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Noyant d'Allier, Auvergne

Noyant d'Allier, Auvergne

I spent last weekend during the canicule (heatwave) in Noyant d'Allier, visiting my college roommate, Doris. My what a difference from my visit in early February when there was still snow on the ground!

Noyant d'Allier, Auvergne

Prior to this May visit to Noyant I went out to Senlis, in Picardie last Thursday because it was the Ascencion holiday, so I did not have class. Since seeing the movie Séraphine, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A9raphine, which revolves around an artist in Senlis, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A9raphine_Louis, Susan and I had been discussing a trip to Senlis (where she used to live many years ago) to see some of Séraphine's artwork. It did not disappoint, nor did the church!

Senlis, Picardie

As for disappointments-- what's with French grading!? Also, why are my language grades markedly better than my average law grades!!?? For the uninformed, French grading is out of 20, unlike the American "A" to "F" system. French grading is also notoriously rigorous, especially compared to the typical American grade inflation. In France, anything above a 10 is passing, but it's virtually impossible to get anything about a 16! My grades range from an 11.13 to a 16 and a 16.5. Evidentally I did not entirely understand the French expectations, format, wording of the questions, etc. Tant pis. Oh well. I'll take it, but I'll engage in that favorite Jewish pastime and kvetch a little too.... *winks*

Senlis, Picardie

Observations upon babysitting

Month old French kittens in the jardin. There were 4, but only 3 are in this photo because mama cat wasn't letting me too close.

Misty, don't be jealous, dear; I'm not cheating on you with French kitties. I promise!

Exams are over and life at the Alliance Française is going nicely! I am meeting amazing people (e.g. a Hungarian law graduate, a Jordanian woman raising kids in France while her husband completes medical training here, a Chinese film director, a Mexican computer programmer, an Irish nurse, etc.) and learning, even if not 100% enough to understand this culture. Nonetheless, for the second time since in France I accepted an offer to babysit. I understood the kids much better than the first time. I marvel at how much in these past couple of weeks I am grasping more and more; language acquisition is a phenomenal process. Query: are little kids this thrilled when they become able to convey new ideas in their mother tongue?! As my French improves, it is like an image on television slowly coming into focus, or like tuning a viola and finally hitting the right pitch.

So, Saturday night Geraldine and her husband went to a concert in Paris, I looked after their five-year-old Hortence-- Ok. I appreciate cultural differences in naming, and as Shakespeare aptly observed (see Romeo and Julliet) a rose would smell just as sweet if named something else...but!?-- and her twelve and thirteen-year-old brothers Ambroise and Gregoire. Though not an au pair-- thanks for incessantly asking-- I must have some "expertise" to share, having now babysat for two French families; thus, some observations:

(1) "Cacao" is evidentally universal. So is "Nesquick."

(2) Dora (la exploratrice) is also universal. BUT...um...chers français, my Dora speaks English and Español. My Dora does not speak Français! Hortence was adorable; when her maman introduced us she was initially shy, but then we discovered we had Dora in common. Then, after her parents left she would not let me out of her sight and wanted to be BFFs (best friends forever). Until....

(3) Well, let's just say that all five-year-olds are the same:

Me: "à ta chambre?" [To your room?] "Tu es prête à dormir?" [Ready to sleep?]

Hortence: "Non! laissez-moi tranquille" [Leeeeeemee alone!]


*Her eyelids get heavy, but she keeps fighting sleeeeeep*


Me: "Mais, c'est mieux dans ta chambre!? Vas-y!" [But it's better in your room! Go along!]


Hortence: "Non!"


*She proceeds to fall asleep on the living room couch with the Dora blanket.*

View of Place de la Concorde, from La Madeleine

View from atop the Arc de Triomphe

Arc de Triomphe

Cat is what's for dinner?

Because I have exams this week I suspect I will not be updating this blog too frequently. Thus, I am going to simply leave you with the above photos and get back to studying. Doesn't it feel like such a shame to be in France and be sequestered in a room studying obscure legal provisions?

1. Exams, 2. Sketchy Train Dude, 3. Future Flight

Photos in this post are in Conflans and along the Seine near where I am living. Often I think to myself, this must be the most beautiful place in the world...especially walking along the Seine...I couldn't imagine being anywhere else!

1. With one meager week to spare, the Université de Cergy-Pontoise finally informed us of the days and times of our exams. Merci...mais...I was scheduled to be in Paris in a much more exciting-- not to mention educational-- French class at precisely the same time. C'est dommage! So, after a tense day of exchanging pissy e-mails, I have arranged to take my French class in the afternoons, and my exams in the mornings. After this zaney week of exams and class, I will have two splendid weeks of just French class, just for me. This is at the Alliance Française Paris, not for academic credit, not for anything save for my own edification and enjoyment. Thus far, it has been the highlight of my time here. Honestly, law classes here have left me a little uncertain. The universities are in upheaval; the semester has been tumultuous and disorganized. Though I can appreciate difficulties in a different system, I feel caught in the middle and compromised....

2. Speaking of "caught," tonight Susan and I are walking the dog and this guy comes up to us-- this sketchy guy who she evidentally knows. Then I realize this is the same sketchy guy I've met and talked to twice in the train station. The first time was early in the morning when I was going to visit my friend Doris and sketchy train dude and I talked about Bush and Obama, with my crummy French, and I was pretty sure he was going to try to either rape me, or kill me, or both! Something is really not mentally right with him! Then there I was tonight and Susan knows this guy and he knows her. A bizarre conversation ensued, with all the typical french kissing on the cheeks, etc., etc., etc. A few weeks ago sketchy train guy had also randomly remarked to Alain (Susan's husband) "DO YOU KNOW!? There's a blonde girl living in your house!?"So then tonight sketchy train guy proceeds to ask me, how long I have been in France. And I reply in French "I am leaving at the end of this month." Then it starts thundering and lightening so we take the dog inside. Yes! A convenient exit. So here I am.

3. Here I am and here I go. June 1 I return to Maine. I'll work. Then at the end of the summer, August 15-29, I will return to Paris. Right now the details are up in the air. The only thing I know is that I have a round trip ticket from Logan to De Gaulle. Presently, that is all I know, all I need to know, and thus all you know. Bonne soirée!

Post-- Fontainebleau Fun

1. Le mardi dernier je suis allée à Fontainebleau http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontainebleau pour voir une amie. I never realized that Christine, who I had an English class with during university, had lived in Fontainebleau. Her father is a professor and had taken a sabbatical year to teach here, about twelve years ago http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INSEAD. Each year he continues to return, and this year for the first time she returned along with him. Thus, we decided to meet in Fontainebleau. It was a marvellous day catching up, enjoying a yummy lunch and white wine, and seeing some of the chateau, forest, campus, and village. She starts law school, http://www.northeastern.edu/law/, in the fall-- good luck to her!

2. In other news, I am contemplating fun things like the July 2010 Maine Bar Exam and courses for my LAST year of law school! Next fall: (1) Business Associations, (2) Immigration Law, (3) Independent Writing advised by Prof. Norchi--http://mainelaw.maine.edu/faculty/profiles/norchi.jsp, (4) Taxation, (5) Trial Practice. During fall semester I will also continue to study French. I could have the opportunity to return to France for my final semester, spring 2010. I am very conflicted about this; there are many pros and many cons. Ultimately, I think it is likely I will take my last semester in the U.S. and return to France for a more extended time to live and work after the bar exam.

3. I have also been thinking about the remainder of this semester! One month from today I return to the United States. While I am happy that two days after that I will be in Immigration Court on a pro bono case I have been assisting for awhile, and one week after that I will be starting my summer position at Robinson, Kriger & McCallum www.rkmlegal.com, this semester in France has not been nearly long enough! Next week my four weeks of intensive French at the Alliance Française http://www.alliancefr.org/ commence. Supposedly, the following week, I have exams for my law courses in Cergy, but it has been impossible to get an answer from the law faculty regarding when precisely these alleged exams will be held. I e-mail the dean and program secretary daily, not to mention speaking directly to the secretary everyday I am on campus. I have only been trying to ascertain this information since last fall. I am growing frustrated, but I know that everything will work out in the end. It has only taken me one semester in France to learn how to spell the word "bureaucracy" correctly in English!