weird things...

This is going to be a list of weird/strange/different things I have encountered in Europe, specifically France.... i will add to this as I experience more...

The keyboards... the period is where the comma should be, and you've gotta press Shift to get a period. The q and the a are switched, as are the z and w. The apostrophe is on the 4 button. Oh by the way, you have to press shift to get the numbers. The question mark and the comma are on the key where the m usually is, so the m is where the ;: usually is. The exclamation point is by the right shift key, and the " is with the 3. Also the @ is with the 0. But so is the à. So you must press Alt Gr and the 0à to get the @. This proves difficult as i write this blog.

There is no walmart. The pharmacy is its own place. The tobacco shop is its own place.

Speaking of pharmacies, even the grocery stores dont carry cough syrup or ibuprofen. You have to go to a pharmacy to get this. Also, when you are sick, you go to the pharmacy first to see the chemist. They will give you medicine. You do not go to a doctor until the pharmacy has tried everything and doesn't help.

Supermarkets. American labels include Coca-Cola, Pringles, M&Ms, KitKats, and Twix. That's it. Also, they do not have bags. You must bring your own bag or carry all your groceries yourself.

The French do NOT waste food. Anything for that matter. All the games we play in America that use food, they would not do here. They save everything. We had the same dessert for lunch, dinner, and even some for breakfast the next day.

Showers. You must press a button. The water turns off every 20 seconds, therefore you need to keep pushing the button throughout your shower. I understand them tryign to save water, but seriously? Seriously.

Roads are narrow. Ridiculously narrow. I dont know how cars fit on them.

Deodorant... only available in roll-on and spray. Unscented. And most people dont seem to use it. Paris subways and even here at camp are smelly. Smelly.

Round-a-bouts. Lots of them.

French children don't have school dances. No homecoming, no prom. Nothing. We had a dance for our kids here at camp and it was most of them's first dance.

You don't get carded when you buy alcohol. Not even once since Ive been here.

French waitstaff are slow. Not because they are lazy. Im not sure why. Service here is NOTHING like restaurant service in America. You're lucky if they greet you within 10 minutes.

Pancakes, eggs, sausage, normal berakfast items are unheard of here. You're lucky if you can find a quiche.

The sun sets at 11:15pm. No joke. The sun still rises at normal time though. Its not dark until almost midnight, which really screws up your schedule. Maybe thats how we are able to work 18-hour days without noticing.

...to be continued...