December 24, 2013
December 15, 2013
Why do French people look like supermodels?
Whenever I come home to dear Aix en provence, I feel like I've automatically gained ten pounds and simultaneously shrunken 10 inches. Suddenly, I'm both the shortest and fattest person in every room. They can spot us Americans from miles away; we just do not look like them. Why is that?
A healthy diet, for one. The US is a country where it's more expensive to buy a salad than a burger - not so here in France. Fresh market produce is still the norm, even though that is changing as processed foods are slowly being introduced. Eating small healthy portions, and a general lack of snacking, including sodas (usually limited to parties or special events rather than a daily drink), has meant that they maintain a healthy weight. It also means clearer skin, seeing as how greasy foods lead to pimples.
Even lower income families benefit, seeing as how they have easier access to markets and fresh produce than to fast food and burgers, which are overpriced by any standard.
Fast food is a rarity (though still present) meaning that you don't have the smell of grease in the air. I tend to notice this when I visit family in the states; some areas just smell like fries and fried food. They, of course, can't smell it, seeing how it is the norm in some places. But with one fast food place per town instead of per street, you don't breathe in all those greasy odors. This reduced the urge to snack, and also leads to clearer skin. Yep.
I don't think I've ever seen fried chicken or chicken tenders here in France. The French don't tend to deep fry anything, at least not by american standards. Donuts are rarities, and mozzarella sticks, surprisingly, aren't too available either. Fried foods just aren't the norm.
Fashion matters. You will never see a French person wearing sweats. Yoga pants outside of home of the studio? Really? Leggings as pants? Seriously? Not happening. Jeans are common among men or teens, but not amongst women, who tend to dress more proper. People tend to invest in clothes, seeing as how cheapo clothes shops are not prominent. People just put a little more effort into it.
People walk places. Towns are designed so tat everything you need is within walking distance, and there is no room for cars. So people walk. They walk anytime they need to go anywhere, which means that they have a minimum of daily exercise. Gyms are starting to gain popularity, but they're not as popular as int he US. Most people just tend to get enough exercise by doing their daily walking or chores.
Things in the USA tend to be more sugary as well. Compare coca cola from the US and from Europe (even Mexico!) and you would be surprised. I tend to not drink much else than water when I visit the States, since everything is too sweet for me. Same goes for foods: things that don't tend to be sweet here at home tend to be too much for me in the US. Even potato chips: compare barbecue in both countries, and you'll know what I'm talking about.
Taste a French pastry. It's sweet, but it's not pure sugar. The america adaptation of an eclair sends me running for a glass of water.
Let's compare an average breakfast. Both countries have cereal (though guess which one has more sugar) and both have fruit juice. The 'typical' american breakfast consists of eggs, bacon, toast, sometimes waffles or pancakes, and in other cases, even bagels. In France, baguette with jam is quite usual, along with plain black coffee (remember, Starbucks still has not hit). Maybe nutella instead. If you're really up for working, crepes are fantastic, but they take time... Again, most french breakfasts never hit the pan. And forget premade breakfast muffins; non-existant. A croissant or a Pain au Chocolat is a real treat.
So, the secret to bombshell Europeans? Nutrition and exercise are their everyday habit. Sugar is not abused, and fatty foods are almost absent. Health comes from within, and so does beauty. So eat well, and keep walking. Because the US has some catching up to do.
A healthy diet, for one. The US is a country where it's more expensive to buy a salad than a burger - not so here in France. Fresh market produce is still the norm, even though that is changing as processed foods are slowly being introduced. Eating small healthy portions, and a general lack of snacking, including sodas (usually limited to parties or special events rather than a daily drink), has meant that they maintain a healthy weight. It also means clearer skin, seeing as how greasy foods lead to pimples.
Even lower income families benefit, seeing as how they have easier access to markets and fresh produce than to fast food and burgers, which are overpriced by any standard.
(This does not count as Salad. Seriously, Jello deserves no place in one.)
Fast food is a rarity (though still present) meaning that you don't have the smell of grease in the air. I tend to notice this when I visit family in the states; some areas just smell like fries and fried food. They, of course, can't smell it, seeing how it is the norm in some places. But with one fast food place per town instead of per street, you don't breathe in all those greasy odors. This reduced the urge to snack, and also leads to clearer skin. Yep.
I don't think I've ever seen fried chicken or chicken tenders here in France. The French don't tend to deep fry anything, at least not by american standards. Donuts are rarities, and mozzarella sticks, surprisingly, aren't too available either. Fried foods just aren't the norm.
Fashion matters. You will never see a French person wearing sweats. Yoga pants outside of home of the studio? Really? Leggings as pants? Seriously? Not happening. Jeans are common among men or teens, but not amongst women, who tend to dress more proper. People tend to invest in clothes, seeing as how cheapo clothes shops are not prominent. People just put a little more effort into it.
People walk places. Towns are designed so tat everything you need is within walking distance, and there is no room for cars. So people walk. They walk anytime they need to go anywhere, which means that they have a minimum of daily exercise. Gyms are starting to gain popularity, but they're not as popular as int he US. Most people just tend to get enough exercise by doing their daily walking or chores.
Things in the USA tend to be more sugary as well. Compare coca cola from the US and from Europe (even Mexico!) and you would be surprised. I tend to not drink much else than water when I visit the States, since everything is too sweet for me. Same goes for foods: things that don't tend to be sweet here at home tend to be too much for me in the US. Even potato chips: compare barbecue in both countries, and you'll know what I'm talking about.
Taste a French pastry. It's sweet, but it's not pure sugar. The america adaptation of an eclair sends me running for a glass of water.
Let's compare an average breakfast. Both countries have cereal (though guess which one has more sugar) and both have fruit juice. The 'typical' american breakfast consists of eggs, bacon, toast, sometimes waffles or pancakes, and in other cases, even bagels. In France, baguette with jam is quite usual, along with plain black coffee (remember, Starbucks still has not hit). Maybe nutella instead. If you're really up for working, crepes are fantastic, but they take time... Again, most french breakfasts never hit the pan. And forget premade breakfast muffins; non-existant. A croissant or a Pain au Chocolat is a real treat.
So, the secret to bombshell Europeans? Nutrition and exercise are their everyday habit. Sugar is not abused, and fatty foods are almost absent. Health comes from within, and so does beauty. So eat well, and keep walking. Because the US has some catching up to do.
December 9, 2013
December 8, 2013
Bad Weather, It's a Writin' Day
So... it's raining. Slash snowing. Slash sleeting. Not nice.
I have to finish my manuscript today, so this will be a very short post. Here, have some pictures.
I have to finish my manuscript today, so this will be a very short post. Here, have some pictures.
I really like DC. it's a beautiful city that doesn't feel as suffocating as other cities I've been in. It's nice... but it's a pricey place to live. I like it here.
December 4, 2013
How to Befriend a French Person
There is a typical American stereotype floating around that French people are cold. The truth is, they're not. They're just as friendly as anybody on the planet - of course, it's unwise to generalize everybody on the planet, so why generalize everybody in France?
Maybe if you befriended one, you'd have someone cool to bring up in conversation. Why yes, Celine is spending the weekend on the cote d'azure with her boyfriend François, who will be taking her wine tasting on saturday. How exotic of you to have a european friend!
But how to approach making friends with a French person? Here are some tips to give you a fighting chance.
Number 1: Complain with them
You'll find this the second you get off the plane and into your Taxi. You cabby will start spurting about something, probably politics, and they're no avoiding falling into conversation. You see, in France, you don't randomly talk to people at bus stations or doctors' offices, something it took my mother a while to comprehend. It's only appropriate to initiate conversation if you're - pardon my language - bitching about something. Politics. The unreliable bus. The weather, sometimes. You'll instantly feel like you've known them forever.
Number 2: Be ready to have people laugh at you
Jokes in France tend to revolve around somebody, and, as a foreigner, you tend to be at the butt end of most of them. But that's ok - they mean no offense! I tend to get strange looks here in the US when I pull out my French humor. No, I'm not insulting you! The French will often joke about their own country's short comings (agree but say nothing!) and about American Stereotypes (agree with strong emphasis!). It's very important you adopt self deprecating humor. Being able to joke about yourself and your shortcomings shows that you're not trying to put yourself on some kind of pedestal, which the french seem to assume a lot of American.
Number 3: Try everything, no excuses
Food will seem weird. Experiences will seem daunting. Just roll with it. Remember that the French have a lot less diagnoses of people with allergies (Gluten allergies are almost unheard of - almost) or ADHD, for example. If you make up an excuse to get out of something, make sure it's a good one. Instead, just roll with it.
Number 4: your accent will speak louder than you
I can't tell you how many times I've had to say the word "hamburger" to my French friends, to hear them burst into guffaws. For some reason, they love it. If you enter a shop, and someone hears you speaking english, they will try their english out on you. Complain about things together, compliment their triumph.
Number 5: Tone it down
The French seem cold to Americans, while American seem off the walls to the French. It's just a matter of opinion. But, truth is, Americans are loud. We have a tendency to be loud. Our country wants us to be loud. If you're speaking with a french person, tone it down, of you WILL freak them out. Speak as if no one else is around. Calm down, stay casual. Stop waving your arms around if you're excited. Tone. It. Down.
There 5 tips will help you approach, and eventually, befriend a French person. Bonus tip: don't go crazy if they don't know of a certain product or pop culture reference. A stereotype of Americans is that they think everything revolves around them: so when a French person sees someone going crazy over some american product of no consequence, this only serves to re-enforce the stereotype. Again, tone it down.
Bon Courage a tous!
Maybe if you befriended one, you'd have someone cool to bring up in conversation. Why yes, Celine is spending the weekend on the cote d'azure with her boyfriend François, who will be taking her wine tasting on saturday. How exotic of you to have a european friend!
But how to approach making friends with a French person? Here are some tips to give you a fighting chance.
Number 1: Complain with them
You'll find this the second you get off the plane and into your Taxi. You cabby will start spurting about something, probably politics, and they're no avoiding falling into conversation. You see, in France, you don't randomly talk to people at bus stations or doctors' offices, something it took my mother a while to comprehend. It's only appropriate to initiate conversation if you're - pardon my language - bitching about something. Politics. The unreliable bus. The weather, sometimes. You'll instantly feel like you've known them forever.
Number 2: Be ready to have people laugh at you
Jokes in France tend to revolve around somebody, and, as a foreigner, you tend to be at the butt end of most of them. But that's ok - they mean no offense! I tend to get strange looks here in the US when I pull out my French humor. No, I'm not insulting you! The French will often joke about their own country's short comings (agree but say nothing!) and about American Stereotypes (agree with strong emphasis!). It's very important you adopt self deprecating humor. Being able to joke about yourself and your shortcomings shows that you're not trying to put yourself on some kind of pedestal, which the french seem to assume a lot of American.
Number 3: Try everything, no excuses
Food will seem weird. Experiences will seem daunting. Just roll with it. Remember that the French have a lot less diagnoses of people with allergies (Gluten allergies are almost unheard of - almost) or ADHD, for example. If you make up an excuse to get out of something, make sure it's a good one. Instead, just roll with it.
Number 4: your accent will speak louder than you
I can't tell you how many times I've had to say the word "hamburger" to my French friends, to hear them burst into guffaws. For some reason, they love it. If you enter a shop, and someone hears you speaking english, they will try their english out on you. Complain about things together, compliment their triumph.
Number 5: Tone it down
The French seem cold to Americans, while American seem off the walls to the French. It's just a matter of opinion. But, truth is, Americans are loud. We have a tendency to be loud. Our country wants us to be loud. If you're speaking with a french person, tone it down, of you WILL freak them out. Speak as if no one else is around. Calm down, stay casual. Stop waving your arms around if you're excited. Tone. It. Down.
There 5 tips will help you approach, and eventually, befriend a French person. Bonus tip: don't go crazy if they don't know of a certain product or pop culture reference. A stereotype of Americans is that they think everything revolves around them: so when a French person sees someone going crazy over some american product of no consequence, this only serves to re-enforce the stereotype. Again, tone it down.
Bon Courage a tous!
December 3, 2013
On Stars
What is the Sun? Yes, it's a big ball of burning gasses... it's also a Star.
I can't tell you how many times I've have to tell that - not to five years olds - but to thirty year olds. A startling statistic is that somewhere close to 55% of the US adult population has no idea that the Sun is a star. So I'm going to talk about the sun a little bit, if you don't mind.
And yes, these are tailored to any and all ages.
FUN SUN FACTS!
Did you know that the sun is so huge, that 1,300,000 earths could fit right inside of it, snuggly. It's so huge that 99.9% of all the mass of our solar system is just the sun! That's pretty big! Have a look at the scale!
Did you know that light from the sun, going at light speed, takes about 8 minutes to reach us? That means, if the sun were to "go out", we wouldn't know for 8 full minutes! Saturn is even further away from the sun - sunlight takes over an hour to reach it!
Did you know that our sun is 4.5 billion years old? Our sun is middle aged, and will burn for over 5 billion more.
Did you know that the sun is about 5,778K hot on its photosphere? (that's the part of the sun you can see, though I don't recommend looking right at it!) That's almost 10,000 degrees fahrenheit!
Most importantly - did you know our sun is a star? Just like all those other stars that fill the night sky, the sun is a star, only it is our Star, the center of our little stella neighborhood, of our solar system. The stars up there are suns to, only there are the suns to different planets, they have their own solar systems, their our neighborhoods. All of those solar systems together are in one gigantic stellar city - the milky way galaxy. It's made up of billions of stars, billions of suns!
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Did you know that not every star is the same? There can be a lot of different colors! Just think of fire, how the red bit of the flame is safer than the yellow, which is hot, or the blue, which is much, much hotter. Stars burn differently, so they will be a different color.
Blue stars are the hottest; their motto seems to be "live fast, die young:" they burn up quicker than other stars, which is why they tend to be the youngest in the night sky. The Pleiades Star Cluster is only 25 million years old... that means it wasn't even around back when the dinosaurs roamed the earth!
Check out this awesome music video which explains the birth of stars... in a catchy song.
Ok, I'm sorry, I just had to. Stars are awesome. Our sun is awesome. And not just because I say so - I mean, these are huge gigantic nuclear fusion factories that hang around in space, giving us light and enabling us to live, which them BOOM die in a cosmic eruption, sending atoms this way and that, until they form together in a specific way on a specific plane to form...
You.
You are made of starstuff. Don't you every forget that!
December 1, 2013
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