What have you come to accept as normal which you struggled with when you first arrived?

[Othersideofthechannel]

For me, shops being closed at lunchtimes and on Sundays and UHT milk.

No no no, don't worry about it.

Fingers crossed that somebody uploads it over the weekend. If your DSs have a spare memory stick lying around you could post it to us and we could load it onto that as a backup.

Having to say 'Bonjour madame' in a big voice and smile at everyone when I walk in a shop or cafe.

I used to not do it because I didn't know it is rude not to, then forced myself to do it and it was really tough as I am quite shy at times, and now I do it without thinking!

even if there's just a man in there?

Just kidding. I have got used to people always wanting to know if I slept well the previous night

LOL at the visitors investigating whether you have good breasts for bfing.

PMSL sorry
put this on the wrong thread. That was on the thread things you struggle with, not the things you have come to accept.

zzzen - ha ha ha - oh yes - funny I had in my mind our local bakery when I wrote that - the man who works there is always out the back so I just say hello to the lady!

shops & restaurants closing 3/4 times a day for prayer
not being able to have a bacon sandwich
not being able to have a glass/bottle of wine with evening meal
not being able to drive
having to wear a black tent in public

I could go on forever

LOL at ZZZen.... I thought I must have missed a page then.

Completely with you all on the UHT milk, but I must confess when visiting French friends I have become quite partial to black tea (after the many funny looks I got putting milk in my tea at home in front of visitors).

This is a great thread, willgo off and think of more...

Where do you live Mumoverseas?

Shops being closed on Sunday and Wed afternoon.

Not being able to buy Fromage Frais ANYWHERE (DD used to hate yoghurt but loved FF - I spent about a month checking EVERY shop we ever went into for FF, gave up in the end, and now she eats yoghurt!)

Locals still giving prices in Cyp Pounds before converting to Euro.....Everything cost me so much more than I expected at the till - now I find myself converting prices back, and then into Sterling!)

Not recycling . Used to religiously put things into different bags, then watch and sigh as the bin men chucked everything into the compacter together, I dont bother now (Thats gonna bite me in the arse when we come back to UK)

30 second showers so as not to waste water.

Hopelessly inflated prices - I dont worry any more, I just buy it, I've accepted that I WONT get it cheaper anywhere else.

Niftyblue, you're not in Switzerland, are you? I could have written that list!

Oooh, can't get used to UHT milk (and DH is English, too, so we both insist on a proper cuppa).
Thing that always amuses me about France is how they all do the same things at the same time. Like if you have small kids and you want to eat your lunch before midday or your dinner before seven you are obviously mad. Or the way that the playpark in our residence is empty at 2 p.m. and heaving at 4.30, even on a Saturday.
Still wish I could get round the "tu/vous" thing, though. I had it down pat for "du/sie" in Germany but the rules here in France seem to be different...

Oh, are windows opening inwards a continental thing? I can't remember, only ever had sash windows when I lived in the UK.

I now drink black tea, or rather, green tea. No longer can stand PG and other such builder like tea.

Agree re the Sunday openings, although I now find it weird that shops are open all the time in the UK.
Luch times closing used to bug me but now I appreciate them being open until 19.30.

The everything at the same time of day is rife here too - if DD doesn't nap and we go to the park at 2pm then it's totally empty, only to fill up after 4.30. I now use this to my advantage and get my supermarket shopping done when everyone's having their synchronised lunch as then it's empty. Bliss.
Nobody ever goes out in the winter either, the parks are toally empty from October to April. I've never understood that, after all we are a long way from the Arctic circle. DD was on her own building a snowman.

We've been here for 15 months and I just bought the first container of UHT milk last week...

I am sure that it is paranoia but it just doesn't taste 'right' to me.

Everything that niftyblue said EXCEPT I live close enough to France that I sneak across the border for Salt and Vinegar chips. (Are you in Switzerland?)

I am still loving the warm 'BONJOUR!' that greets us everywhere but that is likely because the Viennese scowl was starting to get under my skin before we moved.

Having to say hello to the bus driver, not just tell him where you want to go. Ditto in shops.

The fact that there are bike paths everywhere, and bikes have de facto right of way - I like this! (this is Holland, btw)

Erm... other things still mostly in the category of 'I'm still struggling', I think... only been here a year and a bit...