Ten very normal things to do in France that will make you feel lighter
Image credit: Patrice Molinard, 1970
Recently, Life Lived Italian’s Eric Beall wrote Ten Things to Experience in Italy Before You Die, which covers a to-do list that has absolutely nothing to do with any of the places that are overly plagued by tourism. It was refreshing to read!
Eric wrote:
The truth is that Italy is not really filled with tourists, not even at the height of the season. The problem is that all of the visitors have gathered in the same eight places, sometimes even the same sandwich shop, at the same time. Towns like Urbino, Ravenna, Narnia, or Agrigento are full of art and history and yet still offer the kind of sightseeing experience one sees in turn-of-the-century picture books, where the lone writer or artist wanders in quiet solitude, scribbling in his or her journal. The beaches of the Adriatic have the same beach beds and umbrellas as the ones in Positano, minus the stairs—and at least some of the hot, sweaty Americans.”
His first to-do recommendation? To watch some children kick a soccer ball against a 15th-century wall. In my eyes, the indicator that someone is an observant and powerful writer is their ability to use a few words to pinpoint a much larger cultural movement.
His list felt, to me, the opposite of lazy writing.
We can formulate a rich, imaginative picture of what Italian culture is like by reading his succinct description of something that seems perhaps insignificant.
Children kicking a soccer ball against a 15th-century wall” tells us so much about the quotidian life of Italians—way more than a line telling us to visit Trevi Fountain.
We learn: how kids choose to pass their time; the perceived freedom of children; the presence of physical activity; the vernacular architecture of the city; the use and sharing of public spaces; and the energetic liveliness of a particular place.
Quintessentially French Things to Do
Eric’s writing had me thinking about my own list of tiny, but quintessentially French things to do here in France that will outweigh waiting two hours in line to ascend the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower is grand and wonderful—I do love her—but you will learn more about French culture if you ask for a chocolatine while in Paris.
Image credit: A few bits of what I imagine when I think of France, after spending my daily life here
The simple list!
- Do the cliché thing and follow your nose to a boulangerie. Ask for a chocolatine. Even if you’re outside of the southwestern region of France, stick to your chocolatine guns! Feign innocence when anyone tries to correct your vocabulary here.* This is when you’ll see the true passion of French people.
*Most of France calls them a pain au chocolat and it’s a pretty intense rivalry. - See how long it will take you to run into a parade or some sort of celebration accidentally.
- Admire how many types of door knockers, shutter stops, and intricate-shaped gates you can find. This world is full of texture and antiqued variety!
- Hyper-concentrate on any animal noises you may be hearing. Remember that their speech sounds are different from their American counterparts. A rooster, for example, yells COCO-RI-CO in France, instead of cock-a-doodle-do.
- Walk around while remembering that you carry a secret: nobody else knows that you aren’t French. Until, maybe, you:
- Cheerfully and respectfully say “bonjour” or “bonsoir” to every person you pass on the sidewalk. Your accent will give away your secret from point #5.
- Notice the style of French people. What clothes envelope their bodies? What kind of footwear are they sporting? What is their level of hair/makeup/general presentation? Does it match the cultural stereotypes that you’ve formed? I’ve noticed that French people, in general, are way more “natural” than Americans in many ways and that their style can be more subdued. In my overall experience, French people are often not as glamorous as Americans imagine them. We’re all just people, after all!
- Give a 2 euro coin to a bus driver and take it to a random stop. Don’t forget to say “au revoir, merci” as you’re getting off of the bus. It’s such a small and cute thing that everyone does to acknowledge the humanity of others.
- Take note of street names that are often named after very complex French people. Which one do you want to make your best friend? I am randomly deciding to befriend Marguerite Long, and I’m thrilled after finding out that she was an internationally-known pianist.
- Find some hydrotherapy. France is known for its thermal water healing programs, and in general, there is a surprising amount of water that you can come into contact with all over—even in cities. Beaches, rivières, bays, streams throughout the mountains, fountains, etc.
What a varied and vibrant country filled with textures, history, cultural greatness, romance, and beauty—all mixed together with some of the most ordinary aspects of being alive. While thinking of your experience of France, what big or small activity would you add to this list?
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About the Contributor
Kelsey Rose Williams Barthés
