The Things I Miss The Most About France
The France I miss is a country that no longer exists, many of things I reminisce about have probably changed quite a bit but in my memory, they’re still fresh.
The Culture
Nature and History are two things I love; if my thirst for Nature is completely taken care of by Canada and the United States, when it comes to culture, old stones and centennial buildings, villages, museums and castles are something I dearly miss.
The Food
Yes, French cuisine’s reputation is completely deserved but it’s not just the fine dining; it’s the little things like bread and cured meats, pastries. Eating is not about feeding, it’s about pleasure of all the senses; I miss all the yummy things I cannot get in North America.
Paris
The most beautiful city in the world! If Paris has some very dirty neighborhoods, at its best, there are few cities that are as magnificent as the city of lights.
The Champs Elysees At Christmas
And at the heart of the most beautiful city in the world, there’s an absolutely gorgeous avenue which around Christmas gets even more beautiful; and it’s pleasure to walk along.
True Diversity
When I was living in France and the way I grew up, the country was like the 98 soccer team Black, Blanc, Beur and no one really cared about skin color or religion.
The Things I Really Don’t Miss About France
If things I miss might not exist anymore, the things I don’t miss at all are still present and have even been worsening for the last 20 years.
French Condescension
A mix of pettiness, jealousy, and self-righteousness is what I abhor the most about French people; imagine everybody being as pretentious, ignorant, and lacking any self-awareness of their flaws as journalists; that’s unfortunately too many Frenchs in a nutshell.
Terrorism
Since the early 90s, Islamic terrorism is something that has been part of living in France; from the FIS-GIA to Charlie Hebdo, it is something that has been in people’s mind. I was 15 and only 2 stations away on the RER B when the Saint-Michel station was bombed in 95.
Politicians
Maybe my vision of French politics is blurred by nostalgia but I’m glad not to have to listen to the incompetent, hypocritical and arrogant politicians who turn French people off from voting.
Unions’ Strikes
Whenever unions go on strike in France they paralyze the entire country and the only paying for it are other workers; but they really don’t care about anybody else than their apparatchiks.
Dirty Streets
As a tourist, it’s easy to avoid dirty streets and bad neighborhood but living in France is a different story; I do not miss the lack of civility from people for their own cities.
