La Vie Différente

Preface: Something that you must know before reading this blog is that everything in France is more personal. There are shopping malls, but des grandes surfaces, like WalMart or Target, are not common. There is maybe one Monoprix per town, but otherwise, all shopping is done in small, intimate, specific shops. To buy cheese you go to a cheese store, bread from a bakery, shoes from a shoe store (which are smaller and more expensive... but well-made), etc. So, when it comes to lingerie, one would expect the same.

Body: So I am staying here in Strasbourg with a friend who was an exchange student in high school (she came to us then I to her). Perrine, and her long-term boyfriend Lionel, are being excellent hosts even though they must still work while I am here. In fact Perrine now has two jobs, she still works in the housing industry, but has picked up a salesperson job on the side and gets commission checks... no, its not tupperware or avon, knives or magazines... its fancy French lingerie!!!! Oh la la! And last night I had the chance to attend one of her lingerie parties at her aunt's house. The stuff was beautiful! Very custom fitting, there was clothing as well, and all very expensive (but that is la mode here, people pay more for fewer, well-made items). Her aunt had a few nieces and friends over and the party began by perrine introducing each line of lingerie, passing out catalogs, and passing around the bras and panties for everyone to touch the materials, and of course all the ladies drank a café meanwhile ooh-ing and ahh-ing over the luxurious 'sous-vetements'. Then came the trying-on…
Its not uncommon to see ladies topless at the beach, and as we were at Perrine’s aunt’s home, there were not fitting rooms… so all the ladies did their testing in the adjacent kitchen. It was just normal, they gave their input to one another on the items, and went back to their coffees, just like that. I was a bit embarrassed and blushed at first, but as a traveler and guest, one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to do as the natives do!
It ended up being a fun time, with tarts and pie, and Perrine made some good sales. I became a bit more cultured and learned some specific vocabulary.
Today, Saturday/Samedi, I didn’t wake up till NOON! I think I’m still jet-lagged, but its alright because I’m on vacation right now J When Lionel finally woke me, I took a quick ‘douche’ and we headed out to meet up with his brother Guillaume in town for lunch. Tarte flambée, croque-monsieur, wine, and quetsch pie for dessert… très français! I have no idea what a quetsch was, but it tasted like a large cherry/plum. Delicious! Then we walked around the cathedral, I took pictures, bought post cards, and we stopped in a store that sells board games from around the world (translated into French). Lionel bought two games, which we’ll play tonight after dinner.
In about 20 minutes we’ll be having pasta and beer with a few of P&L’s friends (mostly the same ones from dinner the other night), and playing the games Lionel bought. He also bought post-it notes which we’ll write names on and put on our foreheads… having to guess who we are en français. I think tonight will really put my language skills to the test!
To anyone who wants to get a hold of me via Skype, I plan on keeping my skype on consistently from now on, as long as I have an internet connection. So, if you get the chance, send me a ring, and if I’m around, I’ll give you des e-bisous! (Victoria.pike803)