This is a safe question to ask any French person and they will be more than happy to respond and equally happy to hear your response. Vacation time is something taken very seriously in this country. I am used to my 2 weeks plus stretching it to perhaps 3 weeks of vacation if I can call in a "sickie". The French get 5 weeks. FIVE WEEKS, People! Some companies just shut down for the month of August and force you to go on vacation. Of course, my company isn't like that being a Korean company. But still... there are French people here who are milking their vacation for all it's worth. I must learn the way of the French vacationing.
Just today, walking to lunch I saw a couple colleagues that I don't really talk to very much but they stopped and did the obligatory bises (kisses) with me and then there was the split second of 'what-do-we-talk-about-now" when one of them piped up, "Tu pars ou en vacances?". I explained where I was going and ended the conversation very promptly by saying that I was already on vacation in my head. Mutual laughs from both parties as they agreed they were too mentally on vacation and we parted ways.
After speaking with another a very good friend of mine who happens to be an expat, we both agreed that this is one topic the French will never get tired of. She even has a French friend who keeps an excel document with all his friend's & colleague's vacations listed so that he knows when so-and-so is out of town and to keep track of who he's had the vacation conversation with. I realized how handy this was after I asked another one of my colleagues yesterday (who I see rarely) where he was going on vacation and he said that the last time I saw him I had already asked him that. So, after snickering about how the vacation excel document was a silly idea, I'm starting to think maybe it isn't that silly.
Consider yourself tagged for the shoe meme.
Posted by: nardac | August 02, 2005 at 15:44
haha. Yeah I would love to see Flare do a shoe meme.
Posted by: juliana | August 02, 2005 at 17:29
I love the French. Besides wine and whining, I think vacationing is the national pasttime.
I wish I got a vacation... sigh...
At least my real-estate investing is going well.
Posted by: Matt | August 02, 2005 at 19:41
July 3-16 - Spain
August 29-September 12 - USA
Just a starter for your excel doc.
;)
Posted by: Sammy | August 03, 2005 at 09:07
The excel document has been started...
Posted by: Flare | August 03, 2005 at 09:40
oh man. i would promise to never complain about my job again if they let me have 5 weeks of vacation!
ryc: yes, go and check it out! it is such a girly, cute store. and make sure you bargain a little because they do discount.
Posted by: linda | August 03, 2005 at 19:03
I had never thought of the excel doc, but yes, that's exactly what I need.
Posted by: géraldine | August 04, 2005 at 11:35
ok, so have you started your excel doc? they are quite handy, tho they are nerdy. i used to have one with all the people i would meet at my new position. i had descriptions of their job, where they sit, and if they would be helpful or not. probably not something i would want to keep around where someone else could find it!!
Posted by: Reesie | August 04, 2005 at 17:31
oh and i totally forgot to say that at my job we get 3 weeks AND there's plant shutdown between christmas and jan 1st to make up for other holidays during the year that we don't get.
Posted by: Reesie | August 04, 2005 at 17:33
Reese,
I haven't started the doc yet but I have a feeling I'm going to have to do it. Again, today I asked someone about their vacation and I had already asked them (which they reminded me) and they had just gotten back and apparently I should have known this... sigh. So, I guess I'll have to reach out with my nerdy side and make this document asap! :) Btw, I'm on vacation Aug 19 - 28. :)
Posted by: Flare | August 04, 2005 at 17:38
Holidays are the reason that I am a teacher! When you work at International schools the holidays are fab! Nearly two months off this summer! woohoo!
Posted by: Anne | August 05, 2005 at 11:21
I actually went over my five weeks this year with NZ & Corsica, so now am having to work lots of overtime and extra days. Will get no time off at Christmas and Easter, bleaghh....
I love your new blog look Babe!
Posted by: Antipodéesse | August 05, 2005 at 16:23
I am sitting here at work on what is supposed to be my day off. (I have just spent the last two hours looking at spreadsheets and so decided I deserved a break.) Vacation ... I dream of vacation. In fact maybe I'll next do a few searches to plan vacations that I know I will never take. The United States is so uncivilized. I need to move elsewhere.
Posted by: Dagny | August 05, 2005 at 21:40
When you say 5 weeks, it is in the bad companies. I used to work in one where we had 5 (legal) weeks + 13 holidays ( estaren and so on) + 4 weeks of working time reduction (RTT) and you can get two days off when you move and you get two extra weeks when you have a kid - if you are a man , if you are the mother it's a lot more.; well summarize all that : a new father can go ut to 14 weeks. 14. :-)
Posted by: Negrito | August 07, 2005 at 09:56
No. Excel to keep track of everyone's vacations is a good idea. Trust me. I do it. It really helps. Let's just say, I'm the only one in my division who grew up in America. Everyone else is an exciting blend of French, English, German, Nordic, Spanish accents. So guess where 80% of my office is? On vacation!
I am so doing that but in February though when all the kids are in school and vacation spots are free of family vacationers and hoards of teens.
You do have to love the French ways and adapt to their philosophy on vacations though!
Posted by: Lei | August 08, 2005 at 06:22
Et toi, tu pars ou en vacances ??? (ok, je sors)
Posted by: Miss Pink | August 09, 2005 at 03:53
Aimee, THAT was funny!
5 weeks of vacation....drools...
Did you blog about where you are going on vacation and I missed it? What a faux pas! :)
Posted by: Annette | August 12, 2005 at 23:13