The hardest part about living in France, personally, has definitely been the change of pace in daily routines. I seem to forget every Sunday that most stores are closed, and that I’m actually supposed to be spending my free time with friends or family, not trying to shop or eat out. I can’t remember the last Sunday I did absolutely nothing…just enjoying the beautiful summer weather and hanging out with my loved ones. At home, I’m either working my part-time retail job, finishing homework, or trying to find something exciting to do when I finally have a day off. Here, free time is actually spent as free time. Time to do nothing!
In addition, August is the unofficial-official vacation month for the whole country of France. Many of the smaller restaurants, bakeries, and nightclubs here are closed while everyone travels south to enjoy the sun and beaches of the French Riviera. One of my teachers here asked me about the working-holiday culture in the United States, and was horrified to learn that there was no consistent or national law giving workers time off! Taking time off in the States is a privilege…whereas here, it’s a right.
One very stereotypically European thing I will never get tired of, is the high quality of food at both restaurants and grocery stores. At home, I try to be very conscientious of the food I eat, and avoid buying dairy or meat with added hormones and antibiotics. Here, I don’t have to worry about any of that! The EU has a lot more regulations than the United States for what goes in, on, or with your food, meaning being a responsible and healthy shopper is a lot easier to do. Going to a place like Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s isn’t needed here, especially because there’s fresh food markets at least a couple times a week in all of the big places (plazas) around Lyon. I have spoken to multiple American ex-pats that struggled with allergies to things such as dairy or alcohol, but find that their reactions disappear once they start having some of the French cheese or wine.
I’m still getting very much in my transition period in getting used to the French way of life. And since I’m studying abroad in Paris after Lyon, I still have 5 more months to acclimatize! I’d be very interested to know what a French student living abroad in the States thinks of our constantly hurried and busy lifestyles. There are definitely pros and cons to both, and I’m lucky enough to get the opportunity to test them both out.
