Edinburgh, Scotland with Amber and Carolina...the whole Furman crew...
Those are all things that I did not see over the weekend. Being well-prepared seems to work in reverse in France. At the beginning of November I decided to book my flight to and from Edinburgh so I would not run out of money. So I booked it. My flight was to leave at about 10pm on Thursday from Paris. In order to get there, I wanted to give myself plenty of time to get to the airport in Paris. So, I left at 3:30pm from Verdun. Well, I was supposed to leave at 3:30. I arrive at the station only to discover that the train conducters' strike has failed to end as announced on the news.
I sit around at the station waiting for the train, watching people come in and out, buying tickets and such. As the time approaches for the train to depart, I notice that I should get onto the platform. I try every set of doors - nothing. Then some guys installing a sliding door were like, "Are you sure that there should be a train?"
I have a ticket. Yes. Then again, we are in France where the national sport is striking.
Train never showed. I carried my sulky body back to the center of town and called mom from a telephone box. On the verge of tears, anger, an overwhelmingly strong desire to return home, I met Suzanne at a local bar. That was only the beginning. We stayed at that bar for about 1.5 hours. We then went to the Middle School were the other assistants live, and Chris cooked some pasta dish. If I remember correctly it was very good. Then we continued to drink my sorrows away...
Basically this past weekend developed newfound disdain for France: Do not mess with Thanksgiving, France.
Hopefully I won't experience anything similar as regards Christmas. Kateri and I decided that we are going to the south of Spain to spend Christmas with Carolina, Dan, and Carolina's cousin.
Thanks for listening to my rants.
ps I have Chris back. For about 2 weeks he was attached at the hip to the girlfriend so I never saw him. Alas, he has returned.
lundi 26 novembre 2007
dimanche 18 novembre 2007
Il y a presque deux mois...
Two months.
What have I learned?
The first and foremost thing is that I absolutely love and am completely accustomed to the American work ethic. Last Wednesday, the train conductors decided to go on strike because they feel as though they should be able to retire at 55 instead of 60. Frankly, I do not care which age they choose, just give me some trains.
Secondly, I find that French people overestimate their influence in the world. As I see it now, it would be hard to convince me that they have any say. They contend that their cuisine is the best (it's good but probably not the best), they are very arrogant about their wine (which is falling in popularity being replaced by Napa Valley wines alongside the Australian/NZ wines). Needless to say, some things about the French are bothering me.
Now onto the good things, wine. I can easily say that I polish off a bottle of wine every day. I think it was Friday, but one day last week Beaujolais came out. For the French, this marks a special season because this type of wine must be consumed within the year it was made. Also, it is apparently one of the wines that carries the most pride for French people. I must say, it's very good. Very very good.
BIG NEWS...
My apartment should be getting internet soon. If you were not aware, I have to use the school's computers during the week and typically have no access during the weekends. Recently, we slyly got keys to access the school's computers during the weekends but we aren't supposed to. With that said, I kept asking our boss the possibility of getting internet in the apartment; she broke. She said we should be getting it soon. The problem, however, is that it will have the same restrictions that the school computers have (no aim, restricted sites, etc).
I also discovered that which is skype. If you don't have skype, download it immediately. If you have skype, we can talk for absolutely free. If not, I can call you for like 2 euro centimes a minute (that is super cheap).
What have I learned?
The first and foremost thing is that I absolutely love and am completely accustomed to the American work ethic. Last Wednesday, the train conductors decided to go on strike because they feel as though they should be able to retire at 55 instead of 60. Frankly, I do not care which age they choose, just give me some trains.
Secondly, I find that French people overestimate their influence in the world. As I see it now, it would be hard to convince me that they have any say. They contend that their cuisine is the best (it's good but probably not the best), they are very arrogant about their wine (which is falling in popularity being replaced by Napa Valley wines alongside the Australian/NZ wines). Needless to say, some things about the French are bothering me.
Now onto the good things, wine. I can easily say that I polish off a bottle of wine every day. I think it was Friday, but one day last week Beaujolais came out. For the French, this marks a special season because this type of wine must be consumed within the year it was made. Also, it is apparently one of the wines that carries the most pride for French people. I must say, it's very good. Very very good.
BIG NEWS...
My apartment should be getting internet soon. If you were not aware, I have to use the school's computers during the week and typically have no access during the weekends. Recently, we slyly got keys to access the school's computers during the weekends but we aren't supposed to. With that said, I kept asking our boss the possibility of getting internet in the apartment; she broke. She said we should be getting it soon. The problem, however, is that it will have the same restrictions that the school computers have (no aim, restricted sites, etc).
I also discovered that which is skype. If you don't have skype, download it immediately. If you have skype, we can talk for absolutely free. If not, I can call you for like 2 euro centimes a minute (that is super cheap).
jeudi 8 novembre 2007
Things are looking up...or am I just short?
Declaration:
I refuse to be a complainer. Life here is so simple, yet so enriching. I have decided that I will no longer look at Verdun as a supplement of hell. It is quite breath-taking in aesthetics, and the people here are great. The assistants that I live with and the townspeople.
Sure there are instances where I doubt the validity of France's economy, but as a whole it isn't half bad.
During the vacation time I spent the week with other assistants that live in Verdun since my roommates both went home. Spending time there was absolutely incredible. The people there are very nice and we ate really good meals the whole week. It was as close to a family environment as I will find here, I imagine.
I spent an evening and a day in Paris with Chris, who has consequently become my new best friend. Chris and I, whether it be to lack of other boys, have become significantly closer during the break. Crista, whom I haven't much talked about, is from San Diego. She ended up leaving Verdun for undisclosed reasons about 2 weeks ago, and we don't anticipate her return. Since her room is now vacant, Chris offered it to me. Given that I do not want to create an odd divide between my roommates and myself, I did not accept his offer even though the apartment is nicer.
On a different note, I received two packages this past week! One was my camera cord from grandma and papa, the other the best thing ever. Along with the camera cord came a quickly scribble note written by my grandmother. She isn't the type of woman that would pour her heart out, frankly I was surprised that she even wrote a note. Just reading her writing made me extremely homesick. Anyways, I need to write her a letter or two explaining my life here.
The second package, hot damn. Lindsay Scott might be the BEST goodie boxer ever. She sent me a goodie box with: Reese's, Gobstoppers, Skittles, Tissues (just in case), Red White and Blue Confetti, a USA jewel tattoo thing, and a HOMEMADE SCARF! The scarf is honestly the best gift I think I've ever received. Aside from the fact that it's made with her own hands, it looks like I bought it in the store. Wowsas. So far, about 24 hours later I'm still wearing it.
Oh yea, I love cold showers. I'm learning German as well. Get excited!
I refuse to be a complainer. Life here is so simple, yet so enriching. I have decided that I will no longer look at Verdun as a supplement of hell. It is quite breath-taking in aesthetics, and the people here are great. The assistants that I live with and the townspeople.
Sure there are instances where I doubt the validity of France's economy, but as a whole it isn't half bad.
During the vacation time I spent the week with other assistants that live in Verdun since my roommates both went home. Spending time there was absolutely incredible. The people there are very nice and we ate really good meals the whole week. It was as close to a family environment as I will find here, I imagine.
I spent an evening and a day in Paris with Chris, who has consequently become my new best friend. Chris and I, whether it be to lack of other boys, have become significantly closer during the break. Crista, whom I haven't much talked about, is from San Diego. She ended up leaving Verdun for undisclosed reasons about 2 weeks ago, and we don't anticipate her return. Since her room is now vacant, Chris offered it to me. Given that I do not want to create an odd divide between my roommates and myself, I did not accept his offer even though the apartment is nicer.
On a different note, I received two packages this past week! One was my camera cord from grandma and papa, the other the best thing ever. Along with the camera cord came a quickly scribble note written by my grandmother. She isn't the type of woman that would pour her heart out, frankly I was surprised that she even wrote a note. Just reading her writing made me extremely homesick. Anyways, I need to write her a letter or two explaining my life here.
The second package, hot damn. Lindsay Scott might be the BEST goodie boxer ever. She sent me a goodie box with: Reese's, Gobstoppers, Skittles, Tissues (just in case), Red White and Blue Confetti, a USA jewel tattoo thing, and a HOMEMADE SCARF! The scarf is honestly the best gift I think I've ever received. Aside from the fact that it's made with her own hands, it looks like I bought it in the store. Wowsas. So far, about 24 hours later I'm still wearing it.
Oh yea, I love cold showers. I'm learning German as well. Get excited!
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