During all these changes in the Walters family life, I want to write a few posts about what I'll miss in France, what I'm taking with me, and what I will not miss. I'm going to save the not miss part for later so I can try to avoid sounding like I'm complaining, mad, culture-shocked, or some combination of all.
First, a couple of things I'll miss. Those who know me know that there will usually be food involved, so I'll get that out of the way by saying I'll miss fromage au lait cru. That's cheese made from raw (not pasteurized) milk. We don't have that in the U.S. because of goofy laws, to use technical language. I could also say that I will really miss foie gras, but that might raise the ire of too many animal rights activists and former James Bonds.
Food issues behind me now, I've got to say that one thing I'll miss here in France is the bisou -- the kiss on each cheek that is the standard greeting among friends. Whether it's in our Bible study, at church, or with people in town, I love the way our friends stop what they're doing to greet one another with this wonderfully intimate gesture.
Sure -- it's not easy for this American guy to get the hang of the bisou. Even after four years, I often find myself coming perilously close to a nose collision because I forget which side to start on. Some of my friends swear that in one part of France you start with the left cheek, but in other parts it's the right. Some regions kiss three times, some four. That may be true in their black-and-white culture worlds, but in mine it seems that it's never that simple. It's also hard to know when to go from hand-shaking to cheek-kissing. My greetings sometimes turn into a Michael Jackson-esque dance, with hands going back and forth and heads bobbing like strutting roosters. Now, I just go for the kiss.
For most of our time here, I've said that I would take the French bisou back to the U.S. with me. I think it's a wonderful greeting, especially among brothers and sisters in Christ. At least five letters from the New Testament admonish us to "greet one another with a holy kiss." And it's not just the act of kissing each cheek, there is also the fact that my French friends will stop everything to greet one another. Relationships are important.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure how well the bisou will make the trip back across the Atlantic. Kissing each other just doesn't translate. But who knows, I may try it anyway.
First, a couple of things I'll miss. Those who know me know that there will usually be food involved, so I'll get that out of the way by saying I'll miss fromage au lait cru. That's cheese made from raw (not pasteurized) milk. We don't have that in the U.S. because of goofy laws, to use technical language. I could also say that I will really miss foie gras, but that might raise the ire of too many animal rights activists and former James Bonds.
Food issues behind me now, I've got to say that one thing I'll miss here in France is the bisou -- the kiss on each cheek that is the standard greeting among friends. Whether it's in our Bible study, at church, or with people in town, I love the way our friends stop what they're doing to greet one another with this wonderfully intimate gesture.
Sure -- it's not easy for this American guy to get the hang of the bisou. Even after four years, I often find myself coming perilously close to a nose collision because I forget which side to start on. Some of my friends swear that in one part of France you start with the left cheek, but in other parts it's the right. Some regions kiss three times, some four. That may be true in their black-and-white culture worlds, but in mine it seems that it's never that simple. It's also hard to know when to go from hand-shaking to cheek-kissing. My greetings sometimes turn into a Michael Jackson-esque dance, with hands going back and forth and heads bobbing like strutting roosters. Now, I just go for the kiss.
For most of our time here, I've said that I would take the French bisou back to the U.S. with me. I think it's a wonderful greeting, especially among brothers and sisters in Christ. At least five letters from the New Testament admonish us to "greet one another with a holy kiss." And it's not just the act of kissing each cheek, there is also the fact that my French friends will stop everything to greet one another. Relationships are important.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure how well the bisou will make the trip back across the Atlantic. Kissing each other just doesn't translate. But who knows, I may try it anyway.
3 comments:
You can keep the fromage et the foie gras.
But I am with you on the "kissing". Take it with you around the world!
Jeff,
My ingrained tendency to go for the "bisou" or "beso" (as we call it Spain) has caused my more than one embarrassing moment with ladies back in the States who don't have a clue.
If you kiss me when you get back home we are going to have a throw down:)
Just kidding!!
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