I just finished a book called Lunch in Paris, which I really enjoyed. It is the memoir of an American woman who moves to Paris. In the book, she details her cultural discoveries and observations, as well as sharing some really good-looking recipes. I really felt akin to the author, who grew up obsessed with classic literature (Jane Austen, anyone?), with no working knowledge of pop culture and with a definite life plan. She then moves to Paris and experiences the ups and downs of living in a foreign culture. The awkward kiss-greetings, the cultural rules that you break without knowing, the foods that you can't find for your favorite meals, the visits of friends and family, the new systems that you have to learn to master, the delights of discovering a new city, the difficulties of making friends, the living in limbo with no definite life plan, etc. While her city (Paris) and the French culture of course have differences from what I experience here in Zürich with the Swiss culture, there are definitely common struggles as an American translating and adjusting to life in a European culture. I found myself chuckling out loud in the tram while reading this book, breaking all sorts of Zürich tram etiquette rules in the process, of course.
