Messed Up
I apparently have comments on the previous post, but I can't access any of them for some reason. Well, except Cookie's comment...that's the only one that displays for me. I don't know WHAT happened. Oh well. Blogger's free. You get what you pay for! (EDIT: after putting up this post, the comments opened back up normally on the other post. Strange....)
Alex is still in France, and he will be returning on Tuesday. I spoke to him on the phone last night, and I couldn't stop laughing because Alex has become an American. The first thing he did was complain that his feet hurt from walking so much. That's EXACTLY how I felt when I went over to France the first time. We had no car, but that was pretty much the status quo. There was a bus one could take and a train. Clermont-Ferrand, although by no means a small place, was not quite big enough for a subway system. Still, nearly everything was in walking distance anyway (or biking distance), so it wasn't so bad. The main problem was that I, American Girl, was used to sitting on my ass. My main bit of walking was from a chair inside my apartment to the seat in the car. Alex ended up massaging my calf muscles on my legs a lot because after all that walking, they just cramped up in protest constantly. Alex bikes to and from work here in America, but work is pretty close. He then sometimes walks to the grocery store...which is right next door to his apartment building. So, he's lost his walking capacity.
In France, most residences don't have air conditioning. In the summertime, this is a miserable situation. It gets as hot in Clermont-Ferrand as it does in the South here in America. Sure, a lot of the commercial buildings have air conditioning, but you can't sleep there. And sleeping in a pool of sweat isn't fun, especially after your body has gotten used to climate control within your domicile. So, Alex made a few comments about the heat, sweat, chafing, and wanting his air conditioning back.
The last complaint he had caught me by surprise. He has gotten used to dumping ice in all of his drinks, especially in the hot summer months. Sure, he still wants his hot tea (and has a couple every day), but he really loves to have his coca colas loaded up with ice in a glass. So, he was lamenting the lack of an icemaker in the freezer at his place in France.
I know that the English and the French both don't use ice really, nor does most of Europe. When I visit friends in England, they usually buy a little bag of ice for me to keep in the freezer so I'm happy. When I visit France, I use an ice tray and keep some in Alex's freezer. I have found that I like ice in my drinks all year around as I'm just used to having them that way. I wonder if the Aussies do ice or don't do ice? Hmmmm. Hopefully Jezzy, Fatty, or any of the other Aussies who stop by can answer that one for me because I'm curious.
I AM relieved that he has brought up things he missed in America besides me and the kids. It makes me feel less guilty that he is giving up his country for me. It's funny to me because the last time I came back from France, I was lamenting myself the lack of good cheese, some of the French wines I had grown to love over there, and the lack of a good baguette. In fact, my daughter--who has heard me bitch about how Americans can't make a good baguette--asks me when we're at the grocery store, "Momma, are we going to get a fake baguette today?" Haha! I am very aware of the faults that France has, but like America...it has so much good in it, so much that makes it unique and special to me, that I love the country. I am now finding out that Alex feels that way about America too. I still wish we could live over there for a few years so that the children could experience Europe and learn French. But it makes me happy to think that Alex really DOES see what we have to offer here (like the school he attends over here, which he loves) and likes it.
I can't wait until he comes back home. I miss him. Plus, I can't wait to get the load of goodies he'll bring me :) I asked for a decent Cote Rotie. I told him to get a 2003 or a 1999...the 2003 is likely cheaper, but we'd just have to sit on it a few years before it was at a good drinking stage. 1999 could probably be consumed now, but is likely a bit pricy. I can't find too many Cote Rotie over here (Northern Rhone wine, for those of you who wondered). I also want to try a Tavel Rose, which I can't find in SC for some reason. That's the main rose of the Rhone region. I'm getting chocolate too! And a few of these little jarred sauces I love. Woohoo! Yes, I can't go to France with him this time, so he's bringing back France to me. That works!
Alex is still in France, and he will be returning on Tuesday. I spoke to him on the phone last night, and I couldn't stop laughing because Alex has become an American. The first thing he did was complain that his feet hurt from walking so much. That's EXACTLY how I felt when I went over to France the first time. We had no car, but that was pretty much the status quo. There was a bus one could take and a train. Clermont-Ferrand, although by no means a small place, was not quite big enough for a subway system. Still, nearly everything was in walking distance anyway (or biking distance), so it wasn't so bad. The main problem was that I, American Girl, was used to sitting on my ass. My main bit of walking was from a chair inside my apartment to the seat in the car. Alex ended up massaging my calf muscles on my legs a lot because after all that walking, they just cramped up in protest constantly. Alex bikes to and from work here in America, but work is pretty close. He then sometimes walks to the grocery store...which is right next door to his apartment building. So, he's lost his walking capacity.
In France, most residences don't have air conditioning. In the summertime, this is a miserable situation. It gets as hot in Clermont-Ferrand as it does in the South here in America. Sure, a lot of the commercial buildings have air conditioning, but you can't sleep there. And sleeping in a pool of sweat isn't fun, especially after your body has gotten used to climate control within your domicile. So, Alex made a few comments about the heat, sweat, chafing, and wanting his air conditioning back.
The last complaint he had caught me by surprise. He has gotten used to dumping ice in all of his drinks, especially in the hot summer months. Sure, he still wants his hot tea (and has a couple every day), but he really loves to have his coca colas loaded up with ice in a glass. So, he was lamenting the lack of an icemaker in the freezer at his place in France.
I know that the English and the French both don't use ice really, nor does most of Europe. When I visit friends in England, they usually buy a little bag of ice for me to keep in the freezer so I'm happy. When I visit France, I use an ice tray and keep some in Alex's freezer. I have found that I like ice in my drinks all year around as I'm just used to having them that way. I wonder if the Aussies do ice or don't do ice? Hmmmm. Hopefully Jezzy, Fatty, or any of the other Aussies who stop by can answer that one for me because I'm curious.
I AM relieved that he has brought up things he missed in America besides me and the kids. It makes me feel less guilty that he is giving up his country for me. It's funny to me because the last time I came back from France, I was lamenting myself the lack of good cheese, some of the French wines I had grown to love over there, and the lack of a good baguette. In fact, my daughter--who has heard me bitch about how Americans can't make a good baguette--asks me when we're at the grocery store, "Momma, are we going to get a fake baguette today?" Haha! I am very aware of the faults that France has, but like America...it has so much good in it, so much that makes it unique and special to me, that I love the country. I am now finding out that Alex feels that way about America too. I still wish we could live over there for a few years so that the children could experience Europe and learn French. But it makes me happy to think that Alex really DOES see what we have to offer here (like the school he attends over here, which he loves) and likes it.
I can't wait until he comes back home. I miss him. Plus, I can't wait to get the load of goodies he'll bring me :) I asked for a decent Cote Rotie. I told him to get a 2003 or a 1999...the 2003 is likely cheaper, but we'd just have to sit on it a few years before it was at a good drinking stage. 1999 could probably be consumed now, but is likely a bit pricy. I can't find too many Cote Rotie over here (Northern Rhone wine, for those of you who wondered). I also want to try a Tavel Rose, which I can't find in SC for some reason. That's the main rose of the Rhone region. I'm getting chocolate too! And a few of these little jarred sauces I love. Woohoo! Yes, I can't go to France with him this time, so he's bringing back France to me. That works!
posted by Kira | 6:03 AM
12 Comments:
Lol - nowhere's perfect. But any place is better when the people you love are there.
I have never been to Europe without having someone in my travelling group getting all upset over the ice issue. It's kind of funny really. But if there is ice, I'll gladly take it. =o)
I thought it was funny that the local liquor store owner, a Chinese woman, sold her store and moved back to China. I thought the living conditions in China were generally worse than America, especially compared to my neighborhood. Then again, she may have had a lot of money stashed away. If you have a little money in a poor time and place, it can enable you to live far better than the average person.
I'm surprised that many French domiciles have yet to get air conditioning, considering the heat wave that overtook the country a few years back. I'm sure fan manufactures do a brisk business.
Actually, most of the grad students that came to study with me in New York returned home--not so much because they were turned off by the US, but because they were simply homesick.
Then again, these wer NYC grad students. Had they been in Georgia with Doc T, they might have wanted to stay.
I'm sure th wine and chocolates aren't the only goodies Alex is bringing back with him.
Perhaps as gas prices continue to rise here, we'll all be walking a lot more.
Boy, when you think of France you think of wine? I think of cheese. Pretty cheesy of me, heh?
Yup! Each country has its merits. I do miss a "real" baguette and I've scoured Kansas City to find one. To date, Napoleon's on Westport Road has the best, most authentic baguette. Fervere on 18th and Summit has the best bread I've ever tasted, but they don't make a baguette. Cafe Aupainaire's baguettes are horrible. Sorry...just long, soft American bread in a French shape. I've found some of the cheeses, but for some reason, they're not as good. The Better Cheddar has a nice selection, as does Dean and Deluca (a chain...you may be able to find a D&D in your city...and their bread isn't bad).
Yeah...there's nothing like a good meal in France. Have you been for Easter or Christmas yet??? 12 hours a table. The long meals were hard at first, but one quickly assimilates.
Re-bienvenu Alex, when you get back.
I think it's wonderful that you both can see the merits and the pros and cons in each others countries. I can imagine what a relief it was for you to hear him talking about other things he missed about America besides you and the kids.
Oh and btw, as you know, I'm in New Zealand, and we drink lots of ice in our drinks down here too...I can't imagine having a bourbon and coke without ice in it...but out of desperation I have in the past lol
Hmmm, ice. Methinks it's rather individual. I'm a "no ice, thanks"-type of person and I wont add ice to any of my drinks at home - I like tasting what I'm drinking!
But yeah, it's pretty much automatically added if you're ordering a soft or mixed drink.
Doc-T--my parents have told me about some lovely cote rotie that they've had, so I'm really looking forward to it! He bought a 1998, also a great vintage year. I didn't suggest 1998 because I thought it would be too pricey, but there aren't any import fees when you buy it in the country of origin, you know? I swear I could drink my way through France.
Angie--I can live without ice, but I really like it in certain drinks. For instance, water. Who cares if frozen water dissolves in my glass? It just makes it nice and cold on a hot day. Still, I never once said a peep in a public place about ice no matter where we are. Alex had already warned me that when he worked in a hotel, he had to deal with frustrating Americans who insisted that there HAD to be an ice machine somewhere...well, no, there's not because Europeans don't need one. As far as no place being perfect but being with people you love being the ideal...well, I love a lot of Alex's friends and his family. So I guess that means either France or America will work out fine to live :)
Grant--yeah, I bet it was the money thing. I remember visiting Mexico with my family long ago, and I was amazed by what our American dollars could buy. It seems like a great deal: come here, work hard for less than half the time, take your savings to your country and live off of it forever.
X.dell--you are referring to the infamous heat wave in the summer of 2003 that killed off lots of elderly French in particular. The interesting factoid about that heatwave was that the elderly in small villages and towns faired well on the whole. Why? Well, in small communities people look out for each other. It was the elderly in big cities like Paris who tended to bite it. But yes, they still don't really have air conditioning unless you're particularly well off. Alex's roomie for the semester he did at USC did all she could to stay in America, although it was obvious that she missed her home a lot too. I suppose it's a decision of what means more: opportunities here that would not be available at home, or family and friends who are well missed.
Hoss--you're a cheesy guy! so that works. But actually, I think of wine, cheese, chocolate, and good bread/pastries when I think of France. And I also think of...well, things that shouldn't be posted on a non-porn blog :)
Laura--MY GOD I am so glad to hear you say that the cheeses here are good but not as good. Do you find that with mousse de canard too???? I can't figure it out. It just largely tasted better over there. I found a few good cheeses that are French enough at our Whole Foods, but they're twice the price they'd be in France, of course. Still, like Brie for instance...oh man, did I EVER have to do trial and error for that one over here. Most of our brands suck. Suck. Suck. A good French Brie is hard to find here, but just about every Brie I found there was fantastic. And we don't have "real" baguettes here that I've been able to find, but I can get a real one in Tampa!!!! My parents know this old French couple who own a bakery in Tampa, and they get bread from them....oh YUM. We have Michelin here in the upstate. You'd think that there'd be a huge market for a boulangerie (forgive spelling if it's off...I'm too lazy to look it up). I know I'd be there once a week for sure.
Lisa--you know, when I mentioned Aussie bloggers, I almost put you on the list but then I remembered, oh wait...New Zeland, not Australia! But it's in the same geographic region, so I'm interested to hear that ice is often used there.
Jezzy--the only drink I won't add ice to is wine. That's...blasphemous to me...haha! There ARE frozen plastic ice cubes that can chill a glass without imparting water that some people will use who feel like you do (IE, I want to taste what I'm drinking). For me, a little water is not a problem depending on the drink. Cokes are good with ice in my opinion, and water...is unfrozen ice cubes. I like southern American iced tea, too. But if the drink HAS been chilled, I don't "need" ice. So, a coke in the refrigerator in a can, for instance, can easily be consumed out of the can without pouring it over ice. Ok, so from what I understand then, Aussies DO do ice, but you just prefer no ice. I assume your husband doesn't do ice either since he's English?
I've dropped in several times...first time to comment though :) I love how you have helped Doc-t...he has a special place in my heart :)
We have friends from England- John always speaks of how much he likes being in the States- how everything is better here...faster, cooler, whatever.
But he hates American chocolate..and he has spoiled me by bringing stuff from Herods when he comes. I so adore the man!
Kira- you are a great person :) I am happy for you and Alex~ and I love reading about how you co-exist.
I am sorry I have not said hello before now...
-Cora :)
Actually, Hubby likes ice. He uses it at home all the time. I have a feeling that he didn't do so before he came here though.
I relate to the whole thing about removing your man from his country. There's a lot of lovely things about England which hubby will miss. Its proximity to Europe being one! He also misses the trashy Sunday tabloids, the FA cup (soccer) being on TV during the day instead of the middle of the night, clotted cream on scones, his big sister and his Dad's dog. In terms of food and lifestyle though, he likes things a whole lot better over here. Which is great!
As for adding ice to wine - that is absolutely and totally inconceivable!
Cora--wow, any time you want to stop by and pay compliments, go right ahead! haha! My favorite English chocolate is Thorton's. That stuff is fantastic...it's a boutique chocolate like Godiva. They specialize in milk choccy because that's what the English like best, but their dark is good too.
Jezzy--wow, he adjusted to ice! Ok, I shouldn't be surprised about that one if Alex just basically did the same. And yes, I can't fathom why folks are so eager to have chilled wine that they'd throw ice in it. I've seen it done, and I just shiver. Watered down wine???? ACK!
Post a Comment
<< Home