Something that is really common here in France is people on the street who try to stop pedestrians as they pass by either (a) to offer them something free, like a newspaper or a flyer or even a small sample gift, or (b) to try to convince them to sign up to support a humanitarian aide organization like Doctors Without Borders or (c) to conduct a survey. All three of these are incredibly common. In Paris, I used to love to sit in the second story of this one particular Starbucks, so I could watch the crossroads below...and all the various workers trying to stop pedestrians for whatever reason they were out there.
Even I've done it. In language school, our teacher would send us out to take surveys in order to practice language. In Paris, my boss sent me out with surveys. I've even been known to hand out a free thing or two. And I've certainly picked up my fair share of free stuff. (Once, during the Fete de la Musique, someone handed me a self-breathalizer test. Gee...thanks?)
As I was walking down the street today, I was stopped several times by a humanitarian aide group. Once, when living in Besancon, I was stopped by this group and talked with them for about an hour. I really like their work (giving food to poor children in Africa), but I explained to them that I've already decided to give my support to Compassion International for that. And usually, when the groups here in Marseille stop me, I explain the same thing. When the first one stopped me today, I explained that. When the second, third, and fourth stopped me, I explained that I'd already spoken with their colleague back down the road.
So when I breezed by the next group who said, "Excusez-moi, madame," I just said, "No, sorry," and kept walking. But as I passed by, I heard that they were giving a survey.
Surveys are a great way to practice language (cause who knows what you'll get to talk about, and thus, possibly learn new vocabulary), and a great way to just get in conversations with people. I turned around and said, "You're taking a survey? I'll answer."
"Great! Do you eat rice?" she said to me.
I took a mental double-take. Did she just ask me if I eat rice?
"Rice? Like...rice, rice?"
"Oui."
"Well, of course!" She went on to ask what brands to I buy, how do I cook my rice, what types of rice do I like, what other grains do I eat, and am I allergic to any of the following things...
It was by far the most bizarre survey I'd ever participated in. Then, when I said I wasn't allergic to any of those things, she asked if I would follow her for a taste test. I was out on a busy road and sort of looked around to see where the tables were with the rice samples. There were no tables.
She led the way into a building, and I followed her up an elevator. (The whole time thinking, this is so wierd. Is she going to kill me in the elevator? I've seen too many scary movies.) Up on the fourth floor, I follow her down a hallway, and into the testing room, where, sure enough... there were several booths set up and people were testing rice. (I wasn't supposed to take a picture of the rice, to keep the results of the survey secure...so this was all I could sneak between rice tastings.)
I ate four kinds of rice and gave my opinion about the taste, smell, color, texture, and stickiness of the rice. And I was a little disappointed, because... I didn't learn any new words. I understood every single question and was able to express myself clearly in response! I suppose I should be thrilled about that! But I always hope with surveys that I'll get challenged a little bit.
With this survey, all I got was a new, interesting experience and some not-very-good-rice. And a really good laugh about the whole thing. It dawned on me later that the rice survey people should hook up with Feed the Hungry humanitarian aide people and let the hungry answer the rice survey!
