Hello everyone ! I'm back after a 3-weeks holiday. I will post a few pictures here later.

WELCOME BACK, PICTURES ARE COOL

Hey! Welcome Back Astro!

Welcome back...looking forward to the pics!

Hi again!

Where did you go?

I stayed in France - one week on little island in Brittany, one week in the countryside with my family and one week in the mountains of Auvergne. My daughters are still a bit young to travel further (you must know that !)

Welcome back. I'm looking forward to pictures.

Welcome back Astra, but isn't it true that you people work like 15 hours a week in France? How much vacation time do you get in a given year?

Just on a side note, I'm surprised you don't weigh 240 kilos living there. Honestly, of all the places I had visited in Europe, France had by far and away the BEST food I think I've ever eaten.

What do you typically eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? (Favorite foods, etc.)

OK ! Let's go for a dive into my amazing and exotic daily life.


Originally posted by The Praetorian
Isn't it true that you people work like 15 hours a week in France?

According to a recent and still controversial law, legal working time is supposed to be 35 hours a week. Of course, depending on their job, many people work more.
I'm very lucky since I work only two days a week at my office in Paris, and the rest of the time at home where I'm nearly free to work whenever i want. Plus I work part time, not having to work at all on friday.
I would say my average working time is about 30 hours a week, sometimes less. If we count real work, it may be 15 hours, yes.


Originally posted by The Praetorian

How much vacation time do you get in a given year?


Legal vacations are 5 weeks a year. In my company we get 7,5 weeks. That's pretty much. My loved one has nearly 9 weeks, that's really a lot. Plus she could get a six month paid vacation when we got our second daughter and still is working part time (one day off a week) thanks to a vacation system for young parents.


Originally posted by The Praetorian

Just on a side note, I'm surprised you don't weigh 240 kilos living there. Honestly, of all the places I had visited in Europe, France had by far and away the BEST food I think I've ever eaten.


You were lucky since many restaurants in France are not that goodn expecially in touristic places.
Personnally, I prefer italian and thai food (but I agree french food may be great).

My weight is 68 kilos for 1,78 m. I'm rather slim but far from athletic !

Meals are still much more structured in France than in the USA - we usually have 3 meals a day, which are usually taken with other people and slowly enough to ensure a good digestion.
Home made food is still quite popular. Less fat, less sugar; more vegetables and fruits, that seems to be the key of a healthy diet (amazed by these revelations, aren't you ?)
People tend to walk more than in the USA, too - our cities are less designed for cars. I use my car only once or twice a week, the rest of the time I usually walk or take public transports.

Unfortunately it seems that obesity is becoming a growing problem here too.
The area where i live, northern France, has a diet mostly based on fries and beer, and there are much more fat people than in the south.


Originally posted by The Praetorian

What do you typically eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner? (Favorite foods, etc.)

Breakfast : 1 mug of tea, 2-4 bread toasts with butter (or lately vegetal butter, healthier), muesli with yoghurt and jam.

Lunch and dinner :
I cook for me and my family most of the time, except when I'm at work where I eat at my company's restaurant (which is not terrific but quite cheap).
Most of the time some cooked meat or fish with pasta, rice or other cereals + if possible vegetables ; a yoghurt and a fruit. Coffee at lunch.

When at home I like to eat a piece of fresh baguette with chocolate in the afternoon.
At work i drink a few cups of the not-so-good-but-free coffe provided by my company.


And you ? How and what do you eat ?
maybe we should do this a new thread.
Ok, I'll do it.

done (http://www.allforums.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13265)

Wow, thanks for the answer, Astra. :) I hope you had a good time while you were away.