Learned Something New

Today we went to the bank. After nine months in France, we decided we should probably have a bank account. I think when we went into our closet last night and saw thousands of Euros scattered around on the floor Dave figured we should open an account. This is 2008, afterall. (Abby said she was getting a t-shirt down, and the envelopes full of cash fell.)

We arrived at the bank with a friend who was going to help with the process and waited for our appointment with Sebastian, who was running a wee bit late.

When he arrived, he reached out to shake Dave's hand, and Dave responded, "I'm Dave, nice to meet you" or something like that, in French. When Sebastian shook my hand, I said, "I'm Stasha."

Our friend quickly informed us that we don't introduce ourselves with our first name, but rather as Monsieur or Madame Ashton. This makes sense, of course, and I'm sure we do this at certain occasions in the U.S., but I am hard pressed to think of what occasions those might be.

I almost always introduce myself either as Stasha or Stasha Ashton, but can't think of a circumstance where I have called myself "Mrs. Ashton," except maybe on the phone with a customer service representative and the account is in Dave's name.

Needless to say, I am happy to have learned the correct way to introduce myself to a stranger, and I expect from now on that all of your correspondence to me will be addressed to Madame Ashton. hee hee.