Yes, I'm a troublemaker. I also don't want to come back.

NOTHING here seems to contain corn syrup. I'm really starting to think that is one of the major factors in America's obesity issue.

The fruit here is amazing. I'm going to miss it. Fresh figs bought from the farmstand, fresh, not squeezed into a little box. Even though the fruit isn't technically organic, its obviously sprayed with fewer chemicals..I don't taste them on the raspberries, the peaches, the grapes... Its just incredible, the difference. The whole-milk yougurt doesn't have that idiot 'cream line' that you have to stir in... its just good, simple, healthy food. Unfortunately some American stuff is starting to creep in, and that worries me. I'm seeing a few Starbucks, things like that. Most people still prefer to sit down with a real cup of coffee though.

And its still a place where you can go to almost any cafe or restaurant and get something good and freshly made.

Can you tell I don't want to come back to the US?

quote:

Originally posted by Brie:

quote:

Its true that a lot of people smoke, but oddly, french cigarettes bother me less than American ones.

Not for me. I don't know if I'm so used to be in bars and restaurants that are smoke-free or what but I found it really, really bothersome.

Plus dh has asthma so if someone lit up right next to him it basically ruined his meal.

Ugh, me too. Even when I lived there and was used to being in smokey bars, because I was just out of univesity. I actually think many of the French cigarettes are even worse. The Galoise are just plain vile.

Dawn

quote:

Its true that a lot of people smoke, but oddly, french cigarettes bother me less than American ones.

Not for me. I don't know if I'm so used to be in bars and restaurants that are smoke-free or what but I found it really, really bothersome.

Plus dh has asthma so if someone lit up right next to him it basically ruined his meal.

While there is definitely a bit of the 'vacation' mentality for me, I am also cooking for myself as well, so I'm getting a little of the flavor of living here. Its true that a lot of people smoke, but oddly, french cigarettes bother me less than American ones.
I suspect that there are fewer additives in those as well. I am still amazed that there is no corn syrup in anything here. Its all still sugar.

I do think it would be more of an issue with gas prices, but France is amazing in terms of recycling. Recycling all plastic, plastic film, bottles (with caps). Glass, paper, plastic bags. Its really incredible.

I also went to a fabulous concert last night at the Ste Chapelle. It was amazing.

I am looking forward to getting on the boat though, I'm starting to feel a little 'over-touristed'. And the one problem with travelling alone? You can't take silly pics of yourself with the statues/monuments. Darn.

I think the other part of that is when we're abroad, it's for vacation. There is no work, no house keeping, no cooking, just R & R. I think almost any place looks better through that filter.

$10/gallon for gas, housing prices worse than NYC, lots of people smoking, 60% or more of your $ going to the gov't....maybe not so great to deal with day in day out.

Cate, that's -part of the trouble of traveling abroad, even to Canada. We found health care in Canada to be far superior to the US; the food was great, the people far more friendly, and our dollars went farther. Their education system was working towards excellence rather than getting by, socialism was a wonderful thing.
BUT, as Dawn said, there are other drawbacks, and that's what bring us back the to the US everytime.

Enjoy the time you have, visit often, give it to yourself as a treat, and then hunt down places in the US that mimic France. Ask the natives where they would go to get French food in the US...there have to be some places they could recommend.

I LOVE the yogurt in France, and other European countries. I had a hard time even eating yogurt when I came back to the US. It is too sweet and not as creamy.

The produce was always much better too. You can also tell it has fewer "man made" interventions because it is normal size, not huge.

I can tell you though Cate, even though the food is better, there are other drawbacks to living in France.

Dawn