Ever try shopping for "sexual health" products in another country? In France, most visitors find out the local word for condom when they're trying to find jam. They soon discover that préservatifs (condoms, en français) are not sold in that section of the supermarché. This week expat writer Gwen Moore discovers the wonderful world of French adult toys in her article "Good Vibrations: Sex in Zee City" on the Hobo in Paris website. An excerpt:

There are also condoms for those on either end of the egomaniacal spectrum.  The Comfort XL and the Confort XS.  I've no clue as to why one is spelled with an M and the other with an N.  Maybe it's a subconscious reminder that one letter is longer than the other.  I have to wonder, having never bought according to size, do most men reach for the Comfort XL?  To do otherwise would be humiliating at the checkout, right?  Girlfriend may not know they exist, but shelf-stocker sure does.  And when Girlfriend sees XL box, Girlfriend is impressed.  But if you look closely, you'll see that even though the XL is over 20 cm long, the measuring tape on the box proudly displays the 9-centimeter mark.  Those reared in the metric system should say to themselves, only 9 centimeters?  J'suis plus grand que ça!  And most American tourists coming in would be all hell yeah, baby, 9 inches and you know it!  The eye of the beholder.

And for your enjoyment, a hilarious French condom advertisement here.