你有没有想过为什么法国的烹饪和葡萄酒会驰名世界?为什么法国会有那么多露天咖啡厅吗?原来,是法国人骨子里“work to live”的生活哲学主宰着这一切,使他们的生活与众不同。
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French government is big government! The State is France’s biggest employer and her citizens pay up to 60% tax. French laws control everything from working hours to which new words enter the French language. This is not considered an 1)intrusion but, instead, a form of protection from the uncertainties of the modern world. Because in 21st century France, many worry that life is speeding up and that the pressures of work, modern technology, and city living are placing an intolerable strain on people’s life styles. This is at odds with the good life, and French people expect their government to 2)intercede.
In France free time is a right under law. Ever since the 1930’s no one can be forced to work more than 35 hours a week, and the average French worker has seven weeks paid vacation every year. It’s a society that works to live, not lives to work. And here, time off is almost always accompanied by…food. Nine out of ten families eat their main meal together every day of the week.
French food is famous throughout the world. There are at least 20 different varieties of bread, more than 350 different types of cheese and over 3,000 varieties of wine, contributing more than $60 billion to the French economy every year. But in France, it’s not quantity but quality that counts. Food production isn’t dominated by vast 3)conglomerates but small family-run businesses offering fresh food to local customers. It’s a unique system which has helped create some of the finest food in the world.
法国政府机构很庞大,国家机构是法国最大的雇主,法国国民需付高达60%的税。法国法律管制着人们生活的方方面面,从工时到哪些新词语能纳入法国语言都在其中。但这一切并不被视为对个人权利的侵犯,而是保护法国免受现代社会不确定因素影响的一种方式。因为在21世纪的法国,许多人担心生活步伐加快,由工作、现代科技和城市生活带来的压力常常冲击着人们的生活方式,这就会破坏美好人生。法国人期望政府介入,以缓解矛盾。
在法国,闲暇是合法的权利。自二十世纪三十年代起,就再也没人会每周被迫工作超过三十五个小时。普通法国工人每年有七周带薪假期。这是个为生活而工作,不是为工作而生活的社会。在这里,闲下来就总离不开食物。90%的家庭每天都一起吃晚饭。
法国菜国际驰名,法国至少有二十种面包,超过三百五十种干酪,超过三千种葡萄酒。这些每年为法国经济带来超过六百亿美元收入。但在法国,人们重质不重量,食品生产并不是由大企业垄断,而是由小型家庭式作坊为本地顾客提供新鲜食物。这个独特的体系有助于法国创造一些世界上最美味的美食。
