Wait just a sec

Despite my years of yoga and mediation practice,  I arrived in France without a lot of patience.    The American culture  programmed me to be efficient and quick.  Running errands in Park City is convenient and predictable.  That has not been my experience in France.Our French cell service is provided by Orange, a European company.  Every two weeks, we need to reload our data plan.  When I learned this detail, I asked if it was possible to renew the plan on-line.  "I am sorry madame.  That is not possible" said the very French employee.It's not possible?  What do you mean?  Orange has my credit card.  They are a technology company.  Why is not possible to go to a website to renew?   We'd be able renew on line in the US, and we'd even be able to auto-renew so we didn't have to go online every two weeks.  The US makes it so easy for us to spend money!I was surprised that I needed to go to a store and interact with a person just to renew my plan.  Maybe this a way to protect jobs in France?When it was time to renew our data plan,  we walked into the old city to the Orange store. We waited in line for over 20 minutes. My head was swarming with ideas of how Orange could improve their service.  This line could be solved if some of their services were available on line.When it was my turn, I asked to renew our data plans.  "I am sorry madame.  We are out of paper today.  We can not help you."  I was confused.   She continued,  "You can go to any Tabac store and they will help you."Really?  Out of paper?  This would never fly in the US.Slightly agitated, we left and walked back to our neighborhood Tabac store.  I walked in and found myself in another line.  Sigh.The customers in front of me were not only buying smokes or a drink, but each one of them visited with the store manager.  They were chit-chating!   Every single one of them.  I thought, don't these people have anywhere to be right now? It was the middle of the day.   No one seemed like they were in a hurry.Finally it was my turn.  I  asked for what I needed.  The man behind the counter placed my order through his computer. Very kindly, he waited to  make sure that our data credit worked before charging my credit card.I relaxed into this new situation and like everyone before me, I started chatting with him despite the line forming behind me.   I learned that his name is Serge and he lives above the store.  He wanted to know where where we were from and how long we'd be in Aix.  A few minutes later I  paid Serge and waved good-bye.

Everyday I walk by the Tabac store and often give Serge a wave.  He's like the mayor of our hood.I think of him as my teacher.  I am learning to slow down.  When I find myself  blocked in narrow grocery market aisle, I wait to say "Pardon".  I don't walk around them. I wait one moment and they always move.   When it is 12:22 and the 12:15 bus is not there yet, I just wait a second.  It will always come.   When I need to cross the street and the cars don't stop at the crosswalk, I wait. I am beginning to really notice what it means to be patient.