Observation in a suburban train (M)

[atchoum]

VfP has encouraged me to post more observations on “yummy Frenchmen sneezing” (I think that was the expression). I’m not sure that this qualifies, partly because I didn’t actually see the sneezes, so it’s not really an observation at all. But I certainly heard them!

It was coming home in a suburban train. I was sitting talking to two female colleagues, when, from behind me, I heard an obviously male sneeze. Being with people I couldn’t look round – isn’t it always the way, when you are with people – the interesting sneezes seem to come from somewhere you can’t see without being obvious. The sneeze seemed to come from an older man: it was very wet, and quite loud too, a sort of TTTTTTTTSSSSSSSSCCHH euh ! The colleague sitting next to me (right behind the sneezer) took on a cringing position, and the other said “disgusting! Such behaviour in the bus! (even though we were in the train!)” and the other approved, nodding. I was able to look round when we came to the next station, and saw that it was a biggish man with close cropped very blond hair. In the morning I had travelled with people speaking Polish, so I wondered if he might indeed be Polish (I love to try to identify the nationality of sneezers!).

About five minutes later there was another very wet sneeze from behind me, and one of the colleagues shrieked “again!” We were about to arrive at the Gare du Nord, so I got up to leave the train and got a good look at our sneezing man He turned out to be younger than I had thought – early thirties, very thick set, with small glasses, reading a book in French on the workers’ movement. He was struggling to get out a small pack of Kleenex, and it wasn’t until we were all on the platform that he gave his nose a blow.

They were great sneezes, even if my two colleagues found them disgusting. One of the two colleagues habitually stifles, by the way, but the one who complained most openly sneezes so I can hear her a couple of offices away. L’hôpital qui se moque de la charité.

[Sneesee]

Well, I guess we can't all be sneeze-conossieurs, now, can we? That's fine, I would rather people like that are disgusted, and leave the enjoyment to us!

I sometimes enjoy those random-type sneezes, where you can't identify the person right away. If I do see them, and they are for some reason not what I had thought, I tend to get disappointed. But, it was neat that you were able to figure out who they were, even though you couldn't look right away.

Those women you were with cracked me up, though. "On the bus?" and "Again?" Little did they know, they were with someone who truly loved each one! Thanks for sharing.

[colorado198219]

The French must be more civilized when it comes to sneezing then Americans that ive noticed during your posts. Alot of Americans will just sneeze uncovered and very loud, in fact here in the midwest people rarely cover them.

That same sneeze probubly would have not gotten much reaction in the states even

if he sprayed all over a dozen people

[Dawnie]

Well, I guess we can't all be sneeze-conossieurs, now, can we? That's fine, I would rather people like that are disgusted, and leave the enjoyment to us!

You are adorable. You have such a way with words.

[countless]

Being with people I couldn’t look round – isn’t it always the way, when you are with people – the interesting sneezes seem to come from somewhere you can’t see without being obvious.

There you have a point, Atchoum.

C

[atchoum]

Sneesee, what a laugh I had reading you! I wonder what these colleagues say when they hear me sneezing from one office to another.

And Colorado, you are probably right about the French being more hung up about their sneezes than Americans.

An American colleague (very handsome man, and a real gentleman) who spent a year with us some time ago, and who still comes from time to time, has mentioned this a couple of times – always made me pick up my ears ! His view is that for Americans it’s considered unhealthy to stifle a sneeze, whereas for the French it’s considered badly brought up to sneeze out loud. He himself never stifles, though he has a somehow deliberate single sneeze with a visible build up. In fact, pretty much in line with his personality : open, naturally polite.

[vote_for_pedro]

Holy crap, I almost missed this thread! Better late than never. I don't really mind it when someone gets squicked out because of people sneezing. Seeing/hearing the sneeze is always fun, but doesn't it add to the whole thing when people start talking about it too? I certainly think so! It doesn't even matter that they're complaining, just as long as they're saying something about it! Thanks for sharing, Atchoum.