Although thereās always the exception that proves the rule
Iām sure Iāve come across one or two that tick all 7 boxesā¦
Answer me this: Are the Brits living here mostly Francophiles or are they all just here for the weather and the wine? Iāve found that when I write anything at all approving of the French way of life here in the south - which I find agreeably slower, more casual, and more concerned about quality of life than quantity in the bank - Iām told that Iām wearing rose colored glasses. That in fact the French are lazy, not at all entrepreneurial, and therefore some sort of lesser species. Itās an attitude that many Americans from the north of the country have when they retire to warmer climates in the southern United States. Having done so myself, being a northerner who has spent time in southern climates, I found it necessary to adjust my attitude about the proper pace of life, or at least the pace of life to which southerners are accustomed. I suppose that Iām really asking if Brits have that same problem.
You say Are they MOSTLY Francophiles or are the ALL just here for the weather and the wine but I donāt think itās possible to generalise to that extent. There certainly do seem to be some very unhappy Brits here who seem to hold France 100 per cent responsible for having failed big time to meet their expectations, and no way are going to adjust their expectations to accord with reality. Maybe theyāre not the biggest group but just the ones who shout the loudest, as we all tend to do when we have a gripe. I hope so because I would hate to think there are many people who feel like that.
I think youāre right when you mention attitude - that has to be the key, but if youāve grown up with a particular attitude and held it for 20, 30 or 40 years, I donāt think you can just decide to change it like that. The change has to happen inside, and it takes time to gradually start to understand and appreciate the advantages of a different approach and let go of certain values youāve held all your life. But youāre right that sometimes you do have to make a conscious effort to open your mind and be prepared to question your own attitude and allow it to change.
In my case it was easy for me because my natural attitude is more in line with the French than the English - I felt a misfit because I didnāt work 9 to 5 and change my car every 3 to 5 years and wash it every Sunday and saddle myself with home improvement loans to keep up with the neighbours (mine was eventually the only house in the street without a new conservatory, letting the neighbourhood down, shocking!). But I understand the problem in reverse because, even living in a very materialistic environment where appearances matter, I couldnāt adjust my attitude to match. Iām just not materialistic, I donāt get fulfillment from āthingsā. Which, of course, is a big part of why I moved here, I hoped Iād feel more ābien dans ma peauā here, and I do.
Interesting, innit, well I think so.
Where are you from originally, Ira, if I may ask?
That made me laugh out loud even though itās ridiculous!
There are many great things about living in France - see the discussion I started on this very subject Your Top 3 Things You Love About France
Great quote from Mahatma Gandhi:
I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the culture of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any
I love that and take from it that itās important to adapt but not necessarily adopt!
As an aside I think itās pretty rude of you to imply that the French are some sort of lesser species (your words - no one elses!). Not appropriate for this forum.
I have a troll. First time. And love the criticism from the guy who characterized French as lazy. Mellow out!
Please donāt misquote to enhance your argument - I did not characterise the French as lazy. I said restaurant owners who go on holiday during the peak holiday season were lazy - thatās all! Chill manā¦
And - you donāt have a troll - you simply have someone who disagrees with you. Maybe thatās a new experience ?
Sorry, Simon. Now that I look at your feed I can see how often you āsimply disagreeā with people. Well, thatās the way some people pass the day. Enjoy
She didnāt say āthe french are a lesser speciesā, she said āI am told thatā¦ā, and it is clear she does not agree. So either you didāt read her post very well, or you pretend not to understand and are in fact trolling.
It would be nice if we could stick to the topic instead of making personal attacks. Iāve provided my input, Iām aware a couple of you donāt like it but thatās the way it is.
What I donāt really understand is - are the Seven Myths held by the French or other Brits?
Hi Anna. Iām from the northeast United States, New Jersey. But even though I grew up within an hourās drive from both New York City and Philadelphia, we lived on a dirt road surrounded by cow pastures and corn fields. So Iām sort of a country mouse. And I married a southern woman, a Texan born in New Orleans. So Iāve spent a lot of time in the American south. And so Iāve seen first hand the difference that often separates north and south, cold and warm, busy and laid back. So I get where youāre coming from. And I definitely prefer laid back.
I am a French person, I donāt work 9 - 5, I work 8 - 6, officially, plus several hours more at home. Lots of us work longer hours than I doā¦
An interesting point. Do you work 8 to 6 with a two hour break in the middle of it? We expats call this time of day āthe Black Holeā when you can hear the sound of tools dropping to the floor as all the French people stop for lunch. My last job in UK had me doing ten hour days, six days a week with only a half hour for lunch in the middle of the shift. Not because I was a workaholic, but because it was the only way to make enough money to survive as a lowly āmanualā worker.
No, theoretically it is 12 to 1.30 but it is usually more like 12.15 to 1 oāclock because there is fixed stuff to do 3 days a week, people to sort out, usually, and then other stuff to do the other days. So actual ādown-timeā is 45 minutes.
Itās a myth that we in the UK work āharderā. We might work longer hours but we are just not as productive as the French.
We could learn alot from our French colleagues, I think?
Cheers
Martin
Iām so glad that your statement is not true. The very expensive surgical equipment that I was taking advantage of at 13.30 last Wednesday looked much too delicate to be dropped anywhere, let alone on the floor. I was very, very impressed, the doctorās secretary was working at her desk at 12.35 when she phoned through to the doctor to see if I could be fitted in as an emergency and I was seen less than an hour later. When I was back in the waiting room waiting to complete the paperwork the doctor passed by carrying a microwaved lunch tray apologising to her next patient that she might be another five minutes.
I suggest you forget the myths and look at the reality.
āI suggest you forget the myths and look at the reality.ā
In the last 16 years of living here Iāve seen a lot of both.
Treating workers like that is unlikely to achieve maximum productivity in any country, I would have thoughtā¦
If youāve been here that long I presume that you have adapted your lifestyle to ensure that you are not inconvenienced by the āblack holeā that you see as a negative part of French life. Itās really easy to make sure that you plan your day around opening times after all. Not really worth worrying about, or in your case trying to make into something that you imagine other people will laugh at. Iād have thought you would have got used to it about fifteen years and fifty weeks ago.
Totally agreed Anna. This is from my own experience.
I thought by working longer hours from my previous job in retail, I would achieve more. Turns out I just burnt myself out and set a bad example to my junior colleagues. Soon learnt and made sure my team did not do the same. I got more respect from them and got also more back from them.
Same example with the UK and comparing it to France. We think we work harder but we achieve lessā¦ We Just need to work āclevererā.
Cheers
Martin.