This is a Test....

So the question is...Bise, or a happy older couple on parade day?  

Faux pas...did I mess up???

So Cam and I have had a few funny situtations happen to us so far (and I'm sure we'll have many more to come through out our stay). But I thought I'd share some so far.

1. (Star: STEPH. Stage Left enters Steph and Cam in one of the 80 hardware stores they've been to since they've got to France) Following the tradition in France when one enters a store, Steph turns to the store clerk to say "Bonjour". In the millisecond before Steph says bonjour, the store clerk says something to her. Thinking he also said bonjour, Steph continues with the greeting. A half of a second after the whole greeting ceremony has past, the store clerk is looking at a Steph with a strange expression on his face. Only at this moment does Steph realize that the store clerk did not actually say "Bonjour", rather he said "This is an exit, not an entrance". Now Steph realizes that's what he said, and that her response was "Bonjour!" --said with a big Steph smile! Ahhhh, it was great. After that Steph laughed and her and Cam hurried out to the actual entrance of the store. :)

2. (Star: CAM. Stage Right are Cam and Steph waiting in the check out line at one of the 90 gardening stores they have been to since coming to France) Cam and Steph are waiting in line, for the cashier is just finishing up with the customer in front of them. As the cashier is starting her closing or "au revoir (good-bye)" with the customer before us, she turns her eyes quickly toward Cam, as if to acknowledge that she knows we are next in line.

Now here I must pause for an explanation...Cam is working very hard trying to learn French, and one of the most useful techniques he has picked up is the "Parrot Technique". It is named this for the fact that the technique uses mimicry in place of analytical thought processes. It goes as follows: someone says something, you say the same thing back. It's a great technique for saying hello, putting a closing on an email, and saying good bye (or so he thought until this situation occured).

Now, back to the check out line...there is Cam looking at the lady, using his most masterful "Parrot Technique" skills. The cashier says "au revoir (good bye)" to her customer, glances at Cam, and Cam responds "au revoir" back to the cashier. As you can imagine, the next couple of minutes were a little strained, for the cashier then had to say "bonjour" to Cam to check out the items we were purchasing. So in true Parrot fashion Cam responded "Bonjour". So essentially, the conversation went in reverse. An english translation: Open the greeting with good-bye, then say hello, then say good-bye again! It was hilarious! So just a word of warning to those that are considering using the parrot technique...use it carefully, it can backfire as much as it can help.

Cultural Mysteries - The Bise...aka the most confusing social custom on the planet...

France has an abundance of cultural customs that are obvious (most of the time) to the French, but a complete mystery to Americans.  Perhaps the most awkward custom for Americans is the "Bise," a series of kisses that inevitably results in a miffed French person and an American who almost scored a peck on the mouth from a complete stranger (which sometimes isn't neccesarily bad, except when you are meeting someone's 87 year old grandmother).  Thus far, I have completely bungled just about every interaction where a bise has been involved.  Here's a funny vid to check out if you're bored...Perhaps we'll get some video footage of us awkwardly meeting a French couple for your viewing amusement in the future....