What I Adore About France
Having lived an expatriate life for more than a quarter of a century (that sounds longer than twenty-five years which is very appealing to me:)), I wrote a series of love-hate lists on the countries I inhabited. France is way up there on my lists of countries I just couldn’t get enough of, despite my short one year love affair with it and her people. So without further ado, here’s my list.
- Food and Wine
What decent upright sybarite, gastronome would not have the foods and wines of France on his/her mind? It’s simply impossible to pass up the delicacies of this land. Travel to the Norman coast to relish the costly creams and buttery fish dishes. On to the Germanic inspired meat dishes of Alsace or the fresh food markets of Paris. Indulging in Italian and Moroccan inspired cooked vegetables on the Cote d’Azur. This land of plenty has a brilliant history of culinary experimentation and gastronomic excellence that far exceeds your wildest taste buds. Lest we forget the cheese, wines and champagnes, especially pink champagne.
2. The Countryside
There is something romantic and idyllic about the French countryside. No matter where in the land, from Burgundy to Lille, Nancy to Po, Paris to Grasse, the air rings of flower essence, and the smell of history. I don’t mind too much if that history was pretty bloody. I shut my eyes, block it out, and feel the charm in the air.
3. Intellectual Pastimes
No matter how ill-educated a person is, the general population has an intellectual curiosity for life that is outstanding and far-reaching. Even if the topics of these cursive talks seem somewhat superficial, that is beside the point. Where else could you discuss with a bus driver over the most beautiful fresh produce or fabrics? Um, I don’t think you can do that in America!
4. Bi-Sexuality
France is the one nation where women flaunt their sexuality and men adore them for it, and not merely as sex objects. There is a massive appreciation of women here, by men and women alike. The art of seduction is alive and well in France. A vast majority of women are openly bi-sexual and exude an air of earthiness and musk that comes from the groundswell of rhythm. It’s as if French women embody nature without the hippie new age crap that surrounds all that is ‘natural.’
5. Literature
Some of the most brilliant writers in the world are French. From Colette to George Sand, Balzac, Zola, Proust, Camus, Gide, Beckett, Voltaire, Dumas, Sartre, Rimbaud, Baudelaire, Verlaine, and Hugo. Through the centuries, these literary geniuses have blessed the world with their fiction, philosophy, poetry, and much to eschew.
6. Fashion
I used to be a slave to fashion. Either ahead of the times or waaaaay off base in my little world of eccentricity. Although French fashion was never really my personal preference (mine being Japanese, followed by Italian than American in that order), I simply admire and respect the great designers and their houses. Chanel, Dior, Pierre Cardin, Nina Ricci, Rochas, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Saint Laurent, Sonia Rykiel, Christian LaCroix…
7. Liberty
The French gave the Americans the Statue of Liberty and rightly so. The definition of liberty is so dear to the French; they would fight a war over it. The ideal of freedom, individual justice, and sense of entitlement is as close to the American version of sovereignty as nowhere else.
8. Cafe culture
Outdoor cafes were possibly brought to the world by the French. Well, maybe not. It was probably somewhere in Iran or Turkey, but what the hey. At least cafe culture was brought to the world’s attention at the beginning of the 20th century. Even if you can find these little outposts everywhere, in any city around the globe, nobody does it better than the French. Even in the oddest of places where the weather is just shit, like anywhere northern Europe or polluted like in Mumbai or Beijing, cafe life is part of the expressiveness of the 21st century. Still, the French make better cafe au lait, roast, espresso, and cafe noisette!
9. Dinner Parties
I’ve been to my fair share of exquisite dinner parties in Paris. Some in the gallant 1st arrondissement with rich and famous personages, to downtown soirees with musicians almost on skid row. The personalities and costumes worn are right out of a Tom Wolfe novel. Everyone is interesting for at least 15 minutes. Andy Warhol would have had a field day. I certainly did.
10. Weird Oddities like the former Minitel.
There is something peculiar about design and products without a functional leg to stand on. In some ways, the French have a fantasy that jettisons them into developing strange items with no future. I find this extremely attractive.
