1. Wherever you are, you'll have no problem finding a pharmacy nearby...
We may or may not have the world's highest concentration of pharmacies per square mile... 😛
2. But a lot of businesses are closed on Sundays.
So if you're in desperate need of Advil, look for places without a "fermé" sign.
3. If you're driving, be prepared for a lot of roundabouts.
France has more than 30,000 of them — more than Great Britain, where they were originally invented.
4. ...And speed bumps.
A French town without speed bumps is very hard to come by.
5. Snack time looks like this...
French children eat their snacks almost religiously at 4:30.
6. Counting will look something like this...
Be prepared to do a little math.
7. And saying hello will look something like this...
Pucker up.
8. But the actual number of cheek kisses you give will depend...
It's a bit of a hot mess.
9. And "dessert" at the end of a meal looks like this:
You're okay with a little mold, right?
10. Also, your favorite movies might seem a little different...
11. And you'll need more than Google Translate to figure out a few common expressions...
12. But if you really want to fit in, just buy a baguette.
13. And feel free to start nibbling off the tip on your way home, for added authenticity.
14. If you're listening to the radio, you'll start noticing a lot of the same French songs...
It's because there's a legal quota that requires 35% of radio music to be French music — annoying for DJs who end up playing the same French ballads over and over.
15. And much of the TV shows just involve a lot of people yelling at each other.
It's a national pastime.
16. And if you see people drinking coffee out of bowls, don't flip out.
It's a thing, and that way you can dip your toast in it!
17. You'll also notice a lot of rooster imagery in general...
The Gallic rooster is an unofficial national symbol of France as a nation.
18. If you're in town for July 14, get ready for an impressive military parade.
It's Bastille Day — France's national holiday and a symbol of the French revolution.
19. You'll notice people punctuating their phrases with sounds like "beeeh," "baaaah," and "beeeen."
Or "eeeeeeeuh."
20. And if you end up having to deal with the French bureaucracy? Good luck.
Hope you're fluent in patience!
This post was translated from French.
