Now let's get real.....

This experience hasn't been all rainbows and butterflies
and there are a lot of things one has to get used to when living in a new country....

(Hope I don't offend anyone, it's a bit tongue in cheek)

What I will NOT miss about Paris
Picture
The noise


Not being able to express myself the way I'd like to


Body odor (I'm just saying)


Second hand smoke


Dog poop on the sidewalks


Gray skies


All the stores closing on Sunday (it does sound charming but is terribly inconvenient)


The many trips to the grocery store every week (Les Wheels and my children can only carry so much)


The laundry; the washer tends to shred our clothes (yes, it's true) and the dryer doesn't work worth a darn......plus the washer cycle alone takes 1 hour and 45 minutes people.   Then 20 more minutes for the dryer to spit hot water all over our clothes..........then having to hang the laundry on our make shift clothesline down our hallway.   Do I sound a bit irritated?  LOL


The staring (the French LOVE to stare....I wouldn't mind if when I smiled, they smiled back or nodded.  Nope, most of the time they just look away real fast and then when "they think" you aren't looking ......they stare again...LOL)



The traffic


The crowds 


The cutting in line in front of you, (I have gotten quite good at holding my own though.....right Mom and Sally?)


The unruly children (sorry but 'tis true).  I've never seen so much whining, biting, kicking and screaming in my life......and that was from the parents....LOL....kidding.


The walking up and down five flights of stairs every time I  need to toss our trash in the trash cans.


The blasted plastic wrap which never tears (except the skin on my fingers from trying to pull it off)


*************************************

  I think I would sum up "the negative side" of living in Paris as terribly inconvenient. 


Now go do a load of laundry for me with your snazzy washer and dryer.  Drive your big ole suburban to Costco and stock up.....on Sunday...... AND smile at the people in the store for me, no cutting in line either.   Pick up some saran wrap for me while your at it.

Have a good one!

       
 


Comments

kelleyn

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:15:21

You summed it up pretty good. Those were some of my issue living in Switzerland.

 

Paulita

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:19:08

LOL! I remember my first long stay in France and I was so fed up with French bathrooms. I was like, they can make the best food in the world, sexy lingerie. splendid perfume, but they've never heard of luxury in the bathroom? Much of that has passed, luckily, but you still find the occasional Turkish toilet.

 

Laura

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:55:49

Just take the good memories with you and the wonderful time you enjoyed with Sophie, Max and Dan. Thanks for sharing your experience in France.

 

Brett

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:57:44

I remember coming back from Holland.. Everything was new again. I appreciated all the things that I missed so much like you mentioned above. You're gonna be so happy when you get back!

 

Mom

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:28:43

LOVED IT!

 

Dad

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:34:32

That was great Gina.I knew a little of me what come out of you sooner or later.
Nice read! Love Ya!

 

Aunt Rita

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:58:57

Gina, Well I loved how you summed up the beauty of Paris with the ugly side. We are like that too sometimes. Beauty on the outside but inside sinful. I will use this as a reminder of God looks at the inside. Love you Aunt Rita

 

aunt sally

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:12:25

now that i stopped laughing i can write.....i was right back in Versailles wondering what was taking you so long to get your sandwich....still laugh every time i think about it!!! don't mess with my niece!!

 



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