The Power of Switching Cultural Modes
I was feeling under the weather yesterday and tried to make myself feel better. However, nothing I thought in my Anglo-American mind made me feel any better, so I tried switching my brain into another mode. For about an hour or so I went into French mode and this was what transpired.
Step 1: Look for French things in room.
Step 1: Look at all things French
I didn’t look very hard but at least there was a box of vitamin C fizzies and a tube of toothpaste from my trip to Paris. That was enough to get me to Step 2.
Step 2: Look for comfort shots from previous trip to France.
French plushies are so delicate and so French!
These plushies were just so delicate and soft looking. The cute tender enfant display was such a comforting sight! I really wanted the sheep but it was one of the first stores I saw so I walked right on!
Of course, you wouldn’t truly be in French mode until you got into the mood for chocolat. Below was a sight that brought a huge smile on my face when I saw it calling my name…
My favorite chocolatier in Paris
Oui, j’adore chocolats! Seeing a proper chocolatier sign was just the best feeling in the world. My favorite truffles of all time are from this store in Paris. It is definitely better than Godiva and Leonidas (This is some high grade South American bean stuff.)
Heavenly truffles...
There’s a lot more chocolate photos from where that came from but I’m trying to keep this post brief, so we’ll move on to Step 3.
Step 3: Look for silly photos of self in Paris.
Wohho!
Have you ever seen such a grande iPhone before?! Up until that point, I haven’t! Hmm, let’s try the touchscreen…
Why was it made to stand at this exact height? Pervy sculptor?!
By the time I realized I was looking at buttocks, it was too late. My friend Johann had already taken the incriminating shot of me perving over a solid bum!!@#
Pretty pretty lights!
When we were at Champs-Élysées, I just had to have a photo with the legendary Fouquet restaurant which I’ve seen plenty in French films. It is as romantic as it can get. Christmas lights in front of a historic rendezvous landmark! Hopefully some romantic man will take me there someday…
Step 4: Reflect on how awesome my life really is.
Ah the glee of seeing Avenue Des Champs-Elysees!
Just having the legs to prance around the most romantic city in the world is reason enough to be grateful don’t you think?
Step 5: Finally, doodle out feelings in French. Stick that on the wall for a week.
This is why I took French, to doodle!
Translation: It’s not serious my pretty whatever will be, will be! You must smile little button, your smile is like sunshine! 
Voila! It took switching into French mode to pop out of my lackluster state. I guess this is the advantage of having studied a different language and being exposed to its culture. Being able to do that comes in handy when I’ve exhausted my thoughts in one mode. Whenever you feel like you’re stuck trying to figure something out in English, try thinking in another cultural mode. Maybe you might just solve it like I did.