BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture French Culture What Do You Miss

I've been living abroad, Paris to be exact, for one year now. Since the chill of this year's very long winter has burned off, I no longer spend my days wishing for Texas' sunshine. There are MANY things that I miss, but most of all I miss Tex Mex cuisine. Try as I might to replicate flavors, there is something missing from my stock here. Fresh off the plane, I get my fix of the proper porportions of grease and spice washed down by an icy margarita. Throw in a sandy beach and you're in paradise. So, what do you miss the most?

After having moved back to the UK, from France - where I lived for six years - it's so good to be back home! I missed being able to have takeaways from chinese, Indian and Turkish restaurants. I missed being able to go to the cinema, the theatre or just the pub in the evenings.... I missed good old Brown Sauce, biscuits and fresh ginger..... I missed English cheese...
Do I regret leaving France at all? Not one bit! I don't miss a thing - !!

hey miss meliss, it's rogina! since i dont live in paris, you lucky thing, the things i miss are the great times we had in college. girls night out, getting tons of sun at barton springs, riding our bikes everywhere and maybe the school a bit also. Recently though, i miss the times i spent in paris with melissa(french culture editor) for her wedding. Your so lucky girl! But the great thing that i still have are those great authentic mexican cuisines and strong margaritas. i think ill call up a couple the girls and go have some tonight in your in honor babe. I cant wait to see you in december!!! Talk at you soon, love rogina

I spent a month in Strasbourg last year. From there, I miss the inexpensive cheese and wine, the beautiful countryside, and seeing the cathedral on the horizon.

I lived in Japan for 4 years. From there, I miss these moshi balls (mmmmmm), being able to SCUBA every day, and the awesome weather year round.

Since I live far from my family and many of my friends, I also miss them dearly.

Since moving to California, I also miss the lazy days of sunshine at Barton Springs and riding bikes all over. We owned that town!

You might think that just becuase it's in the came country one wouldn't experience culture shock, but that is all too wrong. There are many things I love about Sunny San Diego, but I miss that Texas heat, all my fabulous crazy friends and their kitty hats and leg warmers, and while they have great Mexican food here, they sure don't have the Tex-Mex!


P.S. Rogina, Gee, I don't recognize you! How can that be? I'm sure we would hoave crossed paths at some point or other in Miss Melissa's Texas Daze... hahahahaha

I miss the French cheese and pasteries. Can't get anything like them here in the US.

You can get the cheese, but you pay about 1,000 times more for it...

During a semester in London, I actually missed very little about my home culture except for my friends. There was actually a restaurant just down the block from me in South Kensington that offered authentic, spicy chili and played music piped in from a radio station in Austin, Texas. Besides, in addition to American imports, London offered a wealth of culture and cuisine that I was eager to explore!

Once I returned to Texas, I immediately began to miss the history, art, culture, and public transportation that London had offered.

Unfortunately, I've never stayed long enough in France to miss anything about Texas but my own bed, which leaves me in a position of envy regarding those of you who have lived in France long enough to actually start missing things like Tex-Mex "cuisine." I've spent the majority of my life studying the French culture and perfecting the French language from afar, yet my financial situation does not permit me to travel abroad but once every few years, and it certainly doesn't offer me the opportunity to live in and truly explore the culture I've based my career upon!

That said, if I did have a chance to live in France, I suppose the thing I'd miss most about America is Americans, or at least the ones I click with personally.

I've SO changed my mind...I miss the sun, warm salutations from strangers, having a circle of friends and being close to family. It has been 2 and a half years now and I feel very disconnected from the life I once knew.

On the other hand, there is no comparison to Paris museums and the never-ending supply of mind blowing art that visits this city and resides here. If you haven't visited, you must!

Sorry to hear you are missing your home life. I can relate. I lived in Japan for 4 years...

I will say, enjoy it while you can. You'll miss it if you ever do come back to the States!

Good French cheese in the US?

You can't get it, really. Doesn't taste the same.

Especially as raw milk is not allowed!

I'm pregnant right now and craving a lot of foods we can't find here (like regular cheerios) or are impossible to make w/out the right ingredients (like tamales or blue corn enchiladas). Thankfully I'm going in a week to load up on comfort foods!

Otherwise, I don't miss much about the States except my family, who I keep close touch with.

I've been here for 12 years and I'm home. Then again, I live in the South and can see the sea from my window...

Homesick Francophiles might enjoy a taste of France with these dual-language short stories (helps keep up your French language skills too!)

Guy De Maupassant - French Short Scary Stories - Dual Language

I miss the French classes I took. At that time I sometimes felt bored, sometimes stressed out, and would have not thought that I'll miss them some day, but I do. And I wish I had someone to chat with in French, because without practice I feel I'm losing it. Alors, voulez-vous parler avec moi? :)

[quote=FrenchCultureMelissa]I've been living abroad, Paris to be exact, for one year now. Since the chill of this year's very long winter has burned off, I no longer spend my days wishing for Texas' sunshine. There are MANY things that I miss, but most of all I miss Tex Mex cuisine. Try as I might to replicate flavors, there is something missing from my stock here. Fresh off the plane, I get my fix of the proper porportions of grease and spice washed down by an icy margarita. Throw in a sandy beach and you're in paradise. So, what do you miss the most?[/quote] I miss not being in France sigh. Have you tried La Perla in the Marais district it is a sister restaurant to Cafe Pacifico in London. I visited quite a few years ago but I would imagine the food is still good. It had great Mexican dishes but then I guess it will never be the same as Texas down Mexico way.

When I was away from Massachusetts I really missed the landscapes. The quiet rolling hills. The gentle 'snuggly' feel of it. Every time I drove home, my heart just sang when I came into Connecticut and the landscape began undulating.