Something You Might Not Know About France
Every time when people speak about France, quite often, “Ah… a romantic city” is their normal response. But it’s more than that, when i flipped through my Lonely Planet: France guide. Here some of the facts that i found interesting:
- France has came out from a trouble past, and it still is nowadays. From Sun King to Reign of Terror, from guillotining of Louis XVI to Napoleon, from WW2 to war in the colonies, it all happened only in the last 250 years. Even today, riot is not alien to French, take the nationwide riots in 2005 after Chirac governent introduced unfavourable new youth employment law.
- “There is nothing more maddening than the shop assistant who unabashedly chats to her mate while you wait, or the post office clerk who greets you with complete disregard.” China, anyone?
- Arrogant, rude, unbelievably bureaucratic, sexist, chauvinistic, super chic and stylish are some of the tags to describe French people.
- “Most people are extremely proud to be French and staunchly nationalistic to boot.” Again, China, anyone?
- Dodging dog pooh on pavements is a sport practised from birth, especially in Paris.
- While we are hoping to have 40-hour week, French work 35-hour week.
- 30 abortions take place in France for every 100 live births. Because abortion is legal during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
- There is a famous saying from French president Charles de Gaulle, “You cannot easily bring together a country which has 265 kinds of cheese.” Today, it has 500 varieties.
- French cuisine to the Western is like Chinese cuisine to Asia region: freshness of ingredients, natural flavours and refined cooking method.
- Do you know, there is actually not just one type of baguette in France? Differentiated by size and weight, you have flutes, pain, demi pain, ficelle.
- Tap water is safe to drink, like Australia. If you insist on bottled water, you will end up with Evian, Perrier, Volvic. Yes, those expensive types in your home country.
- “Kissing French-style is not completely straightforward…” I leave the rest for you to figure out.
