Drinking wine and kissing strangers

Ok, admit it. This got your attention.

I am devoting the next several blogs to talk about all of the fun cultural stuff I’m experiencing and catching you up with my  adventures here. I know, I’m several weeks behind. We’ll blame that  on me being super busy and not having adequate internet access until  this past week.

Now, back to the title. Is it true? Am I really drinking wine and kissing strangers all the time? My answer to you is yes. Yes, indeed I am. And all while not wearing any pants.

Drinking wine has never been my forte, but the French don’t seem to believe that’s possible. I love when stereotypes are true. I personally have yet to buy wine myself, simply because I have no idea what makes a wine worth buying. But in this region of France, there is something called rosé. It’s caught somewhere between white and red wine. This Friday there is a wine tasting from every part of France for only 3 euros. I do believe I’ll be attending, it is France isn’t it?

Kissing strangers is a bit of an exaggeration, but not much. Yes, I’m talking about bisous. My first encounter with the bise was at the airport; a young woman got off the plane and greeted her loved ones with a kiss on each cheek. That’s when it hit me: “I’m really in France.” I thought it was only reserved for people you know, but here it is normal to introduce yourself with a kiss on each cheek. Right first, then left (unless you’re in Paris). Otherwise you could end up with something really awkward. They even sign letters to each other with “bisous” to replace “love” or “yours truly.” Now, the next question: do lips actually touch cheek? That depends on who it is: some people, yes; but I have also heard others talk about how strange it is. In any case, it has always been at least cheek-to-cheek. It takes so long to greet a group of three or more. But it’s much more personal than what we do. I think I’ll miss it.

(Check out this super cheesy and slightly incorrect instructional wiki page on how to air kiss (with video, pics and English accents!))

Not wearing any pants is the biggest exaggeration of them all, but it is also very European. They love tights and leggings, and when they do wear pants they are usually jeans that are so tight they might as well be painted on. And no set of leggings would be complete without some cute boots (even better if they’re heels). So yes, I am fully clothed at all times, just not wearing the same get-up I’m used to.

Th-th-that’s all folks! I’ll hopefully be back soon. Thanks for reading.

A bientôt!
(Original date: February 6, 2012)