Food, Glorious Food
Yes, the food is amazing. But there is something more special going on during the French workday that I am obsessed with.
I’ve officially been trekking my way into my French office each day for almost a month now here in Lyon. Each day I navigate the push and shove of the Metro and 2 buses to get to and from work and, so far, I have not found myself helplessly lost. Chalk it up as a major win.
On the weekends I walk over to the closest grocery store to my flat and stock up on some deliciousness. Amazing cheeses, breads, and fresh produce beckon with every single visit. Fortunately all of the walking acts as a good countermeasure and I’ve continued to hit my weight loss goals despite this cornucopia of flavor. Phew.
Most people interestingly enough assume I am British rather than American. They are typically more than happy to test out some English on me while I continue to practice my French which is very helpful. On the walk over to the grocery I pass by my favorite storefront I’ve found so far; a cat hotel called La Maison Des Ronrons. This translates to House of Purrs.
Brilliant!
Do I stop to watch the cats play in the window?
Every time.
Now let’s get back to the French workplace. There is one element of each workday that I absolutely love; lunchtime. And it’s not because of the food necessarily. A typical workday looks something like this: people shuffle in and spend the first 30 minutes of the day socializing over coffee or cocoa. Then, it’s off to focus and get a bunch of work done. Promptly at 12:00, one or two people close up their computers and start rounding up everyone else to head to lunch. Happily, people stop whatever they are working on, hang up their phones, and join the herd to head to the cafeteria.
People don’t leave for lunch. I’ve never seen cafeterias so completely full of professionals every single day! There is no soda machine or single serve drinks. Instead, one or two people at each table gather a pitcher of water and pour it for everyone around them. Phones never come out of pockets and nobody initiates work conversations. It really is something when you watch the VP of a department laugh and socialize as they pour water for the intern sitting next to them. Every. Single. Day. No-one seems to be too busy or too important to join the meal and nobody leaves the table until it is clear that at least 3 or 4 others have finished off their plate. Then, it’s off for another coffee or cocoa, a bit more socializing, and then back to work.
My love language is very much Quality Time and I am indulging in these lunchtime moments. If there is anything I would hope to bring back from this experience to my daily routine in the U.S. it is this element of the French workday. Whenever and wherever I travel, one of my primary missions is to find a place to eat with the locals. I don’t want the highest rated tourist stop on Yelp or the place closest to the hotel. I want the place where the cab driver goes after a long day. I want the place where people are going to look at you funny at first because they’ve never seen an American before. Not only that; I prefer a seat where I can interact with the people, talk to them, and let them pick my meal off the menu for me. I love that the work culture here is to stop whatever it is you may be busy with and take a minute to recognize the people that surround you.
Anthony Bourdain, a hero of mine, once said:
Food may not be the answer to world peace, but it’s a start.
If you want to get to know someone, go and break bread with them. I firmly believe that a meal shared is one of the richest experiences a person can have with another. I think that an even worse result than obesity caused by the American fast food epidemic is instead that it has robbed us of these slowed down, shared moments to truly converse with each other. I think about how frequently I have eaten a rushed meal, grabbed drive-through by myself in between meetings, or tried to sneak in brief conversation during a meal whilst my table mates constantly checked their phones to not miss something seemingly “more important” than the moment we were sharing. And all for what? Convenience?
Want to tear down some walls between someone who is or thinks very differently than you? Make them a meal. Or, let them make you a meal. Then sit and talk about your day with them. I find food to be the great unifier. Food is life-giving, memory making, and requires sacrifice by the preparer and trust from the receiver.
Yes, I am one of those people that cry watching Ratatouille.
I’ve been grateful to have this noon hour each day here in France to get to know a very wide variety of people. To listen to what motivates them, what scares them, and what makes them laugh has been extremely fulfilling for me.
And yes, it does help that the food is also delicious.
