...becoming Parisian?

This weekend I went to London, where I had a spectacular time with friends, got to see the sun nearly all weekend (have I mentioned the sun no longer exists in Paris? I was warned about this but nothing truly prepared me for the depressing reality), went shopping like crazy (oops...), went ice skating, saw 'Zorro the Musical' (ha ha ha...), drank lots of coffee... and then realized something. As much as I loved London, I didn't feel at ease there. And it wasn't just because I had no idea where to look when I crossed the street.

I was in a country where everything was in English and yet was European, filled with historical sights, great public transportation, museums, etc... and I still felt very weird, almost shocked. I was amazed at how much more London life reflected American life-- Pret a Manger= London version of Au Bon Pain, there were tons of coffee chains like Starbucks (in addition to Starbucks, bien sur) on every block, Boots was like a CVS or Walgreens, not like a French pharmacy, and let's not even get started on the fact that people are very polite and friendly and helpful (not that the French aren't nice and polite and helpful they're just... French). Yet, even this began to leave me perturbed after a bit... Why did they need to have so many coffee shops on every corner? Why did the shoe salesman approach me within seconds of my arrival to ask me if I needed help? Why do they drive completely opposite to every other country in the world, and what kind of statement are they trying to make with that? (Ok, that last question was just for kicks and really has nothing to do with this rambling blog post. But really, though...)

After a lot of soul-searching (perhaps not the right term, but we'll use it for now), I'm starting to think maybe what has become normal and familiar to me now is...call me crazy, but it's French daily life. I mean, if the British way of life is more similar to the American way of life, and I felt a bit uncomfortable living this British/American lifestyle for a weekend, that would mean that it was because I now feel comfortable living like a Parisian, right? Could it be that the reason I couldn't stand how slowly everyone moved in the London Tube was because the fast paced, spacious, insane Parisian metro has become the staple? (Even beating out my beloved T in Boston?) Have I come to regard coffee a emporter (to go) as unneccesary, since practically the only place it exists in France is at Starbucks? And why the hell did that British boy behind the counter in Pret a Manger call me "madame"-- can't he tell I'm a mademoiselle?!

Hmmm...I may be becoming Parisian-ish. curious indeed :) :) :)

In other news, there will be no video updates until I'm done with my 5 papers, quiz, film project, and final (all in French) in two weeks. Ohmygod I'm going to die...