Friday, September 30, 2011
Le Pain Quotidien
Yesterday I bought a baguette so good it made every frustration and hardship of the last week worth it. It was flour-dusted, hand-made perfection, and a great reminder that it's important to savor the little things. Then, I spent 14 euros on a fash wash whose main ingredient is water - which I'm pretty sure is free. Oh, well. Ups and downs, I guess.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
I swear I'm happy to be here...
...but yesterday really threw me for a loop. In honor of my first few days in my apartment:
Things My Apartment Does Not Have
- A working internet connection
- A working television
- An oven or a microwave
-A comfortable bed
- A couch
- Ice cube trays
- A shower curtain
- A bathmat
- Any rugs or carpeting, so that when I sneeze it echoes a little
Things My Apartment Does Have
- An internet box that is, as of yet, useless
- A television that is, as of yet, useless
- A two burner stovetop, a toaster, a small fridge
- A mop, a broom, a few sponges
- Three beds
- Six or seven folding chairs
- A bicycle
- A shower and bath
- A bidet
- Inexplicably, above the stovetop, a magazine cutout of a bunny's head
- Also inexplicably, a bag of rocks
- EXTREMELY inexplicably, a picture of fish and flowers that spell out the name Raul
- Blinds that are in fact OUTSIDE the windows, and which have a crank for opening and closing
- These blinds are actually just large metal sheets with a fez holes punctured in them
- Ample closet space
- A few pieces of furniture reminiscent of what you might expect to find in the bedroom at an orphanage
I shit you not. I couldn't make this up if I tried. Just after I moved in and saw all this, a Taylor Swift song came on my iTunes and made me cry, which I think serves as an indicator of how I was feeling. Later, though, I cried from laughing so hard while telling my family all the strqnge little details, because what else can you do? A BUNNY HEAD is the only decoration in this apartment, save for the dust and the sign spelling out the name Raul. Eventually I'll post pictures, but since I have no internet I'm currently using the faculty computer lab at the lycée. Not sure they'd take too kindly to me sitting here, uploading photos of the apart,ent they graciously provided for my use. In any case, I'm trying to get Wifi sorted out in the apartment, and then I'll upload all sorts of pictures.
Things My Apartment Does Not Have
- A working internet connection
- A working television
- An oven or a microwave
-A comfortable bed
- A couch
- Ice cube trays
- A shower curtain
- A bathmat
- Any rugs or carpeting, so that when I sneeze it echoes a little
Things My Apartment Does Have
- An internet box that is, as of yet, useless
- A television that is, as of yet, useless
- A two burner stovetop, a toaster, a small fridge
- A mop, a broom, a few sponges
- Three beds
- Six or seven folding chairs
- A bicycle
- A shower and bath
- A bidet
- Inexplicably, above the stovetop, a magazine cutout of a bunny's head
- Also inexplicably, a bag of rocks
- EXTREMELY inexplicably, a picture of fish and flowers that spell out the name Raul
- Blinds that are in fact OUTSIDE the windows, and which have a crank for opening and closing
- These blinds are actually just large metal sheets with a fez holes punctured in them
- Ample closet space
- A few pieces of furniture reminiscent of what you might expect to find in the bedroom at an orphanage
I shit you not. I couldn't make this up if I tried. Just after I moved in and saw all this, a Taylor Swift song came on my iTunes and made me cry, which I think serves as an indicator of how I was feeling. Later, though, I cried from laughing so hard while telling my family all the strqnge little details, because what else can you do? A BUNNY HEAD is the only decoration in this apartment, save for the dust and the sign spelling out the name Raul. Eventually I'll post pictures, but since I have no internet I'm currently using the faculty computer lab at the lycée. Not sure they'd take too kindly to me sitting here, uploading photos of the apart,ent they graciously provided for my use. In any case, I'm trying to get Wifi sorted out in the apartment, and then I'll upload all sorts of pictures.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
La Vie Blayaise: A Few First Impressions
I arrived here in Blaye yesterday, and it is absolutely beautiful here. I'll post photos as soon as I take some, but in the meantime here's a link to a site about the citadelle, which is stunning: http://www.cheminsdememoire.gouv.fr/page/affichelieu.php?idLang=en&idLieu=521
Tomorrow I am moving into my apartment across the street from the high school, but for this weekend I'm staying with one of the English teachers and his family. They've done their best to make me feel at home, and it's excellent to be around a family with kids and pets and excitement all around. Yesterday we went for a walk around Blaye, which is tiny so it didn't take long. Everyone here knows each other. Everyone stops to say hello and chat. It's a very friendly place, which definitely helps when adjusting to being somewhere new.
So far, Blaye seems lovely but it's clear that there isn't much going on. There are no other teaching assistants here, so in terms of that I am alone. This week I'm gong into Bordeaux to meet up with some of the assistants there, and perhaps in the coming weeks I will decide to look for a place to stay in the city. I'm not sure what I will choose, because I can see pretty clear advantages to either. Here in Blaye, life would be quiet but peaceful and relaxed (not to mention cheaper). In Bordeaux, I would have more options for meeting people and going out. We'll see what the future holds...
Tomorrow I am moving into my apartment across the street from the high school, but for this weekend I'm staying with one of the English teachers and his family. They've done their best to make me feel at home, and it's excellent to be around a family with kids and pets and excitement all around. Yesterday we went for a walk around Blaye, which is tiny so it didn't take long. Everyone here knows each other. Everyone stops to say hello and chat. It's a very friendly place, which definitely helps when adjusting to being somewhere new.
So far, Blaye seems lovely but it's clear that there isn't much going on. There are no other teaching assistants here, so in terms of that I am alone. This week I'm gong into Bordeaux to meet up with some of the assistants there, and perhaps in the coming weeks I will decide to look for a place to stay in the city. I'm not sure what I will choose, because I can see pretty clear advantages to either. Here in Blaye, life would be quiet but peaceful and relaxed (not to mention cheaper). In Bordeaux, I would have more options for meeting people and going out. We'll see what the future holds...
Friday, September 23, 2011
A Year in Rural France?
I grew up in a small town, but what I really love is a great big city. I love cities. My small town is only an hour away from New York, which, you know. Good city. I spent three of my college years in Washington, DC, one of the only places I have ever loved as much as my own home. I studied for one semester as an exchange student in Paris, one of the most beautiful cities I've ever been lucky enough to know. I have visited and subsequently fallen in love with many other cities, too: Barcelona, Istanbul, Montreal, Rome, and others. I am in Bordeaux for the evening, and as I explained in my last post, I am already falling in love with it. The tram here, in particular, is fantastic. I have a passionate and inexplicable love for public transportation. In any case, I am a city girl at heart.
Here's the thing, though: tomorrow I am moving to Blaye, France, population 5000. Definitely not a city. And yet, I'm excited. Thrilled, even. Maybe I'll end up moving to Bordeaux and commuting to work in Blaye, but I'm excited even for the chance to get to know a little pocket of France that even many French people have never heard of.
More to come!
Here's the thing, though: tomorrow I am moving to Blaye, France, population 5000. Definitely not a city. And yet, I'm excited. Thrilled, even. Maybe I'll end up moving to Bordeaux and commuting to work in Blaye, but I'm excited even for the chance to get to know a little pocket of France that even many French people have never heard of.
More to come!
Let's Consider Today a Success...
...because I am in the right city, in the right country, and nothing so far has gone terribly wrong. If you remember the last time I came to this country (France, two years ago) you may also remember that my first day was the opposite of a success. On that first day, I had no place to live and my luggage had been lost and my bank account had been frozen. Today, luckily, involved none of those traumas. However, it was not a day without adventure.
Today started with what is now yesterday, at JFK airport in New York. After waiting on line behind 134120398 people at various AirFrance kiosks, and then behind 130972817 more to get through security, I made it to my gate just as my flight was boarding. As I walked past First Class on my way to the very back of the plane, I noticed the bed-like seats and lots of calm, happy faces. People flying First Class have it made. Meanwhile, in Economy, I was seated next to an aggressive armchair hog who smelled as if she had spilled her perfume on herself rather than spritzing it. I spent the first few hours of the flight watching movies (Bridesmaids, and some weird French movie with an ambiguous ending) and eating airplane food ("Mustard Chicken"?!) Eventually I swaddled myself in an AirFrance blanket, took a deep breath of heavily-perfumed, recirculated air, and tried to get some sleep. No dice. Not a wink. At about the same time I would have been going to bed in New York, I was "waking up" in Paris. And I had another flight to catch. Ouch.
This is where my day went through a "barely successful and potentially horrific" phase. AirFrance told me on several occasions (because I asked many times) that I would not have to go through customs in Paris, but would instead do so upon my arrival at the Bordeaux airport. I was relieved, since our first flight came in late, leaving me only 40 minutes to get to my connecting gate across the airport. Unfortunately, AirFrance's claim that I wouldn't have to go through customs or security before my connecting flight was a work of pure fiction. I ran through the airport, following signs for my gate. These signs brought me to the customs line, which I was told I would have to wait on in order to get to my connecting flight. Then I found myself on a line to get through security. This was all going down AS MY FLIGHT WAS BOARDING. Naturally, I was selected for a "random search" at security, adding extra time and panic to my trek to the right gate. I made it, panting and sweating and ready to cry tears of pure exhaustion, just as they were announcing "Last call for boarding."
I made it to Bordeaux by 9am and had arrived at my hotel by 10. I couldn't check in until 3, though, so I left my luggage and set out to explore the city. I bought the essentials while I was out (cell phone, hair dryer and straightener) and spent most of my 5 free hours people-watching and counting down until nap time. I sat at a cafe, and on a bench, and on the steps of the Grand Theatre. I figured out the tram system. I walked down streets with no plans or directions. I had a map but didn't use it. I wandered. I didn't mind being alone or not knowing exactly where I was. I saw some of Bordeaux and I began to fall in love with it. I am happy and excited to be here, feelings which I imagine will only grow stronger once I actually get some rest. All in all, a successful and promising first day.
Today started with what is now yesterday, at JFK airport in New York. After waiting on line behind 134120398 people at various AirFrance kiosks, and then behind 130972817 more to get through security, I made it to my gate just as my flight was boarding. As I walked past First Class on my way to the very back of the plane, I noticed the bed-like seats and lots of calm, happy faces. People flying First Class have it made. Meanwhile, in Economy, I was seated next to an aggressive armchair hog who smelled as if she had spilled her perfume on herself rather than spritzing it. I spent the first few hours of the flight watching movies (Bridesmaids, and some weird French movie with an ambiguous ending) and eating airplane food ("Mustard Chicken"?!) Eventually I swaddled myself in an AirFrance blanket, took a deep breath of heavily-perfumed, recirculated air, and tried to get some sleep. No dice. Not a wink. At about the same time I would have been going to bed in New York, I was "waking up" in Paris. And I had another flight to catch. Ouch.
This is where my day went through a "barely successful and potentially horrific" phase. AirFrance told me on several occasions (because I asked many times) that I would not have to go through customs in Paris, but would instead do so upon my arrival at the Bordeaux airport. I was relieved, since our first flight came in late, leaving me only 40 minutes to get to my connecting gate across the airport. Unfortunately, AirFrance's claim that I wouldn't have to go through customs or security before my connecting flight was a work of pure fiction. I ran through the airport, following signs for my gate. These signs brought me to the customs line, which I was told I would have to wait on in order to get to my connecting flight. Then I found myself on a line to get through security. This was all going down AS MY FLIGHT WAS BOARDING. Naturally, I was selected for a "random search" at security, adding extra time and panic to my trek to the right gate. I made it, panting and sweating and ready to cry tears of pure exhaustion, just as they were announcing "Last call for boarding."
I made it to Bordeaux by 9am and had arrived at my hotel by 10. I couldn't check in until 3, though, so I left my luggage and set out to explore the city. I bought the essentials while I was out (cell phone, hair dryer and straightener) and spent most of my 5 free hours people-watching and counting down until nap time. I sat at a cafe, and on a bench, and on the steps of the Grand Theatre. I figured out the tram system. I walked down streets with no plans or directions. I had a map but didn't use it. I wandered. I didn't mind being alone or not knowing exactly where I was. I saw some of Bordeaux and I began to fall in love with it. I am happy and excited to be here, feelings which I imagine will only grow stronger once I actually get some rest. All in all, a successful and promising first day.
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