Six Ways France is Improving my Life in the U.S.

Travel changes you. But who knew I'd end up wearing a chiffon scarf at Home Depot? WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY PETER MOORE

AFTER MY RETURN FROM FRANCE, a month ago, a friend asked what I missed most about the U.S. I was momentarily stumped. (Eventual answer: Reddi Wip.) But there were lots of things I have missed about France, after wandering from Paris to Bordeaux to Saint-Remy-de-Provence to Les Contamines-Montjoie to Dijon to Honfleur (mon dieu!) and back to Paris.

I didn’t buy many souvenirs (except as noted below), but there were lots of life lessons and stratagems I brought back home.

For instance:

1. Wear a scarf all the time, everywhere, no matter what. Stylish French guys do it. Why not me? I picked up two chiffon scarves (black, powder blue) for €8 at a classy haberdasher located inside the Concorde stop on the Paris Metro. Back home, I wore one to Home Depot, and no one mocked me. It’s great to live in a world made safe by RuPaul.