The French love France, the French language, and all things French. This is a blessing and a curse. Sainte Maxime is a tourist destination mostly for the French, German, Netherlands, Belgium, English, and Swiss but, the French do not care, for the most part it is all-French, all the time. Experiential yes, submerging yes, and a bit puzzling. The times that Rick and I have traveled here before to Ste. Maxime, in the south of France across from St. Tropez, as well as other towns on the Mediterranean, we were new loves eager for two long weeks away. Alone together as a nice reprieve, being in own world somewhat, surrounded by the lovely French language. Sweetly we strolled to romantic meals eating at restaurants and our hotel for petite dejeuner. The last time was 2006, globalization and the world has changed in on many levels in 8 years. But in France, the nationalism that was created during the French Revolution remains strong, maybe to a fault. On a small and personal level it is interesting to experience but a worldly outsider may be quick to observe how in this modern world, where we are ALL so interdependent, France may need to modernize their thoughts for the sake of keeping their nation strong.
Menus – ALL in French Labels – ALL in French Dora the Explorer Book (created to teach Americans kids Spanish) – ALL in French TV – ALL in French or dubbed in French, yes even crappy American TV Our intention with our experiences this time around is to really live each culture to the extent that we can, eyes wide open, not as a tourist. This town is notorious for their markets with various small vendors. Almost each morning we go to the covered market for fresh everything to eat and on Thursdays there is a huge open-air market for all foods Provence,, just as the French do. In the A.M. prepared, market bags and euros in hand while preparing to convert the metric system (come on US convert already) and arranging words carefully for the numerous transactions.
The days of French in high school and one semester of college are now long in the rearview and our travels since 2007 led us to Mexico, Peru, Chile, and Costa Rica – sans French. We did go to Belgium a few years ago but due to the battle between the French and Flemish sides there are lots of English as a middle ground. Here there is little middle ground. Loving the French language, the French are proud of it and expect that you talk to them in French. Necessity has driven the French out of me. Very proud of my first interaction, all in French and voilà, fresh yogurt and eggs to prepare for breakfast. A note to the inexperienced French traveler, it is key to first come to them with French words, whatever you have, if you make a sad attempt, but an attempt nonetheless, then will try to work with you and maybe petite English or just mime!
It has been a bit of a culture shock going from the Swedes who are taught from a very young age to speak English. Personally, after a week I have had some complete conversations in French. Of course that is mainly the French person conversing with me in detail, as they love to do, I rapid fire translate and comprehend while returning short, concise sentences that can be recognized reasonably straightforward. One habit I have to be conscious of, being out of practice, is my reply of Si instead of Oui for yes, which everyone is more than happy to correct me. But I jest, the days of Americans perceiving the French as rude, and vice versa, are long gone. They are and have been very, very friendly to us and kind in many ways.
The other factor, we have no Internet in the apartment – cold turkey. The conscious decision has been made not to get data on our cell phones in order to keep us on the ground and in the present. Did you ever leave your phone home or have the battery die? Yeah, like that, except all the time. Slowly I have stopped twitching. What about when I need to know the French word for octopus to tell the balloon man for our daughter? Anyway the beautiful Mediterranean temperature and sun keep us out-of-doors until bedtime.None of these factors matter much during the day but, when it is bedtime for the babe we are in apartment with what I now see as a the gift of time to read and write, no internet distractions, and each other. Just two, somewhat older, loves enjoying a reprieve in our own little world.
Living Wherever We Are 