Spring 2022

Our local bar is the sort of place where everyone has an opinion about absolutely
everything, and they love to complain. The goings on at the Champs-Elysées
Palace are spoken of as if we are all on first name terms with the President, the
Prime Minister and the various political agencies – of which are there are many in
France. If you didn’t know better, you might well believe that many of the villagers
spent the week in Paris moonlighting as eavesdropping staff in governmental
offices. According to just about everyone, Monsieur Macron isn’t nearly as
interesting as some of his previous incumbents, Monsieur Sarkozy for instance
had everyone going due to his aversion to cheese. And Monsieur Hollande was a
constant source of fascination and complaint thanks to his many girlfriends and
predilection for riding through Paris on the back of a small motorbike.
There actually was a poll held in France quite recently about what French people
complain about most and it probably comes as no surprise to find out it was – the
government. I’m sure it is the same everywhere.
Complaining, loudly, is a very French thing. For the last I don’t know how many
years, immediately after meeting Jean-Claude and sharing a kiss on the cheeks
and saying bonjour, the first words out of his mouth will always be complaints
about the weather, it’s too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry, too foggy, too frosty.
Born in London, I am not generally a loud complainer. We Brits tend to sigh loudly
and mumble insults under our breath “pushing in up there, did you see that?” we’ll
say, but we won’t confront the push-inner.
In France though, if you don’t learn to complain, you’ll stick out like a sore thumb.
For the French, it’s not just about letting those negative feelings out, it’s about
connecting with your tribe, bonding.
With all that’s going on in the world, I count my blessings every day and rarely find
anything to complain about for myself. But, in the interests of fitting in, now, if
anyone complains here, I simply nod and say “oui, oui, I know, I agree.”
Truly I am starting to feel French…
Janine
Last
Word
Janine Marsh lives in France with her husband and 72 animals. Her latest book,
Toujours la France: Living the Dream in Rural France, is out in spring 2022 on
Amazon and all good book shops
118 | The Good Life France