Sunday, November 02, 2014

French Kisses

When I first started to hang around French people and Europeans in general, I had to get used to the cultural issue of kissing as a way of greeting. See, I'm from Detroit and we just don't do that....especially guys! Well, get over it, big boy. Now I kiss everyone. I live in the region west of Bordeaux, the Dordogne. Here, most people kiss twice, but I live in the northeastern part of the region on the border with the Correze, so depending on the social situation and the person I am greeting, It can be 2, 3 or 4 bissous...I find it is a great equalizer. Perhaps that is the social function of the bissou. I have a buddy I work with who is a massive aging macho rugby player. When we first started working together, he was amazed that I was this skinny American dude who was doing the same intense physical job he was. He started calling me Monsieur Cachouette...That's Mister peanut...after a few days, I told him that every time he referred to me as Monsieur Cachouette, I was going to give him a big sloppy kiss. Now he calls me Stanley and I call him Ollie.............

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello Microdot,
Loved the story, and you are my "go to guy" when I want to know what is really going on at your side of the world. :-)

I just finished a posting today that explains what the true meaning, and what someone is really calling you, when you are called a "LIBERAL" as if it were a slur. In essence, you are claiming your own FREEDOM!

https://mindsandtimes.wordpress.com/2014/11/02/when-the-word-liberal-is-used-as-a-dehumanizing-term/

So in closing, take pride in claiming and embracing your Progressive & Liberal values.

Make sure your voting voice is heard next week's election, and defiantly shout out to the corrupting 1% world like William (Brave Heart) Wallace..... FREEDOM!!!Hello Microdot,
Loved your story. You are my "go to guy" when it come to what is happening on your side of the world.

As you know, we have an important vote next week.

Shoshanah Marohn said...

Great map!

Here in the Midwest (I live in Wisconsin) even hugging is a little bit over-affectionate for some! What a culture shock for you it must have been, being from Detroit!

Ol'Buzzard said...

I have Portuguese friends and the women all double-kiss me, but the men shake hands. I do like a hug from people I like and haven't see in a while.
the Ol'Buzzard