tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287384554620779198.post1759311436787806912..comments2023-05-11T01:09:36.096+10:00Comments on Diary of a Wandering Student: Learning to shop à la françaiseJessalyn Pinneohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00188095327138128369noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287384554620779198.post-7286078945850837742010-10-02T07:42:35.095+10:002010-10-02T07:42:35.095+10:00I may need to squeeze another trip to France very ...I may need to squeeze another trip to France very soon! :)Yeojinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287384554620779198.post-65716329383750956312010-09-30T01:58:33.767+10:002010-09-30T01:58:33.767+10:00Sorry Yeojin! :)
I read a great comment yesterday...Sorry Yeojin! :)<br /><br />I read a great comment yesterday about how important it is to at least treat people the way you would want to be treated at home by tourists - and you really should learn some cultural basics for interacting with people before you visit a place. (Like saying "Bonjour" when you enter a store in France.) Americans would flip out if someone approached them speaking another language in the U.S. - why would we expect people in other countries to react differently if we approach them speaking English?<br /><br />And yeah, there's a lot to be said for observing how things are done elsewhere and trying to do the same. As you know, you get a much better, more authentic experience when you do!<br /><br />If it makes you feel any better, I drove myself crazy missing Aix/France while writing and re-reading this one. ;)Jessalyn Pinneohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00188095327138128369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287384554620779198.post-14247396604796638342010-09-30T00:28:36.909+10:002010-09-30T00:28:36.909+10:00Oh, nostalgia! Jess, you're making me REALLY ...Oh, nostalgia! Jess, you're making me REALLY homesick for France. It's bad enough that I've got the anticipation of seeing a couple of my French friends this summer, and now this! Of course, I'm not blaming you. Not exactly :) I'm so happy that we (and most people I know) had such amazing experiences in France. Honestly, I don't remember anything negative about the people, the places, anything (yes, even the manifs and grèves!). And, while that probably has to do with memory being selective and not exactly photographic, I still look so very fondly back on my time(s) in France. If only I could accurately describe it to people who don't know it or who have had bad experiences. I'm pretty sure that most of the time, these "bad experiences" come from the person's own lack of willingness to do things "When in Rome"-style.<br /><br />And, oh, the marchés...Yeojinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287384554620779198.post-57959530344129609802010-09-29T22:50:07.746+10:002010-09-29T22:50:07.746+10:00Mary,
An honest opinion is definitely a wonderful...Mary,<br /><br />An honest opinion is definitely a wonderful thing - I've tried asking salespeople in U.S. clothing stores what they think from time to time, but there's only been one helpful response so far. I'll keep trying; maybe we'll start a trend someday. :-)<br /><br />Thanks!Jessalyn Pinneohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00188095327138128369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287384554620779198.post-33948619581505472452010-09-29T15:41:11.131+10:002010-09-29T15:41:11.131+10:00Jessalyn,
I could relate well to your post of bein...Jessalyn,<br />I could relate well to your post of being intimidated by shopping in France! I also spent some time there as a student, and I remember those same feelings.<br /><br />Though we might not like the intrusion of the salesperson, isn't it great to get an honest assessment rather than someone just trying to sell us something not right for us?<br /><br />Love the description of the fruits!Mary Rhttp://worldcurioustraveler.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287384554620779198.post-6444860852717240032010-09-29T10:42:46.090+10:002010-09-29T10:42:46.090+10:00Thanks, Eve - great to hear from another temporary...Thanks, Eve - great to hear from another temporary Aixoise! French "camping" does indeed merit its own blog post - maybe along with French hiking. Thinking about how different so many things are in France, like shopping (even for lingerie!), really makes me miss it.<br /><br />How wonderful that you were able to go back with your family, I haven't been since the end of my year there in 2006 - I was at AUCP (la Maison des Palmiers), right across the street from les Arts et Métiers (ENSAM). I walked past the cathedral and IAU every day and loved sitting at one of the cafés near the mairie to watch the wedding parties go by on the weekends.<br /><br />It really is amazing how driving just a couple of hours in France can bring you to an area that's completely different. I haven't spent much time in the north, but I have friends who have lived in Bretagne and I really want to spend time there at some point.<br /><br />Thanks again for the great comment!<br /><br />Best,<br />JessalynJessalyn Pinneohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00188095327138128369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8287384554620779198.post-52503364148147342652010-09-29T08:36:46.308+10:002010-09-29T08:36:46.308+10:00Ah, I love Aix! I lived there as a student abroad ...Ah, I love Aix! I lived there as a student abroad in undergrad. Have been back to visit several times over the (lots of!) years since. This past summer in July, we stopped by on our way back from "camping" French style (that merits its own blog post!) so I could show my (French) husband and my kids where I went to school. I went to IAU. It was the weekend, so the school was closed, but the family loved seeing the tiny streets and the cathedral where a wedding was taking place (and stopping at a toy store to get some cool knights!).<br /><br />I forgot how hot it gets there in summer and it reminded me how diverse France is - very different from the north where my husband is from. <br /><br />And, yes, European shopping (and for lingerie!) is quite the experience! <br /><br />Best, <br />EveEve Bodeuxhttp://www.bodeuxinternational.comnoreply@blogger.com