Sunday, May 16, 2004
Sixty Million Frenchmen can't be Wrong
Saint Honoré
Started reading Sixty Million Frenchmen can't be Wrong last night. Part of the synopsis reads:
The French drink, smoke and eat more fat than anyone in the world, yet they live longer and have fewer heart problems than the English and the Americans. They work 35-hour weeks and take seven weeks' paid holiday each year, yet they are the world's fourth-biggest economic power. So how do they do it?
I only read the introduction and the first chapter but it already answers a few questions about the French culture. I'm absolutely sure I'm going to learn alot from this book. Something which never occurred to me before moving over was the cultural differences. I appreciated that the language barrier would be hard, but the cultural barrier is even harder. There are years/centuries of habits, reasons and methods of doing things in France. We've got a lot to learn, but I'm hoping this book may provide a few pointers.
We had some guests arrive today, it little later than expected. They were due in the gite yesterday, but they got the dates and days a little muddled up. Ah well, the weather is better today :-) The temperature hit a high of 25°C (77°F) today so was very pleasant indeed. The May trees are in full bloom and with the warmer evenings the crickets are back.
This morning we all went for a family bicycle ride along the disused railway line at Le Quoi (near to Evran). It's easy for the children because, like the canal, it's almost flat. By the time we got back the local bar next to the old railway station was doing a good trade with traditional accordion music floating out of the windows and doors. Very French.
| 8:00:09 PM
Sixty Million Frenchmen can't be Wrong
