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Wednesday 26 January 2011

English or French?

No, not a choice of restaurant or wine but a state of mind.  Having lived in rural southwest France now for six years the thought occasionally passes as to whether I consider myself to be English or French.  Having lived in England for almost sixty years before we came here I never questioned as to my thoughts on such matters except that occasionally there was a slight hint of being European in an odd sort of way.

The relatively few years spent here, only ten per cent or so of my life,  have gone very quickly, possibly because everything is new with so much to learn and experience in a totally different culture to that of my previous life.  Obviously a major change is language something which was and still is challenging but I have adapted and learnt and am able now to converse, read and write fairly fluently, thanks in great part to our local community who are very tolerant of English idiots trying to speak French.

Gradually it became apparent that there were many other differences between the two cultures which it was essential to understand if only to make life as uncomplicated as it needed to be.  One major difference is the French lunch hour, well, two or three hours in most instances, except for hypermarkets, everywhere shuts for lunch.  Sunday shopping is almost unknown over here and is still treated as a special day of the week where families and friends get together.  Some degree of personal change was need to find these shopping hours not inconvenient but it just took a little foresight and planning on my part.

Another difference is in eating habits and diet, we now eat much more fresh meat, fruit and vegetables because much of the produce is locally sourced and grown.  Along with this change came the delight of occasionally eating out and discovering new dishes and ingredients which we have espoused wholeheartedly.  In short we now eat better, more healthily and more cheaply than we ever did before and buy very little processed or ready meals.  Wine, oh yes, wine!  There are several excellent wine growing areas locally, some of international renown, all producing superb wines at prices we could only dream of before!

Generally the local people are very polite and friendly, polite and welcoming even if somewhat slow to become friends - that is nothing personal but the way that things are done around here.  Whether in shops or in our village people always greet with a warm 'Bonjour', even strangers will do so.  There is no reluctance to make eye contact or to exchange smiles in passing something which was found yo be totally alien back there.

I could go on and on about differences and the way that my life has changed in the past few years but I shall not.  Again I ask the the question as to whether I am English or French, the reply is an  unequivocal 'FRENGLISH'!