Where has this week gone?

This week has been so busy with work and social activities I have had no time. 

But that's a good thing.

 I have been on the metro to and from work during rush hour.

The train is always very crowded just like NY except a little less pushy. And people's outfits are more interesting. ;)

Expensive suits, green jeans, orange shoes, multi colored scarves...you get the drift.

So yesterday on my commute, some guy leaned over to ask me a question...or at least I thought. I pulled the headphones out of my ear and all of the sudden he passed out on me. 

Luckily there was a another man right behind me who caught the first man falling because he was very heavy.

No one got hurt and the man ended up being okay but I was impressed with how quickly the French reacted. As soon has he came back to reality, which was very quickly several passengers offered him a variety of pastries, bread, sugar packets, water, and even a coffee.

It was nice to see people helping out. I realized later I was the only one not to say anything because I did not understand what people were saying. I hope they did not think I was rude. ?

On to work.

Here is the typical day at the office.

People arrive between 10 and 10.30 an take about 30 minutes to go around the office saying hello and kissing everyone on the cheek. They take a coffee, smoke a cigarette and then start working around 11am.

At 1pm, everyone breaks for lunch. This could last 1 to 2 hours and usually everyone eats together. After lunch, people take another coffee, smoke another cigarette and then back to work.

Around 4pm you start to hear music coming from individual offices and chit chatting around the coffee station...again.

At 6pm, the day ends but everyone starts saying their good byes around 5.30-5.45.

And I read France is one of the most productive countries in the world.

How do they do it?

Tomorrow i have alot to finish in the office that i don't think i will have time for lunch. I wonder how this be handled?

Will they let me skip lunch...I don't think so...lunch is very important to them as I was told.

No arguments here.

And then the weekend..plans Friday night with some friends and then relaxation needed.