Thursday, June 01, 2006

Prominently Featured on the List of Things the French Need to Learn:

Gates only keep honest people out.

posted by Kate @ 5:53 AM

3 Comments:

At 1/6/06 8:25 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh dear. I hope someone didn't just learn this the hard way. Is there a story?

BESS

 
At 1/6/06 1:19 PM, Blogger Kate said...

Nah. I was just biking through a plaza last night and got annoyed because each business has their "own" area gated off, meaning I had to get where I wanted via the few that were still open. (It was still daylight.) Can you say “unnecessary”?! Didn’t they already lock the doors and pull the metal sheets down over all the windows? The gates are only going to stop handicapped thieves, I mean, come on! I got close to simply lifting my bike over one of the little gates, as that would have been doable and much quicker than going all. the way. around. Maybe the idea is just to keep cars out, but I don’t know…

The French guard their space ferociously. Every home has an always-locked gate in front -- and it’s only possible to enter by way of the front, whether you climb or use a key (nyuk, nyuk). Most gates can be locked multiple times (one bolt that just goes further and further in, which doesn’t strike me as safer, really). Plus every house has heavy wooden shutters that lock from the inside. Everyone seems to think all this is highly necessary. All I hear at night is peace. Oh, well! When in a foreign land I suppose one ought to expect foreign behavior.

 
At 2/6/06 10:34 AM, Blogger Sam G. said...

For whatever reason Japan is very safe. Businesses lock up of course, but I don't remember being impressed by anything out of the ordinary.

Yeah, the only thing you have to worry about in Japan is those stupid drunken U.S. military people. Le sigh.

 

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