Somehow I don’t get it 😏. Of course when I was younger I never thought about drinking water and never carried water with me throughout a day of sightseeing but now it’s become essential. Am I culturally indoctrinated? Ancient and decrepit? Dehydrated phobic? Truly don’t understand why we trudge around with our water bottles and seem thirstier than the French.
Your comment about having to pee in the water bottle after it was empty since you couldn't find a public restroom was hilarious! Thanks for the belly laugh, I really needed that after the past few days. Bonne Semaine et merci!
Last summer I took my 8 yr old granddaughter to a birthday party of her classmate ..The girl opened gifts at the end and shrieked with joy as she revealed a Stanley water bottle. She actually shouted "it's a Stanley!" and hugged her equally excited mother. America's marketing..making an 8 yr old excited about a water bottle. I just turned my head away and rolled my eyes ..lol 🙄
Have you checked out their website and the list of options and colors? It reminded me of that great line in Nora Ephron's "You've Got Mail" (which I had to dig out) "The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don't know what the hell they're doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino." ;-)
I grew up in Belgium with a “gourde de louveteau” and Spa water. Now I own a Yeti here in the States.😊 This water thing is definitely a cultural difference.
I live in the southwest desert of the US. We drink tons of water, all day of course. Our lives are outdoors, hiking, or on the lake, we bake. I’ve seen many French come into our ER, dehydrated because they just don’t get how much they need when touring. I’ve also frequently said, when in France, “french women don’t pee”. Now I understand why. Interesting phenomenon that we human animals apparently adapt to our habitat. I did just return from a 18 day trip and attributed my week-long jet lag with headaches and dizziness to dehydration. I know i didn’t consume my normal “requirement”! Thanks for the post! Tres interesant!
The food service on Lufthansa flights is awful (of course) but they have cute 20cl water bottles by Rosbacher that are worth holding on to -- they fit in any jacket or hoodie pocket. Enough to get you to the next Wallace fountain.
This made me think of my days playing basketball in elementary school. In between periods we were allowed to take a sip of water, swish it in our mouth, then spit it out. We believed in those days that drinking water while exercising caused stomach cramps. How far we’ve come!
This one was funny....when MOST OF US were YOUNG, we didn't get thirsty and NO ONE talked about drinking water....NOW.......EVERYBODY talks about the ABSOLUTE NEED to drink, drink, drink water as our health and life DEPENDS ON IT.....go figure! I TRY to get 64 oz in me and feel I'm doing OK........(smile)!
Yes, this is an interesting phenomenon. Everyone knows the human body needs water but it's gotten a bit out of control. Expressing one's personality through a "gourde" is also fascinating to me. Have you checked out the Stanley Co website lately, the size and color options? Like I said, fascinating.
Environmentalists despise the trendy water bottle phenomenon in the US. As soon as a newer, “prettier” one comes along you can find tons of the ones they replaced on thrift store shelves. Some water bottles even have accessories !
Haha. Yes I am not a great water drinker but I have a mason jar on my desk to remind me to drink more. I never realized it was a North American thing. Merci Vèro!
I enjoyed this, Véro! The first items my (French) husband bought to prepare for me to move to France with him was larger glasses and even the biggest plastic cups he could find (from McDonald’s!). I’m able to keep sufficiently hydrated now. I brought my own gourdes from the US, of course.
So happy you keep sufficiently hydrated while in France ;-) Did you know even Duralex is now releasing larger glasses to accommodate their foreign clientele?
Somehow I don’t get it 😏. Of course when I was younger I never thought about drinking water and never carried water with me throughout a day of sightseeing but now it’s become essential. Am I culturally indoctrinated? Ancient and decrepit? Dehydrated phobic? Truly don’t understand why we trudge around with our water bottles and seem thirstier than the French.
I don’t have all the answers, désolée ;-)
My American study abroad students ask me this same question EVERY YEAR at the beginning of the program: do French people ever drink water??
Someone needs to teach them how to recognize “une carafe d’eau” and water fountains ;-)
Over the years, that has become part of my first-day curriculum! Otherwise they fear death by dehydration...
Your comment about having to pee in the water bottle after it was empty since you couldn't find a public restroom was hilarious! Thanks for the belly laugh, I really needed that after the past few days. Bonne Semaine et merci!
Last summer I took my 8 yr old granddaughter to a birthday party of her classmate ..The girl opened gifts at the end and shrieked with joy as she revealed a Stanley water bottle. She actually shouted "it's a Stanley!" and hugged her equally excited mother. America's marketing..making an 8 yr old excited about a water bottle. I just turned my head away and rolled my eyes ..lol 🙄
Have you checked out their website and the list of options and colors? It reminded me of that great line in Nora Ephron's "You've Got Mail" (which I had to dig out) "The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don't know what the hell they're doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino." ;-)
You’re right some of those water bottles require muscles to carry all day!
No kidding.
I grew up in Belgium with a “gourde de louveteau” and Spa water. Now I own a Yeti here in the States.😊 This water thing is definitely a cultural difference.
That "gourde de louveteau" sounds très sympathique, doesn't it?
It was an oval metal army surplus one with “un bouchon” that has a little closing clip.😊 It went everywhere with me.
I live in the southwest desert of the US. We drink tons of water, all day of course. Our lives are outdoors, hiking, or on the lake, we bake. I’ve seen many French come into our ER, dehydrated because they just don’t get how much they need when touring. I’ve also frequently said, when in France, “french women don’t pee”. Now I understand why. Interesting phenomenon that we human animals apparently adapt to our habitat. I did just return from a 18 day trip and attributed my week-long jet lag with headaches and dizziness to dehydration. I know i didn’t consume my normal “requirement”! Thanks for the post! Tres interesant!
If I lived in the Southwest desert of the US I might drink as much as you do and carry around one of the trendy monsters.
My story is about Paris. It’s not that hard to remain hydrated there. ;-)
The food service on Lufthansa flights is awful (of course) but they have cute 20cl water bottles by Rosbacher that are worth holding on to -- they fit in any jacket or hoodie pocket. Enough to get you to the next Wallace fountain.
There you go. And you get to recycle something, always a good thing.
This made me think of my days playing basketball in elementary school. In between periods we were allowed to take a sip of water, swish it in our mouth, then spit it out. We believed in those days that drinking water while exercising caused stomach cramps. How far we’ve come!
Times they are a'changing, Theresa!
Plus - French cafes have no issue with providing a glass of water with even the smallest cup of coffee. Not done in America! I much prefer moderation.
French cafés are under obligation to provide water if customers request it when orders are placed.
very clever and fun! Merci beaucoup pour le sourire!
Avec plaisir. I had fun writing this new "Lettre de France" (while sipping a "Vittel Menthe" in a Duralex glass at my parents')
This one was funny....when MOST OF US were YOUNG, we didn't get thirsty and NO ONE talked about drinking water....NOW.......EVERYBODY talks about the ABSOLUTE NEED to drink, drink, drink water as our health and life DEPENDS ON IT.....go figure! I TRY to get 64 oz in me and feel I'm doing OK........(smile)!
Yes, this is an interesting phenomenon. Everyone knows the human body needs water but it's gotten a bit out of control. Expressing one's personality through a "gourde" is also fascinating to me. Have you checked out the Stanley Co website lately, the size and color options? Like I said, fascinating.
Environmentalists despise the trendy water bottle phenomenon in the US. As soon as a newer, “prettier” one comes along you can find tons of the ones they replaced on thrift store shelves. Some water bottles even have accessories !
Accessories for water bottles (not just for elegant Parisiennes anymore.) What is the world coming to? ;-)
Great read, thanks for the giggle. Not a fan of drinking lots of water, unfortunately cardio doctor makes me.
Ah ,those doctors!
Haha. Yes I am not a great water drinker but I have a mason jar on my desk to remind me to drink more. I never realized it was a North American thing. Merci Vèro!
I am not sure it's just a North American thing but North Americans sure are loud about it ;-)
Vero, you are hilarious! My current water bottle is from Pylones on the Ile and is decorated with scenes of Paris. It is smallish and makes me smile!
Pylones sells cute stuff. That's where I tend to pick gifts for my clients while on tour. My "gourde" is smallish too. ;-)
I enjoyed this, Véro! The first items my (French) husband bought to prepare for me to move to France with him was larger glasses and even the biggest plastic cups he could find (from McDonald’s!). I’m able to keep sufficiently hydrated now. I brought my own gourdes from the US, of course.
So happy you keep sufficiently hydrated while in France ;-) Did you know even Duralex is now releasing larger glasses to accommodate their foreign clientele?
I didn’y know that, I will keep an eye out for them!