The French Way

So after being here for almost 3 months, it's strange to look back on my attitudes towards certain things at the beginning, and how many French customs i've adopted.  While there are the obvious, like the cheek kiss and saying bonjour and au revoir whenever you enter or leave a shop, there are certain small things that I'm used to know that would be super bizarre in the US.  Here, when one has bread with the meal, one puts their slice of bread on the table.  Not on the plate, but right on the table. In the US that never happens (also we don't eat nearly as much bread in the US).  At first I was kind of thrown off, but now I do it by instinct, and at the end of each course, rip a chunk of bread, put on in my plate, stick my fork in it and sop every bit of what's left on plate.

Also, no one is in a rush here.  Sunday, I spent 2 hours just sitting around with friends  after lunch, just because.  And it didn't matter either, because the wait staff will (generally) allow you to sit for as long as you like.  Very different from New York, where if you sit for a while after your meal you will be prodded to leave.

However, the odd thing is that if you don't follow the relaxed norms, you get starred at!  Eating while walking is considered eating "comme des Américains".  Eating on the Metro is considered "dégueulasse"!  And if you don't say hi or goodbye, or offer something at dinner, no matter what or how smal, to the person next you before you serve yourself, is considered "mal élevé", or poorly raised.  All of these additional social norms and customs can be a bit tiring for an Ameri-Sven living in Paris, especailly considering how American culture is, while rushed, very laid back. You can wear what you want, do what you want, and be how you want so long as it doesn't effect others.