Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

droopsnout

Hmm, well, I don't "work" as such, but I do do a few hours a week on a voluntary basis in a tourist office. There, it is first names all round. In the village here there is a mixture of first name and monsieur, depending on the relationship established so far.

The French are certainly much more formal than we Brits. We went out for a meal with a French couple (business people) recently, and it was the second time we had shared food, the first being at our house. But it was still monsieur and madame all round. I actually felt slightly awkward, but I suspect that it was because we had little in common! I should add that we are in the south-west, where life is meant to be enjoyed, and the other couple are in the process of moving down from Lille, where evidently customs are less relaxed in their social circle.

Of course, in my last post, I was referring to being "properly" addressed in shops rather than at work or socially.

Agree wholeheartedly about the lack of respect when people in the UK use first names inappropriately. It's a long time since it happened, but I was incensed once when a car salesmen addressed me by my first name. He didn't get the sale. Yes, and I've heard my mum, too, addressed by her first name, as if she was a child.

oldandhappy

Very interesting thanks. Amazing how just a few views can get you in tune a little more...Dianne

slopemaster

droopsnout wrote: »

We went out for a meal with a French couple (business people) recently, and it was the second time we had shared food, the first being at our house. But it was still monsieur and madame all round. ..

if there's one thing that makes me want to resort to speaking English, it's that horrible situation when you don't know whether to Vousvoyer or tutoyer...

droopsnout

If in doubt, use vous, as that shows respect. (But yes, I know it could imply you wish to keep your distance). In all cases, follow the lead of your interlocutor. There are so many variations between the French themselves that it is impossible for an anglophone to be confident of making the right choice for each person.

But you probably know all that already. Sorry ... sucking eggs, and all that.

slopemaster

I did have a colleague who, being introduced to the mayor, said 'Bonjour, ca va' (instead of 'enchante Monsieur' or whatever) and was blissfully unaware of it being a bit inappropriate...

slopemaster

But that wasnt as funny as the one who asked the young woman in the local shop for 'preservatif' when he wanted creosote or something for his fence - and never did understand why she was embarassed and told him to go to the pharmacy...

sloan

Hello from a still very sunny Cyprus. It is December and still no sign of the winter rain and temperatures of around 27 degrees. I have had no heating on yet and am still using solar power for water heating for showers etc. The fruit is in abundance and very cheap ... tangerines about 40p a kilo, tomatoes 20p a kilo .... many citrus fruits from peoples' gardens just being given away. In the meantime, my two daughters struggle to get to school (they are both primary teachers) in the most horrendous snow conditionas and in the very hilly area of North Yorkshire. I am just enjoying life so much here, but feel guilty and worried about those struggling in the UK.

Savvy_Sue

sloan wrote: »

Hello from a still very sunny Cyprus. It is December and still no sign of the winter rain and temperatures of around 27 degrees. I have had no heating on yet and am still using solar power for water heating for showers etc. The fruit is in abundance and very cheap ... tangerines about 40p a kilo, tomatoes 20p a kilo .... many citrus fruits from peoples' gardens just being given away. In the meantime, my two daughters struggle to get to school (they are both primary teachers) in the most horrendous snow conditionas and in the very hilly area of North Yorkshire. I am just enjoying life so much here, but feel guilty and worried about those struggling in the UK.

oh stop it! we would have gone on holiday to the sun yesterday if I hadn't broken my arm a couple of weeks ago.

only up-side is that at least I don't have to struggle in to work ...

seven-day-weekend

Hi from sunny Spain.

We returned to torrential rain and thought 'oh no, is it going to be like last year when we had landslides and roads collapsing, etc.'

Happy to say the rain has cleared and it is now my favourite sort of Spanish weather, blue skies and sunshine, but not roasting like in the summer.

When the sun goes down, so does the temperature (to do with the altitude as much as anything), but then we can light our logburner, turn on our electric blankets and make one room warm and snug.

Happychappy

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Hi from sunny Spain.

We returned to torrential rain and thought 'oh no, is it going to be like last year when we had landslides and roads collapsing, etc.'

Happy to say the rain has cleared and it is now my favourite sort of Spanish weather, blue skies and sunshine, but not roasting like in the summer.

When the sun goes down, so does the temperature (to do with the altitude as much as anything), but then we can light our logburner, turn on our electric blankets and make one room warm and snug.

Now that's what I want to hear ?

I walked to work this morning, setting off at 7.30am, the temperature was -13c and we have 2' of snow, so the car is just a white lump of a freezer occupying space on my drive, and during my one hour, walk, slide, slip, walk, tumble, slide, slip, curse, walk, fall, I wondered how folk were in Spain, and now I know, and it really doesn't make me feel any better, but thanks for sharing that :A , oh and my walk home in a balmy -8c was just as eventful, but darker more again tomorrow.