I traveled to Vietnam a few years ago and loved the energy of the place. One thing I realized only when I came back to France was how young Vietnam is. I realized it because of the contrast. When I came back the streets in France seemed empty, lifeless, a living museum haunted by old people walking at a snail’s pace. And not smiling. Within the western world France is a very egalitarian society. The social safety net is strong, the differences in wealth much more muted than in, say, the UK or the US. The poor are not ostracized from society. But the youth is. Unemployment is especially high for them, and a recent stat showed France as among the most inegalitarian countries as far as the percentage of wealth the old have compared to younger generations. No wonder France has one of the best public health care system in the world… This old country run by old people needs it. And in this town they just put up these new signs: no skates.