Things that Make You Go Hmmm...

So I'm in a new country.  Naturally I'm going to make observations about the differences between USA and France.  I will preface these next comments with the fact that I love southern France.  I am extremely excited to be living here.  These comments are just about some of the adjustments Mark and I will have to face during this experience... these are the things that make me go "Hmmm..."

AIRPORTS:  The Marseille airport seemed to be fine.  However, as soon as I walked down the ladder from my plane, I hopped on a bus that took us right to baggage claim.  Then I immediately walked outside.  So I haven't quite experienced that airport.  Madrid airport, on the otherhand, was an interesting experience.   When I went through immigration, I was "greeted" by the grumpiest looking man I have ever seen.  I don't know how else to describe him other than the fact that he looked absolutely miserable... maybe constipated.  He took my passport, stamped it, and then looked around at nothing for about 30 seconds.  I just stood there thinking, "Okay, dude.  You gonna give me my passport back or are you going to stare into oblvion for a few more minutes?"  It was just weird.  I then had a 30 minute walk to my connecting gate.  However, one hour prior to boarding time, I still did not have a gate assignment.  I didn't have a gate assignment until my boarding time!  When I went to the gate it said for Niza (Nice), not Marsella (Marseille), both flights leaving withing 5 minutes of each other.  There were 30 people standing around wondering which flight was actually at that gate.  Sadly, the attendants at the desk had no clue either!  Eventually they sent the people for Nice to another gate and the people for Marseille to the gate next door.  Ten minutes later the people for Nice were back at the first gate.  Ugh!  It was a mess.  Hmmm...

Luckily I got in last Wednesday before the airport completely shut down!

NO TRANSLATION FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE:  I'm not sure if this actually exists in southern France.  Paris, yes, of course.  But southern France, not really.  Don't get me wrong, the people here are extremely nice!  But the difference is this - In America we say in business, "Under promise, Over deliver."  This way our customers are not upset if we don't live up to expectations.  It's the complete opposite here.  The French "Over PROMISE and Under Deliver."  For example:  Mark and I are moving into our apartment January 1st.  We will be coming back to the States December 14th to get our visas (hopefully), go to Perpignan to visit Brian for Christmas, and then head to Palermo for New Year's.  We asked the owner of our apartment, since she's moving out December 10th, if we could finalize the lease on the 13th, and get the keys so we could leave the clothes we already have here in the apartment (versus one of Mark's coworkers' houses).  We told her we wouldn't be moving in until the 1st, we just wanted to put a few things in the apartment.  She was totally fine, and said it wouldn't be a problem at all.  Awesome!  The next day we get a call from the landlord.  He said if we wanted the keys on the 13th then the owner would want us to pay rent for the second half of December.  Huh?  So I know it's not a big deal, but I just find the owner's actions a little odd.  Hmmm...

LACK OF APPLIANCES - Our apartment is super cute!  I'm very excited to move in next month, but it's lacking a few things we Americans are pretty used to having.  All of the appliances in the apartment are up-to-date, but here's what's interesting:  We have a washing machine... in the kitchen.  No dryer.  I guess this means I'll be hanging our knickers out the window!  No dishwasher... fine I can live with that, I've done it before.  Here's the kicker:  No oven.  Yup, no oven.  If you know me, that is a big deal.  I cook.  And when I am living in a new country with no job, cooking can keep me occupied and content.  Apparently not many French apartments have ovens.  None of the apartments Mark looked at had ovens.  There was a microwave/convection oven in the apartment which the owner said she'd leave, but we know how that goes... she's taking it with her now.  There are plenty of meals I can cook on the stovetop, and I've actually lived in an apartment before for two years that had a non-working oven (but that's when I didn't really cook, just microwaved).  So hopefully Mark and I can find a combined microwave/oven after we move in.  Hmmm...

SHOWER - Oh the shower.  If you have ever been to Europe you probably know that many shower heads are not raised to the height of one's head, but rather at knee level.  You know, those shower heads you have to hold with your hand to actually bathe yourself?  That's what we've got in our hotel right now (luckily we have a raised shower head in our apartment... that is, unless the owner changes it before she leaves!).  But let me tell you, showering has been interesting.  My first attempt, I sprayed water all over the bathroom because they don't have shower curtains either, just a small piece of glass that goes halfway across the tub.  So finally I made the decision to just sit down in the tub, that way the shower head is now at the same level as my head.  It's a different experience, but I'm getting used to it.  And surprisingly it was a lot easier to shave my legs sitting down rather than standing!  Hmmm...

GREY GOOSE - This may seem odd, but Mark believed that since Grey Goose vodka is made in France that it would be cheap and easy to find in France.  Budweiser is cheap and easy to find in the US, right?  Couldn't really find Grey Goose anywhere.  We finally found it at the Geant Casino (like a Super Walmart).  Definitely not cheap.  After the conversions, it was about $20 more expensive in France.  Hmmm...

TIPPING - This is one difference I can get used to!  No need to tip in France.  If the server does a good job, just leave a little extra change, maybe a euro or two.  Sweet!...