Bonjour (ou en fait bon soir) tout le monde, I apologize for my two-month hiatus from updating the blogosphere of my life. In seeing that I left off in November, I have much to tell. First off, all I can say about December/ Christmastime in Toulouse is OH MY GOODNESS incredible. I don't think I have ever seen so many lights, including a Christmas tree in the middle of Place Wilson that must be 50 feet high (ok granted, the tree is always there, but they put lights and a star on top for Christmas. AMAZING). Also, at Place du Capitole, was the magnificent Christmas market. To describe it, I think I will use the words of another dear friend in Toulouse before the market was completely set up : "I think they're having a shed expo here..." That's what it was- a bunch of sheds. Or that's what it was in November. In December, it became this magical Christmas Wonderland, with lights, hot chocolate, hot wine, chocolates, gifts, candy, food, delicious potato-cheese stuff, and much more. It was INCREDIBLE. Toulouse having put me in the Christmas spirit, I went home for 3 weeks over Christmas break and the New Year. Unfortunately, I was not able to fully enjoy vacation because I had finals to take upon my return to la France. I know, weird right? I actually talked to my host parents about it and they said that they used to do it like we do, but they changed it to this system about 3 years ago. They think it's weird too.
So we started second semester classes about 2 weeks ago. Well actually we started the semester 2 weeks ago. I still have 2 classes that I haven't gone 2 yet because for whatever reason they have been canceled, I'm not sure whether the prof just does not want to start yet, or whatever. Oh the French and their organisation skills. Whatever.
Last weekend, with all of the Dickinson students, we voyaged to Bordeaux and Saint-Emilion, also known as heaven's vineyard (ok, so it's only known as that by me...) but I think it is an appropriate name. In Bordeaux, we visited la Musee d'Aquitaine and learned a little bit about the history of Bordeaux. Then, we visited la Cathedrale de Saint-Andre, and climbed the tower next to it, which has 231 (I think) steps. The next day, we went to Saint-Emilion, where we saw a 1000 year-old church that was COMPLETELY CARVED OUT OF ROCK. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOODDDNNNEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS. Then we had a wine-tasting. There is just nothing like cracking a bottle open at the vineyard. You literally are walking on the soil that created the bottled deliciousness you are now tasting. It's sort of like eating vegetables from the garden, except sooooooo much better (I mean seriously, which would you rather have, squash or wine??????)
In the meantime, I know I said this last semester but I am really going to try to keep up this blog this semester, especially since I will be travelling a lot more this semester. For example, my next trip (and one I absolutely can not wait for) is a backpacking trip across Italy. I will be starting in Venice, going to Bologna to stay with some friends for a few days, heading down to Florence, then down to Rome, and then back up to Milan, and then home, all in about a week and a half. So, that's all I've got right now... Happy belated New Year everyone!!!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Sunday, November 22, 2009
I forgot to post in my last entry a pretty interesting little tidbit. So a couple of weeks ago, in my French class, we were talking about World War 1 as we were about to watch a movie about the Great War. Now, my French class is composed of me and two other Americans (both from Dickinson), lots of Germans (I'm not kidding- there are about 10 I think), several Canadians, a few girls from Sweden, and then a couple more countries represented by a single person here and there. Now, at some point during the conversation, we were talking about different countries' roles in the war. To our amazement, the CANADIANS tried to tell the rest of the class that IT WAS CANADA THAT WON WORLD WAR I. The other American (one was gone that day) and I literally started laughing out loud, and we were like, no we're pretty sure Canada has never won anything. And then they just kept on saying, no it's true, we won. So we were like, How do you even justify that? And they said something along the lines of it was Canada that gave all kinds of money to the British to help fight the Germans, and they wouldn't have won if the Canadians hadn't sent money. More lols. Meanwhile, during this whole episode, the Germans are just sitting there, kind of twiddling their thumbs and not saying anything. The whole class was just interesting, and so we decided in such a nationally diverse class, to leave who won what outside of the classroom.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
BUMBLEBEE BOY!!!!!
So it has been WAYYY too long since I posted last. I'll start off by the history of the past month. Apparently, October was strike season in Toulouse. The week after my last post, everyone was on strike. The train workers were on strike - I had a couple friends that were supposed to travel but ended up missing their train because they couldn't get tickets. The museum workers were on strike - I walked by the museum of natural history and everyone was outside, the doors were all locked, there were flags everywhere, etc. The sanitation workers were on strike. This one was particularly fun. The workers would come, overturn every single public garbage can, cut holes in all the trash bags, etc. There was trash flying all over Toulouse, piles of garbage all over the place. It was disgusting. Then, the farmers were on strike. Actually, I'm not sure if they were even on strike (how can a farmer go on strike???). I think they just wanted to get their two cents in. At Jean Jaures (one of the big squares in Toulouse), there was just this massive line of tractors that came and blocked off the road. They were dumping things all over the place. There was a big pile of hay in the middle of the street, they dumped hay INTO THE METRO STATION, there was a pile of apples in the middle of the street (that was disgusting - people were taking them and eating them). It was RIDICULOUS.
So at the end of October, a few of my friends and I went to England for a week. We spent 3 days in London, where we saw several touristy things (Westminster Abbey was my favorite, but I also got to watch a debate in the House of Lords- that was pretty cool too), I had fish and chips three times (because everything else looked kind of gross), and I learned that treacle tart is one of the most delicious autumn desserts on the planet. And we went to see Wicked, which was AMAZING. Also, the hostel we stayed in was rather sketch. The beds were all attached to each other, and bunked, so it was like 16 people were sleeping on 2 huge bunk beds. The first thing I thought when I walked in the first night was “oh my God, it’s like a prison camp!!!” Luckily, the other people in our room were very cool and easy to talk to and not strange at all. However, the second night we were there, we were watching The Ring in the den with some of the other people in the hostel when all of a sudden we heard this bloodcurdling scream, dishes smashing, etc. Apparently there was this girl in the kitchen that was just going absolutely mental. We hear a lot more screaming, then she walks out into the den where we were, and started screaming at us. It was a fun hostel.
After London, we headed off to Norwich, where the Dickinson in England program is Located, and I got to spend three days with tons of wonderful people. When we first got into Norwich our friends introduced us to pasties (the pie type things. Get your head out of the gutter) and they were delicious. Later that night, they took us to some pubs around Norwich, and then, on our way back to the University, on the bus these EXTREMELY drunk girls sat by us. They were being rather loud and obnoxious, but hilarious, so I couldn’t help a giggle or two. But after a couple minutes they looked over at me. Now I happened to be wearing my yellow and black striped polo shirt. Well one of the girls looks at me and yells “YOU LOOK LIKE A BUMBLEBEE!!” Chanting ensues: “Bumblebee Boy! Bumblebee Boy! Bumblebee Boy!!” One of them says “Can I take a picture with you, Bumblebee Boy?” A bit confused and rather frazzled, I consent. All of a sudden, she stands up and sits on my lap, and says to the other one “Get the camera out!” Well the other one starts looking in her bag for the camera, when she says “I can’t really find it.” Then she looks at me and says “You just enjoy that for a second” (the girl on my lap). After like 5 minutes she finds the camera, then the girl on my lap kisses me and takes the picture. Well then, a few minutes later they look over again, as they are drinking their drinks, and say “We are very drunk, and you guys are not nearly drunk enough. HERE.” And they force their drinks onto us. I say, very hesitantly, “Um, what’s in it?” And one of the girls says “It’s just vodka and cranberry juice. What? It’s not there’s a roofie in it! I’m not trying to date rape you or something!” More chanting ensues- “DATE RAPE! DATE RAPE! DATE RAPE! DATE RAPE!!!” Luckily it was our stop. The sober girls that were with them, as we are getting off, look at us and just say “We are so sorry…” The whole situation was just hilarious.
When we got back from England, immediately the next day we got up bright and early to take a Dickinson trip. A first class train ride to Paris with 20 students… needless to say it was a fun time. I also have to say, although I don’t have any funny stories from Paris, Paris was WAYYYYYYYYYY better than London. The first night, we went to the National Opera to see a ballet. Well the opera itself was one of the most amazing pieces of architecture. Then the next day we went to the Louvre, which, fun fact: if you were to stop at every piece in the Louvre for 3 seconds, it would take you a constant 3 months to see the whole museum. That’s ridiculous. But the Louvre was amazing, and yes, I did get to see the Mona Lisa. Then a few friends and I went to l’Arc de Triomphe, and up to the top. Then the Eiffel Tower (although we didn’t get to go up.) I won’t keep going, since we visited so many places, but my favorite place was easily Versailles. Not even the palace itself (although that was amazing), but the Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon, and the Hameau de la Reine (these little farmhouses with streams all over everywhere. It was pretty much what I imagine as heaven).
OK so back in Toulouse, and I can’t think of anything special that’s really happened since, sooooo sorry for the delay and long post!!!
And PS, about my last post, I am COMPLETELY over my culture shock and can’t wait to stay the rest of the year!!!!!!
So at the end of October, a few of my friends and I went to England for a week. We spent 3 days in London, where we saw several touristy things (Westminster Abbey was my favorite, but I also got to watch a debate in the House of Lords- that was pretty cool too), I had fish and chips three times (because everything else looked kind of gross), and I learned that treacle tart is one of the most delicious autumn desserts on the planet. And we went to see Wicked, which was AMAZING. Also, the hostel we stayed in was rather sketch. The beds were all attached to each other, and bunked, so it was like 16 people were sleeping on 2 huge bunk beds. The first thing I thought when I walked in the first night was “oh my God, it’s like a prison camp!!!” Luckily, the other people in our room were very cool and easy to talk to and not strange at all. However, the second night we were there, we were watching The Ring in the den with some of the other people in the hostel when all of a sudden we heard this bloodcurdling scream, dishes smashing, etc. Apparently there was this girl in the kitchen that was just going absolutely mental. We hear a lot more screaming, then she walks out into the den where we were, and started screaming at us. It was a fun hostel.
After London, we headed off to Norwich, where the Dickinson in England program is Located, and I got to spend three days with tons of wonderful people. When we first got into Norwich our friends introduced us to pasties (the pie type things. Get your head out of the gutter) and they were delicious. Later that night, they took us to some pubs around Norwich, and then, on our way back to the University, on the bus these EXTREMELY drunk girls sat by us. They were being rather loud and obnoxious, but hilarious, so I couldn’t help a giggle or two. But after a couple minutes they looked over at me. Now I happened to be wearing my yellow and black striped polo shirt. Well one of the girls looks at me and yells “YOU LOOK LIKE A BUMBLEBEE!!” Chanting ensues: “Bumblebee Boy! Bumblebee Boy! Bumblebee Boy!!” One of them says “Can I take a picture with you, Bumblebee Boy?” A bit confused and rather frazzled, I consent. All of a sudden, she stands up and sits on my lap, and says to the other one “Get the camera out!” Well the other one starts looking in her bag for the camera, when she says “I can’t really find it.” Then she looks at me and says “You just enjoy that for a second” (the girl on my lap). After like 5 minutes she finds the camera, then the girl on my lap kisses me and takes the picture. Well then, a few minutes later they look over again, as they are drinking their drinks, and say “We are very drunk, and you guys are not nearly drunk enough. HERE.” And they force their drinks onto us. I say, very hesitantly, “Um, what’s in it?” And one of the girls says “It’s just vodka and cranberry juice. What? It’s not there’s a roofie in it! I’m not trying to date rape you or something!” More chanting ensues- “DATE RAPE! DATE RAPE! DATE RAPE! DATE RAPE!!!” Luckily it was our stop. The sober girls that were with them, as we are getting off, look at us and just say “We are so sorry…” The whole situation was just hilarious.
When we got back from England, immediately the next day we got up bright and early to take a Dickinson trip. A first class train ride to Paris with 20 students… needless to say it was a fun time. I also have to say, although I don’t have any funny stories from Paris, Paris was WAYYYYYYYYYY better than London. The first night, we went to the National Opera to see a ballet. Well the opera itself was one of the most amazing pieces of architecture. Then the next day we went to the Louvre, which, fun fact: if you were to stop at every piece in the Louvre for 3 seconds, it would take you a constant 3 months to see the whole museum. That’s ridiculous. But the Louvre was amazing, and yes, I did get to see the Mona Lisa. Then a few friends and I went to l’Arc de Triomphe, and up to the top. Then the Eiffel Tower (although we didn’t get to go up.) I won’t keep going, since we visited so many places, but my favorite place was easily Versailles. Not even the palace itself (although that was amazing), but the Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon, and the Hameau de la Reine (these little farmhouses with streams all over everywhere. It was pretty much what I imagine as heaven).
OK so back in Toulouse, and I can’t think of anything special that’s really happened since, sooooo sorry for the delay and long post!!!
And PS, about my last post, I am COMPLETELY over my culture shock and can’t wait to stay the rest of the year!!!!!!
Monday, October 12, 2009
In a rut
Well, I said in the beginning that I would try and update people about my journey through culture shock: well, they did tell me it was going to happen, so at least I was prepared for it.
I have, in the past couple weeks, entered the second stage of culture shock, what we call in French le réfus - it is basically the I-hate-everything-about-this phase. For me, it started when I started classes. I hate my classes. They are all lectures, for 3 hours. There is NO student-professor interaction. This is absolutely brain-numbing, and I hate it. It is exactly the style of class I tried to avoid when I decided to go to Dickinson. Then, to top it off, they are in French. I really feel like my French has not improved at all since I've been here - I mean, I get French during classes, eating dinner with my host family, and around the Dickinson Center, but other than that it's all English. When I'm with my Dickinson friends, we always speak English, even though it is so bad for us. I hate that this is our fourth week of classes and I haven't really made any French friends yet. I hate living so far away from everyone else and the centre-ville, even though my house is gorgeous. My host family is really nice, but I hate how I still feel awkward around them, and I only ever talk to them at dinner. I hate how no one in France cleans up after their dog and I always step in dog poop whenever I walk ANYWHERE. I hate how the French seem to stare at everything more than Americans seem to. I hate that even if I try to speak French, people can still hear that I'm American and automatically try to speak in English or make some snide remark about Americans. Here come some funny ones (at least it's good that I can look on the bright side and see the hilarity of my situation) : I hate shutters. Not the nice decorative ones that we have in the States. No, those are good. I mean real shutters. They are such a nuisance and I never want to close them ever because why would I want to close shutters? Then you get no light in. I hate the roofs here, they are soooooo ugly. You know, the little red half-circles that overlap each other. Disgusting. I want normal American roofs. And believe it or not, I hate not living on campus. I hate not being able to see at least one of my friends all the time. I hate being away from all of my friends. I hate being away from Dickinson in general. I hate that no one drinks water here (it's true, no one EVER drinks water. I don't know how they do it). I hate a lot of things right now, but I know that it will get better. I really think that once I start to make French friends, I will get past le réfus.
So at this point, as I've told a few people, I'm seriously debating whether or not I want to stay here for a full year. A year is a long time, especially since I do have a lot of friends who are seniors and who are going to be graduating this year. Everything is just hard right now. I'm having a good experience, I know, and I am having fun, but everything is just hard.
I have, in the past couple weeks, entered the second stage of culture shock, what we call in French le réfus - it is basically the I-hate-everything-about-this phase. For me, it started when I started classes. I hate my classes. They are all lectures, for 3 hours. There is NO student-professor interaction. This is absolutely brain-numbing, and I hate it. It is exactly the style of class I tried to avoid when I decided to go to Dickinson. Then, to top it off, they are in French. I really feel like my French has not improved at all since I've been here - I mean, I get French during classes, eating dinner with my host family, and around the Dickinson Center, but other than that it's all English. When I'm with my Dickinson friends, we always speak English, even though it is so bad for us. I hate that this is our fourth week of classes and I haven't really made any French friends yet. I hate living so far away from everyone else and the centre-ville, even though my house is gorgeous. My host family is really nice, but I hate how I still feel awkward around them, and I only ever talk to them at dinner. I hate how no one in France cleans up after their dog and I always step in dog poop whenever I walk ANYWHERE. I hate how the French seem to stare at everything more than Americans seem to. I hate that even if I try to speak French, people can still hear that I'm American and automatically try to speak in English or make some snide remark about Americans. Here come some funny ones (at least it's good that I can look on the bright side and see the hilarity of my situation) : I hate shutters. Not the nice decorative ones that we have in the States. No, those are good. I mean real shutters. They are such a nuisance and I never want to close them ever because why would I want to close shutters? Then you get no light in. I hate the roofs here, they are soooooo ugly. You know, the little red half-circles that overlap each other. Disgusting. I want normal American roofs. And believe it or not, I hate not living on campus. I hate not being able to see at least one of my friends all the time. I hate being away from all of my friends. I hate being away from Dickinson in general. I hate that no one drinks water here (it's true, no one EVER drinks water. I don't know how they do it). I hate a lot of things right now, but I know that it will get better. I really think that once I start to make French friends, I will get past le réfus.
So at this point, as I've told a few people, I'm seriously debating whether or not I want to stay here for a full year. A year is a long time, especially since I do have a lot of friends who are seniors and who are going to be graduating this year. Everything is just hard right now. I'm having a good experience, I know, and I am having fun, but everything is just hard.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Things
So clearly it's been a while since I posted, since my sendoff last time was "I'm off to the Mediterranean." That was about 4 weeks ago. Well, the Mediterranean was amazing: we found these cabins in this little city called Cap d'Agde that were so cheap and we found train tickets for so cheap, so it was a fun weekend. It was me and 11 LADIES. That's right. Be jealous.
Anyways, I got my fix of the beach - I literally stayed in the waves bodysurfing for 3 HOURS. We got there and all the girls were complaining, "It's too cold!!!!" And I was just like, oh my god, whatever, and jumped in. Good times!!!!
The weekend after, we went on a Dickinson trip to Conques and Cordes-Sur-Ciel. Conques is a medieval city a couple of hours from Toulouse, with this huge 12th century abbey, and mountains all around that we hiked to get a good view of the little village. And the birds around the Church, oh my God (no pun intended), I have never seen so many birds in my whole life! There had to have been thousands. Amazingly none of us were the butt of any of their "accidents", if you know what I mean. Then, we went to Cordes-sur-ciel. From what I gathered, Cordes-sur-ciel is just this place with one soul purpose: to eat people's souls as they trudge up the MOUNTAIN just to get to the village. I'm not kidding. And the Dickinson staff didn't even warn us. We have hiked our fair share well being here, but that little cobblestone pathway up to the hotel made me want to die. I mean seriously, if someone slipped they would have rolled all the way down the road, probably going about 30 mph by the time they got to the bottom. I'm not kidding. it had to be a 60 degree incline. Ridiculous.
That said, Cordes-sur-ciel was fun... We had this amazing gourmet dinner at the hotel, where we ate what I think was pigeon (I have given up the rule that says I have to know what I'm eating : it's more fun that way, ADVENTURE). Pigeon Pie. Whatever it was, it was delicious. And during dinner I was sitting with Mme Toux, the director of the Program, who apparently had not heard the Grand Teton story yet. I told her, and she starts laughing as hard as I've ever heard her laugh, and for so long.
*Speaking of the Grand Teton story, as a side note, here is another fun little story. My host family's cousin came for dinner one night a couple weeks ago, and I start to introduce myself, when my host father goes "NO! This is GRAND TETON!!!!" I'm never going to live it down...
Anyways, on our way back to Toulouse from Cordes-sur-ciel, we stopped at Chateau Lastours, a vineyard, for a winetasting. I can not even describe to you how utterly delicious it smelled around the big vats of wine - I can still smell it, even now. We tasted 5 wines, and they were so delicious, I was prepared to buy about 20 bottles, right there on the spot, to take home for Christmas, because at this point I can not think of a better Christmas present. UNFORTUNATELY you can't ship alcohol to the US apparently, unless you have a business permit or something, and you can only bring 2 BOTTLES in your luggage on the plain. So sorry everyone in America, you will not be tasting some of the most delicious wine on Earth, and you have the God-damned liberal laws and taxes to thank for it. Just kidding. Kind of.
*Speaking of God-damned liberals, what is up with the Nobel Peace Prize committee lately? Jeez.
But I digress. I actually have another cultural experience to share with you all, and this one is a bit difficult, completely changing the way I think of some Americans.
I am going to use a specific example. Yesterday, some of my friends and I were in the grocery store looking for food to cook for dinner. One of my friend's friends was visiting her, who does not speak French, so clearly we were speaking in English. This group of hotshot jerkfaces walks by, and upon hearing us speaking English, proceed to yell at us about being American and expecting everyone else to speak English to us just because we are the arrogant Americans. Last night, we were nothing short of ridiculed just for being Americans, and that was not the first time. There are several people with hostility out there towards Americans and seeing some of the American tourists I have, it's not hard to see why. There are some Americans who DO think that the rest of the world should cater to them, and when I see it here, it is very embarassing. It would be easy to say that it is just the rude, arrogant French who ridicule us, but since I've been here I have noticed that we can take some of the blame. The problem is, even when we speak in French, the people here just speak in English back to us, thinking it will be easier for us because they can obviously hear our accents. It is very discouraging, though, to be ridiculed like that when we are in another country, trying to learn a new language and a new culture.
So what have I learned from that, already in 6 weeks? Patience. I think back on the people in America who have no tolerance for the foreign people who are in the country, trying there hardest to learn English (often because they know they want to live in America, because of the American dream we dangle in front of them), yet there are those who are up on their high horse looking down on them just because they don't speak English perfectly, just because they can hear an accent. It's not fair. I studied French for 9 years before coming to France, and I still have a thick American accent, and can not speak fluently, so what do you expect those in America to do? You can't learn a language until you live in it. It's not fair to be impatient with someone when they have the courage and the drive to learn a new language, especially if it's not something you've ever had to go through. Because it is one of the worst feelings I have ever had in my life.
Sorry for the downer, but have a great week, and I will try to update more often!
Anyways, I got my fix of the beach - I literally stayed in the waves bodysurfing for 3 HOURS. We got there and all the girls were complaining, "It's too cold!!!!" And I was just like, oh my god, whatever, and jumped in. Good times!!!!
The weekend after, we went on a Dickinson trip to Conques and Cordes-Sur-Ciel. Conques is a medieval city a couple of hours from Toulouse, with this huge 12th century abbey, and mountains all around that we hiked to get a good view of the little village. And the birds around the Church, oh my God (no pun intended), I have never seen so many birds in my whole life! There had to have been thousands. Amazingly none of us were the butt of any of their "accidents", if you know what I mean. Then, we went to Cordes-sur-ciel. From what I gathered, Cordes-sur-ciel is just this place with one soul purpose: to eat people's souls as they trudge up the MOUNTAIN just to get to the village. I'm not kidding. And the Dickinson staff didn't even warn us. We have hiked our fair share well being here, but that little cobblestone pathway up to the hotel made me want to die. I mean seriously, if someone slipped they would have rolled all the way down the road, probably going about 30 mph by the time they got to the bottom. I'm not kidding. it had to be a 60 degree incline. Ridiculous.
That said, Cordes-sur-ciel was fun... We had this amazing gourmet dinner at the hotel, where we ate what I think was pigeon (I have given up the rule that says I have to know what I'm eating : it's more fun that way, ADVENTURE). Pigeon Pie. Whatever it was, it was delicious. And during dinner I was sitting with Mme Toux, the director of the Program, who apparently had not heard the Grand Teton story yet. I told her, and she starts laughing as hard as I've ever heard her laugh, and for so long.
*Speaking of the Grand Teton story, as a side note, here is another fun little story. My host family's cousin came for dinner one night a couple weeks ago, and I start to introduce myself, when my host father goes "NO! This is GRAND TETON!!!!" I'm never going to live it down...
Anyways, on our way back to Toulouse from Cordes-sur-ciel, we stopped at Chateau Lastours, a vineyard, for a winetasting. I can not even describe to you how utterly delicious it smelled around the big vats of wine - I can still smell it, even now. We tasted 5 wines, and they were so delicious, I was prepared to buy about 20 bottles, right there on the spot, to take home for Christmas, because at this point I can not think of a better Christmas present. UNFORTUNATELY you can't ship alcohol to the US apparently, unless you have a business permit or something, and you can only bring 2 BOTTLES in your luggage on the plain. So sorry everyone in America, you will not be tasting some of the most delicious wine on Earth, and you have the God-damned liberal laws and taxes to thank for it. Just kidding. Kind of.
*Speaking of God-damned liberals, what is up with the Nobel Peace Prize committee lately? Jeez.
But I digress. I actually have another cultural experience to share with you all, and this one is a bit difficult, completely changing the way I think of some Americans.
I am going to use a specific example. Yesterday, some of my friends and I were in the grocery store looking for food to cook for dinner. One of my friend's friends was visiting her, who does not speak French, so clearly we were speaking in English. This group of hotshot jerkfaces walks by, and upon hearing us speaking English, proceed to yell at us about being American and expecting everyone else to speak English to us just because we are the arrogant Americans. Last night, we were nothing short of ridiculed just for being Americans, and that was not the first time. There are several people with hostility out there towards Americans and seeing some of the American tourists I have, it's not hard to see why. There are some Americans who DO think that the rest of the world should cater to them, and when I see it here, it is very embarassing. It would be easy to say that it is just the rude, arrogant French who ridicule us, but since I've been here I have noticed that we can take some of the blame. The problem is, even when we speak in French, the people here just speak in English back to us, thinking it will be easier for us because they can obviously hear our accents. It is very discouraging, though, to be ridiculed like that when we are in another country, trying to learn a new language and a new culture.
So what have I learned from that, already in 6 weeks? Patience. I think back on the people in America who have no tolerance for the foreign people who are in the country, trying there hardest to learn English (often because they know they want to live in America, because of the American dream we dangle in front of them), yet there are those who are up on their high horse looking down on them just because they don't speak English perfectly, just because they can hear an accent. It's not fair. I studied French for 9 years before coming to France, and I still have a thick American accent, and can not speak fluently, so what do you expect those in America to do? You can't learn a language until you live in it. It's not fair to be impatient with someone when they have the courage and the drive to learn a new language, especially if it's not something you've ever had to go through. Because it is one of the worst feelings I have ever had in my life.
Sorry for the downer, but have a great week, and I will try to update more often!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Sooooooooooo it's been a while since I last posted. I have a few bits of experience to share.
Those of you wondering what other crazy shenanigans I've gotten into while in Toulouse - here are a few more France 101 lessons:
Lesson 11: If you decide you want to sit on one of those little cylinder things on the side of the sidewalk that keeps cars from going onto the sidewalk, make sure it is NOT an adjustable one. About a week and a half ago, we had taken a tour of Toulouse, the Basilica, etc, and we had been walking around for about three hours, and after the tour, I just wanted to sit. So I go over to one of these divider thingies, sit down on it, and the second I do it sinks down into the ground, and there I am just lying in the streets of Toulouse. Clearly the French were amused.
Lesson 12: The French do not clean up after their dogs. And they have a lot of dogs. I have stepped in sooo much dog poop just walking along the sidewalk that I literally walk down the sidewalk now with my head towards the ground.
So last week, we went to the Pyrenees to see the Cathare fortresses. Yes, we hiked two mountains, and at the top of each was a fortress where the Cathares (a religious people, essentially the first Protestants) would hide from the Catholics. It was amazing and if I can figure out how to put them up on the blog I will try (in the meantime they are on my facebook).
We also got to see the Basilica of Saint Sernin. Saint Sernin was a martyr saint, and he was the first bishop of Toulouse. Now Toulouse is an ancient Roman city, so at the time that Saint Sernin was bishop, Christians were not well regarded, but merely tolerated. One day however, Saint Sernin was kidnapped by a group of Pagans, taken to the Capitole in Toulouse, and tied to a bull. He was dragged along the streets of Toulouse until the cord snapped just in front of the Garonne River. His body was taken by the other Christians and buried, and now a Basilica stands in his honor. The Basilica is Toulouse's most famous landmark.
Now my blog is going to get somewhat political. Considering the recent effort by the Democrats to get a universal healthcare plan, I find France somewhat of a fascinating place to be. Often, in America when the government is trying to fix something they only look at the problem and ways to fix it. But we can also foresee the consequences by putting other countries under the microscope and see what works for them - this idea is called "Laboratory of Democracy" (my high school Law & Ethics teacher, Mrs. King, is loving this right now). So one time last week, I got into a discussion with my host mother about all the student strikes in France. For example, at one of the Universities in Toulouse this year, the students were on strike from January until June. Yes, the STUDENTS were on strike. I still can't exactly wrap my mind around it. They go on strike to demand better conditions, classes, etc., etc., etc. I explain how if that were to happen in the US, the professors would just fail the students. My host family explains to me, though, that in France, higher education is completely free, and thus there are virtually no consequences when the students go on strike. In America, higher education is expensive, and thus, PEOPLE PLACE VALUE ON IT. I told her of the effort in America to universalize healthcare. She just goes on to say that as soon as we do, it will completely lose any value, and it's status in our society. She says now, people don't care about trying to limit their visits to the doctor, and how some people will get a cut, and instead of just taking care of it at home, will go to the doctor because they know it's free. They just take up the time and services of the doctors that could be used for people who need it, just because it's free. So what happens when in a universalized America, the people decide that the hospitals are not in a good enough condition? Are the people going to go on strike? Demand better conditions from the government, well still wanting to not pay more? I think it is clear, through using the principle of Laboratory of Democracy, that that is exactly what will happen. When something is a hardship, it has value. And while, yes, we might need reform in America, hopefully we will not make the mistake of universalized healthcare. It also goes back to a fundamental difference between socialist countries and capitalist countries. In America, the emphasis has always been placed on the INDIVIDUAL. In more socialist countries, for example France, the emphasis is on the COLLECTIVE. In fact, it is important in France to NOT be an individual, to not stick out from the crowd, but to just go with the flow. Another example: there is no word in French for accountability. Because of the universalist society, it is commonplace to try to place any responsibility on someone else. This is not the direction we want America to go in.
Ok there was my political rant that I haven't been able to do since I've been in France. Take from it what you will. In the meantime, I have a test this afternoon, and then I am off the Mediterranean! See you later!
Those of you wondering what other crazy shenanigans I've gotten into while in Toulouse - here are a few more France 101 lessons:
Lesson 11: If you decide you want to sit on one of those little cylinder things on the side of the sidewalk that keeps cars from going onto the sidewalk, make sure it is NOT an adjustable one. About a week and a half ago, we had taken a tour of Toulouse, the Basilica, etc, and we had been walking around for about three hours, and after the tour, I just wanted to sit. So I go over to one of these divider thingies, sit down on it, and the second I do it sinks down into the ground, and there I am just lying in the streets of Toulouse. Clearly the French were amused.
Lesson 12: The French do not clean up after their dogs. And they have a lot of dogs. I have stepped in sooo much dog poop just walking along the sidewalk that I literally walk down the sidewalk now with my head towards the ground.
So last week, we went to the Pyrenees to see the Cathare fortresses. Yes, we hiked two mountains, and at the top of each was a fortress where the Cathares (a religious people, essentially the first Protestants) would hide from the Catholics. It was amazing and if I can figure out how to put them up on the blog I will try (in the meantime they are on my facebook).
We also got to see the Basilica of Saint Sernin. Saint Sernin was a martyr saint, and he was the first bishop of Toulouse. Now Toulouse is an ancient Roman city, so at the time that Saint Sernin was bishop, Christians were not well regarded, but merely tolerated. One day however, Saint Sernin was kidnapped by a group of Pagans, taken to the Capitole in Toulouse, and tied to a bull. He was dragged along the streets of Toulouse until the cord snapped just in front of the Garonne River. His body was taken by the other Christians and buried, and now a Basilica stands in his honor. The Basilica is Toulouse's most famous landmark.
Now my blog is going to get somewhat political. Considering the recent effort by the Democrats to get a universal healthcare plan, I find France somewhat of a fascinating place to be. Often, in America when the government is trying to fix something they only look at the problem and ways to fix it. But we can also foresee the consequences by putting other countries under the microscope and see what works for them - this idea is called "Laboratory of Democracy" (my high school Law & Ethics teacher, Mrs. King, is loving this right now). So one time last week, I got into a discussion with my host mother about all the student strikes in France. For example, at one of the Universities in Toulouse this year, the students were on strike from January until June. Yes, the STUDENTS were on strike. I still can't exactly wrap my mind around it. They go on strike to demand better conditions, classes, etc., etc., etc. I explain how if that were to happen in the US, the professors would just fail the students. My host family explains to me, though, that in France, higher education is completely free, and thus there are virtually no consequences when the students go on strike. In America, higher education is expensive, and thus, PEOPLE PLACE VALUE ON IT. I told her of the effort in America to universalize healthcare. She just goes on to say that as soon as we do, it will completely lose any value, and it's status in our society. She says now, people don't care about trying to limit their visits to the doctor, and how some people will get a cut, and instead of just taking care of it at home, will go to the doctor because they know it's free. They just take up the time and services of the doctors that could be used for people who need it, just because it's free. So what happens when in a universalized America, the people decide that the hospitals are not in a good enough condition? Are the people going to go on strike? Demand better conditions from the government, well still wanting to not pay more? I think it is clear, through using the principle of Laboratory of Democracy, that that is exactly what will happen. When something is a hardship, it has value. And while, yes, we might need reform in America, hopefully we will not make the mistake of universalized healthcare. It also goes back to a fundamental difference between socialist countries and capitalist countries. In America, the emphasis has always been placed on the INDIVIDUAL. In more socialist countries, for example France, the emphasis is on the COLLECTIVE. In fact, it is important in France to NOT be an individual, to not stick out from the crowd, but to just go with the flow. Another example: there is no word in French for accountability. Because of the universalist society, it is commonplace to try to place any responsibility on someone else. This is not the direction we want America to go in.
Ok there was my political rant that I haven't been able to do since I've been in France. Take from it what you will. In the meantime, I have a test this afternoon, and then I am off the Mediterranean! See you later!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
France 101: Lessons in making a fool of yourself in a foreign country.
I finally have internet! You just wait until you hear about our wonderful experiences this week.
So my friend, Catherine and I, flew to London from Boston on Friday morning. We got to London at about 8:00, where we had a 12 HOUR LAYOVER. We pretty much read and played cards all night. We actually met these kids from Toulouse at the airport who were coming from New York, whom we played cards with. It was fun.
So I'm not going to lie, I got to Toulouse and I was pretty depressed. Probably had something to do with the combination of not having slept for 40 hours, being in a foreign country, living with people I didn't know, etc. It was not a fun weekend. I did go to my host mother's parents house in the country, where I met all the family. My friend, Tanya, from Dickinson, is actually staying with her brother's family.
Then, on Monday, Dickinson in France started, I started to love Toulouse, and I was no longer extremely depressed and homesick. Now, just slightly homesick, but I can't wait for this semester to get going. I have already tackled many new things, including a metro and bus system (coming from a tiny town in Maine, not exactly something I was comfortable with at first). I can get by easily around town, although sometimes the people here do talk very fast. I am a little worried about understanding professors, since I start real French classes next Wednesday - two weeks sooner than everyone else. I am doing this program at the Political Science Institute especially for international students, and thus, we start next week.
As much as I have tackled, I have also learned many new things. Kids, when your parents tell you you should learn by making your own mistakes, they are telling you evil and cruel things. If I were someone that gets embarassed easily, I don't think I would have made it past this week. So in keeping with the spirit of this blog, here are the cultural faux pas's that I have committed this week, cultural things I have learned, and some things that actually won't surprise anyone, since it was just me being me, the Jarrod Bouchard you all know and love dearly. So here are this week's lessons:
France 101: Things to do and not to do (mostly not to do) while in a foreign country.
Lesson 1: If you are driving in a car, you must honk at every car that passes, whether they are terrible at driving or not.
Lesson 2: Everyone drives like a madman, thus see lesson 1.
Lesson 3: Yell and swear at every pedestrian and driver you go by, just in case they didn't get the picture.
As you can probably tell, from my observations I have concluded that the French drive much more aggressively than in America. Everyone accelerates as fast as they can, no one stops for pedestrians, they don't look when they pull out of the curb, etc. I am happy I will never have to drive here.
Lesson 4: It is perfectly acceptable to walk down the street, not on the sidewalk, but literally in the street. Just move if a car comes. So you move a lot. It is a city, after all.
Now we get in to my lovely adventures around town. You might want to go to the bathroom first, cuz now it even makes me laugh hysterically.
Lesson 5: Always wear slippers around the house. It is rude to walk around the house in stocking or bare feet.
Lesson 6: Make sure you know how the key to your house works. No, this isn't the funny part yet. The keys do not work the same way as in the United States. IT is weird, you have to turn it just the right way, click your heels three times, and then pray. Then it might open.
Lesson 7: Although it is important to wear slippers in the house, it is just as important not to wear them around in the city. So the other night, I am leaving my house to go have dinner with some friends. I leave my house, get about 5 feet down the road, when I realize I still have my slippers on. I go back to the house, and I can not get my key to work. Well, I was late for meeting my friends, so I decided, oh well, my slippers look kinda normal, they'll do. That's right. I went into the middle of the city with my slippers on.
Lesson 8: If you happen to be wearing slippers around the middle of a city, and you are planning to go out to eat, do not choose a fine Italian restaurant. Both on the metro to and at the restaurant, I was the subjct of many stares, even a finger point or two. Yes, it was my night.
Lesson 9: If you happen to be in a fine Italian restaurant in the middle of a city wearing slippers, when they ask you what you would like to drink, then run down through the list of cocktails and wines, do not proceed to order pineapple juice. Again, anyone who knows me extremely ell knows that pineapple juice is one of my favorite things. I was having a bad night. I wanted pineapple juice. More staring. Some weird looks from the waitress.
Lesson 10: NEVER WEAR A T-SHIRT THAT HAPPENS TO BE FROM THE GRAND TETONS. Don't even think about wearing anything that came from Grand Teton National Park. Would anyone like to learn a little French? In French, Grand means big. Teton means boob. I have a t-shirt from Grand Teton National Park that my cousin bought for Christmas one year. I like the shirt. Yesterday, I wore it in to town, not knowing that I was wandering around with a shirt that in huge letters says BIG BOOB all over it. I was on the subway, had many odd glances in my direction. I get to the Dickinson Center in the morning. One of my friends happens to have been a guide in the Grand Tetons this summer. She looks at me, starts laughing, and says "Bouche, you know Grand Teton means 'Big Boob' in French, right?" PS, this is the day after my escapades with the slippers and pineapple juice in Italian restaurants. So I am shocked, embarassed, laughing hysterically. I just decided to get through the day, go home, and change immediately. I got through the day. I went home. I forgot to change immediately. I happened to be having dinner with my host family last night. We are about halfway through the meal, when my host father looks at my shirt, squints his eyes, starts laughing, and then my host brother does, as does my host mother. I do too, because at that point, whatever. I explain to them that it is a mountain in the United States, but at that point, there is no getting out of it. The rest of dinner, we would randomly crack up. "What would you like for dessert, Jarrod? Yogurt? Grapes? ... A Grand Teton?"
I love my life.
Au revoir!
So my friend, Catherine and I, flew to London from Boston on Friday morning. We got to London at about 8:00, where we had a 12 HOUR LAYOVER. We pretty much read and played cards all night. We actually met these kids from Toulouse at the airport who were coming from New York, whom we played cards with. It was fun.
So I'm not going to lie, I got to Toulouse and I was pretty depressed. Probably had something to do with the combination of not having slept for 40 hours, being in a foreign country, living with people I didn't know, etc. It was not a fun weekend. I did go to my host mother's parents house in the country, where I met all the family. My friend, Tanya, from Dickinson, is actually staying with her brother's family.
Then, on Monday, Dickinson in France started, I started to love Toulouse, and I was no longer extremely depressed and homesick. Now, just slightly homesick, but I can't wait for this semester to get going. I have already tackled many new things, including a metro and bus system (coming from a tiny town in Maine, not exactly something I was comfortable with at first). I can get by easily around town, although sometimes the people here do talk very fast. I am a little worried about understanding professors, since I start real French classes next Wednesday - two weeks sooner than everyone else. I am doing this program at the Political Science Institute especially for international students, and thus, we start next week.
As much as I have tackled, I have also learned many new things. Kids, when your parents tell you you should learn by making your own mistakes, they are telling you evil and cruel things. If I were someone that gets embarassed easily, I don't think I would have made it past this week. So in keeping with the spirit of this blog, here are the cultural faux pas's that I have committed this week, cultural things I have learned, and some things that actually won't surprise anyone, since it was just me being me, the Jarrod Bouchard you all know and love dearly. So here are this week's lessons:
France 101: Things to do and not to do (mostly not to do) while in a foreign country.
Lesson 1: If you are driving in a car, you must honk at every car that passes, whether they are terrible at driving or not.
Lesson 2: Everyone drives like a madman, thus see lesson 1.
Lesson 3: Yell and swear at every pedestrian and driver you go by, just in case they didn't get the picture.
As you can probably tell, from my observations I have concluded that the French drive much more aggressively than in America. Everyone accelerates as fast as they can, no one stops for pedestrians, they don't look when they pull out of the curb, etc. I am happy I will never have to drive here.
Lesson 4: It is perfectly acceptable to walk down the street, not on the sidewalk, but literally in the street. Just move if a car comes. So you move a lot. It is a city, after all.
Now we get in to my lovely adventures around town. You might want to go to the bathroom first, cuz now it even makes me laugh hysterically.
Lesson 5: Always wear slippers around the house. It is rude to walk around the house in stocking or bare feet.
Lesson 6: Make sure you know how the key to your house works. No, this isn't the funny part yet. The keys do not work the same way as in the United States. IT is weird, you have to turn it just the right way, click your heels three times, and then pray. Then it might open.
Lesson 7: Although it is important to wear slippers in the house, it is just as important not to wear them around in the city. So the other night, I am leaving my house to go have dinner with some friends. I leave my house, get about 5 feet down the road, when I realize I still have my slippers on. I go back to the house, and I can not get my key to work. Well, I was late for meeting my friends, so I decided, oh well, my slippers look kinda normal, they'll do. That's right. I went into the middle of the city with my slippers on.
Lesson 8: If you happen to be wearing slippers around the middle of a city, and you are planning to go out to eat, do not choose a fine Italian restaurant. Both on the metro to and at the restaurant, I was the subjct of many stares, even a finger point or two. Yes, it was my night.
Lesson 9: If you happen to be in a fine Italian restaurant in the middle of a city wearing slippers, when they ask you what you would like to drink, then run down through the list of cocktails and wines, do not proceed to order pineapple juice. Again, anyone who knows me extremely ell knows that pineapple juice is one of my favorite things. I was having a bad night. I wanted pineapple juice. More staring. Some weird looks from the waitress.
Lesson 10: NEVER WEAR A T-SHIRT THAT HAPPENS TO BE FROM THE GRAND TETONS. Don't even think about wearing anything that came from Grand Teton National Park. Would anyone like to learn a little French? In French, Grand means big. Teton means boob. I have a t-shirt from Grand Teton National Park that my cousin bought for Christmas one year. I like the shirt. Yesterday, I wore it in to town, not knowing that I was wandering around with a shirt that in huge letters says BIG BOOB all over it. I was on the subway, had many odd glances in my direction. I get to the Dickinson Center in the morning. One of my friends happens to have been a guide in the Grand Tetons this summer. She looks at me, starts laughing, and says "Bouche, you know Grand Teton means 'Big Boob' in French, right?" PS, this is the day after my escapades with the slippers and pineapple juice in Italian restaurants. So I am shocked, embarassed, laughing hysterically. I just decided to get through the day, go home, and change immediately. I got through the day. I went home. I forgot to change immediately. I happened to be having dinner with my host family last night. We are about halfway through the meal, when my host father looks at my shirt, squints his eyes, starts laughing, and then my host brother does, as does my host mother. I do too, because at that point, whatever. I explain to them that it is a mountain in the United States, but at that point, there is no getting out of it. The rest of dinner, we would randomly crack up. "What would you like for dessert, Jarrod? Yogurt? Grapes? ... A Grand Teton?"
I love my life.
Au revoir!
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