Sunday, September 26, 2010

ça m'ènerve!

This week, some things have got on my nerves.  I think, more and more like this, as I understand the language.
I found that Cannes is a full of selfish people - tourists, locals, come and go so the local shops or restaurants don't give a damm about making efforts for the customers, as they take customers for granted, they knew or expected that the customers would come to theirs. (if the ambience is good or the tasts is good or some other various reasons. Some of which I think they're rubbish)


It's the customers who need to smile and say bonjour to the sellers or servers at first contact.

Apparently, the French culture is like this, the customers need to be polite to the service provider, if not, they won't listen to you.  (by Talk to the snail, Stephen Clark)

Yesterday, I went to the next door mini supermarket called "Spar" just to buy a bottle of milk. It costed 1.50 euro but I only had 10euro note, 30 centimes and a bit of coppers. The woman asked me whether I had a smaller money but I said no I didn't...
She open the till showing me some 1 euro coins and said, "If I gave you those coins, I can't continue my business the rest of the day"
I could not believe what I was hearing and said "Well, if I had a smaller money, I would have given it to you but I said I didn't." "Usually here, it's the customer who brings the sufficient money to shop, it's not the problem with the shop! that's the rule in France here"
Obviously, she was telling me this, knowing I was a foreigner.
"I've been living just around the corner for a few years, I have never been treated like this. It's not normal!!"

I said, and left the shop and went to another shop next door. They were cool about me not having a smaller money, so I managed to get what I needed.

When my hubby got back from Paris trip later that night, I told him about what had happened with the woman at the Spar including the French rule and all that.  He said, that's bullsxxt. 
There were other things that got on my nerves this week, (see japanese version, if possible) I feel like a grumpy old woman complaining about small stuff... oh no don't want to....but I feel like losing it. it's important. I live here, I am entitled to live comfortably.

I will continue saying what I want to say or what I think it's right. If not, I'd become a loser here.
Oh, peops, don't go to that shop!! Or is it just me??? whatever.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Car boot Sale in Mouans Sartoux

In French, the car boot sale is called 'Vide Grenier' which means 'empty the attic'
On Saturday, there was one in a small village of Mouans Sartoux, 20 mins drive from Cannes. When my hubby's away, I tend to be very lazy and not doing much.  He's away again this week, but this time I decided to be a bit more active myself and left the flat for a short drive.

The weather wasn't so great that day, as if it'd rain any moment.  I texted my hubby where I was heading to.  He replied to me and said, "you tend to have a bad weather when you go to a vide grenier..."

Indeed, he's right. The last time I went one in our gran's country house in North, it rained quite badly.  It was so bad that I almost gave up for going... but luckly I found a set of lovely glass bowls. Usually before going to a place like this, I tend to check over ebay what I would like to buy..This time, I didn't do that.

Well eventually it rained.  Despite the bad weather,the little village was full of stalls and visitors. Quite many stalls have put some plastic cover on top of their products, so it was hard to see...I think I missed quite many too, as it rained some stalls left earlier.
I also expected to see some normal stalls like jams and honey's that kind of thing but none was there. Too bad.

After just over an hour visit, my shopping was 1 euro for a pair of snow boots (not ski boots, regrettably), 1 euro for a set of 6 serviette rings. Not bad, is it?