Twitter reveals 25 everyday 'problems' about life in France
Twitter has helped reveal some everyday "problems" of living in France, including the danger of becoming addicted to cheese.
No matter how much we love the French lifestyle every foreigner will experience some everyday problems that seem very much unique to France.
Twitter and its hashtag #Franceproblems has helped to reveal just a few, many of them of course would hardly be classed as "problems".
1. French waiters can think it is completely appropriate to chat up a woman and give their number.
Awkward times when your server plants a kiss on your cheek and then attempts to give you his number... #nonmerci #Franceproblems
— Claudia Ferraro (@_cferraro) June 26, 2016
2. Will you ever get the hang of greeting the French ?
Never knowing wether to go for the kiss thing or a handshake #franceproblems @migscharts @Bradensaindon @KatlynnAllard
— Phil Therrien (@philtherrien2) April 4, 2015
3. Trying to find somewhere to eat can be difficult late afternoon when most French restaurants close.
It was 5:30 and I was hungry, but the earliest a restaurant opens for dinner is 6:30. #FranceProblems
— Stephanie (@flyngzebra) September 17, 2016
4. Is there anyone strong enough to resist the temptations of French cuisine?
I'm fat now #FranceProblems
— Zelie-Louise (@zloturpin) August 19, 2016
5. Some people clearly don't get the notion of fresh bread.
I only bought my baguette yesterday evening. Why is it already so stale? #FranceProblems
— Becca Davidson (@AllTheStars) May 31, 2015
6. Planning your Sunday meals in advance is a must in France
When you realize it's noon on a Sunday and you make a mad dash for the store before everything closes. #franceproblems
— CatherineRose (@LaVieEnC_Rose) June 19, 2016
7. Are France's top hobbies striking and smoking?
when you can't tell if the archives are closed due to a national strike, or if the receptionist is just on a smoke break #franceproblems
— lh (@laurenaissance) April 28, 2016
8. As we all know jumping through red tape and form filling can take time in France.
It only took 3.5 hours to drop off a single document at the préfecture! Can't wait to go back in 2 months. #bureaucrazy #franceproblems
— CatherineRose (@LaVieEnC_Rose) October 20, 2015
9. It's true, red wine and very smelly cheese really are staples of the french diet and it sometimes matters what order they are consumed.
When you have to wait until your boyfriend takes a few sips of wine to kiss him because he just ate some rly smelly cheese. #FranceProblems
— Kitty Calvert (@_cadeaux_) September 18, 2015
10. And that's not the only problem with smelly cheese.
When the face cream you have to keep in your refrigerator smells like Camembert #franceproblems
— Anna Marzullo (@MarzuAnna) June 9, 2014
11. Avoid walking in dog poo is a daily task in Paris.
Stepped in dog poo in my sandals .. Gooooooooood. #franceproblems
— Emily Cordes (@emCordes) May 22, 2014
12. It can be tough looking chic in Paris all the time.
Going out of the house in sweatpants gives me anxiety now. #franceproblems
— Theresa Goodge (@Theresa2021) April 14, 2014
13. Of those pesky fiscal stamps (timbre fiscal) needed for visas.
Back at the préfecture, this time with fiscal stamps. Let's hope this isn't a 4hr wait for nothing. #franceproblems #bureaucrazy
— CatherineRose (@LaVieEnC_Rose) December 8, 2015
14. Is it impossible to find a good meat pie in France?
How the French invented every food imaginable except the humble meat pie. Oh Cornish Pasty where art thou? #FranceProblems #ParisProblems
— DorianGray (@zikhali110) April 11, 2014
15. French men have a reputation for finding their next love in the street.
"What is your favourite type of street harassment?". A genuine topic of conversation tonight #franceproblems
— Becca Davidson (@AllTheStars) October 2, 2014
16. Yes, the hunt for a decent English/Scottish/Irish/Welsh/American breakfast can be tough.
All I want for Christmas is an English breakfast or just any breakfast that involves eggs #imisseggs #FranceProblems
— Saskea Jacobs (@saskeaj) December 25, 2013
17. Train strikes are a public hazard in France.
please don't let this train strike interfere with my travel plans #franceproblems #studyabroadproblems
— Josh Blonsky (Séba) (@JoshBlons) December 10, 2013
18. And finding an open food store can be problem in certain places.
I'd really like there to be a grocery store open when I finish class at 8, but I'm not overly optimistic #franceproblems
— Rebecca Nickel (@CallMeBeaks) November 7, 2013
19. Or even a bank.
if banks at home closed for a lunch break I think people would have a heart attack #franceproblems
— Emily Baker (@ELBakerrrr) August 22, 2014
20. Becoming addicted to French cheese is a real risk when living in France.
Why does my stomach hurt so bad. Oh yeah fromage at breakfast lunch and dinner. #Franceproblems
— Erin (@lassie2593) September 19, 2013
21. For non-EU citizens obtaining a visa can be an arduous process.
Waist deep in visa paperwork! Wish momma had gotten her Irish passport so this would be easier. #FranceProblems #CitizenOfTheWorld
— William Moriarty (@WillPMoriarty) September 3, 2013
22. Drinking coffee becomes as normal as drinking water
The only coffee I use to drink were chai lattes. Now I have to drink double shot espressos to feel awake. #franceproblems
— Jen Vanderpool (@JenniferVander1) August 15, 2013
23. Who hasn't heard their French neighbour having sex at least once?
Heard the people above me having sex for a half hour last night... #thinwalls #thinfloors #franceproblems
— Jessica Fryer (@JessicaFryer212) July 8, 2013
24. Have you ever been corrected on your French? Of course you have.
The guy at the bar got told off by a French customer because his French wasn't good enough #FrenchProblems
— Muriel Demarcus (@FrenchYumMummy) August 6, 2016
(Image by Lina Nordin)
25. Sometimes the bathroom facilities can leave a lot to be desired for those used to a certain standard of shower.
Someone tell me why in France no showers are on the wall and few have shower curtains?#frenchproblems #frenchshowers #france #showerfacts
— PeterBritten (@PeterBritten) June 19, 2016
Anymore "problems" you have noticed then feel free to tweet them out to #Franceproblems.
by Lauren Belcher
See Also
1. French waiters can think it is completely appropriate to chat up a woman and give their number.
Awkward times when your server plants a kiss on your cheek and then attempts to give you his number... #nonmerci #Franceproblems
— Claudia Ferraro (@_cferraro) June 26, 2016
2. Will you ever get the hang of greeting the French ?
Never knowing wether to go for the kiss thing or a handshake #franceproblems @migscharts @Bradensaindon @KatlynnAllard
— Phil Therrien (@philtherrien2) April 4, 2015
3. Trying to find somewhere to eat can be difficult late afternoon when most French restaurants close.
It was 5:30 and I was hungry, but the earliest a restaurant opens for dinner is 6:30. #FranceProblems
— Stephanie (@flyngzebra) September 17, 2016
4. Is there anyone strong enough to resist the temptations of French cuisine?
I'm fat now #FranceProblems
— Zelie-Louise (@zloturpin) August 19, 2016
5. Some people clearly don't get the notion of fresh bread.
I only bought my baguette yesterday evening. Why is it already so stale? #FranceProblems
— Becca Davidson (@AllTheStars) May 31, 2015
6. Planning your Sunday meals in advance is a must in France
When you realize it's noon on a Sunday and you make a mad dash for the store before everything closes. #franceproblems
— CatherineRose (@LaVieEnC_Rose) June 19, 2016
7. Are France's top hobbies striking and smoking?
when you can't tell if the archives are closed due to a national strike, or if the receptionist is just on a smoke break #franceproblems
— lh (@laurenaissance) April 28, 2016
8. As we all know jumping through red tape and form filling can take time in France.
It only took 3.5 hours to drop off a single document at the préfecture! Can't wait to go back in 2 months. #bureaucrazy #franceproblems
— CatherineRose (@LaVieEnC_Rose) October 20, 2015
9. It's true, red wine and very smelly cheese really are staples of the french diet and it sometimes matters what order they are consumed.
When you have to wait until your boyfriend takes a few sips of wine to kiss him because he just ate some rly smelly cheese. #FranceProblems
— Kitty Calvert (@_cadeaux_) September 18, 2015
10. And that's not the only problem with smelly cheese.
When the face cream you have to keep in your refrigerator smells like Camembert #franceproblems
— Anna Marzullo (@MarzuAnna) June 9, 2014
11. Avoid walking in dog poo is a daily task in Paris.
Stepped in dog poo in my sandals .. Gooooooooood. #franceproblems
— Emily Cordes (@emCordes) May 22, 2014
12. It can be tough looking chic in Paris all the time.
Going out of the house in sweatpants gives me anxiety now. #franceproblems
— Theresa Goodge (@Theresa2021) April 14, 2014
13. Of those pesky fiscal stamps (timbre fiscal) needed for visas.
Back at the préfecture, this time with fiscal stamps. Let's hope this isn't a 4hr wait for nothing. #franceproblems #bureaucrazy
— CatherineRose (@LaVieEnC_Rose) December 8, 2015
14. Is it impossible to find a good meat pie in France?
How the French invented every food imaginable except the humble meat pie. Oh Cornish Pasty where art thou? #FranceProblems #ParisProblems
— DorianGray (@zikhali110) April 11, 2014
15. French men have a reputation for finding their next love in the street.
"What is your favourite type of street harassment?". A genuine topic of conversation tonight #franceproblems
— Becca Davidson (@AllTheStars) October 2, 2014
16. Yes, the hunt for a decent English/Scottish/Irish/Welsh/American breakfast can be tough.
All I want for Christmas is an English breakfast or just any breakfast that involves eggs #imisseggs #FranceProblems
— Saskea Jacobs (@saskeaj) December 25, 2013
17. Train strikes are a public hazard in France.
please don't let this train strike interfere with my travel plans #franceproblems #studyabroadproblems
— Josh Blonsky (Séba) (@JoshBlons) December 10, 2013
18. And finding an open food store can be problem in certain places.
I'd really like there to be a grocery store open when I finish class at 8, but I'm not overly optimistic #franceproblems
— Rebecca Nickel (@CallMeBeaks) November 7, 2013
19. Or even a bank.
if banks at home closed for a lunch break I think people would have a heart attack #franceproblems
— Emily Baker (@ELBakerrrr) August 22, 2014
20. Becoming addicted to French cheese is a real risk when living in France.
Why does my stomach hurt so bad. Oh yeah fromage at breakfast lunch and dinner. #Franceproblems
— Erin (@lassie2593) September 19, 2013
21. For non-EU citizens obtaining a visa can be an arduous process.
Waist deep in visa paperwork! Wish momma had gotten her Irish passport so this would be easier. #FranceProblems #CitizenOfTheWorld
— William Moriarty (@WillPMoriarty) September 3, 2013
22. Drinking coffee becomes as normal as drinking water
The only coffee I use to drink were chai lattes. Now I have to drink double shot espressos to feel awake. #franceproblems
— Jen Vanderpool (@JenniferVander1) August 15, 2013
23. Who hasn't heard their French neighbour having sex at least once?
Heard the people above me having sex for a half hour last night... #thinwalls #thinfloors #franceproblems
— Jessica Fryer (@JessicaFryer212) July 8, 2013
24. Have you ever been corrected on your French? Of course you have.
The guy at the bar got told off by a French customer because his French wasn't good enough #FrenchProblems
— Muriel Demarcus (@FrenchYumMummy) August 6, 2016
(Image by Lina Nordin)
25. Sometimes the bathroom facilities can leave a lot to be desired for those used to a certain standard of shower.
Someone tell me why in France no showers are on the wall and few have shower curtains?#frenchproblems #frenchshowers #france #showerfacts
— PeterBritten (@PeterBritten) June 19, 2016
Anymore "problems" you have noticed then feel free to tweet them out to #Franceproblems.
by Lauren Belcher
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