| French Life And Living in France |
| Written by Hazel Wig | |||
| Wednesday, 28 October 2009 10:36 | |||
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Many people around the world think that they know quite a lot about French life. This may be due to the abundance of caricatures of the French nation and also because France is the number one tourist destination in the world. This may seem a little odd when you think about some of the common complaints that French people are arrogant, rude and refuse to speak English which, of course, they can all do perfectly well . . .
Many people around the world think that they know quite a lot about French life. This may be due to the abundance of caricatures of the French nation and also because France is the number one tourist destination in the world. This may seem a little odd when you think about some of the common complaints that French people are arrogant, rude and refuse to speak English which, of course, they can all do perfectly well . . . What do we consider common knowledge about French life? Few dispute the fact that French restaurants are excellent. French cuisine is endlessly copied throughout the world, and the French language is often used for menus and cooking terms. Although we often associate the French with "haute cuisine", the day to day home cooking and standard cheap restaurant lunches are another cause for pride. Choice of ingredients and cooking methods interest the French public; choosing a restaurant or a dish in a restaurant can be a matter for heated argument. Food is important and it's this importance that will keep French cuisine at its high standard. It seems that they are right to place this emphasis on proper meals rather than eating on the move and snacking. The French are a little more healthy and less overweight than many other populations. Visitors can be confident that most set-price menus will be great value for money. Although France is rightly proud of its traditional bread, I think that you need to be weaned onto and brought up with the baguette if you're to find it essential twice a day. When I arrived to live in France many years ago, I soon become fed up with the relentless baguette diet and was forced by my teenaged children to learn to make "proper wholemeal loaves". Today, there's a huge variety of breads available in every boulangerie (and regional variations make for pleasant discoveries) and I've happily given up baking! With that bread we will sometimes eat cheese, of which there are over four hundred types in France. So I think that some parts of well-known derogatory epithets should be taken as complimentary! There are few people who don't enjoy at least one of the varieties. The most famous French produce is probably wine. We tend to think that we need some knowledge (and some money!) in order to appreciate French wine. It's true that many French people do tend to know quite a lot about the topic and they do buy for their own personal cellar. However, many just buy from the local supermarket and don't spend a great deal, but still take the subject seriously. Many of us believe that France is made up of protesting farmers, fishermen and transport workers. This is because world television tends to concentrate on the negative aspects of news rather than on a country's more positive events. It might be more realistic to show the fantastic products. The French eat and drink in a healthy and enjoyable way; but what else do they do for pleasure while putting up with all those strikes and demonstrations? Cinema is a very well regarded art form so that school children are taken to films from an early age and there are frequent magazine and television discussions on the subject. New films are shown even in remote areas, often in a Salle de Ftes by the local film society. Similarly, libraries in villages may be run by volunteers. The availability of the arts is regarded as important and voluntary work is vital to keep these going. French designers are also world famous and Paris fashion shows are televised all over the world; we consider French people to be sophisticated dressers. Quite a contradictory set of icons for this nation! But one thing is sure, people from all over the world keep returning to visit and to benefit from many aspects of the French life. Could the complaints arise from envy? Free Articles: French Life and the joys of living in France have been the subject of many articles, books and even television programmes. For a real taste of Living in France make sure you visit Amanda Lawrence's new blog at www.frenchvie.com. Lots of real life stories and anecdotes from the Quercy. It takes you right there - you'll never want to leave. Don't forget to register for her free newsletter.
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