My Date in France

I went on a date in France, and here's the story.

Parc Jouvet is a lovely park in Valence that I took many strolls in by myself, with my friend, and on my date. The words say "Mon coeur Valence" or "My heart Valence."

The bright rays of the August sunset shines through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the apartment. A warm breeze dances through the white curtains and breathes life into the room since air conditioning is not the norm in Europe. Sounds of "Dancing Queen" (my hype song) play loudly enough from my room that perhaps the people below on the streets will twirl to the tune too.

I let my hair cascade down from the braid that I had kept it in all day. My normally straight hair now waved and ready for my evening rendezvous. Another look into the mirror, and I let the breath I was holding escape my lungs. My dearest friend who I am staying with during my trip to France is laying on her bed watching me get ready for my date. She was working for a French company and had an internship that summer which = free housing for me. And visiting her while living out all my romanticized French dreams was the trip I needed after some difficult months earlier in the year.

"Ahhh. I don't know if I want to do this anymore." I plop a spot next to my friend on the bed as I feel the nerves slowly eat me inside out about having to meet a random guy that I've only texted with for a day and a half.

"You don't have to go if you don't want to, you could always cancel it?" She looks up at me empathizing with my anxieties.

"Could I ask you for a favor?"

"Of course."

"I am meeting him at 8 at the Pub you suggested down the street... could you come in two hours and pick me up? We could just walk across the bridge and go visit *Sophie before I leave tomorrow morning. This can be my escape from the date!"

*Sophie is our unofficial, French grand-mere though, she is most likely only a bit older than our parents. She has been a huge help during the trip and makes the most amazing food for us from her garden. The point of this side note is that I am either omitting people's name in this or changing it for the respect of privacy purposes :) Merci!

"Okay, Simi. I can do that." My friend gives me a reassuring smile, as I try to pump myself up to meet this guy.

We turn up "Dancing Queen" one more time and start prancing in the room to throw my nerves out the window.

I step out onto the street and feel that summer, evening ambiance in the air. The sun still peeking above the Rhone-Alps in front of me. My long skirt flows with each step I take, and it's a quick five minute walk across the street before I arrive at the location of our rendezvous.

This is just the first course. France does salads right.

24 hours earlier...

I told myself that I would have a French fling/romance while I was here, but of course, my trip was too short for an actual "summer romance," or whatever crazy fantasy I had in my head. So the words of the wise cafe owner that I spoke with a month ago before I left on my trip came to me, "Simi, you can't just sit around waiting for something to happen. You have to actually do something too." That was paraphrased into my words, but you get the gist.

So, I downloaded a dating app. YIKES. Snapchat gave me an ad for one, so I downloaded it. I am too anxious of a person to actually message anyone, but one guy messages me before I even make a decision on him... this man is *Giovanni. He speaks four languages: French, Basque, English, and Spanish. He likes biking, skiing, and being outdoors. He has dark brown, curly hair and a well-kept beard to accompany the look. He has a kind face from the smile he gives.

*Yes, that is an Italian name, but my old roommate gave me that name when she forgot what his name actually was, and I think it's hilarious. So Giovanni it is!

We chat a little through the app with my limited data, and he asks me how long I am staying in the area. I tell him that I am leaving for Paris again in two days.

"Oh I see."

I receive his message as I am sitting on a park bench in Lyon waiting for my bus. I feel my heart drop, because I assume he doesn't want to meet me since I am leaving so soon.

A few moments later, I am people watching when I get a message from... shock! It's my mom! Just kidding, it's Giovanni. He asks if I would be "keen to get drinks with him tomorrow night."

I smile to myself. It looks like I have a date tomorrow.

The creep that I am snuck this photo when he went to the bathroom. You can see Parc Jouvet from here.

Back to the date...

I get there first, and he messages me that he has a hat on and is almost at the rendezvous spot. I keep an eye out for him, and our eyes meet the moment he enters the pub.

He's cuter in person!

We awkwardly approach each other and do the FAIRE LA BISE. The French greeting of kissing on the cheeks.

Okay, Simi just go in the opposite direction of whatever way he goes.

Success!

He buys our drinks, and we sit outside to enjoy the weather and have conversation. At first we talk about my time in France and why I am here. What I like so far and such. We bring up music, and I tell him how I've been on an ABBA reawakening since the new Mama Mia movie came out this summer. I don't know if the universe heard me, but of all the music they could have played at this pub... "DANCING QUEEN" started to play. I sat up. O M G.

Is this a sign?! Haha no, I didn't think that.

It's a funny coincidence though. I started mouthing the words and singing a long a little, because how can you not sing to "Dancing Queen?" Giovanni seemed a bit amused since we had just been talking about ABBA, but he has no idea that I was listening to this song 30 minutes ago for courage.

It turns out, both of us had only been in town (Valence is the name of the place by the way), since last week. As a matter of fact, he only arrived there the day before I did. He just started a new job here which was why he wasn't too familiar with all the hot spots just yet. Actually, I ended up recommending to him about more things to do like the Saturday market and the museum.

He tells me about his hometown in the Basque region, and we kind of bond over the fact that both of us are from minority cultures within major countries. We talk about education, the many languages he speaks, and about our families. He tells me about the craziest thing he has done with his friends in Spain, and I share with him about a wild night I had with my friends in Dallas from a one and only (never again) Tinder date. We even talk about our values and politics!

I'll be honest to say that perhaps it is a French thing, but at first, it was really hard for me to read him. He didn't smile a lot (maybe I smile too much?), and his voice is SO much softer than mine. #loudAmericanproblems His body language wasn't giving me much either, so I wasn't sure if he was interested or not. (Except when I mentioned our current president he leaned in, so I think that got his attention haha). I can tell you though, that as the night went on, I found him more attractive. If I were in town for a bit longer, I would have definitely gone on a second or third date with him.

Then... as I was mentioning that I was staying with my friend, I saw a familiar figure approaching our table from across the street.

CRAP. I forgot to text my friend NOT to come, because I didn't want to be rude and pull out my phone during the date.

Our date location was just farther down this street.

"Oh look! There's my friend right now. Speak of the devil!"

*insert awkward laugh*

My friend approaches our table, and I suddenly stand up and do introductions.

Pourquoi?!

Giovanni and my friend shake hands, and I tell her smoothly as possible before she can say anything that I will just meet her at Sophie's house later. She nods in understanding, and gives me that *Text me so I know you're safe* face.

I internally let out a sigh and try to smooth over the situation by explaining to Giovanni about who Sophie is.

Thankfully, the date continues to go well (at least from my perspective). The sun sets after prolonging its night time routine, and the little Rhone Valley town is still bustling with the summer night magic.

2 drinks later...

"Are you hungry? Do you want to get something to eat?" Giovanni asks me when he gets back from the bathroom.

"Oh no. I'm good. I ate a little before coming, and besides my appetite has been off... probably from the weather change."

"Ah yeah? My appetite has also been off since I moved here. I think it's the weather too... would you like to go on a walk around the park or something instead?"

"Sure. That'll be nice." I smile before I excuse myself to use the toilet as well. You know, alcohol is a diuretic and there aren't just random, public restrooms in Europe. USE YOUR CHANCES WISELY.

We go on our night-time stroll. The streets are empty except on our left as the owner of one of the movie theaters closes up for the night. (Fun fact, I went to watch a movie at this theater two nights ago, the man was kind enough to give me a student discount even though I graduated already. I wonder if he recognizes me...).

Giovanni and I are still chatting away, and I tell him about how visiting the villages in the mountains were my favorite. Honestly, I could see myself living a quiet, simple life up there.

We somehow get to talking about sports, and he mentions to me about his ACL tear from a year ago.

I gasp, "I tore my ACL too! Which side was yours on?"

"Left."

My eyes open wide.

"You too?" He half smiles here.

We stop in the middle of the side walk and compare scars. I also am jealous of his lack of medical bills compared to mine. #healthcare

A picture Giovanni sent me of his morning bike ride to work. He really takes the best pictures.

We make it back around to the park, and unfortunately it's closed, because we didn't realize how late it had gotten (It's a bit past 1 in the morning at this point).

He leads us to a bench and takes a seat.

How close do I sit to him? Do I sit right next to him? Should I leave some space? Maybe just a little space? What if he tries to kiss me? Wait, I'm thinking too far ahead. How will that even work? Don't think so hard.

I sit next to him with a respectable inch between us. Don't want to be too close and make him uncomfortable, but also don't want to be too far and seem rude.

He corrects me on some of my French, but we mostly converse in English. I really appreciate his patience. I hope that my French will improve in the coming years, so I can converse more in French with him and others too. We connect over how we both didn't like Math that much growing up, and how we found Geometry to be the best math of them all. (Though I personally also like Statistics, since I think it is the most applicable math).

Suddenly! *pause for dramatic effect* A drunk man appears and approaches us to ask us something. Giovanni replies and kindly translates for me.

"Ah, he's asking if we know where there's a bathroom."

"Oh... haha I see. Well, alcohol is a diuretic!"

The drunk man stumbles a bit farther and begins to pee in the park anyway.

"Ah... he's peeing." Giovanni points out.

I awkwardy laugh, "Well, when you gotta go, you gotta go."

The drunk man wobbles back over and continues in French. I understand a word or two of it, and I think... I'm fairly sure he said "copine" which means "girlfriend." If he did though, I may never know. Giovanni didn't mention that to me.

Giovanni translates instead, "He wishes us 'God bless you both essentially.'"

I nod, not sure of how else to react. Oh man. I have to pee now. Guess, I'll have to end the date first, since I need to pee and am too embarrassed to mention it to him since I already peed twice during this date. I look at my phone to check the time to make the transition to my exit.

"It's getting late, and I have to catch my train in the morning."

"Ah... what time is your train?"

"7:30."

"That's when I go to work too."

We both stand up, and he syncs up next to me to walk me home.

He tentatively asks, "So, what did you think of this? Did you have other thoughts before coming?"

My blunt honesty comes out, "I was really worried that you would be boring or something. You're not boring."

He laughs, "That's good to know."

The night comes to an end for us both. We exchange numbers on WhatsApp, and I make sure to thank him again for the night through text and to remind him that he is NOT BORING.

My friend forgave me for not responding to my phone and not coming to Sophie's when I told her the details of my night. The rest of the morning is a blur as I rush through Paris trying to figure out the Metro system to the airport. The magic of my date in France is a memory now. A good one at that.

Giovanni and I stay in touch the months following, and he is a very good conversationalist. Or I'm a good conversationalist, and he just gives me enough information to work with. LOLOL. It takes two to tango, so I'll give us both credit. In the end, I gained a friend who I hope to see soon this year. I am glad I took the risk, and I have a funny story to go with it. It was the perfect, last night to my first trip to France. I can't wait to go back and experience more of life.

Merci for reading my story on my date in France. How romantic non? Any feedback is much appreciated!

À bientôt,

Simi

P. S. Giovanni, if you ever read this... I'm sorry I changed your name to Giovanni lol. Also, I'm too shy to share this with you any time soon, but if you ever read it, I hope you think it's funny too. Glad I got to meet you!

#date #rendezvous #france #romance #story #lol #travel