Août

n. – August
Fermeture Annuelle
n. – annual closing
Tranquil
adj. – tranquil, quiet, calm, dead
August in Paris is when most of the French are away on vacation leaving it much quieter for the tourists. One hears less French and more English, Italian and Spanish spoken. Even the local bums I pass by on my way to work seem to have left for some time off. Stores literally close down, some for the entire month for their “fermeture annuelle” or annual closing. My husband and I took a week off to go back to New York and catch up with family and friends. I was struck by the differences in so many things now that I have adjusted to life in France. One thing is the difference in sizes. My first large cappuccino in the US was big enough to swim in!

There is also a marked difference in customer service. While in France, you have to earn the respect of the merchant, in the US, the client is still king. The economy is struggling to get back on its feet, yet I felt a sense of effort as the country tries to move forward once more. In France, there is more of an effort to hold on to age old traditions. This is merely an observation on both cultures, not a judgement on either.

My mother had a big birthday while we were in New York which we celebrated with lots of surprises and visits to her favourite places. Like most mothers, she is thrilled to be with family and both my husband and I are fortunate because we all get along with our respective in-laws. In French, the word for in-laws is “belle famille” or pretty family literally translated. “Belle mere” is mother-in-law, or pretty mother, “beau père,” father-in-law or handsome father, etc. The same expressions also apply to step-parents or siblings. I’m not sure how you distinguish other than just to know if you’re referring to your step brother or brother-in-law, the latter of my own who is in fact also handsome so the description fits well.

I’m not sure what the word for godparents is, but I know that godfather is “parrain” and godmother is “marraine.” I was just recently bestowed the honour of becoming a godmother myself. I am tickled pink and over the moon about it I might add. My own godmother who passed on years ago was an amazing woman filled with compassion, strength and grace. So I have a lot to live up to.

These qualities along with patience are important in navigating life anywhere and the latter especially so in Paris. I have grown remarkably comfortable with my life here and felt right at home yesterday afternoon when visiting a museum restaurant after taking in an exhibit with my husband. He explained to the hostess as she seated us that we would just be having coffee since it was well after lunch time. After waiting for almost 20 minutes for someone to take our order, we called her over and asked if someone could help us and also if I could take a look at the menu. “Mais vous prenez seulement un café?!” she barked at me, “But you’re only having coffee?!” I defensively replied that I may want a dessert and then wondered why I had to justify myself to her. No more giant coffees and client as king – welcome back.