Two memorable quotes, recorded here for cyberposterity:
"After all everybody, that is, everybody who writes is interested in
living inside themselves in order to tell what is inside themselves.
That is why writers have to have two countries, the one where they
belong and the one in which they live really. The second one is
romantic, it is separate from themselves, it is not real but it is
really there."
–Gertrude Stein, Paris France
"I wanted beauty, with a capital B. I was consumed by my own appetite to
consume–in a very limited way, of course, the beauties of Europe."
–Janet Flanner
Is that it? that’s your entire question? OK, here’s a simple answer.
Your fellow countrymen started wearing pajamas to Walmart, school, the
grocery store and many other places long before you became an expat. I
was on a bus this morning with two teenagers who were wearing flannel
pajama bottoms-one pair adorned with bright yellow ducks and the other
with a disney princess- to school. I think this must be a trick question
or at least meant to be rhetorical?
Teenagers I can almost kinda sorta understand. I am talking about GROWN
PEOPLE, adults! walking around in stores in their pajamas in the middle
of the day? I admit to being a bit startled by the whole idea. Needless
to say, It Is Not Done in la belle France 😉
Your header reminds me… have you had Poppy run through the Poppy fields yet? They are lovely right now!