France Update

Well, it’s Sunday 2:30 pm in France, 7:30 am at home.   The trip is going well – I feel like we’re doing a pretty good job or learning some French.  Our group blog is at http://blogs.longhollow/france09/ and it has more information than I’ll give here.  There are also lots of pictures on there – Eric is doing a great job!  You can also follow us on Twitter at @francetrip09 or at  http://www.twitter.com/francetrip09.

The main difference I believe our team has had a hard time learning is the meal time etiquette.   Dinner here is an intimate respectful time.  It’s a formal time with place settings and nice dishes with food that is more fancy-ish.  Talking to someone at another table is strictly forbidden and considered very rude.  They only serve water and don’t drink but maybe the amount of 3ish ounces.  French people somehow live on much less hydration than Americans.  Nobody eats until the leader comes in and says “Bon Appetite!”  So everyone sits without even water for up to ten minutes waiting.  The children MUST try everything, and you must eat everything on your plate.  You don’t put on more than you will eat so everyone puts small portions at first.  It’s just very different from American culture. 

Other than that, there are many other differences as well.  Most is mainly the small nuances in the culture but that are very big deals.  For example, interrupting shows you are interested in the topic that someone is speaking about.  French also will argue and disagree openly without becoming offended.  On a side note, I was surprised that they didn’t drive on the wrong side of the road too – apparently that’s mainly in London.

Very important to point out that my body has not adjusted to the time difference well.  Therefore I feel like 3/4ths of this did not make any sense so bear with me.  I couldn’t get to sleep sleep last night until about 5 am here (only 10:30 pm at home).  So that left about three hours to sleep.  Whew – but the Lord is providing endurance thankfully!  Au Revoir!