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The shower

There are some Americans who have the ridiculous notion that French people don't bathe and use perfume to cover any unwanted smells. There is absolutely no basis for this in reality; Parisians take very good care of themselves and bathe as often as any American. I think this may be left over from the end of the second World War when there was probably a water shortage.

What is notable, and this is in Europe in general, is the lack of a shower curtain. In the US, we all use shower curtains, keeping the water in the tub (there are other repercussions to this; see Psycho). I have only seen one of these once in Europe. I am not sure if this is a privacy thing or not. The French bathrooms I have been in all have shower capabilities, you just need an extra ability to keep the water in the tub area. This completely escapes me. No matter how hard I try, by the time I am done there is water everywhere in the bathroom. This may not be a problem for some, and yes it does eventually dry, but in the apartment where I am staying, the area closest to the water source is also right next to the toilet. So, later on, when you have to do your business, you can end up with very wet pants.

There is also the handheld shower head. While these have started to take off in the US, I have never been a fan. I do understand that this allows you to direct the water, but, again, no matter how well your intentions, on the way to or from your bodily destination, you are bound to be getting water all over the bathroom. I dissolved into laughter the other day. I was at Helmut's family house and was taking a quick shower. The handheld shower head had sprung a leak which was shooting water at 90 degrees off the side of the apparatus. So, I was getting water flowing at around 180 degrees. You try that sometime and try to keep a host's bathroom relatively dry. Perhaps there are lessons on this in French grammar school. Perhaps I can take a remedial course.

While we are on the subject of showers and perfume (parfum) specifically let me say that, yes, Parisians use it. All of them. In the US, women only wear perfume; men wear cologne. Never made sense to me. Almost the same as in the 70s when women used hair dryers and men used hot combs.

I have always been sort of nostalgic for men's cologne. My father always used after shave (again... what is the difference exactly?) and would sometimes pet the cat after applying it; I could smell it all day. It was also a favorite Christmas present to my dad. Of course today, no one in NYC uses it. It is almost an assault when someone does. The French are expert at it, giving you a slight whiff when you are close (is it a parfum? Is it just them?). I am happy to say that one of the first things I did with Helmut was go to the Gallerie Lafayette and find a parfum for me. I am getting used to it. I just keep thinking this is somehow not right, but I am venturing forward with it.

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