Gros Grève

Question of the week has been: Will it be like 1995?

In 1995, then Prime minister Alain Juppé under president Chirac tried to introduce a new plan that included changes to pension rules. Some workers in the public sector who normally were allowed to retire at the age of 50 after 37.5 years of service will have to now complete 40 years of service just like in the private industry. This plan was supposed to help the deficit of France's social security system and make France more competitive in the European economy.

As a response to the government, the national railroad and subway workers went on strike---a strike that ended up lasting three-weeks. Those three-weeks, Paris was paralyzed.

Fast forward to present day, president Nicolas Sarkozy wants to implement the same change. So back in September five of the eight unions decided to strike on Oct 17th----but then they realized that the 17th was UN's official World Poverty Day so they switched it to Oct 18th. So this past Thurs was the strike---thanks to the strike I decided to take an unofficial day off from school (yAY! like a snow day!). I told my teacher since I lived in Boulogne (which means it usually takes 40 minutes to get to school), I wouldn't be coming to class (because I'd have to walk for two hours for a two hour class and walk back).

In Boulogne, everything was fine, nothing out of the ordinary---I guess I was expecting huge crowds of people walking or lots of car traffic, etc. but there was none of that. I think everyone just decided to stay home that day.

BUT Friday... Oct 19th, the second day of the strike, some metros were running and that was worse than having no metros running. I checked on www.ratp.fr site every so often to see if my line was running. Sometimes it said ligne 9: 1 rame sur 6. sometimes it said ligne 9: fortement perturbé. sometimes it said ligne 9: 1 rame sur 3. So I decided to give it a shot. At the station, you normally use your ticket to get through by take the top ticket (in the picture) and put it through a machine. below is my monthly pass:
But I got to the station and ALL the doors were open, no ticket needed, no on at the counter to buy a ticket from, and I was like... SWEET. and then realized, well that makes sense since metros aren't guaranteed to run at all.

I was waiting for my metro and it said the next one was in 12 min. That was a shock. Usually, metros come in 2 min, 5 min, or at MOST like late late at night 15 min. But it was mid-day. Anyways, I waited and I was afraid that the whole metro would be jam packed (as warned by my host mom)... but when it finally came, to my disappointment, was pretty empty. =\ I wanted to experience a strike in Paris!

Hah, so five stops after mine on the metro, I was SQUISHED because people kept coming in! And by the seventh stop, I was experiencing the awkward situation of not being able to hold onto a pole because it's too far from reach, being squished between bodies and sort of swaying between them for balance, watching people TRY to push onto the metro when they obviously canNOT, and seeing this one dude squeeze onto the metro, holding his bags on top of his head because there was no way for him to put it down... it was very unpleasant feeling to say the least, but very funny (I just couldn't believe I was in the middle of all that). So THIS is what a strike is like... I so wanted to take a picture then but I couldn't reach into my bag to get my camera since there was no room to move.

I ended up doing a transfer to line 14 (which is automated =)) to avoid all the crowded people but had to walk 40 minutes to where I needed to be. But it was an awesome walk, because I was in no rush. So I ended up taking pictures of little random things in Paris that I think I'd miss.

Ah... I have some awesome pictures to post but blogger is not letting me right now. I'll try again later.

Pursued and Pursuing after many things

1. Student life (learning what it means to be a student, a student wanting to go to medical school)
This week was the first week where I actually felt like I was in Paris to study, like I was a student in Paris... and not on some long vacation. My two midterms last week on public health went okay--although for the first one, I didn't completely finish. Then the third midterm today, on France and the European union, was tough because of all the readings that we had to do for it. It was all very interesting, learning all the different political party systems and the changes they have gone through and how with globalization, the extreme left and extreme right share a more similar view than with other groups within their side. And out of that, a center has evolved, which are the mainstream parties. If you'd like to know, I'd love to explain it all to you... history is fascinating.

2. L'invite (learning again that i love learning language)
After the midterm on Thurs, I went to see a French movie with Monica and Greg. L'invite. It wasn't great... I wanted to see a French movie to practice my French. L'invite is about a husband, who invited a CEO of a company over for dinner, hoping to be hired. The whole movie, the neighbor keeps giving the husband and the wife advice on how to prepare this dinner and he also criticizes their simple old-fashioned taste in art (Picasso) and music (some French oldie). So they try to remodel their house and blah blah... Finally the CEO comes for dinner, and apparently likes simple old-fashioned people... and in the end they get the job. and that was the end of the movie. I think I would've enjoyed the film much more if I understood more of French humor and if I understood more French. So until then.... I'll stick with dubbed in French American movies.

3. Pursued by God, Pursuing God (learning that He is my creator and I was created in His image)
Friday night, I had my group's first bible study. It went very well--I'm with an awesome group of girls. It just so happens that we are two Americans (i am one), two Canadians, two Russian, and two Brazilian girls. There, we answered four basic questions:

1. What are your goals for the year/your time in France?
2. What are your fears?
3. What is one area in life that you are struggling with?
4. How can this group best support you?

I think those are really simple questions that every person should take the time to sit down and ask themselves. Well questions 1,2 and 3. And they are questions that you don't ask yourselves once... but every quarter or every new school year so that at the end of that quarter or the end of that year, you can assess yourself.

This summer, I learned to ask myself three questions that were very simple but profound as well.

1. What did I learn about myself this past week?
2. What did I learn about people this past week?
3. What did I learn about God this past week?

If I can ask myself these questions, it presumes that I am learning. At least, they allow me to evaluate IF I'm learning and what learning those things MEAN in my life. How should it affect me, the way I relate to other people and the way I relate to God? Otherwise, I guess can go on living my life without ever stopping to think about it. I think it's possible to live a pretty good life that way.

I'd say this past week, I'm learning that God pursues after me, even while I'm in Paris, He runs after my heart and tugs at it. When I think of God pursuing after me, I think of Jonah being thrown overboard and eaten by a great fish. Because even though Jonah ran away from God (well he thought he could run away from God), God provided the great fish to swallow him up and give him a second chance.

I feel as if I'm in a big fish right now, because I'm so disconnected with the life I had at home, I'm just in a big space where I have lots of time to myself. Jonah spent three days in the fish praying to God. I have three months in this fish, and I feel like I should be using my time so much more wisely!

I had set out to figure out who I am (choosing my favorite type of eggs, so to speak ^__^) and I know that (well after a month of meandering) my identity comes from my relationship with God. So I will pursue after God, in these next two months.

4. Loss (being a part of the culture, finding that i like the rugby but not the movies)
Saturday went to Chinatown for dinner with Monica and Rachael. Watched the big game, France vs. England... France was up 9 to 8 until 73 minutes into the game (a game lasts 80 min). Then England's number 10 (he's cute but I cannot forgive him for what he did) scores 3 points by a kick. And the French was losing 9 to 11! I almost could not watch... and sadly, with four minutes left, England scores again.... winning 14 to 9. Five points... in the first five minutes of the game, England scores a touch down---5 points. I bet the French wish they didn't let them go that easy that early in the game. I was so sad on Saturday night.

Well, in the other semi-final game, South Africa won against Argentina. So this Friday, France will play Argentina for third place.

5. La Bagagerie (still hanging on to materialistic things)
Then Sunday, I went shopping at Gallery Lafayette... an amazing store to walk through and shop at if you have tons of money at your disposal. But since I'm a poor college student, I just drooled over many things with Monica. Well... they were also having a sale, so I ended up buying a bag (from La Bagagerie)... but I was going to buy a bag anyways...


en fait, that's all folks!

bon soiree!

"It's beautiful, it's beautiful, alors, it's France"

In Rennes, there were lots of lectures for three days... my brain was a mess, full of info about health this and health that. I was glad it was over when it was! Now I have to organize the mess into some coherent essay for my two midterms this coming Wed. and Thurs.

The major highlight in Rennes was visiting the cardiology department of the hospital there. The cardiologist who was showing us around asked if we wanted to see an open heart surgery! So we said, "bien sur!" We put on scrubs and I thought we were going to walk into a room where you can peer into the operating room through a window, you know like for family members or visitors who can't be in the operating room.... But nope, we went straight into the operating room and I found myself peering into an open chest, pried open by clamps, looking at down into this guy's thoracic cavity... it was unreal. The heart looked pink-ish, mushy, and like meat. The thing was the room had a funny smell, kind of like the smell of raw meat at a meat market... and I didn't want to think it... but that smell made me think of slabs of meat and how we're maybe like slabs of meat? It's not pretty. Anyways... this guy's valves started calcifying so they had to be removed and be replaced. The cardiologist picked up his calcified valves (they were cut out already) and was literally waving it in front of our faces... I was just thinking... oh gosh, it looks like a piece of fat with little white balls growing on it. Then he showed us the replacement valve (made from a pig), which he handed over to the surgeon. The surgeon started talking to us, showing us how to sew it back into the heart... he was looking at us while he was stitching... and I tried to avoid eye contact and look at the heart because I wanted him to look at where he was stitching instead of me. But I guess, if it's his third surgery since the morning, with each surgery lasts about 4 hours, so he's probably bored. Imagine that...

On a side note, we had dinner at a Creperie, salty crepe (called galettes here) for dinner, and crepe for dessert. The Cidre came in a pither and our "cups" were bowls. It reminded me of two things: China, where we drink from bowls, and my dad, who sometimes drinks hot water from bowls... I remember when he used to do that, it was so 'not a la mode', so 'back-in-the-day', and just 'not cool anymore' (maybe Chrissy and Teresa can sympathize here)... but when it was happening in Rennes, I realized how normal it probably is... or that parts of France are still able to keep their culture. Going a little deeper, it makes me think, I was so quick to reject my dad's ideas---and in essence, it's so much easier to think my parents' are 'out-of-touch' with what's going on today than to accept their words or rebuke as 'words of wisdom' or take it as good advice. It's easier to just ignore them and go on doing what I want than to have to actually listen.

Back in Paris, we had a "game day" on Friday, near the grass field by the Eiffel Tower. A few of us organized it, and we just played games.. turned out very nice, a lot of fun. When we were organizing, I suggested "moo-cow" and they all thought I was evil! The french students were like, that's horrible!. keekee.. So we played taboo, twister, cowboy, tomates, and some relays instead. Still fun... some pictures are on facebook.

Afterwards, I went to meet up with Sarah and we went together to Ben's BBQ at his architecture school. His school looked like a museum--statues and paintings all over.

Then Saturday night, we had a surprise party for Maggie's 22nd birthday. It was also the BIG GAME... France vs. All Blacks (new zealand). Oh.. man, it was an intense game! The touch downs that the teams made were just amazing. At the beginning France was down 13 to zero... we were starting to lose hope! but out of nowhere, we tied 13-13. Then All Blacks scored to 18-13. They didn't get the extra two points from the kick. So we're all cheering for the French to score and finally they did! AND they got the two points from the kick. So it was 20-18 France ten minutes before the end of the game. When they scored to 20, we SCREAMED.. Mathilde was just like, "it's beautiful! it's beautiful! (what can I say) it's France!" I thought that was so cute and basically sums up the French.

So the last ten minutes of the game was torturous because we didn't want the blacks to score, knowing that if they did, there's not enough time for the french to score again. But the blacks were so close to their touch down line the whole ten minutes... it didn't help that Julie kept crying, "pas maintenant, pas maintenant, pas maintenant..." and Mathilde going, "no no no" and Jessica saying, "on regarde! on regarde!". And then.. finally, it was 80 minutes and the blacks didn't score! So we JUMPED and SCREAMED but the game didn't stop! And the blacks had possession so Julie just screamed, "C'EST FINI! C'EST FINI! ARRETE! C'EST FINI!". OYE... and after like 3 minutes, the french gained possession of the ball and THEN we were estactic... singing "on a gagne! on a gagne!" Two more games and we'll win the championship... I think I'm going to have to buy a French flag to wear for the last game.

Man, I really had no idea that I would be so into Rugby and that it would make it into most of my posts.

So after that, Saturday night was "La Nuit Blanche" where line 14 metro was open all night long. The Louvre, the Tuilleries gardens, the Center Pompidou, Notre Dame, etc... were open all night. It was amazing.. I was standing on the steps, looking straight at the huge lit up ferris wheel in the distance (near Place de la Concorde, at the end of the Champs Elysee, built as a response to Navy Pier's ferris wheel), with huge torches of fire in front of the wheel in the Tuilleries that coughed up huge balls of fire every five minutes, with hundreds of people moving through---some very drunk---some singing La Marseillaise on repeat, with the Louvre behind me, the sparking eiffel tower to the left of the ferris wheel in front of me... I could not have even imagined to be standing there in my wildest dreams! Too bad I couldn't figure out night settings on my camera... it'll just have to be stored forever in my memory.

Now it's Sunday. I JUST finished my final report from my summer research... I had forgotten about this report until this past Thursday when my Dean emailed me and asked if I'd submitted my report to Dr. Wong for review.... but glad it's done now.

I'm excited because I'll be off to church in half an hour. And after all the gray weather, we've finally got some soleil today =). Je suis tres heureuse parce qu'il fait tres beau au'jourdhui.

A bientot.

Des Bises

I am officially French; I now greet people with two kisses (bises) on the cheek. I hope I don't lose this once I get back to the States... I know already that this will be one of the things I miss most about la France.

(Oh! We won again today...Rugby that is. and of course I'm cheering for la France. I learned La Marseilles--their national song, a very gruesome war song actually--just so I can sing it at the start of the game. But the next match does not look so good... we're going against the All Blacks... best team ever).

I cannot believe that tomorrow, I will have arrived here for a month!! Incredible! Time really flies. It's a weird thing because normally, I think it would have taken much longer for me to adjust but because of the time constraint (knowing that I will be leaving in Dec), there's a pressure for me to adapt quickly, make new friends quickly, find a church to call home quickly, and do everything else well... while enjoying the parisien life.

Classes have been going very well, especially the public health ones. All super interesting and everything that I wanted to learn about health care systems. Our professor discussed "Sicko" with us at a cafe---which was quite cool. Tomorrow, we are going to Rennes, west of Paris, for three days to the Ecole Nationale de Sante Publique (School of Public Health) to attend lectures and visit the hospitals there. I am super excited!

In these classes, we've been comparing the different systems of different countries by analyzing their history, culture, and government to try to find the basis for their systems. I'm not going to give you all the details... but one of the things that we discussed were 'value systems'. The gist is that the French generally value 'security' over freedom or equality. The British and the Nordic countries (Sweden, Norway) value 'equality' most. And of course, U.S.A. loves 'freedom'. So partly because of these values, the health care systems have evolved into what they are now.

In the U.S., health care costs are rising like crazy, and there are still 45 million who are not insured. Private insurance companies are reaping in the moolah and they are writing checks to buy members of congress so they can keep doing what they are doing... (and none of this is hidden from the public) So I cannot see how our system could ever really change because most of the middle class is content with what they have. It's really the poor who are suffering and conveniently, they also tend to not vote. It's so frustrating... and also knowing that our generation doesn't vote is worse... (and myself included) imagine, if we all actually voted how things would CHANGE!. If anything I learned from the French, I will go back to the States and vote.

So while I'm learning so much about the 'values' of these countries---seeing some of these 'American' values manifest in me---I began to wonder what were some of the other things I that I value. I had never really put much thought into that. It's sort of like these 'American' values.... without going outside of America and detaching myself from it, it never occurred to me to question them.

This weekend, I got to hang out a lot with people from Trinity International Church---very cool. I think I'm going to be running the power points for worship every Sunday and maybe setting up the sound system too... a bible study is going to start soon... and I can finally say, I feel at home there. I know it's a place where I can grow. It's very strange because all of this happened this past weekend. So thank you so much for your prayers. I really don't know where'd I'd be without prayers here.

I'm going to pack.. sleep... and be off to Rennes.

*bise* bise*

In Two Weeks

It's been two weeks since my last entry (ahhh, sorry to those who were waiting) so I'll give quick updates on what I've been up to:

1. Wed Sept 12: Sacre Coeur, Moulin Rouge, and Sicko

After French class in the morning, we decided to visit Sacre Coeur, located on top of the hill of Montmartre. It's the highest point in Paris, 129 meters above sea level, except if you were on top of the eiffel tower that is. The view was gorgeous, I wish I could've taken a panoramic view of the city from there. But this is the best that we got:


Montmartre is a city where many artists used to go to paint... Since I'll be going there again this coming Monday, I'll write more about it later. So after visiting the church, Greg and Maggie had to leave so Monica and I decided to discover more of the area surrounding Montmartre. We went downhill, lots of steps:
and found another part of town.... we literally stumbled into the red light district... since we were there, we had to take pictures. There's the red windmill. It was quite interesting to see sex shop next to sex shop next to sex shop. Monica and I agreed that we would never walk in this part of town alone after dusk.


And so we kept walking and ended up walking all the way back to Monica's host family's apartment. It was a super long walk. We stopped by to grab dinner at "Quick" which is the french equivalent of "McDo".

At night, we watched a free showing of Michael Moore's "Sicko". I thought the documentary did a good job of raising questions about the American health care system but the way that he did it was completely biased... which took away from his credibility. Basically, the American health care system was HORRIBLE while France, UK, Canada and even Cuba had spectacular systems without flaws... which is completely untrue. Still, it was very disturbing to know that there are hospitals in America who would send patients into taxis to drop them off on the streets just because they are uninsured and the hospital cannot afford to care for them. And the ultimate paradox: Insurance companies will insure those who are healthy but not those who have preexisting health conditions... Are not those who are sick in need of insurance the most?

Anyways, if you have not seen it, I recommend seeing it. I think health care will be a huge issue in this upcoming year with the elections because it's clear that we will need reforms. And plus, the increasing premiums are getting too unbearable, even for the middle class---so that's a good sign that there will be change. (I HOPE!)

2. Fri and Sat, 14-15 Sept: Reims (pronounced 'renzzs'), Champagne

Monica, Maggie, Mathilde (french student in our program) decided to go to Reims this weekend. The pictures are posted on Facebook =). We rented bikes on Friday to ride around the city, ate lunch at a park, visited a Champagne cellar and enjoyed a 'degustation'.

I was hesitant about biking because I haven't biked in years... and some of you know that I'd rather not bike on Campus, maybe it's a deeper issue in me... but I did it in Reims! I biked on the road with traffic... biked into circles (which was SUPER SCARY)... biked uphill, very strenuous... biked downhill, fun but scary not knowing if you could stop in time at the foot of the hill at the red light... at the end of the day, I was proud of myself!

We visited the Parc de Champagne, which cost 1 euro. They had something called, "L'art de la siesta". The art of sleeping. We were confused, what kind of exhibition would this be? at a park? Surprise... they had hammocks, little tents with mats, beach chairs, lawn chairs... everywhere the park was calling us to sleep. It was perfect after a glass of champagne. So we napped for about an hour.
The champagne company that we visited was Piper Heidsieck. It was very cute because there was a little train that took us around the cellar... they played very animated music, it made you want to be in a 50s commercial, smiling with shining eyes pouring a bottle of Piper Heidsieck, and saying "tah-dah"... anyways, here are some pictures:

I learned that "Champagne" can only be labeled that if it comes from this region of France and if it's made from certain grapes... three types to be exact: chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meuniur. There's also a special process, although not too different from wine making, that gives champagne its bubbles.

On Saturday, we visited the Cathedral Notre-Dame in Reims where they crowned the kings of France from 13th to 15th century, the Palais de Tau where the kings would stay the night before their coronation, the Cryptoportique Gallo-Roman, and Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin. All these visits were free because this was the "Journees du Patrimoine", World Heritage Weekend... so all cultural sites, sites deemed a World Heritage site by UNESCO, all museums were free all over France.. and the world I think.

At the Cathedral, we had a personal tour-guide... we simply asked for information on tours and she said, sure, i'll show you around. The cathedral has so much history! so many stories to tell, not only biblical stories but some of their stain glass windows told stories of the farmers in the vineyards and stories of the kings. It's the only cathedral where there are statues of saints on the inside of the building. It was to remind the kings of their divine calling as they leave the church after being crowned. Some of the stained glass windows were broken and replaced by just gray/off white colored glass to let more light in as more and more people learned how to read. One set of windows were designed by Chagall--very recognizable because it was flow-y. The rose windows were gorgeous, those are my favorite. This is also the Cathedral with the famous smiling angel.

The Palais du Tau was a museum of many of the kings' possessions. So much gold and silver of everything.. They even had the robes that they used to wear... it was HUGE and thick, velvet and fur... the room also had a smell, probably from the preservatives... but it was surreal to see the robe (i couldn't take pictures).

At the Cryptoportique, it was an underground market from the 3rd century. When you walked down it was just a huge hallway/tunnel and you can imagine it being a roman market. They built smaller and much narrower hallways next to the main market to keep humidity out. And it was built underground to keep the produce fresher.

Veuve Clicquot is one of the most expensive champagnes... and we visited Madame Clicquot's house from the Renaissance period. The Clicquot family have actually been living there up until twenty years ago. This house is opened once a year for visitors so we were quite lucky. They didn't have forks back then, only knives and napkins... no sugar either... (i didnt understand most of it since it was in french)

And during the in-between times while we ate, we gave each other riddles =), it was quite nerdy of us... but honestly, it was a lot of fun.


3. Sun, 16 Sept: Church and Rugby

Then the next day, I visited Trinity International Church of Paris. I was walking from the metro station to the church, unsure if I was going in the right direction when I heard ...your love is amazing, steady and unchanging... loud and blasting from the second floor of a building. And I cannot even describe what I felt... I just stood there on the street for a minute as joy swelled up in me. It was worship to God! I attended the service, which was super short compared to what I'm usually used to at Harvest and Cornerstone. I met a variety of people whom I went out with after service to watch the Rugby game with. It was France versus Namibie... and France won by a landslide. The touchdown made by Chabal was classic... He was running with the ball, while his opponents were jumping to grab him, they would miss and fall to the ground while Chabal would run over them like hurdles.. and at the very end, so close to the end zone line, one of the opponents grabbed him and he fell.... (now in rugby, you only get the touchdown if the ball touches the ground pass the line)... and half his body was over the line and half his body was not... and the ball was over!... the crowd was in an uproar... (we watched this game on t.v. at a cafe/bar). This was an exciting game because it's France's first win since the World Cup competition started... and the next big game is actually today....

4. TODAY Fri, 21 Sept: Study and Rugby

So today, I am studying all afternoon because I have my first midterm on Mon and French exam on Wed. But at 18h 30m, I'm going to go with Mathilde to reserve some seats at the bar for the game tonight... France vs. Ireland... it's going to be a tough game because Ireland's actually good. I'm excited for it =)

Oh and I've decided to spend my All Saints Holidays (oct 29 - nov 2) in Barcelona! Just bought tickets yesterday.

5. Reflections

I have some things that I want to write about values and prayer... but I will save that for next time because I gotta go study before I lose more time.

Bon journee (have a good day)!

Weekend in Normandy

This weekend was spent in Normandy. We visited the museum at Caen, the D-day beaches, the Point du Hoc, the towns Caen, Honfleur, and Deauville.

It was incredible, to be standing on the same grounds that thousands of soldiers stood on sixty years ago. The craters on the terrain where 700 tons of bombs were dropped the night before D-day are still there. The remains of the German bases for their guns are still there. It's hard to imagine what it must've been like. Now, green grass has regrown and covers the land, the rocky cliffs are just as steep, and the ocean, still so blue. Here is a picture taken from there:


My back is facing Omaha beach. This is Point du Hoc, which is between Omaha and Utah beaches. The trained soldiers had to climb the steep cliffs and try to neutralize the German guns at the same time the soldiers landed on the beach---but it didn't happen quite as smoothly.

Then we visited Omaha beach, which is gorgeous! The soldiers landed during mid-tide because the German soldiers had planted pointy obstacles on the beaches that were hidden during high tide, which would've punctured the bottom of the boats as they came close to shore.

Then we visited the German cemetary and the American cemetary. It was saddening to see so many soldier's lives lost because of the war. Many of them never lived to twenty---and I, almost turning twenty-one, feel like life is just beginning. I'm still learning about myself, about people, and about society.


Afterwards, we went to a nearby town, Caen. During the war, this town was completely demolished. We ate at a semi-fancy restaurant. I had the most delicious oysters! super fresh--tasted like the ocean.

That night was also the first game of the Rugby World Cup 2007. All the games are held all over France this year, and the French are SUPER excited about rugby. So we went to a pub and watched the game with the French students (they were all wearing red, white and blue). But sadly, the French team lost. C'est dommage. C'est la vie.

The next day, Saturday, we headed for Honfleur, a port city in Normady. The town was absolutely European and picturesque with the sail boats lining the harbor, cobblestone paved roads, narrow allies and streets filled with little cafes and restaurants. And then there was the market, my first real French market! Here are some photos:


Stand selling sausages. Some of these sausages are of pig's blood, cow's intestines, and such---delicacies.

This one sells cheese, it was quite smelly. But there's a saying, the smellier the cheese, the better it is. I don't know if you can see the woman--she's hidden behind the big chunks of cheese.

For lunch I had a crepe Normande. The crepe came out and then the waitress lit a small pot of alcohol on fire and poured the fire over the crepe. It was pretty cool although the flames didn't show up well on the camera. Here it is anyways,


Then we went to Deauville, which is a super posh city. The American Film Festival was held there on Saturday so I saw the red carpet and many body guards. And George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Daemon, and Angelina Jolie were there... although I didn't see them. But there was also a beaaautiful beach there. It was huge though, it literally took ten minutes to walk from the boardwalk out to the water. There was just lots and lots of sand. But I managed and dipped my feet in the water. =)


And that was my weekend in Normandy!

Here are a couple more photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/13075689@N05/

Bon Soir!

Tongue Tied

I've arrived safely! and finally have the chance to write a post. The wi-fi (pronounced wee-fee here) has not been working on my laptop so I'm using Pauline's. The french keyboard is weird, qll the keys qre in the zrong plqce1: It nqkes it very hqrd to type:

My host family is great and I think the best host family anyone can ask for. The mom, Madam Marie, treats me like a daughter and is a great cook. They have a 17 yr old son, Louie, 20 yr old daughter, Pauline, 22 yr old son, and a 28 yr old son. They don't all live at home, but visit often. The dad, Craigoire, is very sweet, though he looks very tough when he sits on the sofa gazing out the window smoking his cigar and drinking a glass of champagne. I had Orientation on Sunday and he drove me all the way there to St Sulpice.

Paris is a beautiful city, narrow streets, full of petit cafés, and gorgeous buildings! But I must admit I was very homesick on the first day. It is slowly wearing off as I meet more and more students in my program. Classes begin tomorrow and I already have some reading I must do. Tomorrow is also my french placement test, I realized how much french I've forgotten in the past three years. But it comes back sometimes, when I hear a word here and there, 'oh yeah! I learned that word in class'. I went to a phone store and tried to ask the guy at the counter how to add minutes to my phone... It went like... bonjour, euuh je veut euuh les minutes pour euuh... he gives me a quizzical look... euuh je suis étudiante étrangérè euuh parlez-vous l'anglais?... he says, a little... by the end, we used pictures and pointed. he added minutes for me and told me, in french, that i needed to call a number and punch in a code (i was surprised i caught the meaning) but i must've looked back at him blankly (probably while i was thinking about what he said) because he just took my phone and did it for me. Let me tell you, it was mo eXPENSIVE. 35 € for one hour of calling time.

I am also sooo glad my family can speak english, although not superb and with thick french accents, because I wouldn't know what to do if they didn't. I mean I try to speak french with them everyday, but it ends up being a lot of 'euuhs' and 'uumms' and more like frenglish? engrench? flish?.... flish. hahah.

I will go to sleep now, class tomorrow. I'm pretty excited!

Bon soir.