What I have learned in France...part 1

-that if you are standing at a bus stop waiting for a bus and you want to get on it, you must flag the bus driver like you are hailing a cab

-that an Americano cafe is NOTHING like an American coffee

-that the bread, wine and cheese is REALLY yummy

-that you find milk in the unrefrigerated section of the grocery store

-that if you order take-out pizza, you must ask for it to be sliced

-that common pizza toppings include tuna, eggs, anchovies, potatoes and NO pizza sauce

-that men (4 month old babies included) are required to wear a Speedo in the swimming pool (and you will be asked to exit the pool without one)

-that a woman with a bikini top on at the beach is a minority

-that French women are very skinny

-that nobody will give you a grocery bag at the store, let alone bag your groceries and push your cart to the car

-that it is an AMAZING place to raise children

-that there are a million and one vacation destinations within a short train ride or drive a way

-that healthcare costs are 100% reimbursed

-that a 3 or 4 week "holiday"/vacation is the norm and you take several throughout the year

-that you can be admitted, treated and discharged from a hospital without presenting any form of identification, let alone a checkbook

-that when you visit a pediatrician, he greets you at the front door, does the entire examination himself (i.e. weight/measurements/invoice, follow-up appointment booking included)

-that a "carte de sante" (health care booklet) is given to every child and is updated by the physician with every single medical visit until the age of 18

-that if your child is in need of a vaccination, then you must get the vaccine from a drugstore and bring it with you to the doctor

-that 9 kilos (Andrew's current weight) is approximately 18 pounds

-that nobody in tech support for your internet services speak English

-that customer service calls are not free (including tech support for your internet services)

-that it is not uncommon to be on hold with customer service until your phone batteries die

-that customer service representatives, doctor's office receptionists, etc. answer phone calls by saying nothing but "J'ecoute" - translation = I'm listening!

-that you can go out to eat at 6:00 pm but you cannot order until 7:00, when the "kitchen" opens

-that the Early Bird menu ends at 8:00 pm

-that if the price of an item is 18 euros, then it will cost you exactly 18 euros, and there is no tax, gratuity, etc. added on later

-that 15 kilometres is still considered "walking distance" away

-that an "unfurnished" apartment includes NOTHING but the floors, the walls, and the kitchen sink. NO counters, cabinets, light fixtures, etc.

-that there are a ton of expats living here, always anxious to make new friends

-that there are a million other things I have yet to learn in France...