Ask a foreigner

[Freddyt]

10 days in france - hubby and I are going to starve to death because the food is awful!!!
oysters, snails, duck in everything, white sausage, raw steak and raw salmon (they say "tartare to try to class it up but it's still raw meat!) and pate (translation -fat duck liver)

I sort of id the same, went to work for an imigant french farmer and got slammed into the culture. Getting fueled up for ha hard days work - toast an coffee.....and away you go.

We went to an event a few year ago and one of the presenters was an Italian Canadian chef who was determined to show you could make exceptional food simply. He did quail and when he opened the tomato juice it was like whoah.....Chef uses tomato juice as ingredient? Yeah. They were mouth wateringly delicious and 4 ingredients....

- I use good sesame oil in Asian dishes, so that means about 3 drops per half cup of sunflower (Chinese, Thai, mainland Far East)

That was my second biggest take away from my oriental cooking class. What were quality ingredients.

 

[Charbella]

Yeah I’d go to France and have to live off pastry for 10 days. Not that I’d complain.

 

[Friday]

Yeah I’d go to France and have to live off pastry for 10 days. Not that I’d complain.

LMAO. Been there. Done that!

 

[Freida]

Yeah I’d go to France and have to live off pastry for 10 days. Not that I’d complain.

omg between that and the gelato I think I gained 10 pounds in the 10 days I was there!

 

[Rose White]

Do you go to or partake in the folk traditions of your area? I was listening to a podcast about the Morris dances and wondering if any European (or other regions) members of the forum participate in local folk celebrations.

 

[Teasel]

Growing up we celebrated bonfire night aka Guy Fawkes night. A neighbour over the road had a small field over the stream from his back garden and he would put the bonfire and fireworks there so the kids could roam around safe. They would bake potatoes for everyone and serve hot chocolate for the kids, hot toddies or mulled wine for the adults.

As a kid also at school.there was English Country dancing. Compulsory lol. There would be dancing round the Maypole at fetes.

Some parts of the country do something called Wassailing, never taken part myself, but looks fun.

Can't think of owt else at the mo.

 

[Rose White]

Thanks @Teasel! I wonder if they still teach the country folk dancing to the kids. Sounds like you really liked it!

 

[Friday]

Do you go to or partake in the folk traditions of your area? I

Growing up moving ever few months/years? Yep. EVERY local custom was enthusiastically participated in.

Avoiding stoning? Always a good thing. Joking / Not Joking.

Making friends by not being “weird”? Even Better. At least from a child’s perspective.

ETA…. My kid disagrees. I. Am. Weird. As. f*ck. But? I suspect that’s not being weird by being an adult their kids are embarrassed by. Ha! Another Normal achieved.

 

[Rose White]

EVERY local custom was enthusiastically participated in.

Any that made an impression on you that you’d like to tell about?

 

[Friday]

LOL. There are really too many to account for.

I just attempted it… but pretty much? Anything RUDE! in one place? Is the opposite in another. And vice versa.

 

[Freida]

ETA…. My kid disagrees. I. Am. Weird. As. f*ck. But? I suspect that’s not being weird by being an adult their kids are embarrassed by. Ha! Another Normal achieved.

yay! You have achieved Correct Parenthood -- your kid says you are weird!

Both my sisters have Those Who Just Turned Into Teens in their houses and it's hilarious watching how annoyed they get with their parents. Luckily I've always been Auntie Weirdo so my bar for embarrassment is pretty low since they are used to it!

 

[Sideways]

Odd one: are tulips or daffodils in flower anywhere in the world at the moment?

ETA: that’s one for the folks in the northern hemisphere!