1- I had never returned a product I had already used or consumed to get a full refund. Customer service in France? Is far from charitable, understanding, and generally speaking helpful. Rated F for Failed. The US however get on the Dean’s List. No comparison.
2- I had never purchased bagged ice. No lies. I don’t even think you can buy bagged ice in France.
photo credit: BrittneyBush
3- I had never thought anyone could put so much effort, time, and money into finding a Halloween costume for a child and coming up with a birthday party theme — every year.
4- I did not know what a Slim Jim is (did anyone say “delicacy”?) — As far as I am concerned, saucisson is the way to go!
5- I thought my business school in France was expensive. Compared to the cost of graduate school in the US? A bargain!
6- I did not know you’re supposed to flush the toilet in public restrooms by foot. Highly recommended, actually.
photo credit: country_boy_shane
7- I had no idea there was even a country where gas was less expensive than Coke!
8- I would have never driven the car for more than 30 minutes to run an errand. But this now? Is the US. Distance is a relative subject.
9- I did not even know about swaddling babies. How could I not know that? I swear European babies don’t get swaddled.
Do you understand what I mean now, about experiencing culture shock on a daily basis?
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Hahah this is excellent! I will say one thing, you CAN find bags of ice just not easily – you have to call a company that specializes in bagged ice – and ORDER it. So for any old occasion, it’s not practical. But at least it’s there for events!
ps I try to flush the toilet in France too as much as possible with my foot. Have you seen some of those places???
Lindsey recently posted…Goodbye to the Paris Cafe
Hey Lindsey, totally hear you on the cleanliness of french public restrooms… I still can’t get over the lack of changing tables for babies. How do people do it??
Well, I lived in Paris, um, 4 years ago? So I had culture shock when I got there. And then reverse culture shock when I got home.
The thing is, I adjusted much more quickly than I’d anticipated in France. I liked the changes for the most part. I liked shopping for food on a daily basis (much more fresh). I liked the late night dinners and the metro (oh how I miss the metro!). There were things I missed though: Mexican food, high flush toilets, and snack foods. Seriously, the French just don’t grab food to go.
But when I got home? I had a serious anxiety attacks. I broke down in the grocery store in the mayonnaise aisle. Why do we need 50 kinds of mayonnaise? I freaked out over the price of cheese. Or the size of cars. Or having to drive everywhere. I had home sickness for Paris for a solid year and I was homesick for the US for maybe a month.
andygirl recently posted…Raw Photos Finalists- Autumn Where You Live
oh and long, hot showers! I missed those too. my theory is that a lot of women in Paris don’t shave their legs because there’s not enough time in the shower.
andygirl recently posted…Raw Photos Finalists- Autumn Where You Live
I honestly do not see myself moving back to France now that I have adjusted so well to my new life. The few times that I go back to France I get very annoyed at silly things — poor customer service, cars too small, shops closed on Sundays,…
But if I come back home for a little while? For sure, plenty of bloggy material to share is on the horizon!
You can’t overstate the importance of numbers 2 and 6. We went on vacation to Italy this summer and basically got laughed out of every grocery store when we asked for bagged ice.
dg @ diaryofamadbathroom recently posted…Post it Note Tuesday
Thank you for validating
One must admit that bagged ice is very convenient for parties! And boat outings with snacks, drinks, etc.
Personally I love flushing with my foot. I’d rather decide on the moment rather than wait for a motion sensor to flush on me. I’ve always hated that!
Ahahahah I hear you on those, and andygirl is right, you get a massive culture shock when you come back too! (I will never forget my call with EDF customer service last year “what do you mean it’s my problem that the amount on the bill is wrong?” – customer service reps are a bunch of showersacs in France)
By the way, they do swaddle babies in Luxembourg… Not sure about the rest of EU…
PS: showersac? Get it? Ahahahahah
LOVE your new word. Showersac. I doubt very few people will be oblivious to your legendary sense of humor JL
I’m very glad Luxembourg swaddles babies, you shall see… (By the way, I’m full of mommy brain, I was ready before Jude was even born… Ah procrastination is a b!tch!)
And I’ve given up on customer service in France many years ago, however I always use my AmEx, they’ve covered my ass more than once!
So if I ever go to France (which of course I hope I do) can you come with me? Thanks.
And Eastern Europeans totally swaddle their babies, my mother in law could swaddle mine in three seconds flat, I kid you not.
Yuliya recently posted…Refuel
I would totally go with you, you have extra miles I can use?
I did not know about swaddling in Eastern Europe, good to know! Wonder why this never picked up in France. Wait, maybe it did while I was here. I mean, I left 7 years ago, can big changes like THAT happen in that little time??
I so very much love reading about the culture differences you encounter. So many of us Americans have no idea what we have here compared to the rest of the world…and then some Americans act ridiculously offended when they can’t get the same luxuries everywhere–because they don’t realize they are luxuries. Great post!
Katie recently posted…Almost Wordless Wednesday
Really interesting! So many things I never think about…now I’m mentally compiling my own list on Russia! Can’t wait to read part 2!
JoAnne Stein recently posted…The Most Intercultural Family in the World