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We are in culture shock, and it’s not because we are new to the culture and country!
Our entire family was finally able to cross the Spain/France border two weeks ago. My husband and older boys have been across the national line multiple times during the past month, moving all our furniture and belongings from our storage in France to our home in Spain. However, we weren’t able to travel to France as a family until last week.
It felt good to be back in France. It’s been “home” to my husband since birth, and it’s been “home” to me since the age of 19. Two of our four sons were born in France.
France always feels like “home” to our family—comfortable and familiar—until two weeks ago. We crossed the France border and experienced serious culture shock!
Where Are We?!
Culture shock in our own culture!
We stopped in a local French grocery store to grab some food for lunch. Although we were “home” in our own country, we felt completely out of place—like strangers and foreigners in our own land.
People looked at us strangely, as if we were aliens from another planet. What they didn’t know is that we were also staring at them strangely.
We had only one question in our minds—”WHERE ARE YOUR MASKS?!”
Our New Routine
When we parked our car in the grocery store lot, each one of us grabbed our blue medical masks and strapped the white elastic bands around our ears. We didn’t even have to think about it. We didn’t have to remind ourselves or each other to wear masks. It was now a deeply engrained habit in our lives.
It was automatic, systematic, routine.
We didn’t need signs to remind us or someone standing at the grocery store entrance. We did it willingly and on our own.
In Spain, everyone is still wearing masks in public places. Everyone! Yes, there was a period of time when there was controversy about wearing masks . . . could they really protect us? However, it didn’t take long for countries to begin proclaiming a united message—MASKS PROTECT YOU! MASKS PROTECT ME!
The Spanish government began delivering masks to everyone’s doorstep. They wanted to make sure that everyone had masks to wear. It was required, and if you didn’t wear a mask . . . ticket!
In almost every grocery store in Spain, there is a stand with anti-septic hand gel and plastic gloves at the entrance. During the first weeks, there was someone at the stand who would verify that every customer washed their hands and put on gloves. However, after the first month or so, it wasn’t necessary. Everyone wanted to wash their hands and put on gloves. Everyone wanted to protect themselves and protect others.
Standing Out in the Crowd
And masks? Everyone is wearing them in Spain! If you don’t have on a mask, everyone notices it.
A friend in Spain recently sent me a funny text. (I can’t tell you the source of the image, but I had to share it.)
“Masks are the NEW bra. They’re uncomfortable. You only wear them in public. And when you don’t wear one . . . EVERYONE NOTICES!”
I was in France when I received her text, and I quickly responded.
“This is not at all the case here in France. No one is wearing masks here! In fact, if you are wearing one, everyone notices it. You are the odd ball! It seems like we are the only ones in the stores wearing them. Crazy!”
Culture Shock
On the French news, others began to say the same thing. A French tourist who recently traveled to Portugal said that everyone was wearing masks in Portugal—EVERYONE!
He was in culture shock there, just like we are in culture shock here in France!
On July 14, Bastille Day, our family went out with some friends to celebrate France’s national holiday at an outdoor event with food trucks and live music. Upon entering the enclosed area for the concert, with picnic tables and food stands, a town hall representative stood at the entrance with anti-septic hand gel and free masks. Everyone put on gel and grabbed a mask. However, no one put them on! NO ONE!
Ok, perhaps I’m exaggerating a bit. I put mine on, and there were a few others scattered throughout the crowd who wore them on their face or cradled around their chins. However, the large majority were not wearing masks, and we were all in close quarters—definitely less than one meter apart.
A ‘Hot Topic’
During our 10 days in France, every news program and radio talk show has been about wearing masks. It has become the “hot topic” of debate because France has not been reinforcing the wearing of masks. People have become more and more lax during the past weeks with the start of the vacation season. No one is wearing them, and no one is reinforcing it.
Until a few days ago . . . on July 20, 2020, everything changed!
Up until then, masks have only been required in France in public transport and in certain locations (hair salons, hospitals, etc.). However, starting last Monday, masks are now required in all “enclosed” public locations. Everyone over the age of 11 must wear a mask. Tickets of 135 euros will be given for anyone caught not wearing a mask. If someone acquires three tickets, they risk six months in prison!
That’s what I call reinforcement!
Saving Lives
Masks . . . yes, there’s been a lot of controversy. However, people are realizing that masks are saving lives.
After watching the following video distributed by the government of the Czech Republic a few months ago, I was convinced. I’ve been wearing a mask ever since, and so are my husband and four boys. I’ve been trying to convince others—like my family in the U.S.—to follow suit.
Now’s the time . . . just do it . . .
Let’s all wear masks so that we can laugh at the truth of that joke my friend sent me. Let’s make it a global joke until this pandemic is wiped out!
“Masks are the NEW bra. They’re uncomfortable. You only wear them in public. And when you don’t wear one . . . EVERYONE NOTICES!”
I Feel Safe!
On the first day of “mask reinforcement,” we drove from Paris to southern France to stop for a few days before returning home to Spain later this week. At all the rest stops along the way, we saw masks, masks everywhere.
“I feel safe for the first time since we arrived in France,” I told my husband. “Just seeing everyone wear masks makes me feel protected.”
He agreed.
At the first gas station, our 14-year-old, David, accidentally walked in without a mask. He had obviously gotten out of the habit during the past 10 days.
“Sir, you are not allowed to enter without a mask,” the cashier stated.
“I’m sorry,” David said politely and walked out of the store to go back to the car to get his mask. “I hope they don’t fine me 135 euros!”
David willingly complied and apologized for not following the rules. That has not always been the case in France, and that is why there is so much talk and controversy about wearing masks.
A Sad Story
A few weeks ago, there was a sad and devastating incident on French soil. Although masks have been required in public transportation in France since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, not everyone follows the rules.
A group of people entered a public bus without wearing masks. The driver told them they could not ride without masks. The group then proceeded to beat the man to death. No one intervened to help the bus driver. They all watched in horror as a bus driver was beaten to death for reinforcing the law. An innocent man was killed because someone didn’t want to wear a mask.
Let’s all obey the law . . . wear our masks . . . protect ourselves . . . protect others.
Don’t forget . . . masks are cool—they are the “new bra”! 🙂 Go ahead and choose your size, texture, color, and pattern.
—THE CULTURAL STORY-WEAVER
MY GIFT TO YOU—GET YOUR FREE EBOOK—”THE 5-DAY JOURNEY TO CULTURAL AWARENESS”!
LET’S WEAVE CULTURES!
How do you feel about wearing masks? Are they required in your country, state? Do you live in a place where everyone notices if you WEAR a mask or if you DON’T WEAR a mask? After watching the video from the Czech Republic, what do you think?
We invite you to tell us your own cultural stories and global adventures . . . as you engage with the world, breaking down barriers, building bridges, and “weaving cultures”! Write about them in the comment box below.
So happy you are all safe! One of my co-workers told me yesterday she would never wear a mask! The virus is just like having the flu! This is what is happening with many of the 20 some year old’s in the world today and why the numbers keep going up and up. Miss you all sooo much.
So sad. Take care. XXXXX