Cafe de Krueger - A Little Taste of Thanksgiving

This year a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving, my wife comes to me and says, "Hey, I would like to invite some people from work over and show them our American Thanksgiving. Would you cook a Thanksgiving feast for them to taste?" John: "Baby, I would love to do that for you, how many people are you thinking?" Liz: "I was thinking about 12-16 people." John: "Whew, that is a lot of people."

Now some of you are thinking, "John, that is nothing, you have thrown parties at your house for many more than that. What are you worried about? " I would agree with you for the most part, but we are not in the US where I have my giant kitchen with double ovens, warming drawers and a dining room that I can fit 30 people. But nonetheless, I say, "I will do whatever you need me to do, I think giving your french co-workers a taste of American Thanksgiving is a great idea."

So for a couple of days, I came up with a menu and then we started to talk logistics. Some expats here are lucky enough to have a place where they can entertain. We are also lucky to have a house rather than an apartment, but this house is compartmentalized. There is no room for moving things around to make space, so in order to get that many people, we will need to add a second table in our living room and get some chairs as well. Then there is the decision as to who do you put at which table and which table she sits at (something we learned when we spent 2 weeks in China). You don't want to insult anyone by not sitting with them. So we talked with family and finally came up with a great idea of appetizers (canapes) and desserts based on Thanksgiving.

So, I created a new menu based around thanksgiving ingredients, but with a french flair. So my menu was: 1. Crostini with a blue cheese spread, piece of turkey and topped with cranberry sauce; 2. Turkey salad sandwiches (with walnuts and celery); 3. Brioche sweet potato cups; 4. Stuffing balls; 5. Cucumber cups stuffed with shrimp salad; 6. Green beans wrapped in prosciutto. I had to make around 60 of each appetizer. Liz then made 6 desserts which included Chocolate chip bundt cake with chocolate ganache, apple spiced cake, pumpkin cookies with brown sugar icing, pumpkin cheesecake and cinnamon apple bars with brown sugar icing and chocolate ganache. We also purchased French champagne to go with it.

We set the part for 4pm and set it up in the cafeteria at her work. We had the help of our friend Kristin Bell, a co-worker and another french co-worker. By 3:55 we were ready to begin feeding. At 4:15, no one had shown yet, you get nervous and forget that this is france, that everyone is always late. About 5 minutes later people came flooding in. Liz welcomed everyone and described what was on the menu and how thanksgiving started and what it means to us; Americans.

Everyone began to eat, sample and try all the food. I think they were amazed at the array of food and that they were able to understand what Thanksgiving tasted like. it lasted till about 5:30 and everyone went back to work or went home. We had some food left and Liz left most of it at work and was going to take it to a meeting the next day to be finished. The next day the meeting was the highlight as the food was gone. You never know how well the event goes, but the next day, she was presented with beautiful flowers and a thanks for putting it on. Her boss asked if we could do that every week it was so good. I told her once a month might be a cool thing, but you only get 1 for free, the rest you gotta pay for. it took a lot of time and energy and I want paid.

It did make me realize I like creating something from nothing and experimenting and coming up with my own creations. So maybe I will try harder at cooking new and better dishes for my family.

My Butcher........My Friend

Last year, the school my kids go to sold fresh turkey's for our American holiday celebration..Thanksgiving. We already had plans to go to London since we needed a change of scenery after arriving 3 months prior. So I froze our turkey in our american size refrig/freeze in our cave for another time.

Here we are a year later and it is time to do this turkey. So, I have my smoker and was going to throw it in and smoke up my 9kilo turkey and see what happened. As the day got closer, it got colder and my small smoker would be hard to keep warm. I didn't want to put it in my oven because I would really have to babysit it. Then a light dawned in my head (I felt like a lightbulb over my head just came on for all to see). My butcher has these massive rotisserie's.

So I had taken my turkey out 3 days prior but it was still frozen. I decided to take it to him anyway and see what he could do. I went down early on a sunday morning around 8:30 because I knew very few french people would be there and I could take my time with him. I get down there and Peter (a young man who speaks english at the butcher) and the man he calls "the boss" was there and both greeted me with a, "Bonjour John." I told Peter I needed to talk to him and the boss. I told him my dilemma and was wondering if he would truss up the turkey and put it on the rotisserie. I had written up my request on Google Translate, translated it to french and printed it out. As they both read it, they got this frown across their face and I knew what they were curious about. Once I had translated it to french, I had it translated back to english. Well, the translation for trussing up the turkey literally translated to "wire the bird to me." I explained that I wanted the bird tied up so that the legs and wings didn't flop everywhere and they both smiled and said, "d'accord." He then took the turkey out and found it to be frozen still and he was like, "merde." They talked and they said they could thaw on top of the rotisserie. Before I left, he asked if he could season the turkey and I said, he was the Chef du Cuisine and he could do what he wanted. He said I could come back at 1:30 and pick it up.

I returned after church feeling joyous for I knew that it had to be good because all of their food is good. I walked up to their booth at the market and saw my bird on the spit all alone (market starts closing around 2) but there was a crowd of french people with their kids just staring at it. The butcher came over and took it off the spit and brought it over to the table and was taking out the center spike holder. As he did, the french kids were just going on and on pointing to it and talking to their parents and the parents were jabbering away. It was causing quite a fuss as they had never seen anything that big before.

I stood there in awe of how beautiful it looked. As I saw him take off the bar that held it, I asked what he had done to it. Peter explained that to keep the breast moist, he covered the turkey in bacon, trussed it all up and put in on. Can I tell you how awesome that turkey was? I know just by the description and photo that you KNOW it was good. It is a technique that I will tuck away for when I return to the states and I am looking into commercial type rotisseries now. So as they packaged it up for me to take home, I asked, "combien je vous dois?" He said that I didn't owe him anything, that he was happy to do it for me because I was such a good and loyal customer. I told him that I feel I should pay him for his time, but he refused to take my money. I couldn't have been more proud of this frenchman because this is not the norm that I have run into. For the service he has provided, I will be forever grateful.

This is why the butcher is my friend, he produces great product and also has great service. I will miss him

Live life like there is no tomorrow......

To some, the titles sounds awfully selfish. But this has been a hard week for me. A friend of mine was in a bicycle accident. Not one that you would think would be horrible like being hit by a car running into something at high speed. No, a world class athlete (been pro biker since he was a teenager), who watches what he eats, is incredibly in tune with his body and it's limitations, passed out on a rigorous ride. He doesn't remember anything (because he hit his head and his helmet broke giving him a concussion) and he can't remember the 15 minutes or so before that. His doctors aren't 100% sure what is wrong with him and still doing more tests. As I have been praying for him and his family, it has made me think of what is important and am I doing enough to further HIS Kingdom.

If we (I) lived each day like it was our last, we would ___________? I know I am not the first person to ask this question, nor will I be the last. Am I working hard enough on myself to make sure I am healthy and around for my children as they grow up? Am I doing my part to instill in them right and wrong, giving it your best and nothing less, being respectful and mindful? So many other things they will need as they grow up into strong independent adults.

The other day, I happen to look over and starring back at me was a photo of the kids when they were 2 and 6 respectively (taken by Don at Lakewood Photography). I started to get a little misty eyed as I thought about how much better a father I could have been in those early years. I could have been more compassionate, caring, nurturing. Was I living at that time like their was no tomorrow? Was I doing everything I could for my kids? Was I doing HIS will and everything for HIM so I could show my kids God's love?

I realize that life is a dance. You need to do what makes you happy and pursuit it. Next you need to devote just enough time to it so that it doesn't interfere in being with your family and their pursuits. You need to make sure that their pursuits are being met and they do their best and finally you need a little down time. Lastly, make sure they know the Lord our God will always be there in good times and in bad and HIS will for their lives is the right path. Now this dance has music, atmosphere, and multiple partners and they all must work together to not trip over each others feet, yet flow seamlessly to the choreography.

I know that I am not your typical blogger, my thoughts may stray back and forth zig zagging like many levels of a Metro station. Anyway, life is too short to live like you will live forever, rather, pursuit your passion, make sure your family is pursuing theirs and just enjoy each other for as long as you can. Love your family and Love God.

Why don't the french wear watches......time is not relevant

So, I know I have ranted about the French and "time," but tonight I have figured it all out. The french believe that americans waste time doing trivial things and that their way of life is "living." So here is a typical french persons day in this rednecks perspective (now living amongst them). They decide to go to work around 9-9:30am and work for an hour or so, but then it is time for a coffee break. Not go get some coffee and come back to your work area, but go hang out, talk about life for 30+ minutes. They decide again to go back to work around 11am and proceed to work for about an hour; then it is time for lunch. Now I know I have extolled on the wonders of the 2 hour lunch. Businesses shut down (no shopping for you from 12-2pm) and go feed themselves. Most americans would say, hey that is great, time away to relax and enjoy lunch. Fine. The french decide to go back to work again around 2pm and manage to work this time for about 2 hours before you guessed it; coffee break. So now around 4-4:30pm is more time for coffee (and smoke'em if you gottem) and again discuss the wonders of life. Again, they decide to go back to work around 5 and work for another couple of hours deciding they have put in enough "hard time" at work and stammer out the door at around 7-7:30pm to head home. This too is a time killer, but they don't mind sitting in traffic on a bus for 1-2 hours or packing themselves into the metro like sardines and take an hour or so to get home.

This is where things get fun. If you aren't going to cook and take your family out to eat (like we have currently experienced here at our 4-star resort restaurant, service is going to take 2-3 hours. So lets discuss tonight's festivities.

We take the first seating at 7:30 (heavens to betsey people WANT to eat earlier) and proceed to be waited on and our entire meal's order taken; starter, entree and dessert. Again keeping in mind the french don't mind sitting around twiddling their thumbs. It takes 30 minutes to bring the starter (we will discuss the food in a later paragraph). During this time more people are coming in with their 3-4 children (france seems to have more kids per family than the U.S. because they pay way less taxes the more kids you have). So now we are finished with our starter and 2, 3, and 4 year old kids are running around this 4-star hotel restaurant that is VERY, VERY expensive. After taking our starter plates away, we wait 45 minutes for our entree to which 3 of us get served and they bring nothing for Katherine who just ordered a steak (safe meal to order even though steak is like shoe leather over here). And we sit (we don't start because it is rude, we think they are bringing Katherine. 10 minutes pass and still no entree for our daughter who has ordered a 40 euro steak.

She feels bad and orders us to eat before ours gets cold. We finish our meal before anyone notices or we can flag anyone to say, "Hey, where is her's?" Now we don't like to stick out and make a fuss, but if you were paying 40-50 euros per person to eat, don't you think getting food out would be a priority? Waitress comes over doesn't know what happened and said they are cooking it now. Mind you this dinner started at 7:30 and it is now 9:30 before she gets something (30 minutes after Liz and I finish). 30 more minutes pass by before dessert comes. We finally pick up and leave at 10:30pm. Now this entire time those same children who had been running around the restaurant had been doing so for 3 hours. Who subjects their 2, 3, or 4 year old to that? Can it be fun to spend 200-300 euros for dinner and really not enjoy it? Oh, but they do, that is what they say is the fun in spending "family time" together. Bull. Family time is cooking at home, sitting an playing games, watching a movie together, not chasing kids in a restaurant that you are supposed to be paying for good food (again discuss in a minute) and ambiance.

Someone smarter than me is going to have to explain to me how this way of doing things is productive. They only turned our table 1 time (just us). how do you make any money that way?

4-star restaurant food. Maybe I am too much of a redneck to appreciate high-falutin food. I get as my starter soup with pieces of John Dory in it. Sounds great. It comes out ice cold. Who thinks eating cold tomato soup with cold veggies and cold pieces of fish in it? I guess because you are not cooking for the "majority" of the culture, that only weird people can really relate to this marvel of "complex" cooking (or cooling). I love food; as is evident by my size. And I think that I have a fairly discerning palate. But this is just not the way "real people" eat. Only those who think they must have something so far out, so far fetched, so out of the reach of "commoners" think this is food style.

Not me, give me a piece of steak breaded and thrown in the grease to get nice and crispy and put some mash potatoes on it with some nice country gravy. I will put that toe-to-toe with any Michelin Starred chef and I will sell circles around them and people waiting out the door to get it.

Bon Appetit!!!!!

Diary of a Mad Fat Man: The Naked Truth

Some of you may have seen this post before, cause 2 years ago, I thought I was changing my life......but I didn't. I came up with all kinds of excuses, one of which was, I don't have time. Well here I am in Paris, no job and plenty of time and I still manage to not change my life. There comes a life changing moment and for me, that is today. I want to be able to ride a bike longer than 20 minutes without stopping. I want to be able to hike, ski or more on the home front, be an inspiration to my family.

This is the first post of what is going to shape up to be a monumental life change. I have decided that this is not a "diet" but a lifestyle change, a change in habits and portions. I have adopted a few ideas from several places, but mainly from Weight Watchers (which my wife has done for years) and a neighbor across the street (in houston) who lost over 100lbs by just watching what he ate.

I will have a weekly update just like weight watchers so I can see where I stand each week. I start the week tipping the scales at 350 lbs. Now according to the National Weight/Height Chart, I should be around 222 lbs, but I am going to float myself an extra 28 lbs to get to 250 lbs. Even giving myself the little fudging, I am looking at 100 lbs. Now that is not out of the question, and can be done. As the old joke goes, Q: "How do you eat an elephant?" A: "One bite at a time!"

So, eating good has to start, I live in a place that worships fresh food and it is in abundance. I bought P90X, and although it says you have to be in great shape to do this program, I believe it will give me the tools to get up and moving. A really good friend over here has been encouraging me on my biking and will continue to work on that.

Pray that I can get up off my duff and make the change rather than just speak of it.

To be continued..............

Mr. Destiny........go back or not to go back.....

Mr. Destiny (watch 6:20-7:30).

It is a story of Larry Burrows who didn't think his life was what he thought it should be. It all stemmed from a single instance earlier in his life in school. He wished his life had turned out differently, yet he didn't realize how great his life already was.

One of the rules I have lived by since I found my relationship with Christ at age 19 is, "Every experience (good and bad) affects and shapes who you are. People are notorious for asking, "Don't you wish you could go back and do that over again?" I have always said no, because I believe that if I changed one decision, that would affect future experiences. I have also discussed this with every 10th grade sunday school class we have taught the last 12 years and expressed that every decision we make forms who we are and will affect future decisions and experiences.

For example. I moved 3 times in 4 years. If I said I wanted to go back to just before the last move to Bartlesville, OK, and told my parents that I didn't want to move. Since they had asked me if it was okay I could have said, I would really like to stay here and graduate with my friends since it was only going to be another 2 years. If they had said, we understand and we love you enough to honor your wish, my life would be completely different. I would never have met my current wife in High School and become high school sweethearts, dated 6 years and been married now for the last 20 years.

But this week has challenged that. I think about a moment in time that I would like to go back to and change 1 bad decision. I know by changing that decision, there is a 100% chance I wouldn't be where I am today (meaning just not in Paris), but where I am in my life. I won't be with my fantastic wife and I would have the kids I currently have. Now, that doesn't mean I wouldn't be married or have kids, but I may not have these. Okay, let's not go so far back, what if I changed 1 decision just after my first child was born. That decision profoundly affects future events without a doubt. It could mean that I am a much better father, it will change the way a discipline and understand. But it could also mean that we decide to have a 2nd child sooner and that Jackson possibly wouldn't be our current Jackson. Maybe it means that we aren't actually here in Paris

Being a parent calls in to questions your ability to be a parent. Your ability to be good parents. And if you should have even become a parent. The decisions we make profoundly affect how our children grow up and form opinions and develop their character. Is it possible to change and redirect the direction your child goes? Can you change character issues? Can a bad moral flaw be changed? Can you teach them that the path they are on is not right and that they feel and understand that? Can you give them that "little voice" inside that says, "this isn't right, I shouldn't do this."

I question my own ability to redirect this path and if they will listen and change. Being a parent is the hardest thing anyone could ever embark on. Harder than running a marathon, learning to be a first class doctor or any other incredible challenge. It is good that there are actually great parents out there to counter those of us who just don't cut it.

No going back now.........

LOOK OUT Lance Armstrong.....I'm the guy in your way as you ride by

So, today was the inaugural ride. I decided the best way to do this was to let the kids ride their bikes to school (which is what they have been bugging me about) and test everything out. I get out my specially designed riding shorts; which by the way feels as if I am wearing a huge woman's pad between my legs. Then there was the specially designed shoes that go with the pedals that I bought which have tiny clips in them so your feel feel like they are cemented in (must be what an outgoing Mob Boss feels like as he enters the river).

Next it was time to don the helmet. Perfect fit and fit as though I remembered it. So out we went. To the end of the drive and walked all the bikes across the street. The kids mounted their and so did I. For 2 minutes, I struggled to get my feet clipped in (never having practiced this ahead of time). I finally got them in and as we approached a stoplight, I panic'd as I couldn't get my feet out of the clips until brut strength won out. So we got to the school without much fanfare, but with much worry from me as my kids rode in the bike lane on the street (not sure we can do that again). The one thing that I also didn't figure out ahead of time (because I had ridden bikes before) but how to switch gears. I could switch them down, but I couldn't figure out how to gear it up. So at the school, after about 10 minutes of following all the moving parts, I figured out this very complex riding machine.

Now it was time to head home. It is a 2km ride there, so 2km ride back. As I started back my vision of Grandeur gave way to my body mocking me. It was basically all downhill going to school, so now it was all uphill going home. The old saying it's like riding a bike, you never forget. You may not forget, but your body sure has a short memory as to how hard it was. The heavy breathing and the now burning, shooting pain in my legs was telling me that uphill was probably not the way to start training. So half way back to the house (only 1km into my ride home) I had to stop, take off the shoes and walk the rest of the way home. I did get a bunch of strange looks as people know that is not the way to ride a bike.

I guess the moral of this story is going to have to be....use a trainer (that is a stand the rear wheel goes on so you can ride inside as a stationary bike) until you build up the required muscles to be able to venture outside to an even harder challenge.

Sorry muscles, we will work more tomorrow.

HEADLINE FRANCE.....Stupid American and his son get locked in the Parc de St. Cloud

So Jackson got a new bike yesterday and so after putting it together, he and I went to the park across the street and taught him how to change gears (first multiple gear bike). The park closes (gets locked up) at 8:50pm. We were only about 15 yards from the gate, and it started to get dark, I look down and it was 8:40, so we headed back up the hill 15 yards to find the gate locked. So jackson sort of started freaking out; it was locked and it was getting dark. I told him we would head down to find another way to get out and went to the next gate. Jackson go there first and it was locked and he started screaming and crying we were locked in. Again, I told him, we would keep walking and see if we can find a way out. After walking part of the park, we found no other place to get out.

So, I called one of the expat parents I had recently talked to and told them of our dilemma. She and her husband got in the car and headed our way as well as they called the local police to find out what to do(as there is no phone number on the inside of the gate). As we were standing there waiting, a couple across the street walking their dog looked at us with a puzzled look. I didn't yell out, "hey we're trapped" cause if they only spoke french, we were doomed to communicate. She wandered across the street and I said, "Bonsoir, parlez vous anglais?" She said, "of course." She said, "Hey you are part of ASP!" (all that time volunteering paid off). I told her and her husband what had happened and so now they are trying to help. They went next door which was the Pasteur Institute and the guard there couldn't help either, but now he was on the phone now too talking to the police. The one couple who was walking their dog now had brought back 2 30' aluminum ladders that we put one through the fence and I propped it up. The guard next door kept yelling in french that we shouldn't try and climb over that it was dangerous and wait for the police.

We were now an hour into our ordeal, 3 phone lines going to the police and a big fat cop on a motorcycle comes down and stops and just looks and starts asking why there are ladders on the fence, not recognizing me and jackson on the other side (even though that is why he was called in the first place). He sort of meandered off the bike, came up to the gate, looked at me with this, "stupid american" smirk on his face and let us out.

So, to Steve and Erin Nowicki (THANK YOU) to the other ASP family who stopped (whose name I didn't get THANK YOU), and to all my ASP (american expats) here in France.....don't get locked in the park after the time, but if you do...call the police and just wait. Lesson learned.

Money: some have it and some have A LOT OF IT!!!

Last night was the American School of Paris Gala. A time to come together, have fun and celebrate the school. It is also a time to raise a little money through an online auction, silent auction and a live auction. Lots of cool stuff to bid on at the online auction which closed the night before the Gala. At the Gala, some of the silent auction items were a Louis Vuitton speedy bag with some LV accessories (I lost the bid on that one). But the fun of the night was watching the high rollers go at it. I must be naive about people and money, because when the Live Auction got started, it got INSANE!

I watched as 2 men went head to head on a dinner that was being auctioned off. It started off at 500 Euros and within minutes climbed to 9000 Euros. The auctioneer was clever and had the chefs who were going to be doing the cooking at the auction, talked them into doing 2 dinners and that one item brought in 18,000 Euros. What kind of crazy money do you have to have to just give 9000 Euros for a 10 course dinner? Oh, it was for 10 people, but 900 Euro dinner per person? that was just for the 1 dinner, they agreed to do 2, so each man bidding against each other got a 10 course 12 person dinner for 9000 Euros. That was just the beginning of watch thousands of Euros get bid on items that night.

Now, I know that this night was about raising money, so logic in what you spend goes out the window cause it is for a good cause (the school your kids go to) and is tax deductible. So you might ask what the point of the story is....I don't know other than, my naivety is gone and I rejoiced in everyone else's wins. It was a fun.

So when I didn't think the evening could get anymore interesting, on the way home, we drove by a huge park called the Bois de Boulogne. On one side of the park, is about a 2 mile long street. As we travelled down this street, it became clear that this was Hooker alley. Hoochie mommas all until we started seeing women standing on the side of the road with no tops on (nothing on top) and then 1 who was stark naked wearing only a fur coat that she didn't keep closed. Again, I am naive when it come to this and that it actually occurs, but here it was on the side of the road, made us sad.

My eyes are even more wide open than they were 24 hours ago and I am more cognizant of the world around me.

My Open Market - A Paris Experience

I think about what will I miss once we leave Paris and transition back to the U.S. Some people will say that I haven't been here long enough to answer that question. But this I do know. I am going to miss my market. Every sunday morning I go down to my open market in Garches and visit the local vendors. I have been very fortunate, when I first started visiting the market, I found at least one person at each vendor who after letting me butcher their language let me off the hook and wanted to speak english.

My first stop is to the flower vendor. I get fresh flowers at least once a week if not twice a week from the local markets (which there are 4 during the week between Garches and St. Cloud). When Liz arrived home from houston, I got 2 dozen roses for 10 euros. Flowers here are very cheap and very beautiful and I will miss that.

My second stop is to the produce vendor. Rows and rows of great farm fresh fruits and veggies. My ususal is fingerling potatoes, brussel sprouts, red leaf lettuce, baby romaine, fresh mushrooms (with the dirt still on bottom of stems), beautiful strawberries, raspberries, bananas, apples and pineapple. The man who helps me also is teaching me the french word for what I want to buy which is great.

My last stop is to the meat monger. Here is my favorite place. They have at each corner of their booth is huge paella type pans, 1 with gratin dauphinois (potatoes au gratin), and in the other small pan roasted potatoes. I get a container of each, then they rotisserie everything. One of my favorites is Roti de Dinde which is roast turkey. Now sometimes they will stuff them with different things; they can have bacon and cheese, they can have chestnut, apricot but a funky one is a turkey breast stuffed with Lapin (Rabbit). You can also get fresh rotisserie chickens. Here you have a choice of free range and cage. You have to pay attention because one is 25 euros apiece and one is 5 euros a piece. They also do a beef rib which is a very thick cut rib which runs high and not what you would think of as a beef rib but good. One of the last things I have not tried yet (expensive) is the rotisserie leg of lamb, but one day i will.

So my goal in coming back is to find an open market, probably hit some of the hispanic markets for fresh food and visiting Central Market just a little bit more.

Nudity: US Goody Two-shoes or European Tolerance

So, I was just coming to grips with the european "shared" bathroom for men and women when I came face to face (or face to....well read on) with another redneck moment. Last weekend, we were at Katherine's 3rd swim meet, quietly sitting in the stands awaiting the start of the competition when IT happened. Now most people know that swim meets have judges who make sure that swimmers are two hand touching, doing the right strokes etc. So, 2 rows down from me a man begins to undress right there in front of everyone. Off comes the shirt, I didn't think anything of it at that point, I mean men change shirts all the time. But then off come his trousers and he was standing there in his tiny underwear.

COME ON!!!! No one wants to see you standing there with your "bits" staring them in the face. Really, there was a locker room 200 feet from where he was. Couldn't he just walk a few feet and change there? No one else around seemed to care, actually, he was carrying on a conversation with others around them. Then not long after that, a young man (probably around 10-11) who was a swimmer decided to completely get undressed and into his speedo for the swim meet. As this was going on, Liz told me that it had happened at the meet prior that I wasn't at. So is this just a regular normal thing?

I didn't see any women doing this? Was it just a man/boy thing? Was this just a European thing? It seems the country is tolerant of many things related to men and women (such as the communal bathrooms) and now, undressing in public. I wonder......Would I be looked at strangely if I went to the community pool, undressed in public and put on my speedo, would anyone care? Would anyone notice? Would I be seen as just another European?

Join us next time for the in depth investigation as I test this theory of the European changing station.

Voici à votre bonne santé et de la nudité