Bernie!

The 2020 elections aren't exactly around the corner, but we're already feeling the Bern! And so were 16,000 of our friends in San Francisco this weekend! 🔥

Feel the Bern, San Francisco!

Parades! And other American things

A weekend to celebrate the luck of the Irish! Completely rational if you grow up in America, less so if you come from elsewhere. Never in France do the people across the country come out to spend the afternoon parading around another nation's flag. In fact, never in France do people spend the afternoon parading around, period. So St. Patty's Day was Nicolas's first shot at a proper American parade.

St. Patty's Day weekend in San Francisco

As an expat, you're always struck here and there by weird surprises the locals take for granted, from the sound of the police sirens to the times the restaurant kitchens close (or don't!). I took the chance to grill Nicolas on the culture shocks beyond the marching bands and dancing horses bearing American flags, now that it's been nearly four months since he became a proud resident of the good old U-S-of-A. In no particular order, here is the list of one fresh expat's American surprises:

• Massive supermarkets
• Food sold in obscene quantities— you'd have to feed a small army to keep it from spoiling!
• Strange products under lock, especially toiletries like deodorants or toothpaste. (I'm thinking this may be a San Francisco/big city thing?)
• Ever-present special offers in grocery stores à la 2 for $5
• Sales tax not included in the price tags
• Tipping! So much tipping! Everywhere!
• Neighbors in our building who don't greet each other when entering or exiting elevators
• Enormous cars (though it was to be expected)
• Free tennis courts
• The struggle to get a local to actually commit and stick to a scheduled time to play tennis (though I'm guessing the laid-back, tough-to-schedule bit is especially Californian)
• Shower heads that don't detach from the wall
• Hugs. Unwelcome hugs.

I especially adore that last one. As someone who had to endure years of the bise, that French cheek-kiss thing, I know exactly where he's coming from. Here's to another four months (and then some) on American soil!