Whereas an American teenager might go home right after school and have a pretty intense jam session on RockBand, or maybe go straight to soccer practice, French teenagers apparently go to a café.

This pastime is hardly limited to students. Policemen, bakers, store clerks, politicians, doctors, and basically anyone who is French spends at least part of their day sitting in a café. This may range from a quick espresso and croissant in the morning to a long and relaxing afternoon coffee to even a late night drink. I would say probably 75% of social interaction in France has a café involved, at least somehow.

My friends and I decided to take a stroll around Montmartre, a hill in northern Paris on which the Sacred Heart church sits. It is known primarily for its many street artists. We were strolling along and came across a café called “Le Café de Deux Moulins” (The Café of Two Mills). My interest suddenly peaked when I realized that this was the famed setting of most of the famous movie “Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain.” I had seen that movie many times, and I really couldn’t believe that I was actually going to experience it. It was actually pretty bizarre. The inside seemed much smaller, yet I could still envision the characters seated at their given places.

The price at most cafés is pretty startling at first. A diet coke will ring you up at four euros (about six dollars!). My heart literally stopped when I got my first check. And get this: No free refills…ever. Another interesting thing about French cafés is the variance in prices depending on where you sit. Most people find that out the hard way. If you get a coffee to go, it is less expensive than if you were to sit and drink it. Also, if you sit outside, it is more expensive than if you were to sit inside. I guess you’re actually “renting” the space while you drink. The outside tables of a café are probably the most coveted because not only is it usually more comfortable, it allows you to practice another one of the most famous pastimes in France: people watching.

After about three luxurious hours of simply talking, laughing, and getting to know each other, I realized that my stomach was growling and that I hadn’t eaten since about noon. I almost got something to eat at the café when I realized that I had my first home-cooked French meal awaiting me at home.