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mattyb · Dec 12, 2008, 08:45 AM

... are the 'pots'. What this is is basically a booze-up, with buffet style food. Birthdays, births, retirements etc are all good excuses for a 'pot' (pronounced po). We had one today. And I drank too much. The last couple of hours are going to be hell.

Apologies for any un-intended rudeness in my posts.

Have a nice weekend, I'm on call.

design219 · Dec 12, 2008, 08:53 AM

So, any other good things about France?

Laminar · Dec 12, 2008, 08:58 AM

It's far away from me.

Phileas · Dec 12, 2008, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by Laminar

It's far away from me.

France, Iowa. Iowa, France.

Hmmmm, decisions, decisions.

ort888 · Dec 12, 2008, 09:23 AM

I had a blast in France. That country gets a bad rap.

tooki · Dec 12, 2008, 09:29 AM

OMG the cheese...

scaught · Dec 12, 2008, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by Laminar

It's far away from me.

LOL american fries

besson3c · Dec 12, 2008, 10:00 AM

I like French's mustard. I think Grey Poop-on is French too, and that is pretty good.

In summary, I think the French are all over their mustards.

mattyb · Dec 12, 2008, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by design219

So, any other good things about France?

Five weeks paid vacation.
35 hour week.
Good food and booze.
Winter and summer sports.
Having a drink at lunch.
Having a drink at a two hour lunch.
Good healthcare.

I've lived and worked in the US and I prefer living and working in France, but each to his own. And it does have its bad points.

paul w · Dec 12, 2008, 12:24 PM

I'm not sure I agree with you on working in France. I think I enjoy working with Americans more, generally as there's more of a culture of wanting to work and just get the job done here that I appreciate more (the many, seemingly institutionalized coffee and cigarette breaks got a tad old). This is simply my experience and this difference is not enormous.

Of course the top of my list is my wife. Followed maybe by the wonder that is a crisp, warm baguette from the boulangerie downstairs.

lexapro · Dec 12, 2008, 01:23 PM

Free health care
Unlimited days off if you're sick
topless beaches

I will take my sick days and go to the topless beach.

goMac · Dec 12, 2008, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by paul w

I'm not sure I agree with you on working in France. I think I enjoy working with Americans more, generally as there's more of a culture of wanting to work and just get the job done here that I appreciate more (the many, seemingly institutionalized coffee and cigarette breaks got a tad old). This is simply my experience and this difference is not enormous.

I would view this almost as corporate propaganda. Your job is not to work as hard as possible for some corporation in order to feel warm and fuzzy (with rare exceptions, mostly non-profits.) Your job as a worker is to come up with fair compensation for the work you do, and then do the work at the quality agreed upon. If you don't feel your compensation is fair, you shouldn't be working. I think American corporations frequently blind people to that, and convince them that they should feel lucky to be working for said corporation, doing the work they do. This isn't to say that one shouldn't be proud of the job they do or enjoy their job. But I think American corporate culture is very unhealthy. As a consumer, it's acceptable to complain about the quality of goods you purchase, but as a worker you have to shut up and work simply be happy you're doing the job you're doing? That's completely lopsided in favor of companies.

That said, France is a little on the other extreme. In France, there doesn't seem to be much of a negotiation either, it's all in favor of the worker. But I wouldn't call either system healthy.

cjrivera · Dec 12, 2008, 02:01 PM

Well, there's this place there where the ladies wear no pants, and apparently there's a hole in the wall where the men can see it all.

paul w · Dec 12, 2008, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by goMac

I would view this almost as corporate propaganda.

I've never worked for a corporation and wasn't referring to that culture, so yeah, no. Let's not go to far down this road, as I'll generally agree anyway.

I'm a big fan of

mattyb · Dec 12, 2008, 02:19 PM

I understand what paul w said, although in my experience my colleagues here work harder and longer hours than those that I worked with in the US and the UK. This experience was not in a factory or clock-on clock-off type environment though. The 35 hour week was brought in by the last socialist government, and like most socialist dreams did not have the effect that they hoped it would - they thought that more people would be employed. In reality I put in about 45 hours of work per week. I have also not come across "institutionalized" coffee and cigarette breaks.

As someone who is in full-time employment, I pay towards the healthcare for me and my family. I'm not sure if this isn't obligatory - it was in the companies that I have worked for.

I wouldn't say that its all in favour of the employee in France. While there is lots of legislation to protect employees, the employers still have the power. I could for example be sent to another city in France to work at the drop of a hat. The unions in France are nowhere near as powerful as they used to be. I do like the fact that a company that makes a profit cannot just close down a factory for example. I don't like the fact that if a client needs work done on a Sunday, the company has to get prefectorial permission. A bit like asking the mayor if you can work on a certain Sunday. What happens is that the company just finds another route to circumvent the bureaucracy.

Ted L. Nancy · Dec 12, 2008, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by lexapro

Free health care
Unlimited days off if you're sick
topless beaches

I will take my sick days and go to the topless beach.

The "health care" is not entirely free. To paraphrase my French neighbors: If you're really sick... good luck finding any good "health care." Sure, the government reimburses for most of your cost, but it's not healthy and it's not caring. (Not that the majority of U.S. "providers" -- ahem, DOCTORS -- are much better.)

Good things: History & architecture.

angelmb · Dec 13, 2008, 12:28 AM

Besides Peugeot, which styling plain sucks, their other cars are actually quite good.

brassplayersrock² · Dec 13, 2008, 01:33 AM

Originally Posted by ort888

I had a blast in France. That country gets a bad rap.

ditto on both accounts.

(I could have sworn I already replied to this post)

Andy8 · Dec 13, 2008, 02:58 AM

Originally Posted by lexapro

topless beaches.

Nude beaches all the way!

mattyb · Dec 13, 2008, 03:04 AM

Originally Posted by Ted L. Nancy

To paraphrase my French neighbors: If you're really sick... good luck finding any good "health care." Sure, the government reimburses for most of your cost, but it's not healthy and it's not caring.

Like any country, this shouldn't be taken as the norm. My wife's experience of giving birth twice in Lyon and my in-laws treatment for health problems were both good. Getting an appointment with an optician is a nightmare and I hear that in Paris - unless you go private - the healthcare isn't that good. Toulouse, where I am, and Bordeaux have extremely good reputations for healthcare.

When not on strike, the public transport is usually good. Doing Paris to Lyon in 2 hours (over 250 miles) and to Marseilles in 3 (over 400 miles) was very comfortable. The Metro (subways) in both Lyon and Toulouse are clean and efficient, and cheap. But like I said, when theres a strike its causes real problems.

besson3c · Dec 13, 2008, 09:03 AM

We mustn't forget the mustard. How come nobody is saying the mustard?

Eug · Dec 13, 2008, 09:11 AM

First lady in France:

P.S. I've never been to Paris, but people tell me there's sh!t everywhere cuz the locals don't clean up after their dogs.

brassplayersrock² · 09:24 AM

kleenex stock just went through the roof. thanks Eug, I am now a rich man.

edit:

the first picture was way less trashy. could you repost it please?

and fyi to people, the bit about the pet poop wasn't in the post I replied to.

Eug · Dec 13, 2008, 09:21 AM

I hope they're using it to clean up after their pets.

brassplayersrock² · Dec 13, 2008, 09:24 AM

I don't remember that. I never stepped in or smelled anything foul there.

mattyb · Dec 13, 2008, 10:27 AM

A couple of years ago in Lyon there was dog crap everywhere. Then the local government put in place poop-bag dispensers. The last year that I was there you could tell that dog-walkers were on their guard, people were more likely to say something about a piece of dog-crap left somewhere. Toulouse seems alot better. I try to avoid Paris at all costs.

Yes the French First Lady is a looker, but she's got some mileage and of course she's shagging the Pres so ...

Eug · Dec 13, 2008, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by brassplayersrock²

the first picture was way less trashy. could you repost it please?

is not · Dec 13, 2008, 11:48 AM

Renault Clio Sport