Some things that have happened along the way that have made us feel like that we are beginning to fit in.
1. A local asks you for directions
In Paris one our way home after a long day of sightseeing, a lady stops us and asks in in French if we know the direction to the nearest metro station. We say one word "Cite" [the name of the metro station] and point. We passed with flying colours.
2. Your daughter picks up an English accent and keeps it for the duration of the trip
I can't pin the precise moment, but believe she picked it up from here Cardiff cousin's. We did a double take when she asked "Dad. Do you still have my train ticket?" in a very Michael Caine sort of way and had to laugh. Chloe hasn't lost the accent since.
3. You start getting annoyed at tourists who are driving a rental yet you yourself are one
Nothing more annoying than being stuck behind a person that can't make up their mind on where to go. "Um, should I turn here? Let's slow down to see the road sign. Nope. Next one. Wait a second... nah. Speed limit is 90, so I'll drive 35 just to be safe." I wish people would just pull over to the side and get their bearings instead of not admitting defeat and causing havoc on the roads.
4. You don't freak out when there is no soya sauce
Ok. Asian thing. You are in a rental and bought a huge slab of veal that you want to season. Standard marinade of garlic, ginger, light soya, sugar, star anise, and sherry right? Except you are in Provence and they have no concept of more than one type of soya sauce, their ginger is way too young, star anise seems to be a foreign ingredient, and cooking with sherry is sacrilegious. That's ok. Iron Chef it with garlic, honey, fleur de sel, balsamic vinegar, and "herbs de provence"... yummy!
