Things you wish you hadn't forgotten...

When I landed in Paris I realized there were many things I had forgotten.

The 1st thing was to speak French. I got off the plane and went straight to the exit since I had no lugggage but a handbag. I had to show my passport and the man at the desk said " Bonjour !", " Oh , yes...Bonjour" I stammered. I was quite surprised to hear some French.Of course I know France is a French speaking country but my mind was in English and my brain was expecting for the man to say " Hello love ".

I met my grandmother at the aiport and just had time to say hello that she started to speak her monologue so fast that it was hard for me to keep up. Here is the 2nd thing I had forgotten: grandma always speaks too much !

We took the RER and made our way home. The following day we went shopping. The 3rd thing I had forgotten : prices are obviously in Euros. I only had pounds with me.

On the afternoon we went to the " Galeries Lafayette ", they were nicely decorated and impressive especially the gigantic christmas tree they had inside.We went to " Printemps" and admired the unaffordable bags, clothes and perfumes. It was very nice but crowded and as we made our way through the crowd, I bumped into a girl she said " pardon", I said " sorry". I realised my mistake but it was too late .

note to myself : remember to speak French in Paris.

While my grandmother was telling me about a woman's life whom I didn't know, we passed the opéra and took the bus to Porte de Vanves where she lives, we got off the bus, walked on the less crowded pavement and stopped at a zebra crossing: the 4th thing I had forgotten, in Paris just like everywhere else in Europe except the UK, they drive on the right side of the road. Predictably I looked at the wong side and luckily didn't get into an accident.

It's not that easy to switch cultures, countries and languages. It's like I have to relearn everything. When I come to think of it we are like big babies. We learn new things and forget the old ones,but sometimes we must remember what we forgot.