Whether it’s kids here or there, I can usually get them to be my new best friend pretty quickly. But there was something I noticed about young children in Paris versus young children in America. They are a lot more adult-like in their mannerism. They are not afraid of adults, they talk to strangers, they talk about the weather and they are very forthcoming. Just from my experience, most kids in America, unless they know you personally, tend to be a little shy. But then again, they have been taught since pre-school to blow a whistle and yell “STRANGER” at any unknown persons lurking around the corner.
While lounging around with a bagged lunch in a grassy park by the Eiffel Tower, Erika and I met a little boy, probably about 4 years old. He kept coming up to us, giving us picked flowers, calling us ‘les jolies filles’ (or the pretty girls) and asking us, en francais, why we were speaking english. Well we really won over this little Casanova when I pulled out the ultimate child tamer. It’s like crack for kids….
BUBBLES! The little french heartbreaker was all smiles and arms full of more flowers for us after that.
Speaking of french kids, and bubbles. Let me introduce you to one of Erika’s little cousins: Maya. She’s quite the charmer herself. When she first introduced herself to us she did an elaborate bow and said “Hello! I…am Maya!” And we applauded her english. Maya and I got on the BFF level after I found yet another bottle of bubbles to share. After that we were attached at the hip, and she even drew me a nice self portrait as a keepsake so I wouldn’t forget her;)
A fair likeness I’d say. Ah kids. Ah….french kids.
