In honor of keeping Francine informed of my work schedule, I just wanted to note that I have this weekend a four day weekend because I am currently living in a formerly German area of France... something about religion not existing in France (right, remind to blog about that later...) and it being persistent in Germany... or whatever... But because of this marvelous four-day weekend, I now don't work again until next Thursday.
How on earth am I suppose to move back to a country with a Puritan work ethic and a minimum 40 work week?
(I'll let you know after I've considered it during my trips around Eastern Europe... :D )
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
à propos...
Well not really, but I felt a need to share more of the Kate-Francine conversations.
PintSzGrad: i heard it was spring here, but it got cancelled
Hence, I think I'm really enjoying being in Europe at the moment! Yay for spring!
PintSzGrad: i heard it was spring here, but it got cancelled
Hence, I think I'm really enjoying being in Europe at the moment! Yay for spring!
Ondulating hills…
Le 23 mars 2005.
It was another beautiful day today. As such, I decided to walk to my internship, which was a wonderful decision as I thoroughly enjoyed my 40 minute walk through Metz. It was just such a great day to be out.
Anna left this morning for almost a full week in Nice. I’m so envious of her! I’ve yet to go to the Riveria and as I was telling Pia this evening, I doubt it’s happening this year.
As I promised my Delphi kid in an email this afternoon, I wanted to post my photos and thoughts from the day trip to Verdun yesterday that I helped chaperone. (Who would have thought I would be a chaperone of middle schoolers! Yikes!) I have to first say how proud I was of our kids, especially when we were watching a movie on the battles at Verdun during the first World War at that Ossuary and a pack of sixième students came in. The little kids would just not shut up during the movie (hence I didn’t get loads out of it) and it was ridiculous as they had about five teachers with them who didn’t even quiet them down. It was our teachers and one of the chaperones who ended up hushing the little kids up. Our kids on the other hand were angels; something I don’t really expect out of them really! :)
We visited the Ossuary after our 5 km hike to it from Fort du Vaux. It was really interesting comparing the forts and midway shelters to the Citadel in Halifax and how they employed the method of building into hillsides so as to be less detectable to the enemy. The midway shelters were really not more than stone walls and a stone roof covered by terrain to blend in. Truly not build with comfort in mind. The trenches were so tiny when you consider that the men crawling through them were boys of 5’8” or maybe a little more and carrying a half of their body weight again in the sack on their backs. Even almost 90 years after the fact, you can still see the trenches running around the country side. Most of the area though is now forested, but you can imagine this bizarrely twisted landscape without the forest and it just seems so surreal. I mean, everywhere in the forest you looked, you could not find a bit of level land. The entire forest floor is this multi-pocked terrain. You’ll have to see the photo of the land around Fort de Vaux. It’s just horrific when you think that there was no forest just all this mud, artillery bombs falling every couple of seconds, and the boys crawling around in it just 18 or 19 years old. Inside Fort de Douanemont that afternoon, the guide simulated the sound and echo of the cannons shooting and the bombs falling- something that again happened every couple of seconds. And when you think about the fact that there was hardly any sunlight inside the forts and the Citadel de Verdun, on top of the noise and the constant moisture and dripping water from the condensation, it’s truly not unbelievable that people went insane if they didn’t die first from these cruel elements. It’s not such a wonder to see the literature that came out from that time. The guide said that in the trenches it could take ten hours for the soldiers to crawl just 6 feet in the mud.
I’m extremely grateful to have gotten to go with the school on the visit, to have had the guide along, and that we took that 5 km hike. For me and maybe for the students, the hike was one of the most impressive aspects of the day. To see that mutilated terrain, still so distorted even almost 90 years later. Maybe too, the students were more attentive since I was along- an American coming along to learn more about one of their most important parts of recent history might have encouraged them to understand the importance of it all more.
It was first in Robert Cook’s Portaits of France that I came to understand a bit about the physical influence of the First World War on the landscape of France and later that I came to realize the mental impact a bit, but still it’s not something I completely understand. Though after seeing Verdun, and talking last weekend in St. Julien to the Algerian War veterans, I can begin to understand why France is so adamant to stay out of wars in today’s age.
It was another beautiful day today. As such, I decided to walk to my internship, which was a wonderful decision as I thoroughly enjoyed my 40 minute walk through Metz. It was just such a great day to be out.
Anna left this morning for almost a full week in Nice. I’m so envious of her! I’ve yet to go to the Riveria and as I was telling Pia this evening, I doubt it’s happening this year.
As I promised my Delphi kid in an email this afternoon, I wanted to post my photos and thoughts from the day trip to Verdun yesterday that I helped chaperone. (Who would have thought I would be a chaperone of middle schoolers! Yikes!) I have to first say how proud I was of our kids, especially when we were watching a movie on the battles at Verdun during the first World War at that Ossuary and a pack of sixième students came in. The little kids would just not shut up during the movie (hence I didn’t get loads out of it) and it was ridiculous as they had about five teachers with them who didn’t even quiet them down. It was our teachers and one of the chaperones who ended up hushing the little kids up. Our kids on the other hand were angels; something I don’t really expect out of them really! :)
We visited the Ossuary after our 5 km hike to it from Fort du Vaux. It was really interesting comparing the forts and midway shelters to the Citadel in Halifax and how they employed the method of building into hillsides so as to be less detectable to the enemy. The midway shelters were really not more than stone walls and a stone roof covered by terrain to blend in. Truly not build with comfort in mind. The trenches were so tiny when you consider that the men crawling through them were boys of 5’8” or maybe a little more and carrying a half of their body weight again in the sack on their backs. Even almost 90 years after the fact, you can still see the trenches running around the country side. Most of the area though is now forested, but you can imagine this bizarrely twisted landscape without the forest and it just seems so surreal. I mean, everywhere in the forest you looked, you could not find a bit of level land. The entire forest floor is this multi-pocked terrain. You’ll have to see the photo of the land around Fort de Vaux. It’s just horrific when you think that there was no forest just all this mud, artillery bombs falling every couple of seconds, and the boys crawling around in it just 18 or 19 years old. Inside Fort de Douanemont that afternoon, the guide simulated the sound and echo of the cannons shooting and the bombs falling- something that again happened every couple of seconds. And when you think about the fact that there was hardly any sunlight inside the forts and the Citadel de Verdun, on top of the noise and the constant moisture and dripping water from the condensation, it’s truly not unbelievable that people went insane if they didn’t die first from these cruel elements. It’s not such a wonder to see the literature that came out from that time. The guide said that in the trenches it could take ten hours for the soldiers to crawl just 6 feet in the mud.
I’m extremely grateful to have gotten to go with the school on the visit, to have had the guide along, and that we took that 5 km hike. For me and maybe for the students, the hike was one of the most impressive aspects of the day. To see that mutilated terrain, still so distorted even almost 90 years later. Maybe too, the students were more attentive since I was along- an American coming along to learn more about one of their most important parts of recent history might have encouraged them to understand the importance of it all more.
It was first in Robert Cook’s Portaits of France that I came to understand a bit about the physical influence of the First World War on the landscape of France and later that I came to realize the mental impact a bit, but still it’s not something I completely understand. Though after seeing Verdun, and talking last weekend in St. Julien to the Algerian War veterans, I can begin to understand why France is so adamant to stay out of wars in today’s age.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Did I forget to tell you?
So I was all out sprinting for the bus on Monday morning (Celine was taking us to school that morning as Bridgitte had a stage) and some nice-looking, old man out walking his rich lady dog was like "It's nice to see a woman out running." Right, nice my foot, as I totally didn't have a supportive bra on... Dirty old french men...
Monday, March 21, 2005
Spring has Sprung!!!
Le 21 mars 2005.
ARRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s spring!!!! It’s so fabulous! It’s been gorgeous for the last week now and I’m in love with it all! Two Fridays ago the weather has quite disagreeable, all cold and wet, and even still on Monday it wasn’t exactly great, but I wasn’t complaining with 30 degrees F. Yet on Tuesday it was suddenly 50 degrees and I was thrilled, and then on Wednesday it was excitingly 70 degrees—and quite honestly I was in heaven! Anna and I took advantage by going for a two and a half hour hike through Metz, out past Technopole to Grange aux bois, and it was so nice just to get out and go for such a long walk.
Then on Thursday I took off for the south! J’adore le Sud! It was so crazy, the further south I went, the more I felt like I was going home. Truly Toulouse is my first French love! The only problem with the trip to St. Julien (en-Genevois) was that we were delayed outside of Chalon-sur-Saone for about 45 minutes, and they said that we were going to be about that late… sadness as I had two more connections to make. But they pushed the train into Lyon and then had held the train there for Bellegarde. So I didn’t have to worry about getting stuck in Lyon for the night. The conductors went around on the train then to ask if anyone had connections at Bellegarde, so they also held the train for St. Julien too! I was certainly thrilled as I didn’t know how else to get from Bellegarde to St. Jul. So they kept pushing the trains, and I ended up in St. Jul less than half an hour late, and worked out perfectly as Kim was finishing up laundry anyway.
ARRRRRR!!! I was so excited to see Kim! We had a fabulous weekend! It was so refreshing for me to get away from Metz. We, as expected, chatted non-stop throughout the weekend; about Toulouse, this year, our students, the differences between elementary and middle-school, the fabulous weather (!), her trip to Morocco, and everything else under the sun. I met the other assistant in St. Jul- Hannah, also American, who’s working in the high school.
Then seeing as St. Jul is pretty small but a bedroom community for Geneva (Switzerland), we spent Saturday in town. The bus ride is only about 30 minutes and just gorgeous, as you ride into town through the huge valley that Geneva and St. Jul are in. And Saturday was glorious weather again! The sun was shining and the sky was bright blue and a slight breeze to keep us comfortable as we hiked all over town. We went to a kebab shop for lunch and I finally got my falafels which I’ve been missing! We walked through the flea market, went passed Kim’s tango studio and favorite café, hiked up through Old City (where I saw the cutest hat and regret I didn’t buy it) and visited the Little Prince Shop (mostly baby clothes), and wandered around on top of the hill. There was a kid’s fest going on in a little overlook park, and hot air balloons were lifting off from all over Geneva. So we watched the one from in front of the Cathedral St. Pierre. Then we hiked to the top of the towers- we even did both of the towers even though I was feeling the adrenaline rush from my fear of heights the whole time! I thought my legs were going to give out on me!
At little out of order, but Friday was great too! I went with Kim to her afternoon class to see how teaching English in elementary worked. She’s a fabulously amazing teacher by the way! Her CE 2 class reminds me of my 6ieme’s, which isn’t surprising given they’re an age apart. Though they were definitely more rambunctious, though my sixieme’s can be as bad some days. Later that night after some great potato chowder, we went with Hannah into Geneva to go to a café or a bar, depending on what interested us and it was also the experimental run for taking the night bus! Oh, what an experience! We unfortunately missed the one at about 1:45am, so our next try wasn’t until about 3am (also our last chance!). Then it turns out that all the small restos have to close at 2am (though the strange thing is that they can reopen at 4am for when the clubs close at 5am). So we couldn’t go sit inside somewhere and eat fries, so we walked around the bus stop for about half an hour and bought candy bars. The new Mars bar with almonds was yummy but the original is still best, as it offers more caramel (though the Mars dark is fabou!). We then just waited inside the entrance to the mall under the train station till our bus arrived. Then we were the only ones still on when we left the Geneva suburbs, and we only found out after our bus passed the turn off for our stop that we had to ask for that particular stop! But the driver was nice and turned around (as it was just us on the bus) and let us off where we wanted. The final part of our evening though as a scary walk from this little town on the Swiss side through a little wood to St. Jul on the French side, involving crossing the border where there are signs saying you’re not suppose to cross there! But all in all, it was a good test run and a great story! We were literally freaked out crossing through there as it was super dark (great for viewing the stars though). Later we realized that we could have just walked up to the main road and gone through the border crossing there and then cut back through the apartment housings on the St. Jul side. But now the story’s good for a laugh!
We were going to get some great photos too of funny things in Geneva, but we ran out of time. But for your information, one was to be of Kim next to some graffetti stating similar though more vulgar sentiments towards cars! And the other was to be of a jewelry store called Schmuck! Hehehe! I’ve yet to understand the naming of jewelry stores in Europe…
Well to those three people who do read this, I don’t want to bore you, but I had a fabou weekend in the Alps! Tomorrow I’m going with the middle school to Verdun, should be interesting! And here’s to crossing the border at illegal crossings! Don’t forget to check out the photos!
Ps. I crossed the Rhone in the same spot that Julius Cesar did on his way back from his campaign against the Gauls (the original French people).
ARRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s spring!!!! It’s so fabulous! It’s been gorgeous for the last week now and I’m in love with it all! Two Fridays ago the weather has quite disagreeable, all cold and wet, and even still on Monday it wasn’t exactly great, but I wasn’t complaining with 30 degrees F. Yet on Tuesday it was suddenly 50 degrees and I was thrilled, and then on Wednesday it was excitingly 70 degrees—and quite honestly I was in heaven! Anna and I took advantage by going for a two and a half hour hike through Metz, out past Technopole to Grange aux bois, and it was so nice just to get out and go for such a long walk.
Then on Thursday I took off for the south! J’adore le Sud! It was so crazy, the further south I went, the more I felt like I was going home. Truly Toulouse is my first French love! The only problem with the trip to St. Julien (en-Genevois) was that we were delayed outside of Chalon-sur-Saone for about 45 minutes, and they said that we were going to be about that late… sadness as I had two more connections to make. But they pushed the train into Lyon and then had held the train there for Bellegarde. So I didn’t have to worry about getting stuck in Lyon for the night. The conductors went around on the train then to ask if anyone had connections at Bellegarde, so they also held the train for St. Julien too! I was certainly thrilled as I didn’t know how else to get from Bellegarde to St. Jul. So they kept pushing the trains, and I ended up in St. Jul less than half an hour late, and worked out perfectly as Kim was finishing up laundry anyway.
ARRRRRR!!! I was so excited to see Kim! We had a fabulous weekend! It was so refreshing for me to get away from Metz. We, as expected, chatted non-stop throughout the weekend; about Toulouse, this year, our students, the differences between elementary and middle-school, the fabulous weather (!), her trip to Morocco, and everything else under the sun. I met the other assistant in St. Jul- Hannah, also American, who’s working in the high school.
Then seeing as St. Jul is pretty small but a bedroom community for Geneva (Switzerland), we spent Saturday in town. The bus ride is only about 30 minutes and just gorgeous, as you ride into town through the huge valley that Geneva and St. Jul are in. And Saturday was glorious weather again! The sun was shining and the sky was bright blue and a slight breeze to keep us comfortable as we hiked all over town. We went to a kebab shop for lunch and I finally got my falafels which I’ve been missing! We walked through the flea market, went passed Kim’s tango studio and favorite café, hiked up through Old City (where I saw the cutest hat and regret I didn’t buy it) and visited the Little Prince Shop (mostly baby clothes), and wandered around on top of the hill. There was a kid’s fest going on in a little overlook park, and hot air balloons were lifting off from all over Geneva. So we watched the one from in front of the Cathedral St. Pierre. Then we hiked to the top of the towers- we even did both of the towers even though I was feeling the adrenaline rush from my fear of heights the whole time! I thought my legs were going to give out on me!
At little out of order, but Friday was great too! I went with Kim to her afternoon class to see how teaching English in elementary worked. She’s a fabulously amazing teacher by the way! Her CE 2 class reminds me of my 6ieme’s, which isn’t surprising given they’re an age apart. Though they were definitely more rambunctious, though my sixieme’s can be as bad some days. Later that night after some great potato chowder, we went with Hannah into Geneva to go to a café or a bar, depending on what interested us and it was also the experimental run for taking the night bus! Oh, what an experience! We unfortunately missed the one at about 1:45am, so our next try wasn’t until about 3am (also our last chance!). Then it turns out that all the small restos have to close at 2am (though the strange thing is that they can reopen at 4am for when the clubs close at 5am). So we couldn’t go sit inside somewhere and eat fries, so we walked around the bus stop for about half an hour and bought candy bars. The new Mars bar with almonds was yummy but the original is still best, as it offers more caramel (though the Mars dark is fabou!). We then just waited inside the entrance to the mall under the train station till our bus arrived. Then we were the only ones still on when we left the Geneva suburbs, and we only found out after our bus passed the turn off for our stop that we had to ask for that particular stop! But the driver was nice and turned around (as it was just us on the bus) and let us off where we wanted. The final part of our evening though as a scary walk from this little town on the Swiss side through a little wood to St. Jul on the French side, involving crossing the border where there are signs saying you’re not suppose to cross there! But all in all, it was a good test run and a great story! We were literally freaked out crossing through there as it was super dark (great for viewing the stars though). Later we realized that we could have just walked up to the main road and gone through the border crossing there and then cut back through the apartment housings on the St. Jul side. But now the story’s good for a laugh!
We were going to get some great photos too of funny things in Geneva, but we ran out of time. But for your information, one was to be of Kim next to some graffetti stating similar though more vulgar sentiments towards cars! And the other was to be of a jewelry store called Schmuck! Hehehe! I’ve yet to understand the naming of jewelry stores in Europe…
Well to those three people who do read this, I don’t want to bore you, but I had a fabou weekend in the Alps! Tomorrow I’m going with the middle school to Verdun, should be interesting! And here’s to crossing the border at illegal crossings! Don’t forget to check out the photos!
Ps. I crossed the Rhone in the same spot that Julius Cesar did on his way back from his campaign against the Gauls (the original French people).
Monday, March 14, 2005
Diddl rocks my world!
Le 14 mars 2005.
Honestly, who would think receiving affection from your students could leave you floating on Cloud Nine for the entire weekend! Two of my students belong to a international family. Their dad is American and their mum is French- so they are among my stronger students (not surprisingly!). But their family has been very kind to me during my time in France. I’ve past two afternoons with their family now and both times have been quite the enjoyable experience. This past Friday was especially so, as I was shown their younger sister’s home school area- their mom has just begun home schooling the youngest child, causing quite the speculation with the teachers and parents for miles around, watched Johnny English with the family, and as I was preparing to leave was given little presents by the kids of Diddl things! Now the thing to understand here is that Diddl is an all-consuming obsession of young children and many pubescent girls in Europe. Diddl is a mouse character, draw by a German artist, whose line of products includes anything of a writing persuasion- not limited to papers, pencils, fountain pens, stickers, envelopes and into keychains, pencil cases, and stuffed animals. The other side of this understanding is that to give or to receive Diddl objects is about the best gift and highest honor of love and friendship. Basically at least some of my kids love me! And love feels good.
My copy of Under the Banner of Heaven by John Krakauer arrived on Saturday morning from Amazon.fr. While they were slightly more expensive (all of less than fifty cents more) to buy the English book from than the Amazon in the States, it turns out they have basically any English language books available in their French warehouse and offered free shipping within France for anything that’s a book regardless of being under 20 euros! I love free shipping! And I honestly haven’t been able to put the book down or stop telling anyone who will listen (in English or French) about this book. Though I did have trouble sleeping last night because of some mild graphic details in Part III I believe. I am so thrilled Laura picked this book for the Alumni Reading Club.
Oh, my shoes have been cobbled! Well honestly I’m not sure if that’s the correct term, but they’re fixed if nothing else. And all that worry if he had meant that it was 23 euros per shoe or if I’d missed heard vingt-trois when it was instead quatre-vingt-trois euros for the repair work or if it was the following Friday and not last Friday when they were to be fixed by! So it turns out that they were done on last Friday, the pair to be fixed only cost 23 euros instead of the possible 46 or 83 euros I thought possible, and the cobbler was a really nice guy who told me that I manage well in French! Side note- I love it when French people tell me that I manage well (se débrouiller) in French because I feel as if that really means ‘at least I sort of understand what you’re trying to say’. But as long as they can understand than I guess I shouldn’t complain!
And finally, the last topic for today, and not because I’m sure I don’t have many other fascinating stories, but rather that after my short night of sleep and the four long hours I worked today with my favorite classes… I’m tired. And I’m going to abandon you back to the work you should be doing instead of reading my blog (but thanks for coming!!) and do a little movie watching and well-deserved napping. But to answer that question you’ve been wanting the answer to all year, ‘When do you work next, Kate?’… well, as today is Monday, my next work day is well… next Monday! My classes this Thursday were cancelled as both the usual professor and the remplaçant (substitute teacher) can’t be there, I don’t have to go! Makes it easier for me to catch my train to visit Kim in the Alps! But before you get too confused, let’s start back on Monday, February 28 when we came back from February break- on the 28th I worked four hours, on the 3rd March I worked four hours, on the 7th I worked three hours, on the 10th there was a strike so I didn’t work my usual six hours that day, on the 11th, I worked two hours as my last two classes of the morning were cancelled, then today I worked four hours, on the 17th my classes are cancelled, on the 21st I will work three hours, on the 24th I will work six hours, and on the 25th and 26th classes are cancelled because of Good Friday and Easter Monday, and so finishing up my schedule in March I will work on the 29th for four hours. How fabulous is my non-hectic work hectic schedule…
Honestly, who would think receiving affection from your students could leave you floating on Cloud Nine for the entire weekend! Two of my students belong to a international family. Their dad is American and their mum is French- so they are among my stronger students (not surprisingly!). But their family has been very kind to me during my time in France. I’ve past two afternoons with their family now and both times have been quite the enjoyable experience. This past Friday was especially so, as I was shown their younger sister’s home school area- their mom has just begun home schooling the youngest child, causing quite the speculation with the teachers and parents for miles around, watched Johnny English with the family, and as I was preparing to leave was given little presents by the kids of Diddl things! Now the thing to understand here is that Diddl is an all-consuming obsession of young children and many pubescent girls in Europe. Diddl is a mouse character, draw by a German artist, whose line of products includes anything of a writing persuasion- not limited to papers, pencils, fountain pens, stickers, envelopes and into keychains, pencil cases, and stuffed animals. The other side of this understanding is that to give or to receive Diddl objects is about the best gift and highest honor of love and friendship. Basically at least some of my kids love me! And love feels good.
My copy of Under the Banner of Heaven by John Krakauer arrived on Saturday morning from Amazon.fr. While they were slightly more expensive (all of less than fifty cents more) to buy the English book from than the Amazon in the States, it turns out they have basically any English language books available in their French warehouse and offered free shipping within France for anything that’s a book regardless of being under 20 euros! I love free shipping! And I honestly haven’t been able to put the book down or stop telling anyone who will listen (in English or French) about this book. Though I did have trouble sleeping last night because of some mild graphic details in Part III I believe. I am so thrilled Laura picked this book for the Alumni Reading Club.
Oh, my shoes have been cobbled! Well honestly I’m not sure if that’s the correct term, but they’re fixed if nothing else. And all that worry if he had meant that it was 23 euros per shoe or if I’d missed heard vingt-trois when it was instead quatre-vingt-trois euros for the repair work or if it was the following Friday and not last Friday when they were to be fixed by! So it turns out that they were done on last Friday, the pair to be fixed only cost 23 euros instead of the possible 46 or 83 euros I thought possible, and the cobbler was a really nice guy who told me that I manage well in French! Side note- I love it when French people tell me that I manage well (se débrouiller) in French because I feel as if that really means ‘at least I sort of understand what you’re trying to say’. But as long as they can understand than I guess I shouldn’t complain!
And finally, the last topic for today, and not because I’m sure I don’t have many other fascinating stories, but rather that after my short night of sleep and the four long hours I worked today with my favorite classes… I’m tired. And I’m going to abandon you back to the work you should be doing instead of reading my blog (but thanks for coming!!) and do a little movie watching and well-deserved napping. But to answer that question you’ve been wanting the answer to all year, ‘When do you work next, Kate?’… well, as today is Monday, my next work day is well… next Monday! My classes this Thursday were cancelled as both the usual professor and the remplaçant (substitute teacher) can’t be there, I don’t have to go! Makes it easier for me to catch my train to visit Kim in the Alps! But before you get too confused, let’s start back on Monday, February 28 when we came back from February break- on the 28th I worked four hours, on the 3rd March I worked four hours, on the 7th I worked three hours, on the 10th there was a strike so I didn’t work my usual six hours that day, on the 11th, I worked two hours as my last two classes of the morning were cancelled, then today I worked four hours, on the 17th my classes are cancelled, on the 21st I will work three hours, on the 24th I will work six hours, and on the 25th and 26th classes are cancelled because of Good Friday and Easter Monday, and so finishing up my schedule in March I will work on the 29th for four hours. How fabulous is my non-hectic work hectic schedule…
Saturday, March 05, 2005
Random flurries of thoughts on Saturday morning...
Per usual, I should be doing something else, namely educating myself on lovely grad school programs. But instead I felt a great need to share my inner and random dialogue this morning.
It's snowing in Metz this morning. It started up again last night and I hear we're to have snow all weekend again.
I love my short hair. I'm so happy it's short again. And since it's been three weeks since I've cut it, it's at that perfect 3/4 inch length after the cut that is always better than the day after the cut.
These cobblestone streets, that I love and have finally built up the calluses for walking on them, are completely ruining all my shoes!
How am I suppose to get out to the outlet mall near Metz if there are no buses there?
How am I suppose to get all of my stuff home in May?
Thanks for joining my inner dialogue. Hope your's is just as stimulating! Happy Saturday!
It's snowing in Metz this morning. It started up again last night and I hear we're to have snow all weekend again.
I love my short hair. I'm so happy it's short again. And since it's been three weeks since I've cut it, it's at that perfect 3/4 inch length after the cut that is always better than the day after the cut.
These cobblestone streets, that I love and have finally built up the calluses for walking on them, are completely ruining all my shoes!
How am I suppose to get out to the outlet mall near Metz if there are no buses there?
How am I suppose to get all of my stuff home in May?
Thanks for joining my inner dialogue. Hope your's is just as stimulating! Happy Saturday!
Friday, March 04, 2005
Strike and Tax Seasons… Anyone else think there might be a correlation…
Le 3 mars 2005, jeudi.
So technically I should probably be working on my taxes, especially as I received my statement of taxable income for the previous financial year from the French government today. Thank heavens I’m exempted this year from French taxes, as the American taxes involving my meager French income are confusing enough.
Sarah and I chatted about the book “Why French Women Never Get Fat” or some title like that, and a book I read about once, but there’s truth in that book in some form I think. Though quite honestly the reason the majority of French women never get fat is because they don’t eat enough or properly. Though I have to say the female professors I eat lunch with in the canteen once every two weeks do tend to eat everything in front of them. But that’s portion control for you too. And I have to agree with the BBC article I read online the other day about how much government spending is on school lunch programs that said that the French spend the most money on school lunches – I believe it was around $6 per meal per person- and those lunches at my canteen are superb. For instance, the other day when I ate there we had roti and pickles for the appetizer (roti is a sort of dried sausage/salami thing from mainly Alsace I believe), followed by breaded and baked cod I believe and green beans with a butter and herb sauce, followed by a cheese course though I forget what cheese we had, and finally the best part of the meal that day was the yummy, fresh pineapple quarter we all got! Ok, so again, the fried fish was a bit surprising to me, but it was the portion control kicking in and that we had a cheese course surprised me a bit, but we didn’t have any other diary in the meal so I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised. But I also feel that the French work to eat good, balanced meals with the standard three to four courses because then you feel full and not so inclined to munch or eat overly large portions. But regardless of portion control or French women not getting fat or not eating –either case- my part in these French eating habits has been to lose weight. While I am not winning any contests on most pounds dropped nor am I at the medium sized health peak I was at last December nor even considering punching another hole in my brown belt (yet) I am at the last hole in my brown belt so that does make me happy. But the sad part of this story is that the same day of my meal at the school cantenn, we arrived at school to see the massive board in the middle of our school yard new arrived to declare that the Conseil will be building a new pension and lodging to be ready by January 2006 I think. And I think that they will put in a more modern canteen- not that we don’t need something more than the tin shack that exists at the moment- but the new style is a more typically American affair with lines and random sitting and menu choices. At the moment, we eat our meals in a family style- especially in the professors’ dining room- with the food served to the tables, already set with plates and silverware, on platters – food I might add that has been cooked by competent staff and in midsize batches that morning from more or less fresh food- and I’ve noticed that the kids who stay on for lunch are expected to take a turn in the cleanup between the two settings and putting down the second settings plates etc. I have also heard though of the stories of when fries are served of the boys hogging all of them and often the girls not getting anything, but for the most part I rather think that the family style serving is a good idea, maybe more so for the profs, and something about it adds to the community that exists already in the school. I’ll be sad when they finish the new canteen even though I won’t be here. I definitely think something will go missing from my petit collège when that happens. Ok for my little ramble.
And finally continuing I guess in defense of my temporarily adopted country, I think from what I’ve seen in past Alias episodes and from Laura’s marvelous updates on her blog, that JJ Abrams had totally got something against France or is under watch by the US government or something, because I think the most horrific things seem to happen when Alias is “in France” or in the case of Laura’s most recent update it’s always French people who are out to watch lascivious happenings or buy the horrific bombs… what happened to Chirac and Bush meeting last week to make the statement that they are going to patch up relations. Honestly the French aren’t all bad! Speaking of Bush I suppose I shouldn’t take his and Chirac’s statement too seriously as there was just a poll announcing that apparently the populations’ sentiments are in agreement to Bush’s policies (from the New Year Times, as I believe Anna told me). Too bad, I could use a better tax treaty giving me more of a foreign credit for all the taxes I am not exempt from paying to the French government- considering that my birth control is not covered by the health care here, though it’s my own fault for wanting the same thing as I have in the States, and honestly it’s still cheaper here when I pay full price than in the States and from the aid clinics there.
In other news, I’m so excited that I’ve just bought my tickets to go visit Kim in the Haute-Savoie in two weeks now! My prof is letting me take off an hour-ish early to catch the train there, but I got an inexpensive ticket that way, and I’ll get in at a decent hour. Plus I get to go through Lyon though with hardly time to see it truly, but it’s a town I’ve really wanted to see, so I’ll make the most of the two or three hours, as I can anyway. I’m just so excited to see Kim and go to Switzerland with her and to see the Alps. We won’t have time or money to ski and the snow might not be good anyway, depending on the weather- too bad, but at least we’ll go hiking I’m sure. And just to see Kim regardless of where she is will be great! So if you happen to be in Lyon on March 20th from 11:45am to 1:30pm I’ll be at the main train station! I’ll also be on the TGV train though not at TGV speeds, as- go figure- the Northeast is the last region of France to get it! And please, somebody tell me why!!! It’s not as if we’re the connection to major financial partner countries as Germany, Luxembourg, and Belgium or anything; or even that we have the EUROPEAN CAPITAL sitting on our oh-so-important border with Germany! Quite honestly, some days I don’t get SNCF. (Who are on strike again by the way.)
Speaking of strikes (à propos des grèves) there’s another teacher’s one next Thursday, so I’m off again from my long day! Fabou!
And I’m doing this cute little unofficial internship with a music production and distribution company here in Metz that does mainly Progressive Rock. I’m working there about two to four hours on one or two afternoons a week, depending on my schedule, on a volunteer basis. I’m really enjoying it as everyone there is really enjoyable to work with and it’s turning into such a great way to really get good feedback and practice with my French. Plus I’m running into some really interesting music! Tonight I listened to a French group that does Gypsy Swing and Gypsy Jazz. It’s just neat to have something else to fill in my time, as Francine keeps reminding me that I only work about twelve days out of my contract of seven months, and to have such a nice environment to work on my French. I feel lucky to have this opportunity, especially to learn about something I might not get to normally.
Ok, and finally, notes from the day trip to Colmar and Kayserburg. We had planned to go to Saverne also, but ran out of time due to the travel times and the uncooperative train and bus schedules. But they were both such lovely cities. I really enjoyed Colmar and any assistants that might be there really lucked out! Kayserburg was little and just into the Vosges Mountains but super cute and sweet even though we were there over the lunch break. It must be so beautiful in the summer with all the flowers and grapevines all green on the surrounding steep hillsides. But Colmar, I wish I could have been an assistant there. What a beautiful small town of about 68,000- a beautiful and respectable looking park near the center of town with a cute kids area that had lovely little topiaries. And all the quaint buildings that just make it look so scrumptious and picture perfect. I loved all the colors after the standard yellow and sometimes dinginess of Metz. Metz is much more attractive in the summer when there are flowers to add color and distract your eye a bit. I suppose that’s why I love the German district here though, the stone is such lovely browns and reds, even if it’s heavy, and Germanic art nouveau (I guessing on the style) details on the buildings. It’s just different and eye catching and refreshing. At least in Toulouse you had the brick and wood to break up the newer yellow limestones. But back to Colmar, we were mainly with all our travel just going around the edges of the Vosges Mountains, but they were so pretty if not dramatic mountains and I definitely wished our trip to them for the next weekend had worked out, but I suppose I’ll just live to go another time. I mean I am going to the Alps. For photos of Colmar and Kayserburg, see above. I think it’s time to end for the evening, so ciao ciao.
So technically I should probably be working on my taxes, especially as I received my statement of taxable income for the previous financial year from the French government today. Thank heavens I’m exempted this year from French taxes, as the American taxes involving my meager French income are confusing enough.
Sarah and I chatted about the book “Why French Women Never Get Fat” or some title like that, and a book I read about once, but there’s truth in that book in some form I think. Though quite honestly the reason the majority of French women never get fat is because they don’t eat enough or properly. Though I have to say the female professors I eat lunch with in the canteen once every two weeks do tend to eat everything in front of them. But that’s portion control for you too. And I have to agree with the BBC article I read online the other day about how much government spending is on school lunch programs that said that the French spend the most money on school lunches – I believe it was around $6 per meal per person- and those lunches at my canteen are superb. For instance, the other day when I ate there we had roti and pickles for the appetizer (roti is a sort of dried sausage/salami thing from mainly Alsace I believe), followed by breaded and baked cod I believe and green beans with a butter and herb sauce, followed by a cheese course though I forget what cheese we had, and finally the best part of the meal that day was the yummy, fresh pineapple quarter we all got! Ok, so again, the fried fish was a bit surprising to me, but it was the portion control kicking in and that we had a cheese course surprised me a bit, but we didn’t have any other diary in the meal so I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised. But I also feel that the French work to eat good, balanced meals with the standard three to four courses because then you feel full and not so inclined to munch or eat overly large portions. But regardless of portion control or French women not getting fat or not eating –either case- my part in these French eating habits has been to lose weight. While I am not winning any contests on most pounds dropped nor am I at the medium sized health peak I was at last December nor even considering punching another hole in my brown belt (yet) I am at the last hole in my brown belt so that does make me happy. But the sad part of this story is that the same day of my meal at the school cantenn, we arrived at school to see the massive board in the middle of our school yard new arrived to declare that the Conseil will be building a new pension and lodging to be ready by January 2006 I think. And I think that they will put in a more modern canteen- not that we don’t need something more than the tin shack that exists at the moment- but the new style is a more typically American affair with lines and random sitting and menu choices. At the moment, we eat our meals in a family style- especially in the professors’ dining room- with the food served to the tables, already set with plates and silverware, on platters – food I might add that has been cooked by competent staff and in midsize batches that morning from more or less fresh food- and I’ve noticed that the kids who stay on for lunch are expected to take a turn in the cleanup between the two settings and putting down the second settings plates etc. I have also heard though of the stories of when fries are served of the boys hogging all of them and often the girls not getting anything, but for the most part I rather think that the family style serving is a good idea, maybe more so for the profs, and something about it adds to the community that exists already in the school. I’ll be sad when they finish the new canteen even though I won’t be here. I definitely think something will go missing from my petit collège when that happens. Ok for my little ramble.
And finally continuing I guess in defense of my temporarily adopted country, I think from what I’ve seen in past Alias episodes and from Laura’s marvelous updates on her blog, that JJ Abrams had totally got something against France or is under watch by the US government or something, because I think the most horrific things seem to happen when Alias is “in France” or in the case of Laura’s most recent update it’s always French people who are out to watch lascivious happenings or buy the horrific bombs… what happened to Chirac and Bush meeting last week to make the statement that they are going to patch up relations. Honestly the French aren’t all bad! Speaking of Bush I suppose I shouldn’t take his and Chirac’s statement too seriously as there was just a poll announcing that apparently the populations’ sentiments are in agreement to Bush’s policies (from the New Year Times, as I believe Anna told me). Too bad, I could use a better tax treaty giving me more of a foreign credit for all the taxes I am not exempt from paying to the French government- considering that my birth control is not covered by the health care here, though it’s my own fault for wanting the same thing as I have in the States, and honestly it’s still cheaper here when I pay full price than in the States and from the aid clinics there.
In other news, I’m so excited that I’ve just bought my tickets to go visit Kim in the Haute-Savoie in two weeks now! My prof is letting me take off an hour-ish early to catch the train there, but I got an inexpensive ticket that way, and I’ll get in at a decent hour. Plus I get to go through Lyon though with hardly time to see it truly, but it’s a town I’ve really wanted to see, so I’ll make the most of the two or three hours, as I can anyway. I’m just so excited to see Kim and go to Switzerland with her and to see the Alps. We won’t have time or money to ski and the snow might not be good anyway, depending on the weather- too bad, but at least we’ll go hiking I’m sure. And just to see Kim regardless of where she is will be great! So if you happen to be in Lyon on March 20th from 11:45am to 1:30pm I’ll be at the main train station! I’ll also be on the TGV train though not at TGV speeds, as- go figure- the Northeast is the last region of France to get it! And please, somebody tell me why!!! It’s not as if we’re the connection to major financial partner countries as Germany, Luxembourg, and Belgium or anything; or even that we have the EUROPEAN CAPITAL sitting on our oh-so-important border with Germany! Quite honestly, some days I don’t get SNCF. (Who are on strike again by the way.)
Speaking of strikes (à propos des grèves) there’s another teacher’s one next Thursday, so I’m off again from my long day! Fabou!
And I’m doing this cute little unofficial internship with a music production and distribution company here in Metz that does mainly Progressive Rock. I’m working there about two to four hours on one or two afternoons a week, depending on my schedule, on a volunteer basis. I’m really enjoying it as everyone there is really enjoyable to work with and it’s turning into such a great way to really get good feedback and practice with my French. Plus I’m running into some really interesting music! Tonight I listened to a French group that does Gypsy Swing and Gypsy Jazz. It’s just neat to have something else to fill in my time, as Francine keeps reminding me that I only work about twelve days out of my contract of seven months, and to have such a nice environment to work on my French. I feel lucky to have this opportunity, especially to learn about something I might not get to normally.
Ok, and finally, notes from the day trip to Colmar and Kayserburg. We had planned to go to Saverne also, but ran out of time due to the travel times and the uncooperative train and bus schedules. But they were both such lovely cities. I really enjoyed Colmar and any assistants that might be there really lucked out! Kayserburg was little and just into the Vosges Mountains but super cute and sweet even though we were there over the lunch break. It must be so beautiful in the summer with all the flowers and grapevines all green on the surrounding steep hillsides. But Colmar, I wish I could have been an assistant there. What a beautiful small town of about 68,000- a beautiful and respectable looking park near the center of town with a cute kids area that had lovely little topiaries. And all the quaint buildings that just make it look so scrumptious and picture perfect. I loved all the colors after the standard yellow and sometimes dinginess of Metz. Metz is much more attractive in the summer when there are flowers to add color and distract your eye a bit. I suppose that’s why I love the German district here though, the stone is such lovely browns and reds, even if it’s heavy, and Germanic art nouveau (I guessing on the style) details on the buildings. It’s just different and eye catching and refreshing. At least in Toulouse you had the brick and wood to break up the newer yellow limestones. But back to Colmar, we were mainly with all our travel just going around the edges of the Vosges Mountains, but they were so pretty if not dramatic mountains and I definitely wished our trip to them for the next weekend had worked out, but I suppose I’ll just live to go another time. I mean I am going to the Alps. For photos of Colmar and Kayserburg, see above. I think it’s time to end for the evening, so ciao ciao.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Boundless giddiness!
Le 26 février 2005.
Kim called today! It was a completely unexpected phone call as I didn’t know when she would return from Morocco or when she would have time to phone back in response to my call earlier this week. She had fifty minutes left on her phone card and we completely used it all up. It’s so amazing what talking with a good friend does for you. Even fifty minutes wasn’t enough, but for now it will have to do. We had so much to talk about as we realized that we hadn’t talked much recently. The best news is that we were able to find a weekend in March when I can go visit her. It’s definitely easier for me to get down there because I have every other Thursday afternoon and Friday combo off from week, giving me a longer weekend to get down there. I’m so excited to see where she is located and visit all her favorite spots in Geneva. It’s going to be so cool to see this important European city too! It’ll be my first time in Switzerland too, so a lovely time to go. We’re hoping to go to one of her tango milangas (sp?) so I can see this important part of her life. I haven’t gotten to see her since our return to Paris in September, so I’m completely excited and this will make the next three weeks pass quickly I know! She had also heard from Violet and said that she was doing well. It’s so good to catch up on people. I informed her that Angela G. had gotten engaged to the Hotness and this summer will become known as Madame Hotness. Though we don’t know if Norbert knows or not that Angela is engaged to the host-brother from last year or not. I had the sad duty to inform Kim that our empanada stands appear to have disappeared from their former locations in Toulouse. She’s planning a trip during part of April break down there and to the Pyrénées. I’m quite jealous, as I don’t know if my family will have time to visit the mountains when we visit the South in May. I hope so but we’ll have to see… I’d like to just go back to St. Girons or maybe Aspet, so that’s not as far as other parts of the mountains but still far enough. But the other exciting bit of our conversation led to the realization that we are both looking into Boston as a possible site for our North American relocations this upcoming summer season! How hilarious would it be if we both ended up in the same area! I can just imagine Kim dancing in the streets and singing in the rues of Boston and me being the incessant shutterbug! Speaking of shutterbug, congrats must also be sent out to Kim for taking two whole rolls of film while in Morocco, Barcelona, etc! Giddiness incites rambling babble… apologies to anyone brave enough to read this and attempt to make sense of it! :) The train down there is a bit complicated though Kim suggested just going to Geneva and taking the bus from there to St. Julien. I’ll just have to see what I can find, this week though as I might be able to still catch a Prem price. I’m just so excited to travel, especially to go see a friend! Well off to work on taxes, but before going, who’s free to go to Prague etc between the 17th-ish and 29th April??? Though I hear it’s a good city to visit on your own also! Well, ciao!
Kim called today! It was a completely unexpected phone call as I didn’t know when she would return from Morocco or when she would have time to phone back in response to my call earlier this week. She had fifty minutes left on her phone card and we completely used it all up. It’s so amazing what talking with a good friend does for you. Even fifty minutes wasn’t enough, but for now it will have to do. We had so much to talk about as we realized that we hadn’t talked much recently. The best news is that we were able to find a weekend in March when I can go visit her. It’s definitely easier for me to get down there because I have every other Thursday afternoon and Friday combo off from week, giving me a longer weekend to get down there. I’m so excited to see where she is located and visit all her favorite spots in Geneva. It’s going to be so cool to see this important European city too! It’ll be my first time in Switzerland too, so a lovely time to go. We’re hoping to go to one of her tango milangas (sp?) so I can see this important part of her life. I haven’t gotten to see her since our return to Paris in September, so I’m completely excited and this will make the next three weeks pass quickly I know! She had also heard from Violet and said that she was doing well. It’s so good to catch up on people. I informed her that Angela G. had gotten engaged to the Hotness and this summer will become known as Madame Hotness. Though we don’t know if Norbert knows or not that Angela is engaged to the host-brother from last year or not. I had the sad duty to inform Kim that our empanada stands appear to have disappeared from their former locations in Toulouse. She’s planning a trip during part of April break down there and to the Pyrénées. I’m quite jealous, as I don’t know if my family will have time to visit the mountains when we visit the South in May. I hope so but we’ll have to see… I’d like to just go back to St. Girons or maybe Aspet, so that’s not as far as other parts of the mountains but still far enough. But the other exciting bit of our conversation led to the realization that we are both looking into Boston as a possible site for our North American relocations this upcoming summer season! How hilarious would it be if we both ended up in the same area! I can just imagine Kim dancing in the streets and singing in the rues of Boston and me being the incessant shutterbug! Speaking of shutterbug, congrats must also be sent out to Kim for taking two whole rolls of film while in Morocco, Barcelona, etc! Giddiness incites rambling babble… apologies to anyone brave enough to read this and attempt to make sense of it! :) The train down there is a bit complicated though Kim suggested just going to Geneva and taking the bus from there to St. Julien. I’ll just have to see what I can find, this week though as I might be able to still catch a Prem price. I’m just so excited to travel, especially to go see a friend! Well off to work on taxes, but before going, who’s free to go to Prague etc between the 17th-ish and 29th April??? Though I hear it’s a good city to visit on your own also! Well, ciao!
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