Emily in France 🇫🇷 Vacation Time
"Big Vacation" has arrived.
France's labor laws mean not only that most French people get a true lunch break (sometimes over and hour) and a full day off every month (often used to deal with baffling things like the fact that French banks and post offices are closed during the hours most people work), but also that most employees get five weeks of vacation. And they're encouraged to take all of it.
When I was still working in a French office, my team and I used to get hounded by H/R.
"You have three weeks! They're expiring in May! Put some vacation time on the books!"
Well... if you insist...
Despite the fact that I've been living in France for 12 years, I still sometimes have a hard time coming to terms with the fact that vacation has none of the guilt-factor often associated with it in America. That said, I'm trying hard to embrace it, especially now: while people can take their vacation at any point of the year, there is a bit of time in France known as "les grandes vacances" when pretty much everyone goes on vacation... and it starts July 1st.
Come August, of course, Parisians will – quite literally – vacate Paris. July is a bit less flagrant, and for that, it's one of my favorite times to be in Paris. There are still some locals here, but the pace is slower, people lounge in the sun, in the parks, on the outdoor terraces... And I'm trying my darndest to shut my computer, put down my phone, and join them.
Where I'm Eating
Double Dragon is a trendy Chinese-inspired small plates restaurant in the 11th, and while it wasn't exactly what I was expecting, it does boast some enjoyable spice. As always, you can find my list of top Parisian restaurants here.
Where I'm Going
1. The outdoor pools of Paris Plages, which open this weekend at the Canal de l'Ourcq.
2. This barbecue pop-up at the Canal Saint-Martin.
3. One (or a few!) of the terraces voted the absolute best in Paris.
What I'm Writing
1. When I first moved to France, I was living in the South. One excursion to a beautiful small town convinced me to make the relocation permanent. Find out more in my column for My French Country Home.
2. Losing weight isn't easy – I chatted with experts to find out why that is for Eat This, Not That.
3. Disordered eating affects more people than you might think. Experts shared some red flags with me for Organic Authority.
What I'm Reading
1. This list of the best books to read at every age, compiled for the Washington Post.
2. This astonishingly raw satire about why "not my type" wasn't what we wanted to hear from the President, for the Washington Post.
3. The right answers to the questionnaire compiled by the New York Times for the Democratic candidates, also for the Washington Post.
A bientôt !
Emily in France