mercredi 27 mai 2009
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.)
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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Dealing with the French
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6 commentaires:
I imagine all the TV, newspaper and magazine ads are starting to have an effect.
Wow, I've never even had anyone ask me that in America!
Truly incredible. Did she know you were American?
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.
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!
Now THAT is progress!