Melanger prt 2

and continuing the list of little differences....

Bread: yes, yes, everyone knows that the French eat baguettes. This is true. What I thought was more interesting is that they HAVE loaf bread, really yummy whole wheat loaf bread and white bread here. They just prefer to eat the baguettes with their cheese and to prepare sandwiches on the baguettes.

Sodas: The sprite tastes more bitter here; the coca cola tastes sweeter.

Mailing Packages: Don't think you can show up at the post office, buy a shipping box, and send a sweet care package to someone. NO. Here, they have those boxes, but the cheapest one begins at 11 euros !!! You are expected to somehow have your own personal cardboard box in which to send things.

Meat: It is expensive here, very expensive. The people I know here eat meat about twice a week, a number far less than in America where it's unusual to eat such a small amount in that time.

Balance: Americans tend to talk about life in terms of extremes. We work toward being the best, having the best, knowing the most, etc. The French tend to think of life as a balance, and they talk about this balance non-stop. They have the philosphy that there is the time to work, but that leisure is also healthy. They eat lots of fruits and vegetables, but usually complement the meal with  decadent desserts and wine. They speak of politics, religion, and literature with tangents about movie stars, food, and travel plans. They are neither too serious nor too fun-loving. They really strive for a balance each day, and I hope to keep that idea of balance when I return to the USA.