#lesregles

[merrilyenspensieve]

Le saviez-tu ? Les règles ça coûte cher surtout quand on a pas de soussous mais le soucis c'est que c'est pas comme la boîte de Ferrero, tu ne peux pas faire le choix de ne pas la mettre dans le caddie. Il y a deux jours, Olivier Verran annonçait un plan d'aide de 5millions d'euros pour lutter contre la précarité menstruelle parce que oui elle existe. Que l'on soit SDF, étudiant, travailleurs pauvres avec beaucoup de personnes menstruées à la maison ça commence à chiffrer. Parce que oui, au cours d'une vie on utilise en moyenne 10000 produits menstruel qui coûte entre 5 à 15€/mois. Ça n'a l'air de rien certes mais ça uniquement quand on en a les moyens. De plus, les plus précaires prendront toujours les produits les moins cher dont les compositions sont certes inconnue (perso ça me rassure pas) mais qui comporte de bases des traces potentiellement dangereuses. Ceci provoque sécheresses, mycoses et autres joyeusetés. La précarité menstruelle est un vrai sujet de société qu'il ne faut pas négliger. Pour cette occasion, j'aimerais mettre en avant le livre de Jack Parker sortie en 2017 "Le grand mystère des règles" que j'ai bien envie de relire pour l'occasion. Ce livre offre une analyse complète et pleine d'humour de ce grand tabou que sont les règles. A lire absolument et pas que les personnes menstruées hein !!! TOUTES les personnes sachant lire peut le faire 😉😁😋 #livresaddict #livrestagram #jackparker #taousmerakchi #lesregles #prexaritemenstruelle #bookstagram #bookeuseaddict https://www.instagram.com/p/CI7nW8nH828/?igshid=ux15ve0rg50n

[parisinterngirl]

Règle #6 de Paris: blablabla

French people just love discussing EVERYTHING. 

Expect to not get away from people for at least 45 minutes if they're trying to explain something to you.

[parisinterngirl]

Règle #5 de Paris: Lift etiquette

That age-old stereotype of Parisians being rude should probably be swept under the carpet by now; without a doubt you'll come across some moody, snooty people, but this is pretty inevitable in any major capital city you go to.  Parisians (I'm using Parisians as I haven't been out of Paris to notice these things but I'm sure the whole of France is the same) are just really courteous in comparison to London.  Londoners always shy away from each other, when you do strike up small talk on the underground or receive a thank-you for holding a door open it's like striking a goldmine.  

Anyway, lift etiquette is absolutely adorable in Paris.  What is usually an awkward atmosphere in England turns into a rather pleasant experience.  However, it's essential that you say a greeting upon entering and leaving; if not you'll probably make the lift experience far more awkward than any tense lift ride you've experienced back home.

Greetings:

Upon Entering

Bonjour (no way)

Upon Leaving

Bonne journée, après-midi, soirée, weekend, soleil...........whatevz

Of course the french sometimes whip out some different things to say but if you say one of these, you'll be fine.

Just remember silence is a no-no here.

[parisinterngirl]

Règle #3 de Paris: Ignore règle #2

Okay don't ignore it completely, by all means revise a bit but just bare in mind everything you learn in the classroom is rather passé.  And if you want to remain au courant do NOT use Verlan.  This is simply a prime example of idiotic teaching syllabus's trying to be 'down with the kids'.  Apparently it is très passé ici et seulement utilisé par des ados il y a quelques ans.  When walking down the street pretty much every advert you see is a bunch of words you know but when strung together mean absolutely nothing to you.  I don't really have any advice for this apart from get a French friend asap.

[parisinterngirl]

Règle #2 de Paris: Revise

If you're coming out on your year abroad here, and have asked advice of previous/current year abroader's if they revised the language before they came out and they replied with a proud "naaah you just pick it up!" Don't listen to them.  They probably did. Or they have some family here, or go on holiday here, or are just genuinely good at speaking.  Look over past notes, listen to some french radio, look up key vocabulary you think you'll need, or at least bring some kind of phrase book with you.  If you're anything like me you will struggle to ask what someone's name is.  And then you reveal you're studying French at university.  It is awkward. 

[parisinterngirl]

Règle #1 de Paris: The Miniskirt

Here is something about Paris that I have been very quick to learn, due to 20 years lived in the rather liberating dress code harvested in England.  Conservative dressing is in Paris's blood, hemlines being a critical character within this setting.  Never mind it being 25 degrees yet feeling like 35 due to a massive muggy storm brewing; go out in your sundress and you will receive a tut from a middle-aged woman, kissed lips from an Indian shop owner and an unbelievable amount of stares.  And that's only the stuff noticed whilst you've got your iPod turned up louder than usual.  However I reckon this also amounts to a number of other factors:

Being tall. Don't wear a short dress if you're tall.  This was probably learnt by any tall school girl who would always be the one told off whilst their 5'2" friend stands smiling next to them in the rolled up skirt belt.

Being pale.  French people aren't exactly all tanned like the Spanish but showing too much pale skin at one go probably doesn't help the glares. It's like being a walking milk bottle.  Too be honest this probably startles people in England too these days.

Being in the centre.  Wander a couple of metres over to a park and the glares seem to instantly dissolve.  Parks can be treated like beaches.  I like this.

What you're wearing on top.  If you've got a blouse on you could probably get away with your miniskirt, wear a strappy top and it's a different story. 

Being English.  Of course.  This is the biggest factor.  They just know.