mercredi 27 mai 2009

First Time for Everything

While I was waiting at the bus stop today, a young woman next to me lit a cigarette.
Nothing new about that.
Except....
She asked me "Is my cigarette bothering you?"
Excuse me? Am I hearing you correctly?
Are you indeed a Frenchwoman in France asking me whether your cigarette is bothering me?
I wasn't quite sure what to say, I mean, this has never happened to me before.
Honestly I wasn't making faces or rolling my eyes or wrinkling my nose or coughing or anything.
Finally I just said "well, yes."
I half expected her to say "Well tough!" and blow smoke rings in my face, but get this! She moved away!!!
Was I space-warped to Sweden or something without knowing it?
Are the French becoming more conscious about their cigarette smoke?
(Not about the cigarette butts certainly.)
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6 commentaires:

Starman a dit…

I imagine all the TV, newspaper and magazine ads are starting to have an effect.

mercredi, mai 27, 2009
Anonyme a dit…

Wow, I've never even had anyone ask me that in America!

mercredi, mai 27, 2009
Uncle David a dit…

Truly incredible. Did she know you were American?

jeudi, mai 28, 2009
Ellie a dit…

I quit smoking 8 months ago. Started in Bulgaria to join the crowd - quit in the USA to join the crowd :)Somehow it is not cool any more - can't smoke at work, in the car, in the house - around kids, at the restaurant. It was really difficult to find a hiding spot to have a cigarette - that helped me quit. I smoked the electronic cigarette for 1 month to transition with lowering the nicotine. The gadget helped me a lot.

jeudi, mai 28, 2009
Anonyme a dit…

I never thought I'd live to see the day when France would pass an anti-smoking bill, and now you've surprised me by this post!
Next thing you know, we'll be able to find Philadelphia Cream Cheese at SuperU!

jeudi, mai 28, 2009
screamish a dit…

Now THAT is progress!

vendredi, mai 29, 2009
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