The New Year in France

Yesterday was a really hard day because I have been suffering from some really bad jet lag. Sunday night I couldn’t fall asleep until about 5 am, and I had to get up at 7 am. Then I had to teach six classes and tutor on two hours of sleep. I was pretty tired. I wouldn’t allow myself to rest at all during the day, so last night I went to bed at 10 pm and slept until 8 am. It was so nice. I felt a lot better when I woke up. It is also good to know that the worst of it is over. It is definitely easier when you travel west because you just get up earlier. Instead of just being in bed thinking that you should be asleep.

I know it wasn’t this bad when I came out in September. My friend, Tamar, said it was because we were both in survival mode when we arrived in France the first time. Now I am used to being here, so my body is not so shocked.

Yesterday I must have been whished happy New Year by about 25 different people. I was really amazed so many people said it to me even a week into the New Year. I asked the lady I tutored about it, and she told me that it is the custom in France to wish all your acquaintances “Bonne Année” up until the end of January. If you don’t, some people might see you as being rude. She is a hairdresser, and she said she only says it for the first two weeks because it starts to get annoying after a while. I think this is a really interesting custom because in the US you really don’t hear the phrase uttered past January 3.

I will have to remember to say it to everyone, so I won’t be seen as the rude American.

So…Bonne Année everyone!!