French Variety
I lived in France almost a year. The city I lived is not that big, it is a quiet and small city in southern France, never noisy, never cluttered, various of matters in life is always in a perfect order. Only in some specific holidays, this small city will become a little bit crowded and lively, but even on these holidays, the city also seems so well-organized.
I arrived at the city in the evening last autumn. Many imaginations and expectations about this city was replaced by this restful night, the cool tempreture made me calm down momentarily. Various grievances before going abroad, and the difficulties on recieving visa, the troubles of preparing for piles of procedures…etc.In a word, everything was put behind. I was just deeply immersed in the eyes of a perceived silence. Compary to my hometown, this city brings me another feeling, which cannot be described in simple words. I think I fall in love with the city at that moment.
“C’est la vie.” A popular french sentence. It means” This is life.” To some extend. It indicates the French attitude towards life.
Mentioned France, people always associated with two words: Romantic, and Arrogant. There must be a reason. The French have good social welfare subvention. No matter they are unemployed, or having the new-born babies,or go to school,or see a doctor, if they need, they all have the right to apply a social welfare subvention from the gorvernment. This policy reduce the numbers of porverty and also the pressure of the Frenches. Therefor, they have more time to enjoy life and to think about the life. They have more time to stay with lovers ,friends. There is a little park oppsite the appartment I lived. After school, or in my sparetime, I ‘d like to sit on the bench in the park, to read, or to listen to my MP3. and at the same time, I always see the Frenches are in the park, no matter it is the day time or the weekends, they are just there. They wander and wander in the park with friends, with pets, with family. Some time, I find some people just lying on the grass and do nothing. They just enjoy the sunshine and the life relaxly. I always confused that whether they indeed had a job.Why they always seems free. This is a kink of romantic attitude. They are arrogant on their life styles, and they cannot understand how people cost their life time to be busy and not to give a minute relax to their life.
Getting along with the French for a long time will become make people patient and comprehensive. Coz waiting and using to be waiting is a normal behavior. After I arrived there, I cost three weeks to get my check and a month to get my networking. If you are in hurry and ask them why the process need so long time. They give u a sympathetic smile and tell you that: “Sorry, I ll try, but you have to wait…”
In the supermarket, It is easy to find out the long lines are standing in front of the the check out counter, but no hurry and no one complaines. The cashier will say:”Bonjour(hello)”to everyone. And after they finish, they will say” Au revoir(goodbye), and Bonne Journee(wish u have a good day).” to send you off. Everything is in order. Everything is without hurry.
This year impressed me so much, there’s happy, there are tears. I learned how to live alone and how to grow up.
C’est la vie. Not only in France.
