| What Is French Life Famous For? |
| Written by Hazel Wig |
| Monday, 26 October 2009 14:03 |
|
Many people around the world think that they know quite a lot about French life. This may be due to the abundance of caricatures of the French nation and also because France is the number one tourist destination in the world. This may seem a little odd when you think about some of the common complaints that French people are arrogant, rude and refuse to speak English which, of course, they can all do perfectly well . . .
Many people around the world think that they know quite a lot about French life. This may be due to the abundance of caricatures of the French nation and also because France is the number one tourist destination in the world. This may seem a little odd when you think about some of the common complaints that French people are arrogant, rude and refuse to speak English which, of course, they can all do perfectly well . . . What do we consider common knowledge about French life? From the school canteen to the highest Michelin starred restaurant, food and cooking are of paramount importance in France. From an early age, children are expected to, and usually do, eat proper three course lunches; yes, fast food has arrived in France, but the majority of the population still try to eat balanced good quality tasty meals. Modest restaurants offer good value lunches to office workers and artisans. Most people do stop to eat and rest at lunchtime, and say it's essential to their health and well-being. Taking a real lunch break does seem to be good for you. In France there are fewer people with weight problems than in many other countries and there is some evidence to show that say this is due to having proper meals but with smaller portions. We can all benefit when we visit France and eat the "menu du jour". Perhaps the most famous symbol of French life has been the French loaf. The term "French bread" is usually taken to mean the traditional baguette, but there's a huge variety of shapes, sizes and ingredients available. Even going into a boulangerie to buy a baguette, you'll find that there are a great many other long thin loaves which you might have thought were baguettes! Each of these has its own name (which might vary slightly from area to area). The traditional baguette goes stale within a few hours whereas a growing number of other breads, such as multi-cereal, wholemeal and so on, keep longer and this may be why they are gradually gaining in popularity with younger generations. Cheese is a natural accompaniment to that bread, and apart from the world famous French cheeses like Brie, Roquefort and Camembert, there are over four hundred others to choose from. These encompass all sorts of milks and processes to produce something for all tastes. The most famous French produce is probably wine. We tend to think that we need some knowledge (and some money!) in order to appreciate French wine. It's true that many French people do tend to know quite a lot about the topic and they do buy for their own personal cellar. However, many just buy from the local supermarket and don't spend a great deal, but still take the subject seriously. Having considered food and drink as very important aspects of French life, we can't forget their production. Although agriculture and fishing involve relatively small parts of the French workforce, they do have a larger political influence. Animosity is often expressed by British press and citizens towards French farmers (and air traffic controllers!). Apart from the fantastic wining and dining, the bolshie agriculture sector and the "difficult" administration, what more do we know of the French life? French people go to the cinema and read books. All the arts are taken very seriously and there are many "high-brow" articles produced on the arts. However, there's also a strong feeling that they should be available at all levels of society and in all circumstances. The cinemas and libraries organised by volunteers are an impressive example of this. Cinema is an art form in itself and this is a clear message in educational establishments. French designers are also world famous and Paris fashion shows are televised all over the world; we consider French people to be sophisticated dressers. Quite a contradictory set of icons for this nation! But one thing is sure, people from all over the world keep returning to visit and to benefit from many aspects of the French life. Could the complaints arise from envy? About the Author: French Life and the joys of living in France have been featured in magazine articles the world over. For a real taste of Living in France take a look at Amanda Lawrence's new blog at www.frenchvie.com. Lots of real life stories and anecdotes from the Quercy. It takes you right there - you'll never want to leave. Don't forget to register for her free newsletter. |
