Several years ago, I paid a visit to France with my parents. Some of the French eating "rules" left deep impression on me.
One day, the three of us took a walk along the river in Lyon(a city in France). To our surprise, we came across an outdoor market selling grocery just like what we have in China. Because I was thirty, my mom bought a melon from a vendor. She asked the vendor to cut the melon into several pieces, so I could eat it right away.
Sitting on the bench on the river bank, I had a good taste of the juicy melon. Everything was delightful: the old house along the river, the breeze, and sweet taste of fresh fruit. However, as a French lady ( at least she was white) noticed what I was doing, she seemed to be annoyed and quickly walked by. Later on, a few other passersby also had the similar reaction. An elder lady even passed by with a repulsed expression after a glimpse of me. It didn't feel right, but I was more confused than ashamed. My parents also noticed that, but neither of them figured out what was wrong. Nevertheless, I still finished the melon. After getting rid of the seeds and the skin, nothing had been left except the memory of its sweet taste.
I harboured the doubt that whether I ate wrongly for a couple of days until we visited my mother's friend who had been living in France for several years. When we mentioned the incident, mom's friend explained that it was because what I did was not appropriate in French manners. I broke three "rules" at the same time, while I was biting from a piece of melon on the street, taking rid of seeds. Firstly, French didn't eat on the street. Secondly, instead of taking a bite right from a big piece, they would cut it into smaller pieces which can be put in their mouth as a whole and then eat them one by one. Thirdly, spitting something out of one's mouth was considered to be rude, no matter it was seeds of a fruit or a piece of bone in the meat. French just swallowed everything they put in their mouth.
Although French men are famous of ignoring rules, they are pretty strict with the way they treat their food.
I am a little envying you because you have visited French which must a unforgettable experience for you. After reading your blog, I think before we travel to another place,we are supposed to take notice of our behaviour.
ReplyDeleteI'm envious too that you've visited France! :) Every culture is so special and unique, and things that we do in our culture that are second nature to us could be taboo in another culture.
ReplyDeleteYour blog was well- written with good grammar, the only glaring error was 'thirty' instead of 'thirsty'. Titles should also be capitalized.