As the days flew by, we slowly grasped the importance of dining, including one-hour lunch breaks and very long family dinners. Even though we're in a country with very sophisticated tastes, some of the habits caught us off guard. So what do we mean by that? For instance, breakfast.
Coming from a country where this meal is regarded to be the most significant one, we were a bit shocked by local customs. First and foremost, all hot beverages, including cocoa, tea, and filter coffee, are served in a bowl. So you can only imagine our confusion the first morning. As the saying goes, "pays différent, manières différentes". Furthermore, the typical breakfast includes a baguette with jam, yoghurt, and coffee or hot chocolate.
For lunch, most students have sandwiches. However, we were pleasantly surprised with the variety of meals at the school canteen. We were served a three-course lunch consisting of a salad, baguette, main entrée, cheese plate, and dessert.
What's more, it would have been a crime not to mention the "goûter", which is a snack served around 4 p.m.; once again, it's some kind of pastry, such as the one and only "croissant", "pain au chocolat," or "pain aux raisins.".
Finally here comes dinner, the most important meal of the day and practically a social event. During the week, we were served once again a nearly five-course dinner, which was quite similar to the lunch. Still, during the weekends with our host families, it took on seriousness (it's worth noting that since dinner is served no sooner than 8 o'clock, we were frequently falling asleep).
So to sum up our little gastronomic reflection, we'll try to keep in mind a few things: eat without any distractions, fully concentrate on the present moment, and always be surrounded by your nearest and dearest.
À très bientôt!
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