NewsletterSeptember 2008

Ready to be picked!!

Vendange

This year my winery (Domaine de l'Echelette) owning brother in law will start grape picking – Vendange on September 20th. This prompted me to say “on fait le vin le vingt” – we make vine on the 20th. In French ‘vin’ and ‘vingt’ are pronounced the same. So it is a little play on words, something the French love, as long as it’s not an American making the pun!
The third week in September is the start date for grape picking in the Saône-et-Loire department. You don’t get paid much, SMIC, the French minimum wage, less any meals you eat. Most wineries supply a hot lunch during their Vendange and some provide a place to stay. But if you ask anyone who’s worked a Vendange, they will tell you it isn’t about the money but the camaraderie and atmosphere.

French Food

I’ve found eating in France is a ritual that takes time and can’t be disturbed by something like watching TV or reading. From my experiences the French seem much more comfortable eating slowly whereas American just can’t sit still like the French can. I’ll never forget when I lived in Alsace and went to an American in Alsace BBQ. It was so easy to tell who was French and who was American. The French were sitting at tables eating and talking, even those that had finished eating. The Americans were up and about after finishing their meal. Apparently Americans believe once the meal is eaten time to move on, literally. Why be confined to a table? The Americans by and large weren’t comfortable at the table but the French were.

Culture Shock

I just returned from three weeks in the US and experienced a little culture shock on arrival. In France when you meet someone you don’t know you just say “Bonjour”, the friendliness stops there. Whereas in America you say something along the lines of “Hello, how are you”, the friendliness goes a little deeper.
Saying “how are you” to a French person you have never meet is a bit of a shock. Why would a total stranger want to know how you are? Or be so nosy as to ask?
So the first few times I was asked how I was, was well a bit of a shock. I’ve now been living in France for about ten years and I guess I’ve grown accustom to just starting with Bonjour and leaving it at that.
I was also amazed at how many total strangers ask personal questions like, where I lived what I did and so on. Questions in France I’ve never been asked in France, except maybe by an American!

Skiing in France

Just a reminder that my good friend Mike Beaudet, aka Megeve Mike, is ready to help with your skiing needs. Should you be a beginner or advanced, Mike will make skiing even more enjoyable. Mike is based in Megeve very close to the Mont Blanc, for more info see - Ski Pros Megeve.

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