In America, we have a variety of things we take for granted. When we drive, we drive on the right side of the road. When we turn on a light switch, the switch slides up for on and down for off. Our speed limit signs indicate "speed limit". Meals purchased in restaurants are available from the time the establishment opens to the time it closes unless it's really expensive. Everyone generally takes their turn when in lines. And haggling for the purchase of items at a market is commonplace.
But in Europe, not so. We may have originated from Europe but America, and the US in particular is a different place. So when we travel outside of the US, society seems different. Morays that define how society operates are usually a bit odd to those that are visiting. But to me, they come across as striking.
Take for instance, driving. In the UK, they drive on the left side of the road, not the right. So those that have right of way, are those that are left. You might as well drive in the reflection of a mirror as an aid instead of trying to understand all the peculiar actions that such a change cause. Here in France, they drive on the right side, but it might as well be on the left; they're simply nuts. I'm a bit concerned about driving in a week or so, but my brother tells me it will be fairly easy. We shall see. The signage is different. Yield and stop signs are the same, but speed limit signs look like a bulls-eye target; a number inside a big red circle. There doesn't seem to be markings of the roads you are on either. So my GPS should make a difference. Just like Maryland, turn signals here are were you are going and not a request for permission to go. Stop lights are more like guidelines than actual requirements to stop.
The standard conveniences of living are also different here in France. To turn on a light switch, on is down and off is up. That was painfully obvious last night when I stumbled to go to the bathroom. I almost gave up to simply wizz anywhere. I finally made it to the toilet. Oh, yeah, the toilets are different too. In the states we have large bowls to collect the variety of things we excrete. In France, the collection region is no more than a small bowl that holds about 1 quart of water. Most of the water is used for flushing. So there's more like a funnel to this small bowl and everything collects onto the funnel. That simply means that whatever you poop is exposed to air much longer, making the experience even more disgusting because the stench is far more intense. Flushing is an option, unless you don't like feeling you are being swallowed by the toilet. It might be more efficient, but the experience is odd.
Taking your turn in France is also not something people like to do. On the road, drivers simply cut you off. A solid white line is for those that want to follow some rule of order. For the rest, it's a place to cut people off, even if you are on a crotch rocket. There are motorcycles and scooters everywhere, and they move in and out of traffic as if the cars are stationary objects in the way of their route. I asked our driver how many points you get for hitting one of them, and he was confused. I asked if you go to jail if you hit one, again he was confused. I guess you hit these cyclists, and if no one sees it, you're fine. Too bad for the cyclists. I have yet to experience the line jumping, but I'm sure that will happen soon. The question is who's going to jump in front of me; so much for that person.
France is also a socialistic society. Bus riding is an experience of its own. Paying to ride the bus is obviously optional. Bus drivers take the perspective that their job is to drive the bus. Yours is to pay to ride the bus. You don't pay and the bus driver simply feels its his job to drive the bus. Some people pay some just enter the back of the bus and ride without paying. Not very good if you ask me. Then there's the dog droppings. Owners are supposed to pick up their dog's droppings. If you don't who cares; there's a animal poop vacuum person that has the job of riding around the city and vacuuming the poop. That's a shitty job.
So the conveniences of home are not necessarily available everywhere. Maybe packing the kitchen sick wasn't that bad of an idea after all.
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