Monday, March 28, 2005
First French Kiss
Everybody kisses everybody here, all the time. As a chap you generally kiss women 4 times on the cheeks, and children of both sexes just the once on the cheek. Men shake hands. Children kiss each other once. You always say Bonjour before anything else. You even say bonjour when entering a shop. It takes a bit of getting used to as a reserved Englishman, but it's a nice ritual that we've all got thehang off.
Last night we all went to a party for Eric's birthday, one of Caroline's friends. Everyone there was French except Caroline and I (our two kids are more French than English these days). We had a great time, ate late, got home late, the usual very extended meal.
As a present we bought Eric a bottle of scotch whisky which was duely presented. He was thrilled. Before moving to France I'd heard that men kissed as well, but I've only ever seen it happen once in a cafe. Now I've seen it close up - very close up. He was so pleased I got four kisses on the cheeks. It was a bit of a shock. I wonder if it had anything to do with the fact that I shaved off my beardof 20 years this week ? I think I better grow it back fast.
| 6:24:23 PM
First French Kiss
