I was in France for about four hours for a layover, and here's what I came away with: 
  • French people stink.  It might be because it was 90 degrees and humid, and people refuse to wear shorts (more on that later).  But it was probably more so because they don't wear deodorant.  Lovely.  It's a simple fact that I would emanate a foul odor if I didn't wear deodorant, but I have a small amount of respect for my fellow man, so I wear it.
  • French people don't wash their hands after they use the bathroom.  The "stand-up" and the "sit-down" bathroom.  Nice.  To be honest, I almost don't think it's that big of a deal, but it's such an ingrained part of American culture that you at least have to pretend to wash your hands as you leave the bathroom.  At least turn on the sink.
  • The fashion trend for males seems to be to wear dainty little girl shoes, feminine-looking capris (either white or light khaki), and to be as skinny and un-muscular as possible.  I could do that.
  • Hearing the French language spoken either sounds beautiful and poetic or presumptuous and diminutive, depending on who's speaking and the tone they use.
  • Airport security was unusually pleasant and relaxed, and I didn't even have to take off my shoes.  Compared to the U.S., where it's so much more militant and intolerant, it was a breeze.  But then again, France doesn't have to worry about being attacked by terrorists because they don't have an offensive foreign policy.  Or any foreign policy.
Ok so there were a few opinions thrown in among those observations.  So what? #sociology