French Working Hours

Part of adjusting to French culture is getting used to the working hours in France. We've been to France plenty of times and to other countries like Italy and Spain where everything closes down in the afternoon so we were already used to this as tourists. Now as residents we're learning everything more in depth. For example, remember how 7-11 created a revolution in America by being open, well, from 7 to 11 which was considered early and late. It defined a "convenience store" and now they are open 24 hours a day, along with AM/PM, etc. France now has its own version called 8-a-Huit (eight to eight). Of course, the one we visited in Valloire opened at 9am, but you get the point, convenience is coming.

When my Dad and I first arrived in Bordeaux we went for a stroll on a Sunday evening. The streets were packed with people. The one thing that was strange? All the shops and stores were barred and locked. Hordes of people milling around and nothing open. In America, this wouldn't last 5 minutes before a hotdog stand appeared. Sunday is really tough if you haven't stocked up the day before.

The rock climbing gym here opens at noon on weekdays, so my partner and I go during lunch time. Back at home, the climbing gym opened at 6am and I used to go before work. Eric, my climbing partner, thought this was simply ridiculous. Indeed the gym that I go to is closed when I pass by on my way to work. When I signed up, the staff member proudly informed me "We are open 7 days a week, nonstop." This last word was in English - a sign that this is one of those words that are new to French culture. "Nonstop?" I ask. But they are closed in the morning, what do they mean "nonstop?" This is not 24-hr fitness after all. "Oh, of course we are not open all the time. We open at 9am every day." Now it dawns on me. By "nonstop" he means they don't close down in the middle of the day for 3 hours! This break time for lunch occurs around 11:30 to 2:30 but since sometimes a place will close early or get back late, we just avoid doing anything in these danger hours. My gym is open from the opening bell to the closing bell - without a break. Wow.

I know I'm really getting this concept when the following day I head to work and walk the last stretch. This area is pretty old-school France. Dogs are the popular burglary prevention system. I've learned to walk on the left because there is only one really fierce dog. He's got a heavy chain and barks like crazy, even jumping onto the roof of his doghouse to bark at you more effectively. But, I prefer him to the dogs on the right because they wait until you are right next to them and then scare the daylights out of you. Today though, I'm walking by at noon and he just sits there without barking at all. What's going on? Aha! He doesn't work nonstop!