Before I came to France this time around, I didn't fully realize how traditional the country really is. What I mean, is that the last time I was in France I was studying for 4 months as a university student in Paris, and many things that I experienced there in terms of French culture, have been drastically different then being here in the South West. Obviously you have the comparison between city/small town life, but one very drastic difference is Sundays. While many things would be closed on Sundays in Paris, you could still go out and find people on the streets and things to do. In Mont-de-Marsan, you'd be hard pressed to find many people walking on the streets or even grocery stores that are open (this is the worst for a non-planner like myself!). Literally, there is very very little activity happening in the town at all. And thankfully, it's not because France is in any way religious, but the way I interpret it is French people are very traditional and more family centric then I realized. Sunday is a day to relax before going back to work on Monday (well, that is if you don't own a store... in MDM non-chain stores are closed on Mondays, too!) and spend some time with a long meal and conversation that can span, in my Sunday experiences with French people, from 12:00-20:00 sometimes! It's actually quite nice, and it does do a positive number on your mental organization and general enjoyment of life.
I think the whole thing about traveling or living in another country for an extended period is that you HAVE embrace the way of life. Otherwise, you will constantly feel torn between where you are at the present and where you are in your head (home culture). I think that can be really isolating and put in you in a sort of cultural purgatory. So to that effect, I have tried to embrace life here as fully as possible and enjoy the people and scenery around me! Lire un bon livre, le piste cyclable, SPECULOOS et la foret des Landes, , So bring it on, boring Sundays!
Listening to- Daydream, Beach Fossils
I think the whole thing about traveling or living in another country for an extended period is that you HAVE embrace the way of life. Otherwise, you will constantly feel torn between where you are at the present and where you are in your head (home culture). I think that can be really isolating and put in you in a sort of cultural purgatory. So to that effect, I have tried to embrace life here as fully as possible and enjoy the people and scenery around me! Lire un bon livre, le piste cyclable, SPECULOOS et la foret des Landes, , So bring it on, boring Sundays!
Listening to- Daydream, Beach Fossils
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