People often ask me if I've had trouble adjusting to life in Chalabre. I always tell them no. However, there is one thing that is difficult for this ex-Californian, and it has been more noticeable this holiday season: smoking!
We Californians forget that there are plenty of places where smoking is still a large part of the social fabric. And, although I have met many non and ex smokers here in France, there are still many, many more smokers than we ever ran into in California, even when it was easier to be a smoker there. And, in fairness I should point out that as many of our British acquaintances smoke as our French friends. Thus it is not as much a U.S. vs. French cultural question, as truly a matter of California vs. the rest of the world.
Of course, even a California winter is mild in comparison to what we are currently experiencing right now. So, it's no big deal for the occasional smoker to slip outside for a few puffs. When the temps are in the teens and low twenties (fahrenheit), it's a much less appealing prospect. Certainly, you are not going to ask people not to smoke in their own homes!
Thus, these holiday times when we are out visiting and going to parties, it is just one of those inescapable facts of life. I will say that after coming home from two back-to-back events over the weekend, where JM and I seemed to be the only two people (other than a couple of babies!) who weren't smoking, I felt as if I had inhaled an entire pack myself. At one party in Leran, we would have stayed longer, but I found I was no longer able to breathe.
When we did get home, our clothes were so imbibed with tobacco, that I was unable to wear my winter jacket for two days. Luckily, I was finally able to buy some Febreze, which got the last of the odor out. Everything else was immediately consigned to the garage to await a good laundering. For myself, I had to take a long hot shower, to get my hair to feel clean again.
There really is no answer for this. Unless one is willing to stop socializing entirely, the problem remains. I don't let people smoke in our home and never will. But, you can't stay in your own home 100% of the time. And, when there are people whom you truly like and with whom you want to spend time, you need to make a choice. So, I will visit the smokers and wash my clothes and hair more often to compensate.
A small cultural difference for this Wednesday afternoon.
Ciao for now!
R
(see pictures on my personal site.)
We Californians forget that there are plenty of places where smoking is still a large part of the social fabric. And, although I have met many non and ex smokers here in France, there are still many, many more smokers than we ever ran into in California, even when it was easier to be a smoker there. And, in fairness I should point out that as many of our British acquaintances smoke as our French friends. Thus it is not as much a U.S. vs. French cultural question, as truly a matter of California vs. the rest of the world.
Of course, even a California winter is mild in comparison to what we are currently experiencing right now. So, it's no big deal for the occasional smoker to slip outside for a few puffs. When the temps are in the teens and low twenties (fahrenheit), it's a much less appealing prospect. Certainly, you are not going to ask people not to smoke in their own homes!
Thus, these holiday times when we are out visiting and going to parties, it is just one of those inescapable facts of life. I will say that after coming home from two back-to-back events over the weekend, where JM and I seemed to be the only two people (other than a couple of babies!) who weren't smoking, I felt as if I had inhaled an entire pack myself. At one party in Leran, we would have stayed longer, but I found I was no longer able to breathe.
When we did get home, our clothes were so imbibed with tobacco, that I was unable to wear my winter jacket for two days. Luckily, I was finally able to buy some Febreze, which got the last of the odor out. Everything else was immediately consigned to the garage to await a good laundering. For myself, I had to take a long hot shower, to get my hair to feel clean again.
There really is no answer for this. Unless one is willing to stop socializing entirely, the problem remains. I don't let people smoke in our home and never will. But, you can't stay in your own home 100% of the time. And, when there are people whom you truly like and with whom you want to spend time, you need to make a choice. So, I will visit the smokers and wash my clothes and hair more often to compensate.
A small cultural difference for this Wednesday afternoon.
Ciao for now!
R
(see pictures on my personal site.)
1 Comments:
Hi Randy!
Just wanted to send you and Jean-Marc a Happy New Year note!
Best always,
Bill Cunningham
By Bill Cunningham, At 3:18 AM
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