17 Janvier: $750 purses and domes of stained glass

Bonjour! Most recent recognition in cultural differences: their obsession with politeness. They add Madame and Monsieur to every greeting and comment. You always have to say hello and good day or good evening and goodbye. As non-talkative/stoic as the French seem to me, they have got their manners down to a T. I really like it- it makes me feel good but then again, I guess you would just get used to if you encountered it daily. I don't know though- since they don't say much else and don't smile much, it kind of makes me feel as though their greetings are a fakey kindness. They only say it because that mannerism is so commonly used by everyone. But then again, it's only day seven, I shouldn't be stereotyping or making assumptions about everyone here.

We went to the Galleria Lafayette today. My mom's non-materialistic values have definitely been instilled in me. The whole thing just overwhelmed me in a sickening way. It was like a gigantic, endless department store but with all different designers and brands right next to each other with no divisions. It was just so much stuff- I couldn't absorb it all. The prices didn't mesh with me either. It was crazy to take such beautiful architecture and stained glass and lighting and to waste it all on a commercial enterprise. I mean it is nice in the sense that it takes something common and normally plain, like a mall, and allows one to see art in all places, but I figure you may as well put it somewhere where people can enjoy it more. No one looks at the beauty, they're on their mission in terms of shopping. They are fixated by the clothes and expensive jewelry and perfumes moreso than the building itself. There isn't any places to sit ad admire or appreciate it. It just became a backdrop for a million articles or clothing and shoes and purses- all which are absurdly priced. Maybe I'm just negative because it was too overwhelming to me. I know America is the same in terms of such commercialization and materialism but I guess it just seemed worse to me because everything else here is so beautiful and focused on the old and not the new.