Count Your Money Before You Leave The Bank/European Vacations

[Strike For The South]

They shorted me 20 bucks and I only realized it when I go to the Wal-Mart.

As I was waiting for class to start I wandered into the Barnes & Nobel to look at books Im to poor to buy. I was reading about an Englishman's time in Paris and He said they get the entire month of August off and then a "mid-term" in November. My father has been at the grocery store for decades and he gets 2 weeks, non consecutive.

How do Europeans manage all that time off and still have developed economies?

[Louis VI the Fat]

How do Europeans manage all that time off and still have developed economies?

We have a different sense of time.

For you, it's been a month. That is, it is history, water under the bridge, you don't even remember what it was about, etc. For me, this post is a response well within a reasonable timeframe.

I also had ten weeks of holiday last year.


Despite that, we are rich and developed for the same reason that a pretty girl never needs to work a day in her life. We are so pretty that people pay simply for our looks and company. All you people from hapless countries cursed by the Protestant Work Ethic work like a slave for fifty weeks. Then you spend it all on holidays in France just to enjoy to fine art of living like a Frenchman for two weeks.

[HoreTore]

I had 4 months of vacation last year; May, June, July and August.

Ok, so I cheated and quit my job in May and didn't start working against until August, but the concept is basically the same....

Standard vacation time here is 5 weeks. Minimum. By law. It's illegal to have less vacation, at least in theory(if you have two jobs, you can work more). You also get holiday money, which is 13% of your annual income, tax free. Take that, anglo-saxons!

[Meneldil]

They shorted me 20 bucks and I only realized it when I go to the Wal-Mart.

As I was waiting for class to start I wandered into the Barnes & Nobel to look at books Im to poor to buy. I was reading about an Englishman's time in Paris and He said they get the entire month of August off and then a "mid-term" in November. My father has been at the grocery store for decades and he gets 2 weeks, non consecutive.

How do Europeans manage all that time off and still have developed economies?

A Year in the Merde, Merde Actually and Talk to the Snail. Hilarious books, even though he's sometimes exagerating.

[gaelic cowboy]

How do Europeans manage all that time off and still have developed economies?

Not all European countries have that long off funnily in fact the European Union ended up adding holidays to the Irish workers time off and I remember employers unions being annoyed at the time.

Course a month off is a bit much and I suspect that has more to do with the greater civil service bent in the economy in France.

[Strike For The South]

This is ridiculous. I want to be a Frenchman

[Papewaio]

Take that, anglo-saxons!

Gees I wonder where the genetic stock of anglo-saxons orginate from?

[Fragony]

More holidays gets more people working, simple as that. So does a 36 hour week, I like the 36 hour week so much that I do it twice.

[Strike For The South]

You work 72 hours a week/

[Meneldil]

This is ridiculous. I want to be a Frenchman

Okay, there's this weird misconception in the UK that France is somewhat of a heaven on earth. They spend their time making fun of us, but as soon as they retire, or whenever they get the occasion, they leave good ol' Britannia and enter in a relationship with Marianne (who is actually much more hot).

Thing is, even though I think life in France is currently as good as you could expect in a developed country, be careful about what you read or see. For example, if you read the book you're talking about (assuming it's the one I read too), you'll think that:
- French party all the time
- French don't give a crap about their jobs
- French healthcare system is universal, awesome and free
- Frenchgirls are all babes

That is not true. Many people work their ass off there too, we have an increasingly high number of working poors, the healthcare system has many flaws, and we also have a few not that good looking girls.

Oddly, the french have the same misconception about Sweden and Norway (they spend their time drinking, they work 20hours a week and are wealthier than us, and all the girls there are smocking hot).

[Strike For The South]

Okay, there's this weird misconception in the UK that France is somewhat of a heaven on earth. They spend their time making fun of us, but as soon as they retire, or whenever they get the occasion, they leave good ol' Britannia and enter in a relationship with Marianne (who is actually much more hot).

Thing is, even though I think life in France is currently as good as you could expect in a developed country, be careful about what you read or see. For example, if you read the book you're talking about (assuming it's the one I read too), you'll think that:
- French party all the time
- French don't give a crap about their jobs
- French healthcare system is universal, awesome and free
- Frenchgirls are all babes

That is not true. Many people work their ass off there too, we have an increasingly high number of working poors, the healthcare system has many flaws, and we also have a few not that good looking girls.

Oddly, the french have the same misconception about Sweden and Norway (they spend their time drinking, they work 20hours a week and are wealthier than us, and all the girls there are smocking hot).

I had these misconceptions before my skim reading. Don't ruin this for me.

[Fragony]

You work 72 hours a week/

Not anymore, but easily. If you work for your own you work a lot.

[Marshal Murat]

- French party strike all the time
- French don't give a crap about their jobs strike
- French healthcare system is universal, awesome and free strike
- Frenchgirls are all babes strike

There, fixed.

[Sarmatian]

How do Europeans manage all that time off and still have developed economies?

I object. There are those of us in Europe with undeveloped economies. Don't put me together with those Frenchies that get paid obscene amount of money to go around all day and say ooh-la-la in an uncomfortably high voice, drink coffee and enjoy fine art and wine in the company of beautiful women. I hate them and their expensive perfumes. A slice of bread, bed and a blanket - that's all a real man needs

[a completely inoffensive name]

I love it when a good thread degenerates into a spam and stereotype filled thread.

[HoreTore]

Oddly, the french have the same misconception about Sweden and Norway (they spend their time drinking, they work 20hours a week and are wealthier than us, and all the girls there are smocking hot).

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.............

I'm planning to take a year in France. I can assure you that the education is just an excuse. I'm going there for the babes. And wine. And the babes who drink themselves willing on wine.

And.... We spend our time drinking? Seen the price on alcohol 'round here?

[Fragony]

You a traditional scandinavian blond icy blue-eyed titan? They'll be all over you, viva la France.

[HoreTore]

You a traditional scandinavian blond icy blue-eyed titan? They'll be all over you, viva la France.

Except that I'm a dwarf at 1.74, yes

But the blond hair and blue eyes are all good

[Fragony]

Except that I'm a dwarf at 1.74, yes

But the blond hair and blue eyes are all good

I am a pretty normal dutchman, which means I am a head taller then the rest of the world and especially these french gentlemen (1.85). Them french ladies, I am used to be being approached being the stud that I am, but not in the middle of the day, it's kinda odd. You'll have a blast, viva la france.

[InsaneApache]

Not anymore, but easily. If you work for your own you work a lot.

Quite. After I'd set up my first business I didn't have any holidays for about 4 years. It ceases to be a job and becomes a way of life. Also I didn't have any time off sick, even when I had the flu I still went to the suppliers. He cheered me up, or rather his mum did, when after we'd concluded our business he took me through to the kitchen and served me up superb bindaloo.

[Husar]

I am a pretty normal dutchman, which means I am a head taller then the rest of the world and especially these french gentlemen (1.85). Them french ladies, I am used to be being approached being the stud that I am, but not in the middle of the day, it's kinda odd. You'll have a blast, viva la france.

So who is 1.85? You or the french?

It's important to know because I'm 1.85.

[LittleGrizzly]

Im guessing its frag thats 185... either that or frag is like 6"5 or 6"6..... damn my 177... just a few extra centimeters and i would be happy...

[Seamus Fermanagh]

... just a few extra centimeters and i would be happy...

Alas, how many men -- and women -- have uttered that rueful phrase.


But since we've wandered into comparative height advantage, I'd say this topic has topped out.