I went to Paris for the first time in July and was surprised by some innovative things.
In France, there seems to be a lot of emphasis on safety.
There should be parking spots at airports, travelators, and train station safeguards.
The escalators that don't require you to step on them were more accessible to the elderly.
I stopped at the Centre Commercial Val d'Europe in Chessy, France, because I couldn't believe that escalators like the one I saw aren't common in American malls.
I like the moving walkways in US airports. I like the idea of flat escalators in malls to help families with strollers, people trying to move large purchases, and to aid others who may have a hard time stepping onto an escalator.
There are preventative safeguards in train stations.
I was shocked to see protective shields on the walls of the French subways.
Track intrusions and suicide attempts on the subway increased in the first three months of the year when compared to the previous year.
The parking spots at the airport alleviated traffic.
Adding a series of well- placed parking spots at Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport will eliminate the biggest hassle that you will face when trying to pick up or drop off someone at any major airport.
Up to 10 minutes of free parking was offered when I was dropped off at the airport. People were not rushing to get out of a car because of double- parked cars. It's possible to make sure you have everything while still being able to say goodbye.
France doesn't mind if people drink in public if they're doing it right.
I was surprised by the number of people who brought bottles of wine and blankets to hang out along the river at the end of the day.
I was shocked to see people selling wine and beer in buckets at the Eiffel Tower.
Most of the US forbids the consumption of alcohol in public places. It was cool to see that France allows people to drink in public.
I can't recommend enough how common it is for the bathroom in France to have a bidet.
One of my hotels in Paris has a proper bidet next to the toilet.
It's hard to imagine life without the attachment on my toilet.
I was impressed that two of the places I stayed offered hygiene bags in the bathroom, something I have never seen in the US. In the US, public bathrooms are usually only stocked with small trash cans.
France seems to be more aware of toilet paper consumption.
If you're from the US, you might be surprised at the first time you use a public restroom. You cannot put a bunch on your hand. A napkin-sized piece is likely to be pulled down instead.
If you're used to using a lot of toilet paper, it may seem small, but I appreciated France's focus on making people aware of how much paper they may be wasting.
I was more aware of how much paper I actually used when I offered toilet paper in small amounts.
Someone from France would use over 350,000 miles of toilet paper in their lifetime, while someone from the US would use more than 600,000 miles.
Potato wedges are far superior to regular fries.
You can get "deluxe potatoes" in France. They are better than Mcdonald's fries.
Making the most of their time at the table is important to them.
I was in France for a few days and visited Disneyland Paris. I was confused when we were not allowed to eat for three hours.
It turned out that the time was just for people to chat, network, and get to know one another.
It wasn't a one-time thing. A lot of time and care was put into every meal experience, from the amount of time we spent eating to the atmosphere of the location.
A few days into the trip, a Parisian told me that it's not uncommon for coworkers to go out to lunch every day for at least an hour to have a good time. If I go to a restaurant, they will allow me to sit there for as long as I want until I ask for the check.
I'm used to taking a 30 minute lunch break in the US. I didn't realize I didn't appreciate the things I have around me. I'm not allowing myself to absorb it because I'm running so fast.
The French dining experience gave me a wake-up call and encouraged me to be more present during meals and my time with others.
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