Ok, I love the perks of my job. Of all the stress and pressure situations it puts me in, the opportunities to travel is something which I really cherish.
I loved France. Especially after having stayed in two Asian countries for substantial chunk of time, it was something really different.
It brimmed with good life and a special appreciation for culture,music,art,food and wine.
I was awed with the casual sophistication of the French people. They were matchless when it came to just anything which is suave and urbane.
Take cheese for example. For me it was just a yellow square of wrapped in plastic. I felt weird when it was offered to me as a desert in a project dinner event (for the most part of my life, I have different interpretation of desert). When I understood from my French colleagues, it was happy creation of a local artisan - which for me was the first invitation into l'art de vivre - The art of living.
From there on, my outlook towards each and every minute of my stay in France had become critical, not for anything, but to know and understand the French way of living.
Food - if I look at the food, I felt it is one of the great passions of French people. French cooking is highly refined and involves careful preparation, attention to detail, and the use of fresh ingredients. Oh! how can I forget the lamb made by the chef at a local restaurant. I never had a better cooked slice of lamb which melted instantaneously as I kept it in my mouth. As I inquired further, I learnt that the food varies by region and is heavily influenced by what is grown locally.
Living - for the French, the art of living is not just a pleasant expression, its a foundation for their life. With five weeks of paid vacation, plus every catholic holiday ever started, they have indeed become experts at living well.
Its no surprise, that France is home to past times like cafe-lounging and fine dining.
People - they are as polite as much they take pride in their language. A bonjour in the beginning and a merci at the end is sure to get you a pleasant smile. I was not that comfortable about cheek kissing though, thanks to my Hindu roots but nonetheless it was incredible how my entire office wished each other every day.
Wine - by the end of my stay I had become a huge fan of French wines. I had tasted Chilean and Chinese wines many times in the past but French wines are a class apart. No wonder they are considered one of the best wines in the world.
It echoed the French themselves - elegant, well-dressed and showing an appreciation for the good things in life. It went the best with food with a beautiful taste and and a well mannered spirit.
Music - this is where I felt, I ran out of time. But as they say, there is always a next time. This is one aspect, I have left it to learn more as I take forward my keen interest to know more about the French culture.
Being an ardent student of cultures, places, people and history it was a pleasure to experience this wonderful country. Au Revoir.
I loved France. Especially after having stayed in two Asian countries for substantial chunk of time, it was something really different.
It brimmed with good life and a special appreciation for culture,music,art,food and wine.
I was awed with the casual sophistication of the French people. They were matchless when it came to just anything which is suave and urbane.
Take cheese for example. For me it was just a yellow square of wrapped in plastic. I felt weird when it was offered to me as a desert in a project dinner event (for the most part of my life, I have different interpretation of desert). When I understood from my French colleagues, it was happy creation of a local artisan - which for me was the first invitation into l'art de vivre - The art of living.
From there on, my outlook towards each and every minute of my stay in France had become critical, not for anything, but to know and understand the French way of living.
Food - if I look at the food, I felt it is one of the great passions of French people. French cooking is highly refined and involves careful preparation, attention to detail, and the use of fresh ingredients. Oh! how can I forget the lamb made by the chef at a local restaurant. I never had a better cooked slice of lamb which melted instantaneously as I kept it in my mouth. As I inquired further, I learnt that the food varies by region and is heavily influenced by what is grown locally.
Living - for the French, the art of living is not just a pleasant expression, its a foundation for their life. With five weeks of paid vacation, plus every catholic holiday ever started, they have indeed become experts at living well.
Its no surprise, that France is home to past times like cafe-lounging and fine dining.
People - they are as polite as much they take pride in their language. A bonjour in the beginning and a merci at the end is sure to get you a pleasant smile. I was not that comfortable about cheek kissing though, thanks to my Hindu roots but nonetheless it was incredible how my entire office wished each other every day.
Wine - by the end of my stay I had become a huge fan of French wines. I had tasted Chilean and Chinese wines many times in the past but French wines are a class apart. No wonder they are considered one of the best wines in the world.
It echoed the French themselves - elegant, well-dressed and showing an appreciation for the good things in life. It went the best with food with a beautiful taste and and a well mannered spirit.
Music - this is where I felt, I ran out of time. But as they say, there is always a next time. This is one aspect, I have left it to learn more as I take forward my keen interest to know more about the French culture.
Being an ardent student of cultures, places, people and history it was a pleasure to experience this wonderful country. Au Revoir.
