[Marshal Davout]

Le French Culture is Superior , Is it not so ?
As an American I think I can say so ? !
The French greet you by kissing your cheeks; making you feel welcome;
however in the states they will shake your hand or ask How's it going ?
The audiences will stand up and dance with the entertainers and clap with them; but in the states they will sit in their seats sometime and sort of demand to be entertained !
If you are hurt in the states; you will go to the hospital ER where they will charge you $120 for X-rays and $10 for an aspirin ? ! You might say, but I can buy a bottle of aspirin in the pharmacy for $5 ? But they will say if we pre-scribe it we are authorized to charge it ?
So, from what I have heard the health system in France is more economical !
Also the ER staff seem mad at you for showing up; if you are not unconscious or bleeding out. Then they think it is their job to make your visit uncomfortable ? ! ( I know because I took my elderly mother to the ER occasionally ) I would hope that the ER's in France are better !

In France I have heard that you get to take two hours for Lunch and get a real meal ? ! But in the states the company gives you 30 to 45 minutes for lunch; so people run around wild-eyed saying I have to get my sandwich and take it back to my desk to keep working or the supervisors might think I am shirking ? I have done this many times ! Also in the states the waiters/waitresses work on tips; so they expect you to eat your meal fast; so they can exit you out and then seat the next guests so they can get another tip ? !

Americans do have some good qualities. They can be generous ! If you lose your money in the states they will spot you a meal and if you are lucky they have a spare bedroom they will let you stay overnight if you need to. They will however tell you all about their business you might not want to hear; and they will expect you to tell all about your life; which I am sure a european might not want to do ? !

we had a social after hours at work sometimes once a month ; but this consisted of going to the bowling alley and/or the pool hall; so in reality it was competition, not socialization ? !

In re-searching Alizee; I think I have grown to where I love the French, also ! You might not know in a sort of Tom-Hanks-Meg Ryan romantic comedy; not knowing any French, I flew to France and Paris and proposed marriage to Alizee.
Of course I had to use a letter of Introduction and Proposal in French ! I followed her from the Theatre and got her hotel and then bribed a hotel employee 300 francs for her room number. Then I went and knocked on her door with a box of gifts and a ring for her. She answered the door and I was down on my knee showing her my ring for her. She let me in and read my letter. But she told me "I am too young to get married ( I was older ) and she said she would not live in America only in France or Corsica ! " And so she cried a little bit and put me out the door !

It was for the best, I realize as I am not a dancer, and she would not have won dancing with the stars with me as I have two left feet, as they say ! I looked pretty good then as I looked either like a young paul Newman or robert redford ! I still Love her; as I loved her then and I love her now ! I told her marry me and I can wait until you are ready ! And I will live any where you want ! But still she demurred , alas !