Our Big Move To France

Not much, just everything

Victoria, this is for you! And please note throughout this post that THESE ARE NOT COMPLAINTS. This is not an American bemoaning, “why oh why arent things like America?” Nope. These are simply cultural observations, joyfully celebrated. Even the suck ass showers. 🚿 🚫  😂 💕

So much is different, and I’m not talking about language. Some things expected, some things surprising, some things frustrating, many things just make good sense. Much of the difference is because France is a socialist democracy. That means less focus on self-dealing individualism, more societal investment in the firm belief that everyone is better off when everyone is better off.

Start with… in the grocery stores they don’t use plastic bags, they use these thin but sturdy paper ones. These bags then work great for use in your composting bin… which, when full,  you then walk down the street to the corner composting bin.  It is not convenient yet everyone does it. Just because its the good thing to do.

Cashiers are allowed to sit

When you get your produce at a store, you take it first to scales to weigh, and a little sticker prints out that tells the cashier what to charge. We learned the hard, and embarrassing way, as we held up the line forever on that first grocery store trip! Good thing the cashier was kind, even though clearly annoyed.

And in the grocery stores, everything is smaller portioned. No giant tubs or jars. Because most people have small refrigerators, in small kitchens, in small apartments.  Its no surprise that the image of French people going to the store, market, local meat shop, green grocer or bakery, is true. I love this part. Not only does it save electricity, but you get out walking every day. Although it took us a couple of weeks to adjust our mindset of needing to buy in big quantity after living on the island for 3 years, where you have to drive long distances to the stores, so you better stock up!

And did I mention how amazing the produce is? And prices on almost everything is so affordable. 1.25€ 🥖    6€ 🍾   .30€ 🧄   1€ 🥕🥕🥕  2€ 🥦

What is hard to find? Artisanal mexican ingredients. Everything is El Paso 😆. Chinese, Thai and Japanese beyond soy sauce. Mirin and rice wine vinegar are usually in tiny bottles that I go through in a week. Soba or ramen noodles, except rice noodles. I scored a jar of chili crisp oil at an Asian store in Rouen!!! I haven’t found dried chili peppers yet, ot Thai lime leaves. I got so excited when I saw 2 stalks of lemongrass at the market and the vendor was equally excited that I knew what it was and how to use it!

However, Middle Eastern, Syrian, and Vietnamese are easily found. Makes sense.

Weird:  sage is really hard to find.

Lots of vegan products and they aren’t expensive!

Other difference: no one has driers, everyone has drying racks that you place near a radiator that heats the apartments. And showers are terrible for the most part. Seriously.

Light switches: up is “off”, down is “on”.

They say that strikes are the French national sport! We witnessed a huge one today driving from Lille to Nantes. The farmers ain’t messing around! Over 350 tractors blocking traffic around Paris and along the highway to Lille. Traffic is at a standstill for miles and miles.

And we’ve been here a month, lived in or visited 4 apartments. Not one has a bidet and I’ve yet to see anyone do “the kiss”. Such iconically French stereotypes that seem to have lost their universality. We will keep observing and report back!