Peter-D.'s Profile

I know it's the weekend, but why hasn't this post been removed? And how about an apology to the intellligent readers of this forum who expect something better.

Noting AT's new Classified section - are we next going to find ads there for porn?

Really, really disappointed in AT.

I have moved to southern France from Britain and the big difference I found is that shopping is part of what the French consider as social contact. True, there are supermarkets and even hypermarkets, but I know and exchange small talk with any one of the six cashiers in my local supermarket - whereas in Kensington (London) I watched people, often on their mobile phones, conduct the whole check-out operation without a word or even eye contact with the cashier. Here everyone says Hello, Goodby, Have a nice day and to not do so would be considered very discourteous.
Shopping can be more leisurely but still efficient, larger towns have daily markets, and even villages a market once or twice per week. Paris is large but each 'quartier' has its local shops and devoted customers. And the big supermarket chains are now introducing more local branches, including a widening range of organic choices.

Good to read this. Many years ago I stayed in the Biltmore and set off on foot one morning to look at the downtown area. The hotel doorman stopped me, almost with a flying rugger tackle, and warned me it was 'dangerous'. Glad to have ignored him and had great fun exploring this interesting area.

I found this article and comments very interesting, as I have recently moved to France from Britain, and one of the big questions often posed is 'How can I integrate with my French neighbours?' - as though this was some kind of duty or obligation in return for being allowed to live here!
The French themselves do not naturally 'integrate', with social life revolving around close family and friends. Your arrival here goes largely unnoticed.
After many years in central London, I deliberately chose an anonymous apartment block in a beach resort, which has a shifting summer population and 10 months of total peace and quiet once the season is over. I work, so I meet people, but retired friends have got active in their building's residents committee, and met a lot of their neighbours that way.
Personally, I have people who are friends, and people who happen to be neighbours but not necessarily people I want to get to know. Everyone finds their own balance.
American readers of this may be shocked to know that the French are generally un-neighbourly and bad at getting together to resolve a problem or improve a situation: they expect the mayor of their local commune to sort it out, that's why we pay taxes!
Peter-D.