Post- the sixth: la grève (the strike)

Yesterday there was strike-- une grève -- see: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7858467.stm; http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7858318.stm. This is beyond a bizarre phenomenon to me. This is supposed to be "effective"...supposed to accomplish something? Ultimately, doesn't this just create more problems?

Alternatively, there is something nice in seeing people collectively feel like they "have a voice" and can impact change. This is much less passive, much less apathetic that in the U.S. I don't know, though...it still all seems...I don't know!

It seems there will always be discontent. That is axiomatic. Somebody is always going to be unhappy about something. As for redressing discontent, especially when it rises to massive levels...I just do not see how this method is at all effective. Paralysis is supposed to solve problems? I try to understand, but this is perplexing!! We live in complex, troubling times. I just don't see how this is any sort of solution....

In any case, yesterday was yesterday! I've had some time to see more of Paris, see more of Cergy, do some reading, and do some studying, including a conversation exchange with a French engineering student named Adrien, where I helped him with his English and he helped me with my French. We will do this weekly. He is very kind and I think it is very helpful for both of, especially with just hearing and pronouncing language in a more targetted type of practice.

I also have had the opportunity to purchase tickets to visit my friend Doris who lives in Noyant. I will travel there next weekend. I spent ages in line since only one guichet was open, evidentally the computer-- ordinateur-- was not functioning at the other one. I was pleased that my French was sufficient enough to first apologize in French for my poor French and then to get precisely the tickets I need!

So Noyant is about 2 hours from here via rail. Nobody seems to know where it is. It is small. I am sure it will be wonderful. Doris complains that it is cold. Ummm. Hello! I'm from Maine! *giggles* Mostly I am just thrilled to see Doris-- my dear friend from undergraduate studies back at Brandeis (http://www.brandeis.edu/). It has been far, far, far too long. I suppose the last time we saw each other was on a long layover I had at Charles de Gaulle (airport), passing through to Madrid. That must have been...spring 2007? Yeeeeps. Though we e-mail so frequently, this actual in-person visit is long, long overdue! Soon I will have to make plans to see other friends I know scattered all about this country. It is really splendid!

In any event, if you want to see additional photos, please see my Facebook profile. It has been infernally difficult to upload anything onto Blogspot. Je suis desolée. :-( Facebook has not been too easy, either, but it is easier than Blogspot. I suppose this may all relate back to my impatience (see "Post- the fourth"). :-)

Bonne journée!

-A

Post- the fifth: In which she registers for classes...maybe...possibly...enfin...

So. I think I have classes. Perhaps. Maybe. Despite a very disconcerting e-mail from my dean back at UMaine Law. "Amanda - I will need course descriptions for the classes. I am not sure whether all of those will transfer.... I hope you are having a wonderful time in France!"




Actually, I was having a wonderful time until I received that e-mail, merci. Um.










People here have been friendly, and helpful, and in a word, wonderful, merveilleux. The family I am staying with is very kind. Yesterday (lundi) I tried to go to the school to register. First, the machine for the train tickets would not accept my stupid American credit card. I assure you there are sufficient funds!

So, I went to the info counter and explained this in my very limited French. The lady came out of the booth, tried to help with the machine, and when she could not get it to work, she took me across the station all the way to the guichet and stayed with me until I had my carte hebdomadaire and was on my way. I could never imagine anybody being so helpful on a commuter train in Boston.


Then, I got to the school and found that the person I needed to see to register for law courses would not be in until the next day. That was alright, though, because I was able to complete some necessary administrative formalities, enroll in a French course, and explore the area a bit.




So, today, aujourd'hui, mardi, I went back to the school. I met with the lady to register, and she was very kind and explained that yesterday she had been taking her daughter off to study abroad in the Netherlands. (I love that studying in various places is so encouraged here. It would nice if in our myopic-little-American-lawschool-mindset we, too, could see the benefits of international learning that other programs clearly already appreciate....)






So, I got all my classes and I came to send the list to my dean in Maine only to receive the above message. I am quite sure this will all work out in the end, though. Presently, in addition to a French course, I am enrolled in the following classes on French Law: (1) Company Law, Capital Market and Banking, Litigation (Droit des affaires); (2) Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in Europe (Libertés publiques en europe); (3) Criminal Law and Procedure (Droit pénal et procédure); (4) Antitrust and Competition Law (Droit de la concurrence). Well, well, now let us see how all of that will work out! *Smiles*


À Bientôt!


-A

Post- the fourth: On trivial challenges and impatience

Bonsoir! Bonsoir mes amis!

So tomorrow-- demain-- is THE DAY. Tomorrow I go out to the Université de Cergy-Pontoise and register for classes, hopefully buy some books, and hopefully have a better sense of what I will be doing for the next several months! I am simultaneously happy-excited-nervous. This is a phenomenon once referred to as "hervous."

Updates on my schedule to follow, particularly those of you in London/Lyon/Noyant/etc. that have been clamouring for a visit from me! This is probably contingent upon the cost of books, etc., but I do hope to travel some throughout this semester. After registering tomorrow, I should have about one week until classes actually commence. Maybe even in that time I might meander a little.... There is so much to discover close by, too!

The past few days have been very nice. Yesterday I went with Susan (mother in the family I'm staying with here, not to be confused with Susan in Maine who is my biological mother-- to avoid further confusion let us start referring to Susan here as "S" and Susan in Maine as "Z") to Versailles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Versailles).

Why am I so challenged by formatting with this blog and integrating photos, which seem to take centuries to upload? Somebody please help me! I am clearly a blogspot-novice! I would upload more photos if this did not take so infernally long.... Really, I enjoy photography! Don't ruin that for me, blogspot!

Oh, and why am I so challenged by French, too? Or maybe not so much challenged as just impatient with myself?! Okay, in case you did not know, I have something of a reputation for impatience. Like I was born a month early. Like I was given the "fastest camper" award at Girl Scout Camp when I was 8. Like I graduated high school early. Like I paced up and down my sophomore year residence hall at Brandeis frustrated that the RA (query: does that stand for Residence Assistant? Repressed memories, no doubt...) was delayed in coming to do the final inspection to let me check out at the end of the year. Doris can confirm that pretty-boy-South-African-RA (pretty-boy?) was only like 5 minutes delayed. So, impatience. Impatience is a virtue. Right? Now, though, I am particularly impatient!! Particularly because my comprehension is strong when I am reading French. It is even okay when I hear French...but I just cannot speak!

I was proud of myself, though. Today I ventured into Paris solo. I visited the Louvre--yay Picasso exhibit...not to mention the Mona Lisa-- and all around that area and managed to negotiate the day entirely in French, including struggling with the train ticket machine and my credit card(http://www.louvre.fr/llv/commun/home.jsp?bmLocale=en).I had a panini and espresso. Okay, so being partially Italian it seems to not matter where you geographically situate me, I am always going to eat more like an Italian.... Later I bought a bottle of water. On the way back via Gare Saint Lazare I even verified that I was on the right train and had a brief conversation with a gentleman. All of this all in French! Mostly I am self-conscious. But I keep trying...tenacity...tenacity.... Have I mentioned I am impatient?

It all takes so much thought. Like when I listen to news on the radio I have to give it my undivided attention to comprehend anything. The good news is that French media has the same endearing (endearing?) tendency as American media-- playing the same news story 5 million times. This is great since by the 5th millionth time I generally have the gist of the story, especially if I apply myself and listen most carefully!

Well, I am also heureuse because a French student at the commerce school at Cergy was looking for somebody to practice English conversation, in exchange that he would practice French conversation with them. So, naturally, I immediately inquired into that. Hopefully that will help me progress faster. Again...impatience!

A proverb seems fitting: tout vient à temps à qui sait attendre-- everything comes to him who waits. So we wait...we wait....

Until Later,

A

Post- the third: la chatte américaine est sur le lit...et la chatte française est sur le radiateur

Coucou!

I. Of Cats and Such:

E-mail from American Susan (my mum): "Your Cat seemed to be despondent yesterday without you. She wanted to be left alone, didnt come out of the bedroom except for food & the box. She was a little better this afternoon when I got back but just a little while ago she seems to have come around. I was sitting at the dining room table with my computer she came in & started to meow, she would not stop until I got up & went into the bedroom with her. She needed a love fest & now she is fine. Just proves she is a spoiled brat."

All cats are the same. Generalization. But entirely correct still. Here, the cat (Mougali (sp?)) decided it would be fun to beg me for my breakfast. Yum. Mini-chocolate-chip-weetabix (http://www.weetabix.co.uk/brands/weetabix/weetabix-minis-chocolate-crisp/). Who knew they came mini? Who knew they came avec chocolat? J'adore le chocolat. :) Evidentally, so does a certain chatte! Indeed!


We finally made friends (if only perhaps because she smells Misty, ma chatte, all over my clothes still) and she seemed content enough having me pet her while she sat atop the radiator. Yes, the radiator. Somehow this does not result in singed fur.



I suspect were Misty to try such a trick singed fur would result. This is because (1) Misty a plus poils que Mougali. In fact, Misty is so long-haired that weekly furballs are practically a ritual. Have fun, mum, w/kitty-kitty whilst I'm away. (2) Misty is dumb. First person to try to come to her defense, in response to that remark, has to have their sanity questioned. Miss Misty really is just another pretty face....



II. Of Conflans and Such:

After zealously guarding mon petit déjeuner from that stealthy beastie known as Mougali, I proceeded to take a stroll around Conflans. I went to Parc du Prieuré. See the photos.



After returning, Susan, Alexandre, and I had a très délicieux repas that Susan made. It was yummy crepes with vegetables, as well as salad, and spinach, and baguette. For dessert we had caramel-apple galette, which is traditional this time of year (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galette; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_cake).



This is so good that I again am asking myself why I do not drop out of law school tomorrow to attend culinary school. Oh. Yeah. There is that pesky thing called substantial amounts of educational loans...debt....

Dear UMaine Law, why does "financial aid" consist solely of massive amounts of loans? Massive.



So, after this meal--yum-- Alexandre very kindly took me to the school and showed me around. This will be very good for early next week when I have to go register there. At least I now have a good idea of where I am going. After the school, we went to the train station where I purchased my train pass, so at the least for the month of February I will be able to move about Paris/Conflans/Cergy. Yay! Double-yay for the fact that the rate was reduced this month in response to strikes/issues last month!



On the drive back from the school/train station trip we discussed French auto insurance and American auto insurance. Oh, mum and Professor Wriggins both would be so proud! Yes, I'm a huge dork. Guilty as charged.




On that note, this has gotten lengthy. As you must know, brevity is not quite my thing.... So, for now, I shall say, c'est tout!





-A

Post- the second: Welcome to Conflans goats and monkeys...

Bienvenue a Conflans! Je suis...ici! Et je suis tres fatiguée. An implicit goal of this blog=teach a little more French to the non-French speakers reading this. Oh, and maybe teach myself a bit more along the way, too, or at the least provide the actual French-speakers reading this with some entertainment via my mistakes *laughs.*

And, very importantly, too, happy belated inauguration day. At laaaaaaaaast.

So, I have finally arrived at the house where I'll be staying until...until...well...heavens knows when these classes end or what classes I am actually taking.Yes, this is a major point of anxiety for me. I register for classes next Monday. Presently, I do not even know what I will be studying, what language it will be in, the format of instruction, the format of assessment, or when I will return from whenever the end of the semester is.

I have several days to postpone thinking too much about that, though. My Lufthansa flight (no Uncle Bob, I am going to have to respectfully disagree, Air France is better than Lufthansa) got into Charles de Gaulle Airport about 8:35 this morning. The eldest son in the family I am staying with came to the airport to pick me up. This was tremendously appreciated, as I guess I packed for 5 years instead of 5 months? He (Alexandre) leaves tomorrow to return to Oslo, where he is studying law as an exchange student. When he is not abroad, he is a student a the university I will be attending. We drove from de Gaulle through Cergy, where he pointed out the school and the "interesting" architecture. I will be right at home! Round buildings at law schools! Yay!

From there we drove to the house here in Conflans Sainte Honorine (http://www.mairie-conflans-sainte-honorine.fr/). He carried one of my nearly 25 lb suitcases up the three flights of narrow stairs (narrower than my old apartment! yes!) and I carried the other. After a brief introduction to one of his younger brothers (Maxime), his mother (Susan, yes, just like my actual mum's name), the cat, and the dog, I proceeded to collapse from sheer exhaustion. Or maybe that was just hunger....

Dear Lufthansa: WTF? What was that mush marinara that tasted oddly of tinfoil? PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: never order the pasta option on an airline. Ever. And that rubbery slab of something the color of orange traffic cones that I sadly assume was "cheese"? And um? No back of the chair in-flight-personal-entertainment consoles? I fairly thought that was standard on transatlantic flights. *Rant over.* Seriously, though, it was a decent enough flight (minus being a row between two crying babies all the way from Boston to Frankfurt) and the hour of midflight turbulance where I thought, well, that'd be a hell of a way to go. So maybe "decent" was too generous an adjective?

Frankfurt was fun though-- I spent 8 Euro on an hour's worth of Wi Fi (clearly I have my priorities in line (query: on line?) where I proceeded to find that the only person awake and online to chat was Ruthie. Gotta love that time zone difference in Malaysia....

Also in Frankfurt, their TSA equivalent decided my fingernail scissor was worthy of subjecting me to serious interrogation! Boston TSA (if they even actually were awake when my handbag went through the scanner) took no issue with this genuinely innocuous object.

Also in Frankfurt, which is a semi-decent airport after 06:00, when things actually begin to open, an older lady asked me where the bathroom was in some foreign language. I could not really understand her, though. I pretty much got the gist, and something about "toilette." But I didn't know where it was. So I told her that much in English, which she clearly didn't speak. I should have then tried French. But I didn't. Could have also tried Spanish. Or Hebrew. But I didn't. So, in any case, I smiled a lot. And she smiled a lot. And neither of proceeded to know where anything was or exchange any useful information. The only result was that I spent the remaining hour or so until my flight departed panicking that it was French she had spoken to me in and that I did not understand a word other than toilette!

At this point, I'm fairly sure she was speaking to me in German. Maybe I have convinced myself it was German. My French is quite, quite limited...more limited than I would like. I can read the language. I can understand a fair amount spoken. Or at least I thought I could. But I cannot string together a coherent thought of my own verbally...or especially in writing. Why is this language not spelled phonetically, consistently, predictably, like...Spanish...or even Hebrew is very predictable!! My hopeless lack of language skills. I will learn! I will learn! Or maybe I'll just whine about it some more first! This is the jetlag speaking.

-A

p.s.- Special prize to the first person to post in a comment what the title of this post is an allusion to (oh, and there are two "correct" answers)....

Long story short, after all of that, I am here, I am pretty tired, having just woken up from my nap. I am also pretty hungry, so I am going to stop being antisocial sitting here typing this post as opposed to actually interacting with people...and food.... Right now...food!

A tout a l'heure! (Yes...I am too lazy for proper typed accent marks...it's taken me 23 years to learn the proper ones for Spanish...so have some patience with me for the few that are different in French...standard American computer keyboards don't really facilitate foreign languages.... That is my present excuse.) And that is all.

Post- the first

Bonjour a tous!

So, I have finally decided to stoping being so paresseuse and start a blog in order to keep in touch with y'all, while I am abroad this semester.

As many of you know, I will be studying French and European Union Law at the Université de Cergy-Pontoise (http://www.u-cergy.fr/index.php) which is-- surprise, surprise-- in Cergy-Pontoise, France. This is right outside of Paris.

During the duration of my studies, which is to say, roughly until the beginning of June 2009, I will be staying with a family in Conflans Ste. Honorine, France, which is just about midway between my school in Cergy and Paris.

I decided on this exchange program, which is one of the few offered through my law school, (The University of Maine School of Law, in Portland Maine: http://mainelaw.maine.edu/) because it will hopefully give me the opportunity not just to learn more about another legal system, but to also polish up some more foreign language skills. I do adore learning languages! Perhaps more so than I enjoy learning law, actually....

Well, in any case, tomorrow I depart. I am taking the Concord Trailways Bus from Portland to Logan Airport (Boston). From there I am flying Lufthansa to Frankfurt, then Frankfurt to Paris. In Paris I will meet up with the family with whom I will live. Let us all pause for a moment, though, to marvel in some irony. The past several times I have travelled to Europe I have flown Air France, from Boston, via Charles de Gaulle (Paris) to Spain.... Naturally, the first time I will venture beyond the airport in Paris, when I want to make Paris my final destination, the cheapest air fare was on Lufthansa, which will send me further east to simply come back west to my final destination. Yay for student airfare rates, though!

And boo for overage fees on luggage over "excessive" weights. On that note, and fearful of gazillion euro charges for packing one sweater too many, I am going to go do a little unpacking, and have my last greasy American dinner meal.

Ok...jk on that greasy American meal bit...seeing as that has never much been my style. Anyhoooo...seriously, off I go to finish this unpacking business! For now, au revoir!

Bisous,

A

p.s.-- Oh, for those of you who are wondering, the name of this blaaaaaawg is "La chatte est sur la valise." This translates to "The Cat is on the Suitcase." This is because all through my packing/unpacking/repacking my dear little fluffernutter, Misty Nevara, the marvellous ragdoll, has decided that sitting on my suitcase is great fun. For real now, though, à bientôt!