It's not every day you're harassed by a crazy old woman who resembles, just a little too closely, the ugly witch from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." (For the record, this isn't an exaggeration...6 people thought the same thing without even discussing it.) I think it mostly had to do with the folded wrinkles on her face, perfectly indented on each side where she's been sucking in cigarettes for the past 100 years. She approached our table on a sidewalk in Paris and, after saying something that resembled no language I've ever heard, we assumed that the cigarette hanging from her mouth, broken in half and therefore of questionable usefulness, meant she was asking us for a light. John attempted to light it but failed due to the fact that he was trying to stay as far away from the woman as possible, and also because she didn't have the strength in her lips to suck in when the light was finally close enough. He kept saying (in English, which I'm sure she understood), "Dude, you're gonna have to do it yourself! Dude, it's not catching!" Finally, the cigarette caught some fire...however, as soon as it did, it fell from her muscle-less mouth and hardly missed hitting her claw-shaped hand before falling to the ground. A look of despair came over her face. Then, in what seemed to be slow-motion, she took her claw-like hand and stretched it toward the sandwich on John's tray. He slapped her hand away as he exclaimed, "Dude! Whoa, what are you doing?! You're gonna have to get out of here...go away, dude." Again, a look of despair and defeat came over her face. It might have been sad if I wasn't laughing so hard. Just as I was getting over the claw-grab, I looked up to see a perfectly tear-shaped drop of snot fall from her nose to the table, without her even noticing. After this, I completely lost it...I was laughing so hard I was crying, and so were the other 5 people at the table. She began to walk away but, just when we thought we were done with her, she took a seat at the other end of the table, just next to Even (pronounced Evan...don't ask, he's Norwegian). The comments were flying: "Even, hide your wallet, " "Everyone hold onto their food," etc. Then, out of nowhere, she began to cackle...no, she wasn't laughing...she was CACKLING. After sufficiently scaring the crap out of us, she stood up and walked away, floppy baby pink stocking cap and all, and it wasn't more than 10 steps before she was harassing another innocent table at the next café. We spent the next hour trying to figure out what kind of curse she most likely put on us with that evil laugh.
The crazy people in France just seem to be crazier than the crazy Americans...well, either that or they just go out more. Who knows.
Okay, so to backtrack and explain who we were eating breakfast with. Last weekend, I went to Paris with Grace, Margo and Rachel. On Saturday night, we went out and met a group of 2 American guys and a Norwegian who are living and working in Belgium this year (John, Karmac, and Even). It was really fun to hang out with American guys again (aka, guys that would refer to an old crazy woman as "dude"), and it was fun to talk to Even and compare my experiences with Norwegian culture to his life in "real" Norway. The first words I spoke to him were "Kan du snakke norsk?", which means "Can you speak Norwegian?" I know, convenient phrase as I would have no idea what to respond back. The good news is that he was so surprised I could even say that phrase that we immediately began discussing all things Norwegian! The other good news is that he offered to be my tour guide anytime I go to Norway...so, Mom, maybe we need to start planning that trip!
I'm now finishing up with my classes...due to the 2 week vacation that starts this Friday, I will only see each of my classes one more time. It's a strange feeling to be so close to the end...the time after Christmas has really flown by. I will be spending the break on the east coast of Spain (Barcelona, Valencia and Alicante) with some friends, so I'll have a good opportunity to practice my basic Spanish! (Actually, I don't even think I'm at a level that could be called basic...whatever's below that.)
Well, I'm sure there's a lot more to update on, but this will have to do for now :). Miss you all and can't wait to see most of you in May!
31 March, 2009
16 March, 2009
Spring has Sprung!
Apparently people actually read my blog, because I've gotten requests lately to write something...glad people are reading, but turns out it's not very convenient to write a lot when you're computer-less and French teachers stand over your shoulder everytime you're on a computer. Seriously, they're annoying and they make it hard to get anything done. I'm looking forward to going back to a culture where people respect personal space.
Other than that, France has been incredible lately. The past few weeks have flown by and been packed with exciting events that I'll try to do justice to...hopefully pictures will be up soon.
The first weekend back from vacation was Carnaval in Romans, so Rachel, Margo and Stephanie (friends from Puget Sound) came down from Dijon for the weekend, as did Grace from Chambéry. We all went to Valence on Friday night for a party at Becca's that ended up being the most entertaining party of my life. It was a costume party (I didn't dress up...I hate costumes)...basically, the presence of two dudes in dresses and one crazy Irish guy made the night unforgettable. Plus, having all the girls visiting was a blast.
The next day, all of the Valence and Romans assistants, plus our visitors, went to Carnaval. I have NEVER seen this much action in my little town. The streets were packed, people were dressed up, confetti and silly string were everywhere, and there were bands and floats all over the place. There was a huge parade, impressive even to people who haven't been living in a town of 30,000 for the past 6 months. At the end of the parade, they actually lit a huge wooden face float on fire and had fireworks going off behind him. Amazing...if you don't believe me, I have photographic evidence. After the parade, there was a concert in a tent that we went into with very low expectations and, once again, were blown away. It was this awesome Vaudeville-style band, and all of the guys were so entertaining to watch. They reminded me a lot of Kay Kay, for those of you who from UPS. One guy was wearing glasses with no lenses and a tux jacket, the drummer was wearing aviators and a long, fur-lined coat (plus, he had the same expression on his face for the entire show), and another guy had on a purple suit that was about 4 inches too short for him, accented by his fro. To top it all off, they all had little miniature cone hats on (I'm sure there's a real name for them...I am unaware of it, though). The music was fantastic, and the entertainment factor even better. I finished the weekend off by having a relaxing Sunday in Romans with Grace, Stephanie, Rachel and Margo...altogether, 3 awesome days.
The next week, I took a little 'weekend in the middle of the week' with Becca since neither of us teach on Wednesdays. We headed to Die (pronounced 'Dee') on Tuesday night and stayed with Patrick, an American assistant there. The town only has about 5000 people, and it's surrounded by mountains on all sides. GEORGEOUS. We had an awesome night at a local bar where we did readings in accents of the French books available there, then proceeded to talk to the bartender (an awesome older man) and the other two guys in the bar. We ended the night by checking out the stars, one of the many reasons to love small towns in France that have very few lights on at night. The next day we went to the market, got food for a picnic, and went for a hike. It was so great to be in the mountains...reminded me so much of home. We finished the day with hot chocolate, then headed back to Valence.
THEN...That Friday night was spent in Valence, hanging out with all of the assistants. We got up Saturday morning and got on a train to Arles, in the south, where there was a wine festival. We tasted some wine, saw the city (which I will definitely be going back to before I leave), and fighting against the wind (le Mistral...the most famous wind in France that comes from the sea and continues way too far north). It was a beautiful, sunny weekend, so after staying with Abi and enjoying "Into the Wild" for a relaxing Saturday night, I headed back to Romans on Sunday, read outside for awhile, then did a 9 mile run that was probably the most beautiful run I've ever been on. The sun was setting, glowing on the mountains, and I was running on country roads past vineyards and farms.
Last week, another 'weekend in the middle of the week' (have I mentioned that we work really hard here?) Becca and Abi came to Romans to join the Romans assistants (Demos, Jess and me) for dinner at Demos' apartment. The next was spent relaxing around Romans and checking out some of the cute local cafés.
Finally, we get to last weekend...I went to Grenoble on Friday with Abi, and we spent the sunny, warm day hiking up 'Le Bastille'...an old ruin, not really sure what it's from.
The rest of last weekend was spent in Brussels eating waffles, walking around in the rain, visiting an art museum, and just chilling with Becca, Abi, and my friend John from my study abroad program in Paris. I have MUCH more to elaborate on about this trip, but I am getting kicked off of the internet in 2 minutes and wanted to at least get a partial update posted tonight. More to come...I'll edit this post in the next couple of days.
A+ (meaning, 'a plus', or 'until next time').
Other than that, France has been incredible lately. The past few weeks have flown by and been packed with exciting events that I'll try to do justice to...hopefully pictures will be up soon.
The first weekend back from vacation was Carnaval in Romans, so Rachel, Margo and Stephanie (friends from Puget Sound) came down from Dijon for the weekend, as did Grace from Chambéry. We all went to Valence on Friday night for a party at Becca's that ended up being the most entertaining party of my life. It was a costume party (I didn't dress up...I hate costumes)...basically, the presence of two dudes in dresses and one crazy Irish guy made the night unforgettable. Plus, having all the girls visiting was a blast.
The next day, all of the Valence and Romans assistants, plus our visitors, went to Carnaval. I have NEVER seen this much action in my little town. The streets were packed, people were dressed up, confetti and silly string were everywhere, and there were bands and floats all over the place. There was a huge parade, impressive even to people who haven't been living in a town of 30,000 for the past 6 months. At the end of the parade, they actually lit a huge wooden face float on fire and had fireworks going off behind him. Amazing...if you don't believe me, I have photographic evidence. After the parade, there was a concert in a tent that we went into with very low expectations and, once again, were blown away. It was this awesome Vaudeville-style band, and all of the guys were so entertaining to watch. They reminded me a lot of Kay Kay, for those of you who from UPS. One guy was wearing glasses with no lenses and a tux jacket, the drummer was wearing aviators and a long, fur-lined coat (plus, he had the same expression on his face for the entire show), and another guy had on a purple suit that was about 4 inches too short for him, accented by his fro. To top it all off, they all had little miniature cone hats on (I'm sure there's a real name for them...I am unaware of it, though). The music was fantastic, and the entertainment factor even better. I finished the weekend off by having a relaxing Sunday in Romans with Grace, Stephanie, Rachel and Margo...altogether, 3 awesome days.
The next week, I took a little 'weekend in the middle of the week' with Becca since neither of us teach on Wednesdays. We headed to Die (pronounced 'Dee') on Tuesday night and stayed with Patrick, an American assistant there. The town only has about 5000 people, and it's surrounded by mountains on all sides. GEORGEOUS. We had an awesome night at a local bar where we did readings in accents of the French books available there, then proceeded to talk to the bartender (an awesome older man) and the other two guys in the bar. We ended the night by checking out the stars, one of the many reasons to love small towns in France that have very few lights on at night. The next day we went to the market, got food for a picnic, and went for a hike. It was so great to be in the mountains...reminded me so much of home. We finished the day with hot chocolate, then headed back to Valence.
THEN...That Friday night was spent in Valence, hanging out with all of the assistants. We got up Saturday morning and got on a train to Arles, in the south, where there was a wine festival. We tasted some wine, saw the city (which I will definitely be going back to before I leave), and fighting against the wind (le Mistral...the most famous wind in France that comes from the sea and continues way too far north). It was a beautiful, sunny weekend, so after staying with Abi and enjoying "Into the Wild" for a relaxing Saturday night, I headed back to Romans on Sunday, read outside for awhile, then did a 9 mile run that was probably the most beautiful run I've ever been on. The sun was setting, glowing on the mountains, and I was running on country roads past vineyards and farms.
Last week, another 'weekend in the middle of the week' (have I mentioned that we work really hard here?) Becca and Abi came to Romans to join the Romans assistants (Demos, Jess and me) for dinner at Demos' apartment. The next was spent relaxing around Romans and checking out some of the cute local cafés.
Finally, we get to last weekend...I went to Grenoble on Friday with Abi, and we spent the sunny, warm day hiking up 'Le Bastille'...an old ruin, not really sure what it's from.
The rest of last weekend was spent in Brussels eating waffles, walking around in the rain, visiting an art museum, and just chilling with Becca, Abi, and my friend John from my study abroad program in Paris. I have MUCH more to elaborate on about this trip, but I am getting kicked off of the internet in 2 minutes and wanted to at least get a partial update posted tonight. More to come...I'll edit this post in the next couple of days.
A+ (meaning, 'a plus', or 'until next time').
24 February, 2009
Yet another vacation, come and gone
A lot of updates are in order as I'm 2 days into teaching after getting back from a 2+ week vacation, so I'll try to be as efficient as possible.
I started vacation by traveling with 3 other assistants: Patrick, Molly and Grace. We took a train from our respective towns to Dijon, France (home of Dijon mustard, cassis, and spice bread...and, temporary home for Margo, Rachel, and Stephanie this semester, three sorority sisters studying abroad there). It was great to meet up with Margo and Rachel for a little while...it's amazing how refreshing it can be to see familiar faces in a foreign country. Dijon is a beautiful and charming city, and we stayed with Pauline and Romain, hosts we found through Couch Surfing. They took us on a little tour around the town, and we all ate together both nights. We had so much fun, and it was great practice for our French.
Next on the list was Strasbourg, the most "German" of all French cities due to its geographical location near the German border. It has been back-and-forth between German and French control for...well...a long time. Two years ago, I went to the Christmas Market in Strasbourg and loved it...well, this time I loved it even more. It's definitely a contender for my favorite French city. I've decided that the reason I enjoy it is because of its ability to combine typically "French" things (boulangeries, beautiful language, wine, etc.) with things that are clearly results of the German influence on the city (efficiency, tram lines, sweet architecture, and a quicker overall pace). Thumbs up, Strasbourg.
Last stop for the four of us was Reims, in the Champagne region just north of Paris. This city makes it clear that Champagne is its specialty...the people who live in Reims drink champagne like wine (I would say they drink it like water, but the French drink more wine than water...). We stayed with a couple from Couch Surfing, and the woman hosting us worked in the champagne industry. So, we got our fair share of champagne while visiting! We also took a tour of Pommery, one of the champagne houses in Reims. It was awesome to learn more about the process and history behind the area and its prize product.
From Reims, Grace and I headed to Paris where she spent a day with me walking, shopping, and enjoying the Jardins de Luxembourg...well, enjoying it until we were attacked by birds, Hitchcock-style. We enjoyed a great day/night in Paris, then parted ways so that I could head to the airport and meet Meghan and my mom!
Mom, Meg and I did a two-day whirlwind tour of Paris...efficient, but exhausting. Meg and Mom learned very quickly some things that it took me months to catch onto, such as the fact that the French WILL NOT move out of your way on the sidewalk...so, rather than moving for them, you should just learn quickly how to be agressive. Also, looking up at the pretty buildings is not a good idea...if you are, you're probably also stepping in a pile of dog poop. Lastly, if a new line opens up at the supermarket, nobody will be polite and let the next person in line go...so, you have to fight for it (again, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!). Saturday, we got on a train to Valence and, while Meg slept, Mom and I got mini-glasses of wine from the train's food car. Once we finished them, we took our own wine bottles out of our bag and re-filled :). It was a good train ride, and gave us a chance to relax after a long couple of days.
In Valence, we checked into our sweet hotel then headed to Patrick and Molly's for a delicious dinner. We were all exhausted, so we headed back to the hotel pretty early to watch the one English TV channel and get some sleep. The next morning was market day in Romans, the town I live in, so we bought some fruit, cheese, and bread for the train ride later that day, and Mom and Meg got to (briefly) see my little French "home". We took a train to Annecy that day and got checked into the apartment that we were renting for the week. Annecy is a beautiful town, complete with a lake and gorgeous mountain views. We ran, walked, shopped and enjoyed the town for about 5 days. I'll post pictures soon so you can get an idea of what it looks like. The apartment was great, other than the fact that we broke the washer the first night. This led to the owner cutting the machine open and arguing with me in French for a good half hour. Luckily, it all got settled...it also provided some good entertainment for awhile. We had a couple dinners out in Annecy, including an excellent one of French Onion Soup and Fondue on the night that it snowed (Thanks, Grandpa!). I think Meg and Mom have also had enough Pain au Chocolat's and Croissants to last them a few years :).
One of the days in Annecy was spent on a day trip to Geneva, Switzerland, which was really fun. The efficiency of the Swiss is always a nice treat after a lot of time in France...as is Starbucks.
We ended the trip in Lyon for 2 days/2 nights. The weather there was beautiful, which made exploring the city fantastic. Again, tons of walking... but we saw a lot!
Sunday morning, I parted ways with Meg and Mom as they got on a train to the Paris airport and I boarded one back to Romans. After getting re-settled and unpacking, I spent the afternoon in Valence catching up with Abi, Becca and Eric...and enjoying a couple episodes of Gossip Girl.
I'm enjoying this week of teaching so far -- it's the one week a month that I have with my most motivated students, so it's always fun to work with them. I'm looking forward to English Club this Thursday as well...so far, the number of members has doubled since it started about a month and a half ago (which doesn't say much since it started at 2 students, but it's still progress).
This weekend is the Carnaval in Romans, which seems like quite the event. Rachel and Margo (and maybe Stephanie) are visiting from Dijon, and Grace will be coming down from Chambéry. On top of that, most of the Valence assistants will be there...if it's not already an awesome event, we'll make it one! We're planning to make masks on Friday in preparation.
Only one more thing to report, and that's that either Spring has arrived or there's a horrible trick being played on the region...the weather's been gorgeous!
Miss you all -- talk to you soon.
I started vacation by traveling with 3 other assistants: Patrick, Molly and Grace. We took a train from our respective towns to Dijon, France (home of Dijon mustard, cassis, and spice bread...and, temporary home for Margo, Rachel, and Stephanie this semester, three sorority sisters studying abroad there). It was great to meet up with Margo and Rachel for a little while...it's amazing how refreshing it can be to see familiar faces in a foreign country. Dijon is a beautiful and charming city, and we stayed with Pauline and Romain, hosts we found through Couch Surfing. They took us on a little tour around the town, and we all ate together both nights. We had so much fun, and it was great practice for our French.
Next on the list was Strasbourg, the most "German" of all French cities due to its geographical location near the German border. It has been back-and-forth between German and French control for...well...a long time. Two years ago, I went to the Christmas Market in Strasbourg and loved it...well, this time I loved it even more. It's definitely a contender for my favorite French city. I've decided that the reason I enjoy it is because of its ability to combine typically "French" things (boulangeries, beautiful language, wine, etc.) with things that are clearly results of the German influence on the city (efficiency, tram lines, sweet architecture, and a quicker overall pace). Thumbs up, Strasbourg.
Last stop for the four of us was Reims, in the Champagne region just north of Paris. This city makes it clear that Champagne is its specialty...the people who live in Reims drink champagne like wine (I would say they drink it like water, but the French drink more wine than water...). We stayed with a couple from Couch Surfing, and the woman hosting us worked in the champagne industry. So, we got our fair share of champagne while visiting! We also took a tour of Pommery, one of the champagne houses in Reims. It was awesome to learn more about the process and history behind the area and its prize product.
From Reims, Grace and I headed to Paris where she spent a day with me walking, shopping, and enjoying the Jardins de Luxembourg...well, enjoying it until we were attacked by birds, Hitchcock-style. We enjoyed a great day/night in Paris, then parted ways so that I could head to the airport and meet Meghan and my mom!
Mom, Meg and I did a two-day whirlwind tour of Paris...efficient, but exhausting. Meg and Mom learned very quickly some things that it took me months to catch onto, such as the fact that the French WILL NOT move out of your way on the sidewalk...so, rather than moving for them, you should just learn quickly how to be agressive. Also, looking up at the pretty buildings is not a good idea...if you are, you're probably also stepping in a pile of dog poop. Lastly, if a new line opens up at the supermarket, nobody will be polite and let the next person in line go...so, you have to fight for it (again, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!). Saturday, we got on a train to Valence and, while Meg slept, Mom and I got mini-glasses of wine from the train's food car. Once we finished them, we took our own wine bottles out of our bag and re-filled :). It was a good train ride, and gave us a chance to relax after a long couple of days.
In Valence, we checked into our sweet hotel then headed to Patrick and Molly's for a delicious dinner. We were all exhausted, so we headed back to the hotel pretty early to watch the one English TV channel and get some sleep. The next morning was market day in Romans, the town I live in, so we bought some fruit, cheese, and bread for the train ride later that day, and Mom and Meg got to (briefly) see my little French "home". We took a train to Annecy that day and got checked into the apartment that we were renting for the week. Annecy is a beautiful town, complete with a lake and gorgeous mountain views. We ran, walked, shopped and enjoyed the town for about 5 days. I'll post pictures soon so you can get an idea of what it looks like. The apartment was great, other than the fact that we broke the washer the first night. This led to the owner cutting the machine open and arguing with me in French for a good half hour. Luckily, it all got settled...it also provided some good entertainment for awhile. We had a couple dinners out in Annecy, including an excellent one of French Onion Soup and Fondue on the night that it snowed (Thanks, Grandpa!). I think Meg and Mom have also had enough Pain au Chocolat's and Croissants to last them a few years :).
One of the days in Annecy was spent on a day trip to Geneva, Switzerland, which was really fun. The efficiency of the Swiss is always a nice treat after a lot of time in France...as is Starbucks.
We ended the trip in Lyon for 2 days/2 nights. The weather there was beautiful, which made exploring the city fantastic. Again, tons of walking... but we saw a lot!
Sunday morning, I parted ways with Meg and Mom as they got on a train to the Paris airport and I boarded one back to Romans. After getting re-settled and unpacking, I spent the afternoon in Valence catching up with Abi, Becca and Eric...and enjoying a couple episodes of Gossip Girl.
I'm enjoying this week of teaching so far -- it's the one week a month that I have with my most motivated students, so it's always fun to work with them. I'm looking forward to English Club this Thursday as well...so far, the number of members has doubled since it started about a month and a half ago (which doesn't say much since it started at 2 students, but it's still progress).
This weekend is the Carnaval in Romans, which seems like quite the event. Rachel and Margo (and maybe Stephanie) are visiting from Dijon, and Grace will be coming down from Chambéry. On top of that, most of the Valence assistants will be there...if it's not already an awesome event, we'll make it one! We're planning to make masks on Friday in preparation.
Only one more thing to report, and that's that either Spring has arrived or there's a horrible trick being played on the region...the weather's been gorgeous!
Miss you all -- talk to you soon.
28 January, 2009
En Grève
Last semester, I had the following discussion with a French colleague:
Me: “Are you going to have classes this Thursday? I heard there was going to be a strike.”
Him (smiling): “Yeah, I’ll be here.”
…at this point, I think he could see that I was a little confused.
Him (still smiling, kind of laughing): “Is this your first strike in France?”
Me: “Yeah…”
Him: “Haha, well it won’t be your last one!”
Well, he was correct. This has been an especially active year in terms of French strikes due to the reforms proposed by Sarkozy’s government. I have become the most familiar with the “Darkos reform,” Darkos being the Minister of Education and his reform a significant change to the structure of French high schools. This Thursday (Jan. 29th) will be the fourth strike by either teachers or students (or both) this school year. And, apparently Thursday’s strike isn’t just for the education sector.
According to tonight’s news, the strike will include teachers, SNCF workers (the French train network), and administrative workers. My first thought upon hearing this was, “Crap! How am I going to get to Valence to see the teachers’ protest if the trains are on strike?!”
I wish I could say this is the first time I’ve had that problem…rather, I have to say that anyone learning to speak French should learn the word “Grève” (strike) around the same time they learn “Bonjour,” “Merci,” “Pardon,” and “Oui.” That is to say, it’s one of the most basic and commonly used words in the French vocabulary.
One would think that a right used so commonly would be effective, right? Well, the following conversation occurred tonight with the girl I tutor:
Me: “So, why do the French strike so much? Does it accomplish anything?”
Her (laughing): “No, it never accomplishes anything.”
Me: “Okay, well…”
Her: “I guess it’s just a way to remind them that we’re there. That we have a voice.”
Okay, I get that. I understand that even if your action hasn’t accomplished anything, you can at least live with the satisfaction that you weren’t silent while changes occurred. HOWEVER, isn’t the fact that the French “over-strike” part of the reason that no changes are made? After all, there’s a reason that the government isn’t responsive to strikes, the same way that there’s a reason the government can’t be over-ambitious in their reforms. Both are directly related to the fact that strikes are so predictable that while the government cannot take drastic actions toward change (invoking too much striking), they can still take petites actions as long as they put up with a day of repos (and maybe a protest) in related sectors.
This morning, I heard an interesting comment on the radio (a comment which, in turn, enraged the radio show’s host). The show’s guest claimed, “You can’t strike against the economic crisis.” I found this to be incredibly accurate, as the majority of Thursday’s strikes are in response to job cuts (or fewer renewals of temporary contracts). Due to the large percentage of the French population that is employed by the government, of course the government is cutting jobs! Just as Americans, Japanese, Brits, Australians, etc. are losing jobs due to the crisis, so are the French. However, the French tend to point fingers at the government rather than acknowledging the gravity of the world’s economic crisis. Naturally, they respond à la Français and take a day off of work to fight against that which is simply reality.
The French are simply resistant…any American word that begins to make it into their language is replaced by an official French word (e.g., “Chewing gum” and “Internet” both have official French versions which nobody knows/uses). However, it is inevitable that France’s resistance to change will catch up with it eventually, and it will likely be during the current economic crisis. If the power of Thursday’s strike proves me wrong and the people get everything they want, you can all say, “I told you so.” But, I have to say: the odds (and basic logic) are against the people on this one.
(For an great article that includes a reference to France's love of striking, see the following link: http://bygonebureau.com/2009/01/23/the-rambling-american-mirror-mirror-on-the-wall/)
Me: “Are you going to have classes this Thursday? I heard there was going to be a strike.”
Him (smiling): “Yeah, I’ll be here.”
…at this point, I think he could see that I was a little confused.
Him (still smiling, kind of laughing): “Is this your first strike in France?”
Me: “Yeah…”
Him: “Haha, well it won’t be your last one!”
Well, he was correct. This has been an especially active year in terms of French strikes due to the reforms proposed by Sarkozy’s government. I have become the most familiar with the “Darkos reform,” Darkos being the Minister of Education and his reform a significant change to the structure of French high schools. This Thursday (Jan. 29th) will be the fourth strike by either teachers or students (or both) this school year. And, apparently Thursday’s strike isn’t just for the education sector.
According to tonight’s news, the strike will include teachers, SNCF workers (the French train network), and administrative workers. My first thought upon hearing this was, “Crap! How am I going to get to Valence to see the teachers’ protest if the trains are on strike?!”
I wish I could say this is the first time I’ve had that problem…rather, I have to say that anyone learning to speak French should learn the word “Grève” (strike) around the same time they learn “Bonjour,” “Merci,” “Pardon,” and “Oui.” That is to say, it’s one of the most basic and commonly used words in the French vocabulary.
One would think that a right used so commonly would be effective, right? Well, the following conversation occurred tonight with the girl I tutor:
Me: “So, why do the French strike so much? Does it accomplish anything?”
Her (laughing): “No, it never accomplishes anything.”
Me: “Okay, well…”
Her: “I guess it’s just a way to remind them that we’re there. That we have a voice.”
Okay, I get that. I understand that even if your action hasn’t accomplished anything, you can at least live with the satisfaction that you weren’t silent while changes occurred. HOWEVER, isn’t the fact that the French “over-strike” part of the reason that no changes are made? After all, there’s a reason that the government isn’t responsive to strikes, the same way that there’s a reason the government can’t be over-ambitious in their reforms. Both are directly related to the fact that strikes are so predictable that while the government cannot take drastic actions toward change (invoking too much striking), they can still take petites actions as long as they put up with a day of repos (and maybe a protest) in related sectors.
This morning, I heard an interesting comment on the radio (a comment which, in turn, enraged the radio show’s host). The show’s guest claimed, “You can’t strike against the economic crisis.” I found this to be incredibly accurate, as the majority of Thursday’s strikes are in response to job cuts (or fewer renewals of temporary contracts). Due to the large percentage of the French population that is employed by the government, of course the government is cutting jobs! Just as Americans, Japanese, Brits, Australians, etc. are losing jobs due to the crisis, so are the French. However, the French tend to point fingers at the government rather than acknowledging the gravity of the world’s economic crisis. Naturally, they respond à la Français and take a day off of work to fight against that which is simply reality.
The French are simply resistant…any American word that begins to make it into their language is replaced by an official French word (e.g., “Chewing gum” and “Internet” both have official French versions which nobody knows/uses). However, it is inevitable that France’s resistance to change will catch up with it eventually, and it will likely be during the current economic crisis. If the power of Thursday’s strike proves me wrong and the people get everything they want, you can all say, “I told you so.” But, I have to say: the odds (and basic logic) are against the people on this one.
(For an great article that includes a reference to France's love of striking, see the following link: http://bygonebureau.com/2009/01/23/the-rambling-american-mirror-mirror-on-the-wall/)
25 January, 2009
Way too much has happened lately...
I have this horrible habit – whenever there is a lot going on that is worth writing about, I procrastinate until there is too much to write about and I can no longer do justice to any of it. So, that’s my current dilemma, and I will try to recount the past few weeks’ worth of events without (a) making this entry obnoxiously long, or (b) omitting any of the exciting and/or entertaining events.
My first week back, I was teaching at the middle school. This turned out to be a great transition back to “working life” (can I really call my paid vacation here “work”?) because teachers kept forgetting to send their students to me. I decided not to make them aware of the fact because I was using the open class time to finish reading The Bell Jar and really didn’t mind the peace and quiet. I taught the class that I wrote about previously (see “But, I do not speak zee English!”) for the first time since the “confrontation,” and actually had a fairly positive experience. I think I’m growing on them…they actually participated! Either I’m getting better at teaching or they’re getting better at respecting…maybe both.
Anyway, after a week of cold, wet, slushy snow during the first week back, Molly, Patrick and I decided to migrate south to Nîmes. We did Couch Surfing with a fantastic host named Thomas. He wasn’t able to stay home that weekend, but was willing to leave us his keys for the weekend anyway. It was a great experience – saw some Roman architecture, absorbed as much 60+ degree weather, sun, and cloudless sky as we could, and remembered what it was like to be in a town with a young population and vibrant atmosphere. Needless to say, we will most likely be returning to Nîmes as soon as the cold weather and unbearable wind start to wear on us again.
The next week was one of the most positive teaching weeks I’ve had. I was at my school with the most motivated and participatory students. Demos (the other American assistant) and I started an “English Club” that currently has only two members, but they both seem fully loyal and motivated ☺. I am also starting a letter exchange between students from this school and Columbine’s AP French class to create what will (hopefully) be a long-term connection between Romans and Littleton.
Since Nîmes, my weekends have been spent in Romans and Valence, which actually hasn’t been as monotonous as expected. I spent a day wine tasting with Abi, Patrick and Molly in Tain l’Hermitage, a small town only 10 minutes from Valence by train. The town is surrounded by hills of vineyards, so it is basically saturated with “caves,” or tasting rooms. Romans has been surprisingly “happening” this January – last night, there was even a concert at a bar in town. The bar was still open at 1:30 when we left, which should go down in a book somewhere as an exceptional event in the city’s existence. Of course, this is the first night that Patrick and Molly have hung out in Romans, so they are convinced that my tales of the lacking life in the town are false. If only they knew…
Last Wednesday, the Assistants in the area took advantage of the fact that schools in France close at noon on Wednesdays (logical, right?) and went skiing. The bus embarked from Die (pronounced “Dee,” but still makes for good jokes) and took us to Col de Rousset, a small ski resort in the Vercors mountains. For less than 20 euros, I got a ride to/from the mountain, a lift ticket, and ski rentals. I don’t ski in the States, but I’m pretty sure it’s way more expensive than that. So, I will be taking advantage of that fact and skiing on many of the future Wednesdays I have off of work. Any of you who have seen me try to ski (or can imagine it) can predict the types of stories I have from the day…I won’t get into them hear, but let me know if you want to hear more details from what was an incredibly entertaining day.
Other than that, I have been spending a decent amount of time training for an April 19th half marathon in Annecy. Annecy is a mountain town in the Alps, and the half marathon is along the lake, which is supposedly beautiful. Now, there's a little gang of assistants all planning on running, too, which should be fun. The other day on my run, I saw a falcon (which I originally thought was an owl…I’m not really a bird person…until I was corrected later and verified on Google images that it was, in fact, a falcon). Molly kindly commented, “Oh, you’re lucky it didn’t attack you. We spoke to a teacher yesterday who had a falcon attack his helmet while he was riding his bike.” So, I now have added falcons to my list of fears while running.
This has gotten to be too long, so I will stop rambling. Although this has been a fairly “factual” entry, I do have some funny stories from the past month. So, if you want to hear rants on any of the following subjects, let me know: (a) The boom box-style MP3 player trend amongst French youth, (b) The version of Classism that takes place between different high schools in one town, (c) Current trends in French men’s fashion…more specifically, their blue jeans, or (d) Dealing with Germans in a French context.
My first week back, I was teaching at the middle school. This turned out to be a great transition back to “working life” (can I really call my paid vacation here “work”?) because teachers kept forgetting to send their students to me. I decided not to make them aware of the fact because I was using the open class time to finish reading The Bell Jar and really didn’t mind the peace and quiet. I taught the class that I wrote about previously (see “But, I do not speak zee English!”) for the first time since the “confrontation,” and actually had a fairly positive experience. I think I’m growing on them…they actually participated! Either I’m getting better at teaching or they’re getting better at respecting…maybe both.
Anyway, after a week of cold, wet, slushy snow during the first week back, Molly, Patrick and I decided to migrate south to Nîmes. We did Couch Surfing with a fantastic host named Thomas. He wasn’t able to stay home that weekend, but was willing to leave us his keys for the weekend anyway. It was a great experience – saw some Roman architecture, absorbed as much 60+ degree weather, sun, and cloudless sky as we could, and remembered what it was like to be in a town with a young population and vibrant atmosphere. Needless to say, we will most likely be returning to Nîmes as soon as the cold weather and unbearable wind start to wear on us again.
The next week was one of the most positive teaching weeks I’ve had. I was at my school with the most motivated and participatory students. Demos (the other American assistant) and I started an “English Club” that currently has only two members, but they both seem fully loyal and motivated ☺. I am also starting a letter exchange between students from this school and Columbine’s AP French class to create what will (hopefully) be a long-term connection between Romans and Littleton.
Since Nîmes, my weekends have been spent in Romans and Valence, which actually hasn’t been as monotonous as expected. I spent a day wine tasting with Abi, Patrick and Molly in Tain l’Hermitage, a small town only 10 minutes from Valence by train. The town is surrounded by hills of vineyards, so it is basically saturated with “caves,” or tasting rooms. Romans has been surprisingly “happening” this January – last night, there was even a concert at a bar in town. The bar was still open at 1:30 when we left, which should go down in a book somewhere as an exceptional event in the city’s existence. Of course, this is the first night that Patrick and Molly have hung out in Romans, so they are convinced that my tales of the lacking life in the town are false. If only they knew…
Last Wednesday, the Assistants in the area took advantage of the fact that schools in France close at noon on Wednesdays (logical, right?) and went skiing. The bus embarked from Die (pronounced “Dee,” but still makes for good jokes) and took us to Col de Rousset, a small ski resort in the Vercors mountains. For less than 20 euros, I got a ride to/from the mountain, a lift ticket, and ski rentals. I don’t ski in the States, but I’m pretty sure it’s way more expensive than that. So, I will be taking advantage of that fact and skiing on many of the future Wednesdays I have off of work. Any of you who have seen me try to ski (or can imagine it) can predict the types of stories I have from the day…I won’t get into them hear, but let me know if you want to hear more details from what was an incredibly entertaining day.
Other than that, I have been spending a decent amount of time training for an April 19th half marathon in Annecy. Annecy is a mountain town in the Alps, and the half marathon is along the lake, which is supposedly beautiful. Now, there's a little gang of assistants all planning on running, too, which should be fun. The other day on my run, I saw a falcon (which I originally thought was an owl…I’m not really a bird person…until I was corrected later and verified on Google images that it was, in fact, a falcon). Molly kindly commented, “Oh, you’re lucky it didn’t attack you. We spoke to a teacher yesterday who had a falcon attack his helmet while he was riding his bike.” So, I now have added falcons to my list of fears while running.
This has gotten to be too long, so I will stop rambling. Although this has been a fairly “factual” entry, I do have some funny stories from the past month. So, if you want to hear rants on any of the following subjects, let me know: (a) The boom box-style MP3 player trend amongst French youth, (b) The version of Classism that takes place between different high schools in one town, (c) Current trends in French men’s fashion…more specifically, their blue jeans, or (d) Dealing with Germans in a French context.
04 January, 2009
The best part of leaving home is going back...
I haven't always thought this. I mean, I've always enjoyed getting back to the comfort and security of home after some time traveling, but I have never considered it the highlight of the journey...until now. I'm not sure if it's my age or current position in life or what, but the past two weeks at home were exactly what I needed. They were the highlight of the last three months of my life, not only because they gave me a break from life in France, but also because they allowed me to gain some perspective on my experiences and the knowledge I have gained. The relative discomfort of life in France (as it compares to home) made couches, comfortable beds, easy-to-find and reliable internet connections, driving without fearing for my life, free and convenient laundry machines, American coffee, Mexican food, and the English language more refreshing that they have ever been. Most of all, the ease of communication with family and friends was one of the greatest comforts I have ever felt.
Of course, it also doesn't hurt to have caught up on this season of The Office, drank my weight in drip coffee, and fulfilled my Qdoba craving.
I don't mean to make life in my little French town sound bad...it's not, by any means. It's just that all of the comforts listed above are basically non-existent. It's also very different than the time I spent in Paris two years ago...in case anyone doubted it, Paris is not representative of the rest of France. So, adjusting to a much more "typical" French lifestyle has been a little bit of an adventure, with plenty of unexpected surprises thrown in.
The title of this post may be misleading...I do not mean to say that I don't appreciate or enjoy my experiences abroad. It is more that in coming home, these experiences are somewhat solidified. I am able to get a taste of how the things I learn will be valuable for the rest of my life, and it's amazing to see how my new perspective on the world has made even the smallest things look a little different. Beyond that, being home re-energized and re-directed me, allowing me to focus on what I want to accomplish during my next four months in France. I'm not sure that it should have taken me going back home to do this, but it turns out that it did. As I make my way back to Romans, I feel incredibly optimistic about the opportunities ahead of me.
Of course, it also doesn't hurt to have caught up on this season of The Office, drank my weight in drip coffee, and fulfilled my Qdoba craving.
I don't mean to make life in my little French town sound bad...it's not, by any means. It's just that all of the comforts listed above are basically non-existent. It's also very different than the time I spent in Paris two years ago...in case anyone doubted it, Paris is not representative of the rest of France. So, adjusting to a much more "typical" French lifestyle has been a little bit of an adventure, with plenty of unexpected surprises thrown in.
The title of this post may be misleading...I do not mean to say that I don't appreciate or enjoy my experiences abroad. It is more that in coming home, these experiences are somewhat solidified. I am able to get a taste of how the things I learn will be valuable for the rest of my life, and it's amazing to see how my new perspective on the world has made even the smallest things look a little different. Beyond that, being home re-energized and re-directed me, allowing me to focus on what I want to accomplish during my next four months in France. I'm not sure that it should have taken me going back home to do this, but it turns out that it did. As I make my way back to Romans, I feel incredibly optimistic about the opportunities ahead of me.
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