I'm not sure how to feel about leaving France. On one hand, I had a lot of fun running races, exploring Europe, seeing old friends, and meeting new people. On the other hand, my difficult students were a headache, and it was tough to be away from family and loved ones.

I was supposed to stay through mid-August to train in the French Alps, and potentially race in the Swiss Alps. Unfortunately, my ankle issue uprooted my original plans. I decided to head home at the end of July--I've had my fill of traveling for now, and I'd rather spend time with my loves back home.

Since I'm heading back to the US soon, a few friends have asked me what I'll miss about France (or not). So, here are five things I'll miss, and five I'm happy to leave behind.

5 Things I'll Miss About France

1. Cheaper race entry fees / trail running

Race registration is exorbitantly expensive in the US. While I paid 39€ euros for the Lyon Half Marathon, I've paid over $100 for a half marathon in the US. My other European races ranged from 20-35€ for distances up to the half marathon. Of course, the Paris Marathon was an exception and cost roughly the same as an American marathon, given that it's a high-profile international race. I'm not sure why there's such a discrepancy in cost overall, though--American races do offer electrolyte drinks and energy gels, and French ones don't, but I can't imagine that would account for such a gap.

I also discovered trail running this year, and the landscapes in France are just so beautiful. In particular, I wasn't expecting Burgundy to have many mountains/hills, but we saw plenty during our runs. I'm sure I can keep running trails in the US, but I'll miss the outings with the running club friends I made (I actually never went to the official club runs, just the member-organized trail runs haha).

2. Zero waste stores / general eco-consciousness 

I loved the local zero waste store in Dijon, where you could buy several staples in bulk (I always got brown rice and oatmeal there). Instead of plastic bags, paper bags or reusable glass jars are the packaging/containers. The store collects old glass jars, then washes and weighs them so they're ready to use. The concept not only cuts down on packaging waste, but also food waste. There were several instances I wanted a specific amount of one thing, and buying in bulk made that easier. I also appreciated the household and personal hygiene products they offered, like refillable dish soap and solid toothpaste. There's at least one or more zero waste stores in most French cities, and I'd love to see these be more common in the US!

In general, I find that the French are more eco-conscious as well. Many people are more careful about bringing reusable bags, buying local, avoiding straws, etc. Most families also don't own dryers, but air dry their clothes. This might be more motivated by cost, as electricity is expensive, but it's still more eco-friendly than running a dryer.

3. The convenience of trains and public transportation

I wouldn't have been able to take most of my trips without the French railway system. Sure, there are always buses, but they're much more inefficient and uncomfortable. One of my least favorite parts of traveling to Eastern Europe was actually the lack of trains--I was so sick of coach buses by the end of the trip (I get nauseous easily). 

Within cities, I also really appreciate the metro and tram systems. Dijon has a population of 155,000 and a relatively reliable tram and bus system. If there was a problem, it was because of strikes, not due to technical issues. My hometown, Columbus, has a population of 879,000 people and no real public transportation system. This might not be a totally fair comparison since Columbus is a lot more spread out and very suburban, but it seems like only major cities in the US have working (ha) public transport.

4. Healthcare is more accessible

Going to the doctor is 25€ before government-provided insurance (it's 6,50€ after). An x-ray is about 30€ before, and 12€ after. A bone scan cost me 13€ with insurance. All of these pre- and post-insurance medical costs would've been at least three times as high in the US.

The most striking to me? A 30-minute physical therapy session is around 20€ before insurance. In the US, it's $100+, and most insurance companies have a $200+ deductible before PT is covered.

70% of my medical bills were automatically reimbursed by the government-provided insurance since I had a teaching job, but I also could've purchased supplemental insurance for 26€/month. The supplemental insurance would've covered 100% of all my medical costs, which is insanely cheap for the amount of coverage you get. (For more on French healthcare, read my guide). 

5. Rent is relatively cheaper

I'm most not looking forward to Boston rent prices of around $1000/month (with multiple roommates). After income taxes, that can be 50% of your monthly income if you have an entry-level job. In Dijon, I paid just over 300€/month (including utilities) for new apartment I shared with 2 roommates. Of course, salaries are lower in France, and I made the minimum wage of 1200€/month post-tax. Proportionally, however, 25% of your monthly income for rent is way better than 50%. 

It's true that Dijon and Boston are cities of different scales, so perhaps this is another unfair comparison. That said, France also has income-based government housing subsidies for all residents, called la CAF. I never received la CAF (it's a long story I'll tell later in this post), but I've heard of past English TAs receiving over 100€/month in reimbursements.

Not my apartment, but the loveliest Airbnb in Paris--unfortunately, rent is way more expensive there!

5 Things I Won't Miss About France:

1. Poor customer service

Don't get me wrong--some business owners and staff are incredibly friendly in France. I've just noticed that customer service tends to be much more curt and not as gracious. 

A prime example from this year was my private gym. The owners decided to sell all the spin bikes, without asking for their clients' input. I had signed up for this gym primarily for their bikes, so I was upset and asked for a refund for my remaining membership months. I wanted to go elsewhere if the gym didn't have what I needed. At first, the owners refused to give me anything. I had to speak with both owners for over 30 minutes before one of them offered free small group classes once a week, which wasn't even something I considered very desirable. 

In another instance while I was studying abroad, I received the wrong data plan, so I went back to the phone company. The salesperson had told me I'd get 1GB of data a month, but I ran out after 500MB. The staff refused to change my plan or refund my money, insisting that I had "misunderstood" the initial salesperson. I was pretty offended because I understand French very well, and even if I didn't, there's a clear difference between 1GB and 500MB. 

In the US, the customer's satisfaction takes precedence in most cases. I usually just have to ask for a refund, and I'll get it.

2. Less cultural sensitivity

I shared my thoughts on being Asian in France last fall, and my sentiments remain largely the same. I experience microaggressions and racism more frequently, such as "Nihao" in the streets, people making karate noises as I run by, or strangers demanding "Are you Chinese?" before even saying hello. 

I even once tried to explain that saying "Nihao" to any Asian person is racist, as it's based on the assumption that all Asians are the same. It's assuming they all speak Chinese, or that they all are Chinese. It's treating them differently because they look different. I explained that I was actually from the US, and that it wasn't cool to make assumptions. But rather than engage with me in conversation, these strangers in the elevator instead began caricaturizing Americans. 

Is there a good way to respond in these situations? I think that these people know they're doing something wrong most of the time. I just don't understand why they still do it. If you turn it around and go ask white people if they're Danish, English, American, etc. in the streets, you'd look ridiculous. If you shout "baguette, baguette" at every French person you see, you'd look crazy.

I do experience microaggressions in the US, but they're much less frequent and often less unsettling.

3. Smoking is more prevalent

This has been a pet peeve of mine for a long time. Maybe I'm oversensitive and indoctrinated by all the anti-smoking campaigns from elementary school, but I really dislike the smell of cigarettes (I also feel like it makes me physically feel less well). In France, it's still quite trendy to smoke, especially among young people. Students will take smoke breaks between classes, and restaurant terraces are filled with smokers. In the US, I find that I encounter cigarette smoke much less frequently. 

4. French bureaucracy is a headache

The French administration is notoriously inefficient and frustrating. There's a great Astérix video (French cartoon) that illustrates how much running around and back and forth there is. People will ask you to submit certain forms, say you're missing one when they never told you to submit it in the first place, ask for the same forms again, etc.

For instance, I actually never got an official apartment contract this year as the agency was incompetent. They asked for my residency permit, and I dropped off a copy as soon as I got mine. Three months later, they called and said I gave them my visa and not my residency card. The thing is, my residency permit is just a sticker in my passport, on the page facing my visa. The staff just couldn't recognize a residency permit when they saw one! I called and told them this, but I never heard back. 

Since I didn't get an official apartment contract, I also couldn't get la CAF, the government housing subsidies. I wasn't too upset about that as getting the subsidies is also allegedly another headache of a process.

5. No air conditioning in most apartments and schools

This one is maybe more petty, but it's definitely a challenge as an American used to AC blasting everywhere (we also had that historic heat wave a couple weeks ago). Most apartments in France don't have AC, even if they're modern (my building doesn't, and it was constructed 2 years ago!). No AC is not new to me after living in older Boston buildings, but the small window ACs are also not common in France. In the US, there's usually at least window ACs, even if there isn't a central one. 

On the flip side, I'm not looking forward to the super cold buildings in the US because of too much AC...I guess I can never win haha.

I don't want to end on a more negative note, so I will reiterate that I made many fond memories this year, and that I'll definitely miss many aspects of my life in France. I think it's interesting just to compare the different conventions and look back on the year--it's also a way to reflect on how daily life might change upon my return. 

I'm not sure when I'll be back, but I'm hoping it'll be soon. In the meantime, I'll be doing my best to enjoy the time I have left!

I took BlaBlaCar for the first time in June. For those unfamiliar with the site/app, BlaBlaCar is a popular French ridesharing platform that allows drivers to post their itineraries, and passengers to catch a ride along the way. To sustain the company, BlaBlaCar levies a 25% commission fee (min 1€) on the rider, on top of the generally-reasonable prices that drivers set. Riders and drivers can rate each other and leave reviews, so others know what to expect (it's kind of like Airbnb for road trips).

My friends' experiences have been largely positive, so I was expecting my ride to go smoothly as well. I normally take the train in France, but I was traveling between Dijon and Troyes, and there wasn't a direct train--I would've actually had to go backwards to Paris before going to Dijon. Luckily, there were several daily rides on BlaBlaCar. 

My ride was actually mess, however--my trip actually started in tears. I'll share the story later, as it's the basis for my "Cons" section. 

We'll start with the good parts first, and you can also enjoy my tangentially-related snapshots of vintage cars I've run into this year. Unfortunately most, if not all, BlaBlaCar rides are in modern cars that aren't nearly as cute haha.

Pros:

1. Get to cities not connected by train

While I love the French rail system, there are several cities that aren't well-connected by train, or aren't accessible by train at all. If you look at a map of the French railway system, you'll notice that the center of France doesn't really have any stations at all--the connections are all along the edges of the country.

The city I was traveling from, Troyes, did have a station. That said, it would've taken me twice as long to get to Dijon by train than by car, because of the inconvenient connections. BlaBlaCar can really help in pinches like these.

2. Usually inexpensive

BlaBlaCar is usually cheaper than a train ticket, especially if you don't have a youth discount card. My two-hour, ~180km trip came out to 12,50€, including the service fee. BlaBlaCar can be helpful if you're trying to save some money, but have extra time on your hands--traveling by car is usually not nearly as quick as by train. It is, however, usually faster than buses.

3. Enjoy company for the trip (not so great if you like to be alone)

If your driver is friendly, chatting can be a nice way to pass the time, and practice your French. Some drivers aren't that talkative though, and some passengers might be introverted, so this could go either way.

Cons:

My BlaBlaCar Quasi-Horror Story:

As I mentioned earlier, my trip actually started in tears. Here's what happened, so you understand the story behind the cons:

At the time, my ankle injury was making it painful to walk, but I still hobbled the half a mile to the pickup point in Troyes, according to the site.

I texted the driver to let her know I was there, but she called and said pickup was at the train station, not the church listed on the site. Apparently BlaBlaCar sets a random location, and the driver actually decides the pickup and drop-off points--I didn't know this, and the driver didn't bother to tell me until I had already gone to the wrong place.

I asked the driver if she could still pick me up at the church, as I had an injured foot and couldn't walk the 1.5 mile to the station. She refused and told me to figure out how to get there. I called taxi companies, but no one was working Sunday morning. So I sat outside the church and started sobbing.

An elderly man biking by asked me what was wrong. He said that while he didn't have a car, he could call the driver and advocate for me. So he called her on my behalf, and convinced her to come pick me up at a central location 200 meters away. He even rode next to me until I reached the new pickup spot, to make sure I got there okay.

The driver did eventually come get me, but I'm still stunned by how cold and unsympathetic she was. I understand that she was already running late and didn't want to push back her other pickups, but I was literally 5 minutes away by car.

So, you'll understand that I'm not the most unbiased source when it comes to BlaBlaCar--my first experience was so terrible that I won't use them again unless I'm desperate.

So, here are the cons of BlaBlaCar, based on my experience:

1. Inconvenient drop-off/pickup locations

The driver might set out-of-the-way stops if they're more accessible by car. Pickup/drop-off is normally at train stations, but you're really at the mercy of the driver once you book the ride. Of course, you can avoid potential problems by asking before booking, and reserving rides only with highly-rated drivers. My disaster ride was actually with a driver who had 4.7/5 stars over 9 rides, though. I had even asked her in advance if she could drop me off near my apartment in Dijon, to which she responded "hi sure no problem," but she didn't follow through.

2. Huge delays for non-direct/multi-city trips

My driver was doing a 10-hour trip with multiple stops, which meant that one delay could have a domino effect on the rest of the trip. This is exactly what happened--she was 30 minutes late coming to pick me up, going out of the way to get me added another 10 minutes, and she needed a coffee break shortly before arrival, which added another 10 minutes.

By the time we arrived in Dijon, we were an hour late. Our driver hadn't bothered to notify the woman she was picking up in Dijon. Sure, she was driving and using Google Maps, but she could've passed her phone to any of us to text the passenger, and asked another person to navigate. The passenger actually had to call to figure out why the driver was already 30 minutes late, only to find out she had to wait at least another 20 minutes.

3. Drivers can lack empathy, not show up, or just generally be irresponsible

As you can see from my story, drivers might not care at all about your well-being. In other cases, they might not even show up (after speaking to my French friends about my experience, I've realized that BlaBlaCar actually produces mixed reviews, not largely-positive ones. No-shows have actually happened to one friend on more than one occasion). There is a refund process for no-shows, but it's just more work for you--you not only have to find a last-minute ride, but also file claims to get your money back.

I also found my highly-rated driver incredibly irresponsible. For one, I had told her that I was a first-time rider, and she didn't bother to explain the pickup/drop-off location nuance beforehand. As a driver, it's her responsibility to ensure her passengers have the right information. She should've texted me the pickup spot if she hadn't heard from me the day before the trip. As passengers, we're paying for a service, so drivers should be more professional.

On top of that, our driver didn't notify any of us that she would be late. This is the same problem--it's lack of professionalism, and also disrespect for our time and plans.

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It's pretty obvious that I'm not a big fan of the rideshare app--my first BlaBlaCar experience was bad, despite taking care to find a well-rated driver. If you are planning to take BlaBlaCar, I totally understand that it can be a good option in some cases. Here are my tips to facilitate a smooth ride as a passenger:

• Pick drivers with 10+ good reviews, if possible. Take the reviews with a grain of salt though, as they can still be inaccurate.
• Ask your driver for the pickup place at least a day in advance.
• Opt for point-to-point trips to avoid delays at different stops.
• If you're planning to bring luggage, ask about the amount of space in the car.

I don't plan to take BlaBlaCar anytime soon, but I do hope that any rides you take are much more pleasant than mine was!

Happy travels,

I actually wasn't able to run this event, so this is a "spectator edition." I've been battling a mystery foot injury for the past few weeks--it was a strain to walk just a few days before the race, so I sat out and cheered the runners on instead.

I had signed up for the 50k months before, thinking I could piggyback off the Paris Marathon and throw in a couple long trail runs. Unfortunately, I kept re-twisting the ankle that I'd already injured in February while skiing. I guess it hadn't properly healed, and the uneven terrain of the trails threw it off. Back in France, I got an ultrasound and bone scan to diagnose the injury, and it seems to be a case of peroneal tendonitis and an overstretched ligament. I'll probably be out of commission for at least another few weeks, but I'm hoping I can get back to exercising soon.

In any case, here are my observations of the North Face Endurance Challenge - Massachusetts.

Registration / Packet Pickup / Cup-less Policy:

You can register online on the race page, and you can also find lots of helpful information on the site, like race guides.

Packet pickup was either at the North Face stores in Boston or Natick, or the morning before your race at Wachusett Mountain. Note that the longer distances (50 mile, 50k, marathon) were held on a different day from the shorter races (half marathon, 10k, 5k).

At packet pickup, you get your bib, a t-shirt (same for all distances), and a HydraPak reusable cup. The event is actually cup-less, which is a great environmental step given how much waste races generate. That said, there were still plastic gallon water jugs to facilitate water distribution. In the future, it'd be great to see tables on the right and left (to avoid traffic jams) with only water coolers. I also think it'd be helpful to be able to re-use the HydraPak cups from previous years. If the race organizers collected cups after the race, they could wash and redistribute them the following year, rather than ordering more cups. Or, they could offer a small discount for participants who promise to bring a reusable cup that they already own.

I think going cup-less is definitely more practical for trail races than for road races (and for smaller vs. bigger races). Since time/pace doesn't matter as much on the trails, people are less likely to be upset about stopping to fill their cup, rather than grabbing a cup and running through. If the race is smaller, there's also less likely to be traffic jams of runners.


How to Get to the Race Without a Car:

Take the Fitchburg Commuter Rail line to Wachusett, and get a taxi to Wachusett Mountain. The train from North Station takes about 1.5 hours, and costs around $10 one way. The taxi ride to the race are should be around $12 if you use Uber.

If you're running the Sunday races (half marathon, 10k, 5k) and traveling there the Saturday before, make sure to get the Commuter Rail Weekend Pass for unlimited Saturday and Sunday rides at $10.

Where to Stay:

I stayed in an Airbnb just 1.5 miles away from the start. It was more than I'd normally pay for an Airbnb, but we basically got a floor to ourselves and were walking distance from the course. Other options are race partner hotels in the area, but they're just as expensive and aren't walking distance to the race.


Finish Line:
All finishers get a medal and reusable water bottle (they may have gotten other goodies, but since I didn't start or finish, I don't know haha). Each participant also got a free beer with the detachable tag on their bib.
I didn't explore the finish line area too much, but there was gear for sale, an ice bath station, and foam rolling station. 
Free Ski Lift for Spectators:
One perk that I didn't mention earlier was the free ski lift that takes spectators up into the mountain. The view is lovely from the lift, and it's cool to be able to see the runners at different stages of the race. Just make sure you take the lift down before it closes, or you'll have to walk/run down.

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I wish I had more helpful details, but watching a race is definitely different from running it. Hoping I'll be healthy soon enough to get back on the trails (and roads). Happy summer running in the meantime!

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