Subtle Differences

During my travels I've noticed a lot of subtle differences between France and the United States. A lot of things I always assumed were the same here and weren't different anywhere else. That is where my naivety came into play.

The first one takes place every day. The EU created coins for the 1€ and 2€ coin. With this I definitely find myself forgetting that I have these 1 and 2€ coins and thinking I have less money than I do. The coins also get heavy and annoying to carry around after a while. Especially differentiating them. Just give me a $1 bill so I know what I have and be done with it.

Another thing that plagued our whole trip was the fact that at Parisian hotels there are only one hotel key per room. You are supposed to drop it off when you leave in the morning and when you come back at night you can pick it back up. This was a little problematic because my roommates and I came back at different times so someone would get stuck staying up to wait until every one came home.

On our second day here we went to the Musee d'Orsay and various other places. Eventually we ended up on the Champs Elysses, one of the most famous shopping streets in the world, and easily the most famous in all of Paris. It equates to the Miracle Mile in Chicago and Fifth Avenue in New YorkCity. Walking down the street is a religious experience for anyone who likes fashion, even if you don't buy anything.

The first thing I noticed there was the way they have car dealerships on almost every corner. For me, that equates to having a car dealership in the Moorestown, Cherry Hill or Towson Mall. So you walk in and you have to go somewhere else to actually purchase the car. I don't know where, but you do.

The other thing I noticed that day was that their credit cards are different. The strip on their card is at the end. They stick it into their credit card machine as if they were sticking it into the ATM. I don't know if that is just France or the whole EU but that threw me off. As much as I was trying to prevent looking extremely touristy, that one basically gave me a sign that said "I'm not from here"

A couple of days later we went to the Pantheon and Montparnasse cemetery. This day we experienced a different side of France. We purchased lunch In the supermarket and then went to Luxembourg Gardens to eat it. While in the supermarket purchasing lunch I noticed two things that were different from the United States. The first is that cashiers in the grocery stores sit down. The other thing is that they charge 4 European cents for a bag. It isn't like the United States where it is common courtesy that they give you a bag for your groceries and if they didn't, you as a person would absolutely look down on the grocery store and most likely not go back there. 

These differences make Paris, as well as other European cities exactly what it is that they are. Those things on the other hand make it almost a culture shock for people from the United States who are coming to these European countries. It also does the same to those who are coming from France and Europe who are coming to the United States.  These are things that after a while an individual will get used to, but takes some practice in the beginning.

Giverny

Giverny is a small Village about 45 minutes outside of Paris. It was the home of Claude Monet and the scene of one of his most famous paintings, the water lilies. During out trip, we were lucky enough to be able to venture out to

Languages

This trip seemed to encompass everything I've either never done well or never done at all. The other thing that I've always struggled with is foreign languages. A family friend of ours is bilingual and can speak English and Swedish. My 3 year old cousin is bilingual in English and German. My boss is fluent in 3 languages and can speak 7. Me on the other hand, I can barely speak one. I know about 5 words of Spanish even though I took it for more years than I can count. I can tell you two things, "I am the party" and "I speak Spanish" and that's about it.

During my trip to Paris we were supposed to be ambassadors. We weren't really supposed to be tourists. By being ambassadors one of the things we had to do was make sure we

Soccer, Hockey and Football

This past Monday in Paris, Lauren, Catherine, Jordan, Joelle, Laura, Jocelyn and I made our way to the Eiffel Tower for the first time. When we got there, we were surprised to find that "Hyundai Fan Fest Park - Paris" had been set up. It was basically a gigantic watch party for the European Championship taking place in Soccer. Looking into the event later I found out that this was something that was set up in 9 cities throughout Europe for the duration the UEFA European Championships.

The game we watched was Spain v. Croatia. Spain ended up scoring with approximately 2 minutes left in the game. When Spain scored, the place went crazy. They shot off flares and people were screaming. People were wearing outfits I would never be caught dead in public wearing. But this scenario showed me exactly how Europeans feel about soccer. The only way I could possibly equate it would be the way Canadians love hockey and the way Americans love football.

After my trip to Toronto, you can see shades of the same love that Europeans have for soccer in the way that Canadians love their hockey teams. The Toronto Maple Leafs are consistently one of the worst teams in the league, but manage to have one of the best records when it comes to selling out their arena. Montreal Canadiens fans have been known to drive to New Jersey just to see a game in order to cheer on their hometown player in Martin Brodeur. Everyone is in love with their hometown player because almost everyone in Canada has one. Hockey is such a popular sport that it isn't uncommon for someone in your town to play hockey.

When you go to the Visitor's Center in Thunder Bay, Ontario, one of the "Must See Attractions" is the Sod Farm owned by the Staal Family. I know for a fact, it doesn't matter who lived there, but in New Jersey there is no way we would go hang out in a sod farm. But this is Canada, and they love their hometown heroes, regardless of what they do. And if you've ever watched the sports channel TSN (Canada's version of ESPN), they have 24/7 hockey coverage because that is the number one sport in the country and everyone loves it.

Americans, although they love the sport of football, they are nothing like Europeans and Canadians. They all have their favorite team, but that's it. Mine, the New York Giants. The chances that an American would watch another football game of their arch rival is almost non existent. Both Canadians and Europeans have no problem with it. They see it almost as scoping out their competition.

By experiencing the homes of these sports you realize just how passionate their fans are. You realize how much they're in love with the sport, and not necessarily their team. Although they all have a favorite team they're just as passionate about, for them it's mostly the sport. For people to get that loud about a team that could be considered an arch rival is almost unheard anywhere else. Experiencing the love Europeans have for their soccer team by being able to see such a major soccer tournament in Europe was unlike anything I've ever experienced previously. I would love to do it again and could only imagine what being in a place like that during the World Cup or the Olympics must be like. Time will tell if I will ever be able to experience that, but if I can, I should start getting ready now.

Flying

Flying and I have never really gone together harmoniously. I don't do it enough to make myself comfortable with it. I knew three days before this flight even took off that I was going to have problems on this plane. So much so that I called a doctor and had him prescribe me Xanax.

The day finally arrived without much convincing but when it came time to get to the airport things got a little shaky. It took my mom, dad, brother and boyfriend Bobby to get me on the plane but not without some tears.

My first real international flight (I wasn't counting my trip to Toronto), by myself. I was scared out of my wits end. Could anything else possibly go wrong? Not only did I miss everyone from home, I'm claustrophobic sitting in this window seat and I have these two weird people next to me. In my own personal opinion, there was literally no possible way things could get worse if they tried.

Over Memorial Day Weekend I realized I was severely claustrophobic. I tried to climb under my cousins deck to get a necklace that broke and almost lost it. That is because it was almost as if I could feel the patio closing over me and I wouldn't be able to get out. That is what scares me, not being there, it's the not being able to get out. The same feeling overcame me as I sat in the window seat waiting for my plane to take off. It was almost as if the cabin was closing in on me. I lost it, almost immediately I was in full on tears, making a scene on the plane. I didn't know what to do and the 8 year old boy sitting next to me is now looking at me like I'm some kind of psychopath because I'm crying on the plane.

I finally grabbed a hold of myself inside and realized that the only way I was making it to Paris was if I stuck it out through this flight. I couldn't get off or I wouldn't go. There isn't a way to teleport myself because if there was and I didn't have to deal with flying, please let me be the first to know. I looked out the window and started to calm myself down after talking on the phone to Bobby. I texted and took pictures until the flight took off in order to keep my mind elsewhere.

After the plane finally got in the air, I seemed to have calmed down a little. I did my best to fall asleep on the flight because I knew that I was going to have to be up the whole next day. Needless to say, it didn't work. I think I fell asleep for a grand total of an hour. Before I knew it, the little boy next to me had made himself comfortable in my lap. I don't know you, and you're going to lay in my lap? That is where I had to draw the line. I told his mother and the mother got mad at me like "how could you be mad that my child is laying on you?"

By the time the plane landed at 8:30 AM Paris time, I was about ready to kiss the floor of the airport I was so excited to be off that plane. I hadn't eaten since the Chickie and Pete's sandwich in the Philly Airport and I hadn't slept except for an hour since 7:30 AM EST. By the time that day was over, I was convinced that the rest of the girls on the trip weren't even going to want to be friends with me because I was so miserable.

Note to self: try to avoid flying when you can. 

The Home of Hockey

Toronto, Canada is the home of hockey. It is the location of the Hockey Hall of Fame, and until recently was where they held the NHL Awards. It is also the home of the NHL Combine, the first weekend in June. You walk around the city and no matter the temperature people have been known to walk around the city showing their Maple Leafs pride. No matter how bad that team is, they still have one of the best fan bases in the National Hockey League and can continually fill their seats.

Henrik's Picture from the Scouting Combine

The NHL Combine takes place about two weeks before the actual NHL entry draft. It is when the top 75 NHL prospects come together in Toronto to prove to the 30 league teams that they are NHL ready. The prospects are put through rigorous fitness testing and interview from General Managers of the 30 teams. Since the 80s, we have been family friends with former Penguin, Ranger, Red Wing and Flyer, Ulf Samuelsson. Both his older sons, Philip (20) and Henrik (18) are NHL Prospects. Henrik, the younger of the two is Draft Eligible this year. He was the one participating in the combine this year. Philip, my brother Julian, and Philip's best friend from college, another NHL Prospect, Brian Dumoulin, decided we would go to Toronto and just "check up on"Henrik's progress. Really all we wanted was to go to Toronto. Julian, Philip and I hadn't been there in a few years so what was the harm in going back.

The first day we were there Henrik was completing his last full day of activities for the Combine. That gave us some free time. We decided to go to the International Hockey Hall of Fame and see what was going on there. The one thing that I was disappointed wasn't there was the Stanley Cup. That was to be expected though. The Stanley Cup spends the summer traveling the globe because each member of the Stanley Cup Champions and their organization get to spend a day with the cup. To this day I couldn't tell you what I would do if I got to spend the day with the cup. But I most likely won't get the opportunity because I will never win the Stanley Cup so it's a non issue. The Hockey Hall of Fame was  almost a haven for these boys because Hockey is their life. Both Philip and Brian played at Boston College on Full Scholarships and now have made the jump to play professionally, Brian for the Carolina Hurricanes* and Philip for the Pittsburgh Penguins. My brother does the color commendation for the New York Islanders radio broadcasts. Watching the three of them there was like watching a little kid open the present they had been waiting for on Christmas.

After going to the Hall of Fame, we met up with Henrik and one of his other prospect friends for dinner. We all went out and talked to the two boys about their time at the Combine. They couldn't really tell us much, but considering the circumstances what they did tell us was big news. Henrik told us that he had spent a lot of time talking to the team their dad used to coach for, the Phoenix Coyotes. He was hopeful that something would come out of that conversation. We will just have to see.**

Toronto v. Boston

The second day we ventured away from the hockey side of Toronto. We went to the Red Sox/Blue Jays game. Seeing the way that the Blue Jay's stadium was only half full, as you can see in the picture to the left, further proved how much Canadians love their hockey. If I had a dollar for all the people I saw during this trip either wearing a Maple Leafs jersey, a t-shirt or was showing their Maple Leafs pride in any way, I could buy myself something really nice. The Blue Jays on the other hand, it was almost as if Toronto would be ok if they left. There were more Red Sox fans there than Blue Jays fans, to a point where if you closed your eyes you wouldn't be sure if you were in Fenway Park or not.

It was an interesting experience being in Toronto and seeing these different sides of it. To see the inter workings of the NHL by seeing the boys during the combine. You also saw how differently they feel about baseball in Canada as opposed to the United States. If this was a Red Sox game in Boston, I would be willing to bet those seats would be packed. The Phillies are 10 games back and they are still consecutively selling out games. The Blue Jays are lucky if they will ever sell out.

I can't wait to come back to Toronto, and I can't wait to see what happens with Henrik in the Entry Draft. I am so proud of him so to see him do well would be great.

* Please Note: After this post was written, on June 25 during the 2012 Entry Draft, Brian Dumoulin was traded to Pittsburgh with Brett Sutter and Carolina's 2012 first round draft pick in exchange for Jordan Staal.

** In the first round of the 2012 Entry Draft, 27th Overall, Henrik was chosen by the Phoenix Coyotes.