Everything from grocery shopping and socializing to health care is dramatically different in France. But this one thing may have surprised me the most. The menu changes weekly, drawing passersby who review it with interest. As an American who recently moved to Bordeaux with my family, culture shocks have become a familiar part of my daily life.
Back in our hometown of Richmond, Virginia, Oliver attended a public elementary school where lunch was a quick, no-frills affair. The meals were served on disposable trays with plastic plates and cutlery, all of which were tossed in the trash at the end of each meal.
Oliver described the lunchroom scene as loud and chaotic, with the lunch monitors struggling to maintain order. He would often come home famished and frustrated, complaining that lunch was his least favorite part of the school day. And then we moved to France in late as a sort of grown-up gap year. Although he was nervous about attending the fully French school, he was won over by the fact that there is no class on Wednesdays not uncommon in France , and the lunch break is an hour-and-a-half long.
Kids can choose to stay at school for dejeuner lunch or return home to eat with their families. Oliver opted to come home for the first few weeks, then started staying once he felt more comfortable at school. The cantine at the school is a cozy yellow room where the students sit at tables with eight place settings. The meal is served on real plates with real cutlery, which are washed and reused the following day.
A pitcher of water sits on each table, which students pour into their own glasses and refill themselves when more is needed. The meal is prepared by a catering company off-site in the morning at the main school complex and transported to the school each day. Local, seasonal ingredients are prioritized, including sustainable seafood and organic produce. The meal is served in courses, with a starter, a main course, a dairy course yogurt or cheese , and dessert.
