looking back, it's hard for me to believe there was a time in my life when i didn't really like france. mais oui, c'est vrai ... my parents signed us up to host a french student, geoffroy, in 1991. it went so well that our parents decided to send will, my older brother, and i to france in the summer of 1992 for 3 weeks. i was 15 and wanted to spend the summer hanging out w/ my friends doing whatever 15 year olds do in the suburbs.
instead, we toured WWI battlefields, rode bikes through the french countryside, took boat rides in the english channel and ate delicious home-cooked meals. honestly, i wasn't a huge fan. the camembert smelled funny, there were no handy markets (now 7-11s) or malls and i couldn't find a decent hamburger, hot dog or pizza.
fortunately, my tastes and taste buds evolved. in 2006, cath and i spent a night in paris - touring the sights, getting lost and gorging on scrumtrulescent food and wine - on our way to the french riviera. i started to look at france anew, in no small part to my little polska, who loves all things french.
i appreciated their way of life, the fact that they always take lunch (it's unheard of to eat at your desk - something i've done nearly my entire career), the entire country vacations during the month of august, they linger over their meals (and usu have at least a glass of wine w/ lunch and dinner) and you can drink alcohol anywhere, anytime. one can point out shortcomings in this, but it's a lifestyle that jives w/ ours now, esp, as i strive to be an "international gentleman of leisure" following a hectic 3 years of work + school.
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