first days in france

Here is my generalized comparison of Italy and France (bear in mind I was only there for 4 months and only here in France for 2 weeks so far):

Italy pros:
Its easy and cheap to travel from city to city
BICI!!! (Bikes! at least in Ferrara) convenient, cheap, independent (as in I dont risk missing them or getting stuck in real traffic)
amazing incredible tremendous delicious food. cappellacci. lasagna. eggplant parm. anything with parm. anyhing with balsamic vinegar. anyt food in italy.
gelato (yes, this deserves its own private category)
Great host family
A program which didnt discourage drinking and had really no travelling restrictions
Group dinners with unlimited wine
Wonderful friends who I miss terribly!!!
Cool architecture everywhere, and which is different from city to city.
Being familiar with everything after having been there for 4 months (booking hostels, travelling, speaking, typing on their keyboards etc)

Italy cons:
All females wear high heels
All females who dont wear high heels everyday are stared at until they succomb and buy a pair to wear everyday. Then they stare at you for whatever else youre not wearing
Men stare unabashedly and think a conversation is "whats your name? whats your phone number? Do you want to get a coffee with me?" basta.
You cant leave the house with your hair wet, OR go to sleep with your hair wet
There is no such thing as "your own space" not even your own bedroom
If it is the middle of the day, thursday afternoon, sunday, or raining, nothing is open
the postal system
Everyone smokes

France Pros:
Food. Not AS great as in Italy, but still great. Plus I get dessert every night :)
Crepes
Guys dont stare as much and dont seem to be as tunnel-visioned
Having 4 siblings in my host family!!!
People seem more human here, though unhumanly skinny
Still cool architecture, plus it feels more open here than in Italy
Carrefour and Monoprix (like walmart or target)
Things are open at normal hours and in most types of weather. I cant comment on hurricanes, blizzards, or heat-waves, but we've had thunderstorms and everything is still open
My family sings grace at dinner, and they can actually sing!
Its not as expensive to ship things home
University lunch is only 2,90 euro and we have a student kitchen at IES
My host mom does my laundry (im not actually allowed to) but otherwise stays out of my room

France cons:
Everyone still smokes
I have entirely too much free time (aka I wish I could be getting more than 3 credits)
Im still not used to this stupid keyboard with all its re-arranged buttons
I have to take a bus everywhere and the night bus only runs until 12:30
Our program is very anti-alcohol...despite the fact that most of us are legal even in the states
We have Fridays off but mandatory excursions on two saturdays. Thus, we have 3 weekends to freely travel, but two are before midterm and finals week.
Its not as easy or cheap to travel here as it was in italy
Theres no gelato or cappellacci

That said, I love both France and Italy but I think I would prefer to stay in France for an extended period of time (aka teaching assistantship program) and visit Italy when I can. OK...next post will be a detailed storyline of my life in France...maybe I'll do that tomorrow.