I know many of you may be anticipating another college-related post, but in an attempt to keep up with today’s happenings, I have decided to postpone those blogs until I return to school. Thus, today’s post has to do with a recent experience I had abroad in France–specifically, Strasbourg, France. That’s right, I recently returned from a six week trip to Europe, in which I spent five weeks living with a host family while taking a class on French diplomatic relations. In fact, Strasbourg is the home to not only the European Council, but also the European Parliament, and the European Court of Human Rights. That being said, there is a lot to learn about in Strasbourg regarding diplomacy. While a portion of my recently learned knowledge is on diplomacy, my knowledge on the French language and culture grew exponentially–and that is what I’m here to share with you today.
1. A few French phrases
This one is probably the most important tip I have for you on this list. You wouldn’t believe how much the French will appreciate you trying your best to use their language. Now, this doesn’t mean you need to learn the entire French language, but I do have a few words/sayings that you will find helpful when out and about.
1. Bonjour : Hello
This is probably one of the first words you learned in French as it is one of the most common ways to greet someone. However, ‘bonjour’ is much more than a greeting, to the French, it is a way to show that you are polite and respect them. You should use bonjour whenever you walk into a shop or meet someone for the first time in a day. When you leave the shop/say goodbye to someone you can also say ‘bonne journée’ which translates to have a good day. When in doubt of if you should say bonjour, say bonjour.
2. Bonsoir : Good evening
This word can also be used to say hello in the evening or nighttime. Like bonjour, it is a sign of respect and politeness. Frequent use is always a good idea. You can also change the saying a bit by saying ‘bonne soirée’ when you are leaving/saying goodbye to someone in the evening/night.
*Tip! Only say ‘bonsoir’ : goodnight when you are literally getting in bed/going to bed.
3. Merci beaucoup : Thank you very much
This short phrase can be extremely useful no matter the situation. Whether you are asking for directions or being handed a coffee that you ordered it is a nice courtesy to show respect.
4. Où sont les toilettes : Where are the bathrooms?
While not all businesses/stores in France have bathrooms, this phrase can be of great use in emergency situations.
2. Not all bathrooms are free
I was kicking myself in a few instances for not have a few extra euros with me when I really had to use the restroom, only to find that I needed to pay at a turnstile prior to entering the bathroom. Learn from my mistake and always have two euros with you. I promise you never know when you’re going to need it most.
3. Steer clear of bike lanes–unless you are on a bike
This tip is specific to Strasbourg given their extensive population who chooses to use a bicycle as their main form of transportation. Strasbourg has an extensive network of bike lanes and loads of bicycle parking so I would definitely recommend renting a bike for a day (Velhop is one of the most commonly used vendors for bike rentals) to see the city in a new way, or you can even sign up for a bike tour. Yet be warned, if you are on your own two feet think twice before stepping into the bike lane without looking behind and in front of you. The bikers in the bike lane are typically traveling at a fairly rapid pace and the last thing you want is to cause harm to either yourself or a cyclist.
4. The tram/bus system is much easier to navigate than you think
This is especially true if you use Google Maps while in France–sorry Apple Maps. Google Maps breaks down exactly which train/bus you should board depending on your current location, as well as what time you want to depart or even what time you want to arrive at your final destination. Additionally, to pay for public transportation you can purchase either a refillable transit card or you can purchase a single-use card for one-time, occasional rides. To board a tram you simply tap your card at one of the red fareboxes along the tram platform–trust me they’re very obvious. Or if you are boarding a bus you just tap your card on the farebox when you board the bus.
*An important note on the differences between the bus and tram systems:
The trams stop at every stop along their route so you are able to exit without signaling to the tram operator that you wish to exit. The stops are announced in French so if you are unfamiliar with the language keep an eye on your route on Google Maps to know when to exit the tram car. When you wish to exit the tram car, you, or a fellow passenger, must press the ‘door open’ button on the door to open the tram door. The same goes for when you wish to enter the tram. This button is very obvious and will have a green ring around it when you can push the button–when the tram is moving this ring is red. When you exit the tram you do not need to tap your transit card on the farebox again. Occasionally, transit police will board the tram and check everyone’s transit card to ensure proper payment has been made prior to boarding the tram.
As opposed to the tram, the bus will not stop at everyone stop along its route. The stops are announced in French, but can sometimes be delayed so I recommend following your route on Google Maps to ensure that you don’t miss your stop. To signal to the bus driver that you wish to exit the bus, simply push one of the red stop buttons scattered throughout the bus–they are very obvious. Like the tram, to open the door you must push the ‘door open’ buttons on the bus doors.
5. Visit a ‘pâtisserie’…or twenty
That’s right, the rumors are true, French pastries are unlike anything you have ever experienced before. The sweets are artfully made by experienced chefs each morning and you can tell. There are countless pastries to try from and each pâtisserie, the French word for a pastry shop, has their own specialization and take on classic French treats. You will only need to walk a few steps through Strasbourg before stumbling upon a pâtisserie, but keep in mind that many of the smaller pastry shops in less touristy areas have a €10 minimum to use a credit card.
Everyone has their own personal favorite pâtisserie, but these are some of mine to get you started: 1. Pâtisserie Kubler 2. Naegel 3. Pâtisserie Riss 4. Élisabeth Biscarrat (not necessarily a pâtisserie, but sells some of the best macarons in Strasbourg in my opinion)
6. Parc de l’Orangerie is a little piece of heaven
Parc de l’Orangerie is in the northeastern corner of the city but is most definitely worth a visit. Not only are there ice cream stands scattered throughout the park, but there is also a bowling alley, a mini zoo, a children’s car track, a small boating pond fit with a waterfall, and green space galore to enjoy.
Additionally, there is a mansion accented with stork nests along the roof. The park is the perfect place for a jog, to read a book by the water, or to enjoy an afternoon picnic. It is also the perfect place to let little ones release their energy.
7. Scan your receipt to exit the self-checkout area in smaller grocery stores, such as Auchan
Now this one may seem a bit obscure, but had I known this prior to arriving in Strasbourg, I would have saved myself loads of embarrassment. Auchan, a popular grocery store chain in Strasbourg, offers self-checkout stations in some of their locations thus allowing shoppers with fewer items to purchase to speed past long lines. While this is extremely convenient there are a few things to note. The first being that many American credit card companies require a signature to validate a purchase abroad. This means that when you use a self-checkout machine you will likely have to call a sales associate over to sign a receipt and allow your credit card to go through. Another thing to note is that when you finish your transaction, the machine will print out a few receipts. One of the receipts is for returns, the other however is necessary to exit the store. You must scan your receipt on a scanner (located by the door/turnstile to exit the self-checkout area) to open the door. If you instead push through the door without scanning your receipt, like I did my first time visiting Auchan, you will activate the burglar alarms.
I hope the aforementioned tips and advice have been of use for you and I wish you the best of luck and safe travels in Strasbourg! Thank you for reading and feel free to leave me any questions or your own list of things to know when visiting Strasbourg below.
Until next time!
Xoxo,
Quinn
Life in Quinn's Corner 