How is working in France different than working in the U.S.?
EB: The working atmosphere in France is just so different. People work hard, but they take time to play too — lunches, vacations, trips, etc. What you do for your living doesn’t define you, like it does in the United States. And you wouldn’t automatically ask someone about work if you met them at a party, for example. There seems to be time for other things here. Work and making money are not as all-encompassing as they seem to be in the U.S. And jobs that students and aspiring actors might do in the U.S., like being a waiter, are careers here in France. Here, no matter what the job, everyone gets retirement and five weeks of vacation; everyone’s allowed to spend time with their families and have a decent life. RW: What is your favorite thing to do in Paris, whether it’s something touristy or something off the beaten track? Eleanor Beardsley and her son in Paris. Photo courtesy of Eleanor Beardsley EB: Oh let’s see. I love to sit at a sidewalk café and watch people. I get a big café au
