Cultural differences

Although we have been enjoying our time here in Paris, we have noticed some cultural differences between both the U.S. and France and our small town and the big city.

For example: today (Sunday) is our anniversary. So we decided we would celebrate by going to dinner last night so as to not break the sabbath. Well, as it turns out, when you don't live in a small town like Cedar City you actually have to make a reservation on Saturday nights. If you don't, you won't get a table anywhere and you'll end up eating korean barbeque.

Also, as you are on your way home you will realize that you have absolutely no food in the house and seeing as it is after nine, there will not be a single grocery store/corner market open because in France, places like wal-mart just don't exist. This means the ox is in the mire and you will end up breaking the sabbath anyway.

This would be a perfect time for me to explain why there was no food in the house. You see, here in France they have tiny refrigerators and pantries and they just buy fresh food almost daily. Well I have nothing against fresh food, i'm just not used to shopping daily and it takes a little more time and planning than i'm used to.

Speaking of things taking more time and planning than i'm used to... My friends Brittany and Alicia were here visiting this week and Alicia left via the chunnel to London yesterday. Her train was leaving at 8:13 and she was supposed to be there half an hour before departure. Well I was helping her take her bags and according to my Paris metro app on the ipod, it would take us 25 minutes to get to gare du nord. So we left the house at 7:15 thinking we would have enough time but, as it turns out, the metro only runs every ten minutes on Saturday mornings and since we got down the stairs right as the metro was pulling away, she missed her train. Sorry again Alicia!

Now please don't mistake this post as complaining because I am most certainly not. Also, don't worry about us in this big, foreign city. We'll get it all figured out eventually ;-)