Interesting article. I've lived in France for eight years and have no plans to live elsewere. As much as I love living here, I smiled in recognition at your description of the medical receptionists. I think surliness must be a job requrement. I dread having to make an appointment, am grateful when I can do it on-lne through Doctolib--which also drives me nuts at times. Ditto restaurant service and restaurant hours --I'd love to go out to eat when I felt like it, not between the holy hours. Still love it here ,mostly I can manage to grin and bear it--mostly.