![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-JUJ0BJJR6MSA_B5aZdFbcrnxKmgg2kcduh0VNaSZpEBrkRvXCKUhtC6glbwrb0fdU5BxHLHHCtnJJUVwJFKlnTWdx-oC_-NjhSAiIz91r5aU5LsURKWMfDU4MNPLWd5Whk1RaaasiRk/s400/FR_003_W.jpg)
I saw firsthand that most of the stereotypes about the French are not true. We encountered no mimes, I didn't hear a single accordion, and most of the people were very friendly. The one thing that seemed to be true, though, was the preponderance of baguettes. They were everywhere. I also noticed that most young women had a certain dress standard: nicely coiffed hair, tight pants, boots, a jacket, a bag or purse, a scarf around the neck, and a baguette. So, I thought, the baguette isn't really for food - it's a fashion statement!