So, a French, Canadian & American Super Hero Walk Into a Bar…

by Rasmenia Comment Closed
Obviously, when two people are from two different countries, opposing opinions are inevitable, regardless of how compatible they may be.From time to time, I wonder why Olivier does things a certain way.  I shrug it off, deciding that it must be because he's French.  On other occasions, he shakes his head & dismisses something that I say or do, figuring that it must be "an American thing".Most of the time, those very small differences don't really amount to much.Most of the time."Iron Man was so fucking awesome."  I said.  "Incredible Hulk was just as good.  When The Avengers movie comes out, it's seriously going to rock me."  I continued scrolling with my mouse.  "It says here that they're doing Captain America next.  I can't wait."Olivier looked over my shoulder at the monitor.  "What?  Why are they doing Captain America?"I let out an irritated sigh.  "Um...yeah.  Because it'd be impossible to do The Avengers without Captain America, that's why.""I don't know." ...
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The Customer is Always Wrong

The Customer is Always Wrong

by Rasmenia Comment Closed
I turned the knob on the stove & waited for the little hiss.  I was answered only with silence.  There I was, frying pan in hand, ready to make dinner, & then...nothing.  Silence."Something's wrong."  I turned & looked in the living room.  There was Olivier, his body mangled in some painful looking yoga pose.  "The fucking stove isn't working."He immediately unknotted himself & began flipping knobs, pushing buttons & tossing switches at various locations of the apartment.  It quickly became obvious that the matter was out of our hands.  We would have to call the gas company.  We were now in one of the worst possible situations that any resident of France could possibly be in - the circle of Hell that is almost too awful to even talk about - customer service.Dealing with customer service in France is something that takes a lot of getting used to when you're a spoiled American.  Ah...America - that fat, lazy country where...
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Bibles, Bikes, Chocolate & Wigs

Bibles, Bikes, Chocolate & Wigs

by Rasmenia Comment Closed
One day, Olivier & I were walking around here in Paris with some friends. We passed a shop that I had never seen before & which immediately struck me as being odd. The sign in front read "Vélo et Chocolat". In plain English, it said: "Bicycle & Chocolate".Evidently, you can get a bicycle here & some bars of chocolate. Interesting marketing idea. It's true that chocolate goes with anything, it's just that I had never been riding a bicycle while thinking to myself, "Hmm...yeah...a thick bar of chocolate sure would hit the spot right about now".Naturally, this one-stop shopping idea isn't unique to Paris, or even to Europe at all. Before I moved to France, when I was living in the small town of Loveland, Colorado, there in the downtown area was a fabulous mecca of one-stop shopping: Probasco's.Yep...that's right. Bibles & wigs all in one amazing shop.It looks like both countries like the bizarre two-in-one stores. So, we're not...
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Thankful for Pre-Packaged American Goodness

by Rasmenia Comment Closed
Last year, Olivier & I flew back to Colorado for Thanksgiving. This year, we decided that we would spend Christmas & New Year's in the U.S. & would spend Thanksgiving in France.What I always find amusing is the Americans who think that there is Thanksgiving in France. When someone asks me, "So...is there a Thanksgiving in France?" or, "What do they do for Thanksgiving in France?" I have the urge to throw books at them for being so ignorant of the history of their holidays.Yeah...American holiday. Look into it.But, I digress.Funny enough, there is Thanksgiving in Paris - among the community of Yanks that are living here. Several restaurants offer a Thanksgiving dinner as long as you've made reservations well in advance.But...I just can't do it. Really, I don't see anything wrong with eating a holiday dinner in a restaurant, but it's bad enough that my mother isn't cooking the food. I'd rather not be fed my holiday meal by...
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But, What Do They Think of Us? Part 2

by Rasmenia Comment Closed
1 – AMERICANS ARE VERY RELIGIOUSWe all know that this isn't true for all Americans. But it's impossible to live in America without hearing about God. "One nation, under God…blah, blah, blah…"It's even printed on the money, for chrissakes.In America, there's a church on what seems like every street corner in some towns. There are some people who go door to door waving their little propaganda brochures in the air hoping to convert someone.Well, the thing is, this shit just doesn't fly in France. While there are plenty of religious holidays & no shortage of churches, France is a secular state & no one is getting in your face about God or their beliefs here.It's not hard to understand why they've gotten this impression, if you ask me. Well, no one asked me. So what.2 – AMERICANS EAT AMERICAN SAUCELa Sauce Américaine. Yeah, I had never heard of it either. I've learned (from a French person) that this...
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But, What Do They Think of Us? Part 1

by Rasmenia Comment Closed
Ok…so, I've already written plenty about ridiculous stereotypes that many Americans have about French people & let you know which ones I have found to be true & which ones were just…well, bullshit.But, what is the image of Americans that French people have? Well, as promised, I'm going to tell you all about it...1 – AMERICANS ARE PURITANICALA couple of months ago, my husband & I were sitting in the waiting area of a government office here in Paris to renew my visa. A television was on broadcasting some American soap opera dubbed in French.A commercial came on for shampoo or something. The entire commercial was basically just a naked woman taking a shower. I was shocked. I mean, this was the middle of the fucking day & there is this naked woman taking a shower.Now, I don't have a phobia regarding naked bodies, but it's a strange thing for some Americans who come here to see boobies on...
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