Le 30 novembre 2004.
The first winter cold of the season is making its rounds through the foyer, and in particular, the assistants. Both Wienke and Jennifer have already been sick, and possibly Louise Plaid too- and now I woke up this morning with my little sniffles and sore throat going into overdrive. It’s quite annoying to be feeling under the weather in the first place, and then to just keep feeling weaker and tired makes it all that worse. The worst bit is how you just seem to lose your head in addition to feeling awful. Walking to pick up my new student card for the regional bus system of Moselle, I completely forgot I was in France and the office would be closed for the requisite two hours at lunch. But il faut profiter, and so I did. I used the time to stroll –as my walking speed is not much more than a stroll today- through the marché de Noël at Place St. Louis; there I picked out ideas for Christmas presents to send home and tried a huge bowl of tartifoulette, or something like that, a Franco-Swiss dish from the Alps, made of potatoes, onions, bits of ham, and about five pounds of cheese (usually gruyere!) per serving. The guy serving up the dish was a funny guy, but super nice. He listened to my accent as I asked for some of the … stuff, and laughingly wouldn’t start scooping up some hot food for me until I properly pronounced the name of the dish. (What a throw back to yesterday and making my kids pronounce fifty properly- as in fifty, not something almost like fifteen. Oh, pronunciation!) It’s such a heavy dish I couldn’t even finish half of it, so I suppose I should have just gotten a monster pretzel, they’re about the size of my face and very thick. I also wanted to ride on the gorgeous antique carousal, but decided to wait until I had a crowd of twenty-somethings to ride with me, so as not to look quite so bizarre.
In a land of such bureaucracy as France, I’ve often commented that they should be more organized than they truly are; yet this disorganization is what makes it so easy to get what you want in France. For instance, a student pass for the regional bus system will get me either fifty or seventy-five percent of the price of my bus back from Ste. Marie on the days I can’t get a ride back into town. The problem being that I can only be classed as a student of life at the moment, hence my ‘student card’ doesn’t have the school years printed on it. Luckily, there existed another card with the school year dates printed on it, and that in combination with my student card were enough to qualify me for the student pass. So hooray for yet another identification card in my wallet! I think I’m up to four cards for some reason of discount or another. But I have found a wallet that I am going to buy, so then I’ll have an actual wallet!
In addition, as I was walking back to Republique to pick up my student bus pass from the hopefully opened TIM office at 2pm, I noticed that the scene of Republique in front of me, at the end of Rue des Clercs, looked rather familiar. In the end I decided it looked like Paris’ wide avenues lined with numerous sycamores, and with all the dappled sunlight coming through the clouds today, it was a really beautiful scene- like a watercolor painting that you’d buy on the street in Paris.
Marie-Pierre is one of the dear-est woman who has ever lived. (Forgive my grammatical errors there! And I’m teaching English, I know!) Besides just being such a sweet lady, she has lent me an entire kitchen—mugs, bowls, soup plates, plates, silverware, glasses, beer mugs, corkscrew, bottle opener, and pots and pans. I couldn’t believe it! I can now cook in my kitchen! It’s so beautiful now too, not just half empty shelves!
Terri has just reminded me that I never mentioned the glorious things that happened on Thanksgiving. After the sad and untimely demise of our pumpkin pie on the Wednesday before, Victoria’s sister arrived from the East Coast on Thursday and they made delicious mashed potatoes and … the best part!... pumpkin pie filling, so we got to have pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, just without the crust! But it was so delicious!
On a final note, I think I’ll have to invite the residence handyman to tea one day; for even though it’s his job at the foyer to fix things, I feel between my room and my studio, he has seen me more often than most of the other residents. But yay for a new faucet head tomorrow!
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Monday, November 29, 2004
Ça va mieux…
Le 28 novembre 2004.
After a glorious weekend, I’m truly tempted to write in French tonight- but will not for two reasons, it wouldn’t be that good and it would be hard for non-francophiles to read. My last entry was from the afternoon of Thanksgiving, before things really got moving. But my entire day was superb- had fun making handprint turkeys with my kids (even though they’re 10-15 years old), bought my tickets to visit Kristen, took a nap, had a good afternoon in the computer lab, talked with Kristen, had a marvelous conversation with Kim, and geared up for Thanksgiving with 15 other assistants or friends. As much as we were leary of a possible disaster, even with a few false starts towards that, things came off wonderfully! Really, with 16 people, it’s remarkable that people were only about 45 minutes late and there was the usual amount of confusion, but chickens were picked up, potatoes arrived, bread was bought, and decorations were provided by the unsuspecting hands of little potential English-speakers. The feast was quite marvelous, conversation was good and varied, and entertainment was provided by a re-enactment by Bobby of his self-impersonation of in-class discipline, “J’attends le silence.” (Please see Amelia’s blog and reference photo on this blog.) Cat, Victoria’s sister, arrived on Thursday to spend the day cooking for dinner and to spend four days with Victoria before returning to classes on the east coast. Thanksgiving abroad has proven itself yet again as a fascinating opportunity to enjoy the company of some unique people.
The train system in France is quite an amazing thing. Living in Europe for me means the happy opportunity to travel by train. However, it becomes quite annoying when one is trying to visit a friend for the weekend, who lives about an hour and forty minutes away, and actual time spent on a train is about one hour and forty minutes, but it still takes a duration of three and a half hours to get there and five and a half hours to get back. It’s simply great to be able to get on and off the train as needed, it’s simply those hours of time between the three trains it takes to get to and from a little town. The main issue arises from the fact that Metz and St. Dizier aren’t on major lines anyway, let along on major lines corresponding to each other. Other than the trip to and from, the past weekend was quite brilliant. Visiting Kristen was a wonderful way to spend the extended part of the Thanksgiving holiday, and it was good to see Shannon again. Our dinner reminded me of how much I miss French family dinners on Friday nights in Toulouse. Such good food, wonderful people to meet, and great and varied conversation arose from the mix of people. Kristen’s stuffing recipe from her great-aunt went over extremely well, with the majority of people asking for the recipe and one French lady promising to make it for Christmas with her family. Shannon couldn’t get enough, and Antoine took what remained of the stuffing to get him through the week. ‘Le Stuff’ succeeded greatly at a French Thanksgiving. In addition, Preciosa made the pumpkin pies, but in a style French, meaning that they tasted more in a sense like pumpkin flan than the traditional American pumpkin pie- yet it was really quite tasty. Kristen truly has the luck to have met the people she has and befriended during her time already in St. Dizier.
It’s also reassuring to have Thanh Ly and her sister, Kim, who are both a few years older than Kristen and I, and are still just starting to ‘settle’ a bit into their lives. They both have traveled and studied abroad in Canada and the US. They do not fear receiving the yellow and green hat of St. Catherine, even though they should have already. For French legend says that if a woman is not married by a certain age, than she is to receive a paper hat make with yellow for the sadness of being unmarried, but also of green to give hope that she won’t be long an ‘old maid’. Kristen, Shannon, and I are quite relieved that they have no worries about receiving the hat, hence we have hope still. Plus Thanh Ly and Kim are just so sweet. On their return to Reims, they dropped me off at the train station in Vitry Le François, so I didn’t have to leave St. Dizier so early and then wait two hours and twenty minutes there. The best part being that I got to chat with them a bit more and also they like country music, especially bluegrass!
Happiness comes from having the opportunity to realize appreciation for the things you have or the comforts of home, because you go away for a bit of time.
Accomplishments of the weekend: didn’t shower or wash my hair today and have yet to feel gross; learned how to cut veggies en style à la française, and have begun to speak a fabulous version of franglais because of amount of French spoken this weekend, ie: Even if it’s not a vrai apartment, I love my petit studio.
After a glorious weekend, I’m truly tempted to write in French tonight- but will not for two reasons, it wouldn’t be that good and it would be hard for non-francophiles to read. My last entry was from the afternoon of Thanksgiving, before things really got moving. But my entire day was superb- had fun making handprint turkeys with my kids (even though they’re 10-15 years old), bought my tickets to visit Kristen, took a nap, had a good afternoon in the computer lab, talked with Kristen, had a marvelous conversation with Kim, and geared up for Thanksgiving with 15 other assistants or friends. As much as we were leary of a possible disaster, even with a few false starts towards that, things came off wonderfully! Really, with 16 people, it’s remarkable that people were only about 45 minutes late and there was the usual amount of confusion, but chickens were picked up, potatoes arrived, bread was bought, and decorations were provided by the unsuspecting hands of little potential English-speakers. The feast was quite marvelous, conversation was good and varied, and entertainment was provided by a re-enactment by Bobby of his self-impersonation of in-class discipline, “J’attends le silence.” (Please see Amelia’s blog and reference photo on this blog.) Cat, Victoria’s sister, arrived on Thursday to spend the day cooking for dinner and to spend four days with Victoria before returning to classes on the east coast. Thanksgiving abroad has proven itself yet again as a fascinating opportunity to enjoy the company of some unique people.
The train system in France is quite an amazing thing. Living in Europe for me means the happy opportunity to travel by train. However, it becomes quite annoying when one is trying to visit a friend for the weekend, who lives about an hour and forty minutes away, and actual time spent on a train is about one hour and forty minutes, but it still takes a duration of three and a half hours to get there and five and a half hours to get back. It’s simply great to be able to get on and off the train as needed, it’s simply those hours of time between the three trains it takes to get to and from a little town. The main issue arises from the fact that Metz and St. Dizier aren’t on major lines anyway, let along on major lines corresponding to each other. Other than the trip to and from, the past weekend was quite brilliant. Visiting Kristen was a wonderful way to spend the extended part of the Thanksgiving holiday, and it was good to see Shannon again. Our dinner reminded me of how much I miss French family dinners on Friday nights in Toulouse. Such good food, wonderful people to meet, and great and varied conversation arose from the mix of people. Kristen’s stuffing recipe from her great-aunt went over extremely well, with the majority of people asking for the recipe and one French lady promising to make it for Christmas with her family. Shannon couldn’t get enough, and Antoine took what remained of the stuffing to get him through the week. ‘Le Stuff’ succeeded greatly at a French Thanksgiving. In addition, Preciosa made the pumpkin pies, but in a style French, meaning that they tasted more in a sense like pumpkin flan than the traditional American pumpkin pie- yet it was really quite tasty. Kristen truly has the luck to have met the people she has and befriended during her time already in St. Dizier.
It’s also reassuring to have Thanh Ly and her sister, Kim, who are both a few years older than Kristen and I, and are still just starting to ‘settle’ a bit into their lives. They both have traveled and studied abroad in Canada and the US. They do not fear receiving the yellow and green hat of St. Catherine, even though they should have already. For French legend says that if a woman is not married by a certain age, than she is to receive a paper hat make with yellow for the sadness of being unmarried, but also of green to give hope that she won’t be long an ‘old maid’. Kristen, Shannon, and I are quite relieved that they have no worries about receiving the hat, hence we have hope still. Plus Thanh Ly and Kim are just so sweet. On their return to Reims, they dropped me off at the train station in Vitry Le François, so I didn’t have to leave St. Dizier so early and then wait two hours and twenty minutes there. The best part being that I got to chat with them a bit more and also they like country music, especially bluegrass!
Happiness comes from having the opportunity to realize appreciation for the things you have or the comforts of home, because you go away for a bit of time.
Accomplishments of the weekend: didn’t shower or wash my hair today and have yet to feel gross; learned how to cut veggies en style à la française, and have begun to speak a fabulous version of franglais because of amount of French spoken this weekend, ie: Even if it’s not a vrai apartment, I love my petit studio.
Thursday, November 25, 2004
Crisis Level Soars as Pumpkin Pie Plunges to Untimely Death and Porcupine Quills.
Le 24 novembre 2004.
I am grumpy, grumbly, nostalgic, and frustrated all in one. The best description at the moment I can find is that I’m scratchy; scratchy as in porcupine quills. The "stage" today was as ineffectual as I had predicted, though it was lovely to see everyone else and to hear how things are at the various lycées and colléges in the area. The worksheets brought by those who remembered will probably be helpful, or easily enough adapt to my students’ level. But mostly I’ve found that the ladies in charge make the majority of us feel as if we’re our students’ ages, and truly aren’t helpful with actual solutions to various issues that have arisen. Honestly, telling someone to talk to their contact teacher (which I’m sure someone who’s twenty to twenty-four has already done,) let alone the sécretaire or the dirécteur isn’t really a solution or being of any assistance whatsoever. In the words of Sarah and Laura, WTF. One more grumble before I cease on this note, and what’s the point of having us go late in the morning, take only an hour lunch, and skip a break, to let us out early, if we’re just going to go late to 4:15 anyway? Somehow in my little book, that plan just did not come up to scratch... given that we were to have an hour and half for lunch and to get out at 4pm.
On to other more important things; I’ve always rather enjoyed Thanksgiving abroad, though I’ve actually only experienced one abroad. But last year was a marvelous Thanksgiving of eating in a vegetarian restaurant and enjoying great conversation. This year is becoming such a hassle. Dinner for about 15 people in the form of a potluck with only a toaster oven at our disposal; besides being super tired after a pointless day today, it’s enough to make one scream. But I think regardless of how crazy this holiday abroad will be I’d rather remain optimistic for the outcome of the day. It will be enjoyable in some form, even if the craziest story of the year come next Thanksgiving. The sad note to Thanksgiving being that the pumpkin pie that Melissa worked so hard to create committed suicide this evening by plunging itself headlong out of Jennifer’s hands from the toaster oven shelf and splattering its entrails partout over Jennifer, Louise, and all of Jennifer’s kitchen. Tears were shed and sadness prevailed throughout the evening after the untimely demise.
The most difficult part of being abroad is when friends experience tragedy, true sadness and you can not physically be there to grieve. Grief is such a strong emotion, such that it could be felt across an ocean, but that physical presence is definitely missing. But a spirit, even if physically is weak, as an essence can be quite strong; thus regardless of physical time or distance can be felt by many long after its depart from the region. Love can reach beyond all the barriers humans perceive separate us from one another and comfort in ways often unimaginable.
Nostalgie is such a crazy little annoyance of life. It flares up at the most unexpected moments, hence becoming the most annoying time for it to arrive. Just as you settle in a bit, you find yourself wanting to just leave again or at least escape for awhile. How is it also that you have nostalgie for places that aren’t even a home, a place you’re not even sure could be a home… is it just the familiarity of the place, the fact that you’ve learned it so well already that at least you don’t struggle just to find the simplest things? Toulouse, my rose city of the south, with its pink bricks and golden sunshine, shadowy glimpses of the Pyrénées at the most unexpected moments of the day, crowded rue principal, and bizarre bazaar of a marché de Noël, its Monoprix next to Capitole, and cute little boulangerie next to the canal- how I miss it some days. Even on beautiful days in Metz when the crisp winter light comes through the blue sky and lights the Cathédral in the pristine brilliance. People-dodging on Rue Serpenoise is not the same experience as people- and pamphleteer-dodging on Rue de Change/Taur/de la Rome in Toulouse. The massive tide of people doesn’t feel quite as massive when you have double the space in which to dodge and weave. So here’s to more space in the streets and de-centralized marchés de Noël. Bring on the vin chaud.
I am grumpy, grumbly, nostalgic, and frustrated all in one. The best description at the moment I can find is that I’m scratchy; scratchy as in porcupine quills. The "stage" today was as ineffectual as I had predicted, though it was lovely to see everyone else and to hear how things are at the various lycées and colléges in the area. The worksheets brought by those who remembered will probably be helpful, or easily enough adapt to my students’ level. But mostly I’ve found that the ladies in charge make the majority of us feel as if we’re our students’ ages, and truly aren’t helpful with actual solutions to various issues that have arisen. Honestly, telling someone to talk to their contact teacher (which I’m sure someone who’s twenty to twenty-four has already done,) let alone the sécretaire or the dirécteur isn’t really a solution or being of any assistance whatsoever. In the words of Sarah and Laura, WTF. One more grumble before I cease on this note, and what’s the point of having us go late in the morning, take only an hour lunch, and skip a break, to let us out early, if we’re just going to go late to 4:15 anyway? Somehow in my little book, that plan just did not come up to scratch... given that we were to have an hour and half for lunch and to get out at 4pm.
On to other more important things; I’ve always rather enjoyed Thanksgiving abroad, though I’ve actually only experienced one abroad. But last year was a marvelous Thanksgiving of eating in a vegetarian restaurant and enjoying great conversation. This year is becoming such a hassle. Dinner for about 15 people in the form of a potluck with only a toaster oven at our disposal; besides being super tired after a pointless day today, it’s enough to make one scream. But I think regardless of how crazy this holiday abroad will be I’d rather remain optimistic for the outcome of the day. It will be enjoyable in some form, even if the craziest story of the year come next Thanksgiving. The sad note to Thanksgiving being that the pumpkin pie that Melissa worked so hard to create committed suicide this evening by plunging itself headlong out of Jennifer’s hands from the toaster oven shelf and splattering its entrails partout over Jennifer, Louise, and all of Jennifer’s kitchen. Tears were shed and sadness prevailed throughout the evening after the untimely demise.
The most difficult part of being abroad is when friends experience tragedy, true sadness and you can not physically be there to grieve. Grief is such a strong emotion, such that it could be felt across an ocean, but that physical presence is definitely missing. But a spirit, even if physically is weak, as an essence can be quite strong; thus regardless of physical time or distance can be felt by many long after its depart from the region. Love can reach beyond all the barriers humans perceive separate us from one another and comfort in ways often unimaginable.
Nostalgie is such a crazy little annoyance of life. It flares up at the most unexpected moments, hence becoming the most annoying time for it to arrive. Just as you settle in a bit, you find yourself wanting to just leave again or at least escape for awhile. How is it also that you have nostalgie for places that aren’t even a home, a place you’re not even sure could be a home… is it just the familiarity of the place, the fact that you’ve learned it so well already that at least you don’t struggle just to find the simplest things? Toulouse, my rose city of the south, with its pink bricks and golden sunshine, shadowy glimpses of the Pyrénées at the most unexpected moments of the day, crowded rue principal, and bizarre bazaar of a marché de Noël, its Monoprix next to Capitole, and cute little boulangerie next to the canal- how I miss it some days. Even on beautiful days in Metz when the crisp winter light comes through the blue sky and lights the Cathédral in the pristine brilliance. People-dodging on Rue Serpenoise is not the same experience as people- and pamphleteer-dodging on Rue de Change/Taur/de la Rome in Toulouse. The massive tide of people doesn’t feel quite as massive when you have double the space in which to dodge and weave. So here’s to more space in the streets and de-centralized marchés de Noël. Bring on the vin chaud.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Murphy's Law and Moving Day.
Le 23 novembre 2004.
Hello to all those out in Blogland. And to those people who this morning woke up and thought “I wonder what happened to Kate today,” this is the story for you.
We’ll actually begin back on last Thursday, a Murphy’s Law day if ever there was one. The day started fine, all until breakfast; I realized that I had a few minutes left, just enough to clean up my dishes and make it to the bus stop. Only seconds after I glanced at the time, I overturned my milk bowl all over myself. By the time I’d cleaned up the mess, ran to my room to change my clothes, and ran to the bus stop, the bus was pulling away and I was still 30 meters away. Ten minutes later, I was on the next bus filled with high school students on their way to class. After the bus emptied of the students, I had only two more stops left, but as I stood at the door for my stop, the bus kept going. When I’d pushed the button for my stop, it didn’t register as a request for a stop. At the next stop after mine, I got off the bus and was walking back as Céline called me to ask where I was. What a morning! The afternoon wasn’t much better, as the kids were rowdier than usual. The thought crossed my mind that it was a full moon, as I learned that night most of the other assistants had had rough days as well.
Connections while abroad are really these amazing things. You become friendly with people simply on the basis of shared experiences or acquaintance. This weekend a friend of Kristen’s came to visit a friend of her’s in Metz. With her came two of her own friends, thus in two days I met three new people (yes, all Americans) who were a pleasure to meet. The commonalities between assistants are quite astounding to me, especially given the differences between each of us.
Monday was an eerie day. One of my students told me today that she was tired because she had moved over the weekend (this of course involved a lesson in learning “I moved” in English.) My plans for the afternoon when I returned home involved relaxing a bit and then running some errands. Instead, I found myself being told a studio had opened up and I could take it if I wanted it. It’s tiny and quaint, but quite exciting to have. In many aspects it’s similar to the room I had in Pfeiffer last semester, except I only have a shower, not a shower/tub, and I have two burners in my kitchen. The size is also much smaller than my Pfeiffer room. But beggars can’t be choosers, and my status is nearly that of a beggar. Even with the turquoise green décor, it’s quite nice to have this little “apartment.”
PS. It snowed on Friday! For about three minutes we had this really weird snow-hail combination. It all came after a sunny morning when big clouds blew in, all in about a half hour. Then about an hour later, it had all melted away. That’s the story of snow in Metz on Friday.
Hello to all those out in Blogland. And to those people who this morning woke up and thought “I wonder what happened to Kate today,” this is the story for you.
We’ll actually begin back on last Thursday, a Murphy’s Law day if ever there was one. The day started fine, all until breakfast; I realized that I had a few minutes left, just enough to clean up my dishes and make it to the bus stop. Only seconds after I glanced at the time, I overturned my milk bowl all over myself. By the time I’d cleaned up the mess, ran to my room to change my clothes, and ran to the bus stop, the bus was pulling away and I was still 30 meters away. Ten minutes later, I was on the next bus filled with high school students on their way to class. After the bus emptied of the students, I had only two more stops left, but as I stood at the door for my stop, the bus kept going. When I’d pushed the button for my stop, it didn’t register as a request for a stop. At the next stop after mine, I got off the bus and was walking back as Céline called me to ask where I was. What a morning! The afternoon wasn’t much better, as the kids were rowdier than usual. The thought crossed my mind that it was a full moon, as I learned that night most of the other assistants had had rough days as well.
Connections while abroad are really these amazing things. You become friendly with people simply on the basis of shared experiences or acquaintance. This weekend a friend of Kristen’s came to visit a friend of her’s in Metz. With her came two of her own friends, thus in two days I met three new people (yes, all Americans) who were a pleasure to meet. The commonalities between assistants are quite astounding to me, especially given the differences between each of us.
Monday was an eerie day. One of my students told me today that she was tired because she had moved over the weekend (this of course involved a lesson in learning “I moved” in English.) My plans for the afternoon when I returned home involved relaxing a bit and then running some errands. Instead, I found myself being told a studio had opened up and I could take it if I wanted it. It’s tiny and quaint, but quite exciting to have. In many aspects it’s similar to the room I had in Pfeiffer last semester, except I only have a shower, not a shower/tub, and I have two burners in my kitchen. The size is also much smaller than my Pfeiffer room. But beggars can’t be choosers, and my status is nearly that of a beggar. Even with the turquoise green décor, it’s quite nice to have this little “apartment.”
PS. It snowed on Friday! For about three minutes we had this really weird snow-hail combination. It all came after a sunny morning when big clouds blew in, all in about a half hour. Then about an hour later, it had all melted away. That’s the story of snow in Metz on Friday.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Appreciation and depreciation.
I've just stumbled onto Amelia's fabulous little french blog. Last night, as the usual horde of us assistants took over the open time in the computer lab at the foyer, it tumbled into my lap. Well, not literally. As I read the entry pertaining to me and my fellows in Metz, I could not keep the laughter in! Her wonderfully accurate description of Bobby and his classroom antics had me causing a scene in the lab. True to form, the rest of the assistants couldn't help but wonder what had me in hysterics, and all had to see her blog; in turn they were all rolling on the floor with me! The other thought provoking situation from her blog included the reference to the size of Victoria's apartment... if only she'd gotten the chance to see Dyna and Mina's apartment. All of our little group have made the comments at one moment or another about how we have come to appreciate space and rather the unnecessity of space. Victoria's apartment is tiny, yet we would all totally love to have it and find that it's really a perfect size- even when there are about eleven of us cramped in her bedroom/living room/dining room/study eating fondue or quesadillas or whatever crazy thing we've decided to cook for the entirety of the group. In addition, I've been reading a bit of Ryan's journal and his experience after being with a Bedouin family in the southern desert of Jordan (can I interrupt with how completely jealous I am of his time with SIT at the moment!) and how he too is coming to many of the same, in not more dramatic, conclusions we are all reaching. It lets me recapture so many of the moments of last year, as truly the first experience abroad is the most drastic; all the things I felt last year so fully, the things Ryan, Amelia, and Liz are all feeling this year, make me remember and appreciate again. Even if I'm just appreciating a depreciation of space.
Accomplishments of the day: several photocopies made of important and necessary documents for social security and loan documents without paying for them; didn't wash my hair this morning -(on my way to glory!); am getting over amazement at early displays of Christmas decorations (they started going up about mid-october, will have to discuss later).
Accomplishments of the day: several photocopies made of important and necessary documents for social security and loan documents without paying for them; didn't wash my hair this morning -(on my way to glory!); am getting over amazement at early displays of Christmas decorations (they started going up about mid-october, will have to discuss later).
Saturday, November 13, 2004
La Nostalgie de la Hilltop.
Le 13 novembre 2004.
As many people know, my final semester at Cornell was a difficult one for me. Returning from my amazing semester in Toulouse, I came to understand how much I had, almost unwittingly, changed. My intentions for my time abroad had been to improve my language skills and immerse myself in a new culture. My almost disgust for one of my fellow traveler’s intent to find herself was a difficult pill to swallow as I began to realize that I was following a similar course. When I returned to Cornell, with new thoughts and ideas and beliefs, I found that while I had changed it seemed to me that the Hilltop had not. The pain I associated with that inequilibrium of being in a familiar yet unfamiliar place made my time back at Cornell tortureous.
But tonight, as we sat at the gay bar, recommended by Bobby, I realized that it seemed I had spent the majority of the last four years in an extremely open and welcoming environment. Through conversations with other of the group, I felt as if I had truly experienced a unique setting at the Hilltop. In addition, I’ve noticed myself lamenting not reading more of the classics, either self- or class-motivated, yet I’ve rationalized that if I had read the classics, I mightn’t have had the opportunity to read and discuss some of the less mainstream literature to which I found myself exposed. Instead, I read literature less well known and often quite edgy. The rest of my life gives me time to read the classics bit by bit. Tonight I realized that I was quite lucky to have had the experiences I did at the Hilltop. Without having had them, I would not be the person I am today.
So as I fall asleep tonight, adieu.
As many people know, my final semester at Cornell was a difficult one for me. Returning from my amazing semester in Toulouse, I came to understand how much I had, almost unwittingly, changed. My intentions for my time abroad had been to improve my language skills and immerse myself in a new culture. My almost disgust for one of my fellow traveler’s intent to find herself was a difficult pill to swallow as I began to realize that I was following a similar course. When I returned to Cornell, with new thoughts and ideas and beliefs, I found that while I had changed it seemed to me that the Hilltop had not. The pain I associated with that inequilibrium of being in a familiar yet unfamiliar place made my time back at Cornell tortureous.
But tonight, as we sat at the gay bar, recommended by Bobby, I realized that it seemed I had spent the majority of the last four years in an extremely open and welcoming environment. Through conversations with other of the group, I felt as if I had truly experienced a unique setting at the Hilltop. In addition, I’ve noticed myself lamenting not reading more of the classics, either self- or class-motivated, yet I’ve rationalized that if I had read the classics, I mightn’t have had the opportunity to read and discuss some of the less mainstream literature to which I found myself exposed. Instead, I read literature less well known and often quite edgy. The rest of my life gives me time to read the classics bit by bit. Tonight I realized that I was quite lucky to have had the experiences I did at the Hilltop. Without having had them, I would not be the person I am today.
So as I fall asleep tonight, adieu.
Perspective on my Birthday.
Le 12 novembre 2004.
Well, today is my birthday. And for those of you who remember my bizarre birthday of last year, this year was by far better. Actually, today as a birthday definitely topped my last four birthdays, so I’m pretty happy with it overall. I didn’t have work today, so I got to sleep in, the maintenance guy came back and fixed my lights and my sink (I am no longer living in my little, wet, dark cave.. J), lunch with Dyna at Paul, and a couple of hours in the computer lab. I finally caught up on my email, downloaded music, chatted with Kayla, figured out the problems I had had with an application for next year, figured out which printer I got to use in the lab, and got a great start on the Thanksgiving worksheets I’m typing up for my classes, oh and got an invitation to another Thanksgiving dinner! I love Thanksgiving abroad even if it makes me miss my family. Speaking of family, I received the best birthday present ever from my parents; it had a beautiful card, some Halloween candy, and a buckeye from Monty for good luck, and best of all, a pack of Little Debbie cakes (my favorite ones! Zebra cakes.) with a note singing me happy birthday, and a candle taped to it. I really can’t imagine a more meaningful birthday present. My mum’s the greatest, as she made sure it would arrive on my birthday!
So I am truly happy with the turn-out of my birthday this year. Even if I didn’t get to go to Copenhagen and Amsterdam or even to the Loire Valley and Brittany, it turned out marvelously. It’s been nice to just hang out with everyone this week again. Somehow I keep ending up thinking on the subject of how we are all here working and how bizarre this might be to others. Kim wrote one of her mass emails again, and I’ve realized that she seems to be going through the same emotions too. I forget her specific words on the matter, but her comments on the multinational sense you come to experience while living abroad. It is my age too, as it’s my birthday, I feel that makes me consider this so much. To live abroad, working in such a situation, learning the real world in another language, I feel that all of this is an opportunity that would slip away if it had not be grabbed at. It’s the essence of living on such a minimal income, to travel, and experience at the same time that I’m going through the great questioning in my life. I hadn’t realized when I was graduating from high school that I would go through the same experience in four years. But I suppose at eighteen I was too excited to more to the next stage, and I feel now as if I didn’t truly understand what I was heading into; yet this time, after university, I feel as if I’m more lost, but yet rather more prepared for this feeling of being lost. All together, being in France is probably better for me than grad school at the moment, and I feel rather content that I realized that before I considered applying for grad school, and it’s best for be because I really need to improve my writing before grad school! But also, because being here in this situation seems to give me a sense of perspective from which to view my life and its possible directions; the opportunity to step forward and backwards at the same moment.
On that note, in a hope to not become more confusing than I currently am, I’ll end my note by wishing all the important people who happen to share my birthday a glorious one (namely Uncle Paul and Louise Plaid) and don’t forget to make your pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. Also, good luck to all those running in the glorious Living History Farms Off-Road Race, I’m there in spirit! K-O and Ciao!
Well, today is my birthday. And for those of you who remember my bizarre birthday of last year, this year was by far better. Actually, today as a birthday definitely topped my last four birthdays, so I’m pretty happy with it overall. I didn’t have work today, so I got to sleep in, the maintenance guy came back and fixed my lights and my sink (I am no longer living in my little, wet, dark cave.. J), lunch with Dyna at Paul, and a couple of hours in the computer lab. I finally caught up on my email, downloaded music, chatted with Kayla, figured out the problems I had had with an application for next year, figured out which printer I got to use in the lab, and got a great start on the Thanksgiving worksheets I’m typing up for my classes, oh and got an invitation to another Thanksgiving dinner! I love Thanksgiving abroad even if it makes me miss my family. Speaking of family, I received the best birthday present ever from my parents; it had a beautiful card, some Halloween candy, and a buckeye from Monty for good luck, and best of all, a pack of Little Debbie cakes (my favorite ones! Zebra cakes.) with a note singing me happy birthday, and a candle taped to it. I really can’t imagine a more meaningful birthday present. My mum’s the greatest, as she made sure it would arrive on my birthday!
So I am truly happy with the turn-out of my birthday this year. Even if I didn’t get to go to Copenhagen and Amsterdam or even to the Loire Valley and Brittany, it turned out marvelously. It’s been nice to just hang out with everyone this week again. Somehow I keep ending up thinking on the subject of how we are all here working and how bizarre this might be to others. Kim wrote one of her mass emails again, and I’ve realized that she seems to be going through the same emotions too. I forget her specific words on the matter, but her comments on the multinational sense you come to experience while living abroad. It is my age too, as it’s my birthday, I feel that makes me consider this so much. To live abroad, working in such a situation, learning the real world in another language, I feel that all of this is an opportunity that would slip away if it had not be grabbed at. It’s the essence of living on such a minimal income, to travel, and experience at the same time that I’m going through the great questioning in my life. I hadn’t realized when I was graduating from high school that I would go through the same experience in four years. But I suppose at eighteen I was too excited to more to the next stage, and I feel now as if I didn’t truly understand what I was heading into; yet this time, after university, I feel as if I’m more lost, but yet rather more prepared for this feeling of being lost. All together, being in France is probably better for me than grad school at the moment, and I feel rather content that I realized that before I considered applying for grad school, and it’s best for be because I really need to improve my writing before grad school! But also, because being here in this situation seems to give me a sense of perspective from which to view my life and its possible directions; the opportunity to step forward and backwards at the same moment.
On that note, in a hope to not become more confusing than I currently am, I’ll end my note by wishing all the important people who happen to share my birthday a glorious one (namely Uncle Paul and Louise Plaid) and don’t forget to make your pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. Also, good luck to all those running in the glorious Living History Farms Off-Road Race, I’m there in spirit! K-O and Ciao!
Defying the Odds.
Le 10 novembre 2004.
Life manages to defy all the odds at various times. Nothing much has really happened, but the other day I realized how different it is that I work in France from what most people seem to do after college. But I feel that if there are seventeen hundred assistants from the US alone, not including all the other Anglophones from the UK and Australia and New Zealand, plus all the Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and other assistants from around the world, that this program can’t be all that exceptional. In addition to all the other programs that exist for newly graduated college students to work abroad, it really can’t be that amazing that I’m here in France for the year working. But becoming the inadvertent interpreters for two backpackers from Seattle and seeing their surprise that there were some of us living and working in Metz just made me re-evaluate the fact of my being here. (This paragraph’s craziness can be explained all by the fact that Greg just “gave” me a half-empty bottle of rosé wine… C’est la France!) À plus!
Le 11 novembre 2004.
I’ve found fellow Alias-nites here in Metz. Louise is an avid watcher, though they are just showing the third season in Europe this year. Victoria has only become a watcher due to circumstance; she needed something to watch one night and borrowed my DVDs for season three. It’s simply because I only own season three that she couldn’t start the show at the beginning. Maybe someone will get one and two for Christmas, or maybe I’ll get software to watch zone 2 DVDs on my computer, and then Louise owns both of the first two seasons. But I predict an Alias marathon sometime after the Noel holidays. It makes me extremely happy to have fellow Alias fans to feel frustrated with to have to wait for season four. But mostly that I have managed to “convince” another of the wonder that is Alias. Victoria and I have managed already to have several in depth conversations on the ins and outs of various episodes. As fascinating as all this is to us, it might seem rather ridiculous to others, but I suppose when you have only twelve hours of work a week (sometimes less due to holidays) you have time to discuss otherwise trivial conversations. As reassurance though, the majority of our conversations generally involve moderately intelligent conversation.
Life manages to defy all the odds at various times. Nothing much has really happened, but the other day I realized how different it is that I work in France from what most people seem to do after college. But I feel that if there are seventeen hundred assistants from the US alone, not including all the other Anglophones from the UK and Australia and New Zealand, plus all the Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and other assistants from around the world, that this program can’t be all that exceptional. In addition to all the other programs that exist for newly graduated college students to work abroad, it really can’t be that amazing that I’m here in France for the year working. But becoming the inadvertent interpreters for two backpackers from Seattle and seeing their surprise that there were some of us living and working in Metz just made me re-evaluate the fact of my being here. (This paragraph’s craziness can be explained all by the fact that Greg just “gave” me a half-empty bottle of rosé wine… C’est la France!) À plus!
Le 11 novembre 2004.
I’ve found fellow Alias-nites here in Metz. Louise is an avid watcher, though they are just showing the third season in Europe this year. Victoria has only become a watcher due to circumstance; she needed something to watch one night and borrowed my DVDs for season three. It’s simply because I only own season three that she couldn’t start the show at the beginning. Maybe someone will get one and two for Christmas, or maybe I’ll get software to watch zone 2 DVDs on my computer, and then Louise owns both of the first two seasons. But I predict an Alias marathon sometime after the Noel holidays. It makes me extremely happy to have fellow Alias fans to feel frustrated with to have to wait for season four. But mostly that I have managed to “convince” another of the wonder that is Alias. Victoria and I have managed already to have several in depth conversations on the ins and outs of various episodes. As fascinating as all this is to us, it might seem rather ridiculous to others, but I suppose when you have only twelve hours of work a week (sometimes less due to holidays) you have time to discuss otherwise trivial conversations. As reassurance though, the majority of our conversations generally involve moderately intelligent conversation.
Scrambled Egg Baguettes.
Le 7 novembre 2004.
This weekend was quite the experience. Minus the numerous small details, it really started with the marvelous scrambled egg baguettes we made in my room on Friday evening. These particular variety of baguettes might be better left to a more equipped kitchen (read: a true kitchen, not my dorm room replica). The sandwichs were quite tasty and extremely filling, especially my calcium booster that came in the form of a bit of smashed shell! Crunchy! It was in the course of the clean-up that we realized my drain was unfortunately clogged. As it was Friday night, I am speculating that it will be Tuesday before it’s fixed; chiefly, as even if someone looks at it Monday, it will be Tuesday before they do any work on it. Especially as it now seems to leaking. C’est la vie en la France! (I actually have French people giving me that as an explanation to situation over which no one appears to have any control.) But otherwise life is wonderful!
Amelia and Liz came in on Friday night after the sink debacle. It was splendid to see them! We just hung out with everyone at the Jehanne d’Arc, learned how to make some type of special drink using mainly beer, and watching our patron dancing with Dyna. Saturday was quite the full day. The girls and I spent the day in Luxembourg, and I actually remembered my camera! It wasn’t as brilliantly autumn as the day Kristen and I visited, but it had its misty charm, and was still delightful! It was just glorious to get out and spend the day walking. In the evening on our return to Metz, we met everyone at Victoria’s for a dinner party that was overall quite delightful and entertaining. It included plenty of opportunity for me to play with my new camera. The quesadillas made by Jen, Melissa, and Victoria were absolutely delicious; as was the glaze for the dessert cake, just an amazing meal! It’s totally fabou to have a kitchen!
Sunday was just as great in a quiet way. Amelia, Liz, and I hung out for a bit more, walked around seeing the sights of Metz and eating lunch before they caught their train back to Paris. It was only too bad that the covered market was closed and that we couldn’t have had lunch at Pat’s soup bar. After their train left, I met up with Melissa and Victoria to drive to Gorze for a short hike to see the Chapelle St. Clement, that manly knight who ran off the Graouilly of Metz and thereby converting Metz to a Christian city. What a saint! We didn’t get to see the church or the monastery that’s suppose to be in the area, but we sure did drive through the Forest of the Graouilly. At least we didn’t hit him!
All together it’s been a delightful weekend, with knowing that everyone is moving up to Trinitaire, my friends visiting, and good hiking. If only I had remembered to phone my brother on his birthday, but at least I remembered to mail his card… though that will be late too. So Happy Birthday big brother! I’ll call soon, or in a week. Even if our trip to Copenhagen hasn’t worked out for various reasons, it seems as if our traveling this week should still be great! I’ll have to remember my camera.
So, good night!
This weekend was quite the experience. Minus the numerous small details, it really started with the marvelous scrambled egg baguettes we made in my room on Friday evening. These particular variety of baguettes might be better left to a more equipped kitchen (read: a true kitchen, not my dorm room replica). The sandwichs were quite tasty and extremely filling, especially my calcium booster that came in the form of a bit of smashed shell! Crunchy! It was in the course of the clean-up that we realized my drain was unfortunately clogged. As it was Friday night, I am speculating that it will be Tuesday before it’s fixed; chiefly, as even if someone looks at it Monday, it will be Tuesday before they do any work on it. Especially as it now seems to leaking. C’est la vie en la France! (I actually have French people giving me that as an explanation to situation over which no one appears to have any control.) But otherwise life is wonderful!
Amelia and Liz came in on Friday night after the sink debacle. It was splendid to see them! We just hung out with everyone at the Jehanne d’Arc, learned how to make some type of special drink using mainly beer, and watching our patron dancing with Dyna. Saturday was quite the full day. The girls and I spent the day in Luxembourg, and I actually remembered my camera! It wasn’t as brilliantly autumn as the day Kristen and I visited, but it had its misty charm, and was still delightful! It was just glorious to get out and spend the day walking. In the evening on our return to Metz, we met everyone at Victoria’s for a dinner party that was overall quite delightful and entertaining. It included plenty of opportunity for me to play with my new camera. The quesadillas made by Jen, Melissa, and Victoria were absolutely delicious; as was the glaze for the dessert cake, just an amazing meal! It’s totally fabou to have a kitchen!
Sunday was just as great in a quiet way. Amelia, Liz, and I hung out for a bit more, walked around seeing the sights of Metz and eating lunch before they caught their train back to Paris. It was only too bad that the covered market was closed and that we couldn’t have had lunch at Pat’s soup bar. After their train left, I met up with Melissa and Victoria to drive to Gorze for a short hike to see the Chapelle St. Clement, that manly knight who ran off the Graouilly of Metz and thereby converting Metz to a Christian city. What a saint! We didn’t get to see the church or the monastery that’s suppose to be in the area, but we sure did drive through the Forest of the Graouilly. At least we didn’t hit him!
All together it’s been a delightful weekend, with knowing that everyone is moving up to Trinitaire, my friends visiting, and good hiking. If only I had remembered to phone my brother on his birthday, but at least I remembered to mail his card… though that will be late too. So Happy Birthday big brother! I’ll call soon, or in a week. Even if our trip to Copenhagen hasn’t worked out for various reasons, it seems as if our traveling this week should still be great! I’ll have to remember my camera.
So, good night!
Wednesday, November 03, 2004
Election Morning and Air-Raid Sirens.
More so than usual, last night was an experience; working between three sets of cultural rules usually proves this observation true. As a smaller group than planned, we went to one of the four Irish pubs in town to watch the elections. It was a test in time differences, including between the various time zones within the States. We ended up being kicked out at about 2am, partly I’m sure because we only both the minimum number of drinks to stay in the bar. But it ended up being not too much of an inconvenience, as we had only one of the French stations to watch, and French commentary on the campaigns. It was nice to have their viewpoint, but we only got input from the States on occasion. I have to admit that time might have just been a factor of the time difference, as 2am was only 7pm in the Midwest; hence there was still loads of time left for people to be voting. So while disappointing, I still did my best to reach anything on my radio, unsuccessful as it was, and SMSing a friend in Paris and calling my brother in the South of the US. Both of them managed to keep me relatively informed, until I went to sleep at about 6am. And so that was my election “morning.” The weirdness of the day continued when at noon today, as the bells began to go through their usual extensive tolling, the air raid sirens went off as well. Not only was it extremely unexpected, it was incredibly eerie to hear the mélange of church bells and sirens in a bizarre symphony.
And so it continues, the unexpected insanity that makes my life so crazy… all the little things that make life so much fun.
And so it continues, the unexpected insanity that makes my life so crazy… all the little things that make life so much fun.
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