American Club and the new city

We went to an "American Club" potluck meeting the other night. We met a lot of nice people. Universally, they said Lyon was really the best place to be and were surprised we had picked it without years of research. Most had been in France for a long time. There were "newcomers" who had been in France for 3 years. Lots of couples had one French member and many of them had oodles of travel experience and had lived in many countries. One guy named Brian talked to Monica and she told him how we were getting along. We have our Metro cards, checking account, she's in a great dance group, Dave's joined a gym by his work, etc. When she told him we had been here for almost 3 weeks, he nearly spit out his drink! "THREE WEEKS? I was still in survival mode at three weeks!" So, I guess we have been assimilating pretty well. But a lot of it has been pretty easy actually and people here have really tried hard to help us. When pressed about the culture shock, we said um, none? This is kind of what we expected. Perhaps we need to be here longer before we go crazy. For dessert someone had baked chocolate chip cookies and one woman just started gabbling "Oh my GOD! You can't get these here! Oh my GAWD!" Taking a bite, she was clearly transported. Oops, I had just eaten one without realizing what I was depriving people of. Quickly, I concealed the cookie crumbs on my dessert plate with a piece of strawberry tart.

We keep discovering cute little neighborhoods and places to visit. This picture is from a creperie in Old Lyon. Every time I went to take a picture the woman who ran the place would duck down. Then she'd pop back up as I lowered the camera. Camera back up, woman back down, camera down, woman pops up. Monica was very proud of me that I didn't torture her more than necessary. But, I was tempted... Old Lyon would be very cool to live in - they have small, pedestrian-only streets and tiny shops and restaurants. Of course the rent is triple what we pay now and I shudder to think what the insulation or plumbing is like. I think we'll just stay where we are for now.



Our apartment is in the newer part of the city which is more modern and car-oriented. For example, I don't see the typical bank/bare breasts linkage you see so often in Paris or Old Lyon. Normally, if you're looking for a pharmacy you look for a blinking green cross and if you are looking for a bank you look for a statue with bare breasts. Why? I can't explain the green cross, but my bank theory is that nothing projects longevity and city roots like a great big old statue of a partially clothed woman. Nevermind that it was erected last year - it looks like it has been there forever. Well, in the NEW part of the city our bank branch looks more like a Subway restaurant. Clearly not all things new are better. How will I find a bank branch now?