt: thrifted; boots: André; purse: Longchamp; necklace: my own combination).

Originally I aimed for the cliché (but necessary) season-changing fashion post. When I realized that my outfit wasn't autumn-esque and that I bought most of it in France, I decided on another theme: France! Oh yeah, that little thing.  I'm returning to France as an English teacher for another year. If you remember my Wanderlusty post, you knew that  my passport has been frowning lately, but, ahem, I guess that 'ole thing will be living up to my blog name again in a few weeks.

Since I am about to return to France after a 5 month hiatus in the USA, I thought it apropos to repost this list that I posted in April last year while I was living there. I must say, during these months back home, I have relished all these things  (especially Netflix).  Ah the comforts of USA!

Sadly, to coincide with the news of my departure, just today, the US released a travel alert for Americans in Europe, especially those in France. Like I wasn't not scared enough already... MERDE!

Brandon Harman's America

(photo of Brandon Harman by Backyard Bill)

I found out about Brandon Harman through the site Backyard Bill, a site that photographs "stylish folks in their own clothes." The website is like streetstyle photography like Jak & Jil mixed with The Selby where people are photographed in their own place. So, naturally, I love Backyard Bill's site. Anyway, Backyard Bill featured Brandon Harman and I saw a link to his photography blog. His photos exhibit the quirkiness and eccentricity of the USA which makes me love this country. Brandon was raised in Northern California on an almond farm and a cattle ranch and he now lives in NYC. He seems to just photograph his friends and his own adventuresome voyages across the country...perfect for Passport Smiles! 

His photos exhibit an element of darkness and mysticism that exists in the subculture/ counterculture of the USA. When I look at the women in his photographs, I am reminded of Bob Dylan's song "Sara" [which is about his ex-wife but I pretend is written about myself...my name's Sarah, you see] with lyrics like "Scorpio Sphinx in a Calico Dress" or "Glamourous Nymph with an arrow and bow." When I see the photos of his trips out West, I feel it's necessary pretend that they are soundtracked to The Flying Burrito Bros performing in their Nudie Suits [left] and   But enough of my yakin'. Let's get down to business and show the photos...

Check out more for yourself on his Tumblr.