My Good Life in France

by Janine Marsh

  P.S. Always take at least one copy of everything you send or receive. It’s almost certain that you’ll need to show it several times before you get to the end of your quest if it involves French administration.

  30. Learn the rules of boules

  Or pétanque as it is also called. France’s most popular ball game involves throwing a heavy ball (usually made of steel and marked so you can tell your balls from other players’) at a small red cochonnet, which translates as piglet but in this case means a small red ball. It is claimed that up to 17 million French people partake of this sport. It’s a simple but clever game.

  The object is easy: individually, or in two teams of two (doublette) or three (triplette), you toss your balls as close to the cochonnet as possible. But, unlike in most games you’re allowed, in fact you’re encouraged, to interfere with your opponent’s balls, knocking them further away from the goal, if you can, with each of your throws. There’s no such thing as letting someone win for friendship’s sake in France; you need to go all out to win – both the game and the admiration of your new French friends.