Benefit of socialism is the governmental help, which I’ve received already in doctors giving me free appointments and reimbursements from the government on various medicines and I plan on getting eventually in rent. Downside is all the hoops and mountains of paperwork, not to mention the long lines and waiting. When it comes to medicine the states put more money into research which I’ve seen reflected in the awesome meds back home. However, French medicine is better than I thought up until about two months ago. No NyQuil which really pissed me off when I had whooping cough my second week here and no Pepto-Bismol but they have other drugs that work fairly well. For other maladies the medicines I’ve had here work just as well as the medicine back home, some of which are kept behind the counter back in the states but not here. Awesome!

I recently learned that there isn’t a word for “sibling(s)” in French like there is in English. Only brothers and sisters (frères et sœur).

From my recent lesson on Christmas traditions in the US and how they differ from those in France I learned from my students that Coca Cola Christmas lights are called “sans sucre,” which literally means “without sugar.”

I also learned that “beur” is a popular term for first generation French people whose parents immigrated from North Africa. Most of my “beur” students are from Morocco or Algeria so I’m assuming many have immigrated to France from those areas in particular.

Journal entry from le 13 octobre, 2012:

I just saw an Islamic woman running to catch the métro. Usually they look very godly and bored while wearing attire that either entirely, or almost completely, covers them including head scarves called hijabs. Anyway, I took great amusement in watching this woman running full tilt toward her ride, pushing that baby-stroller like a bobsled right out of “Cool Runnings” with her long robes swirling behind her feet like fresh snow that has been kicked up and caught in the wind. Side-note, I have yet to see anything like that since then.

There’s a lot of North African and Middle Eastern influence here, in the Lille-area and almost every time I’ve taken the métro I’ve seen at least one Muslim woman wearing a hijab and the other attire. Most culturally diverse place I’ve ever been to let alone lived (seems appropriate in 2004 Lille was selected to be the European Capital of Culture due to its diversity).

Alex, Ashley and Ellen at the marché de Noël

For my birthday, other English assistants  joined me in Paris to have dinner with me the night of my birthday. Alex from Minnesota and Ellen from New Jersey work with me in Lille, and I befriended Madeline from San Fransisco and Ashley from New Jersey on the flight to France back in September. Wonderful group. We had a wonderful and quiet evening walking through the Christmas Market down the Champs d’Elysee, dinner at a pasta place in the inexpensive part of town (St Michael) and then amazing gelato at a shop owned by an Italian. We ended the night with just us girls in my  hotel room talking and laughing for HOURS over a regional drink from where I studied abroad called “Cointreau” and sampling delicious regional caramels Ashley bought me from Normandy, where she’s working as an assistant. Thanks to those girls it was the best birthday night I could imagine being far from home. The next day we wandered around the the Jardin des Tuileries and had lunch with a new friend who’s studying in Paris. Monday I ended up having a wonderful time traveling alone. I was hesitant the night before when I got lost on my way back to the hotel, but it turns out I’m perfectly fine getting around on my own, it’s not that scary, at least not during the day. So, since college I’ve wanted to see Le Pont Mirabeau (a bridge from my favorite French poem by Guillaume Apollinaire) and as I was traveling by myself I decided to just go.
It was a delightful surprise that the bridge ended up having one of the best views I’ve seen in Paris!! In the center of the Seine River was a small island called “Allée des Cygnes,” or Swan Ally, and on this island was of the small replica of the U.S.’s Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower in the distance behind it.

After, I went to the Musée de l’Orangerie that featured Monet’s artwork. I could stare at his paintings all day, they are incredible. I feel so spoiled with looking at beautiful works. Andy and I are going to turn a room in our place next year into a “Monet” room, themed off the color palette used in his waterlily paintings and featuring prints of waterlily paintings I’ve bought in my previous visits to French museums. My one complaint with the Orangerie, besides not having enough of Monet’s work to satisfy my appetite for his art,  is just like at Musée D’Orsay they have Picasso paintings near Monet’s and other impressionist artist’s works. I HATE Picasso’s work and those in that style more than any other besides modern “contemporary” works. I was first exposed to it in elementary school and I have hated it since. I feel relaxed, comforted and reflective when I see impressionist paintings and the opposite happens with Picasso’s works and those like it. At the Orangerie I was in a happy and relaxed state, slowly meandering from room to room lost in thought gazing at impressionistic paintings like Monet’s waterlilies, to turn the corner and immediately felt distressed, alert and

Église de Saint-Eustache

uncomfortable seeing the abstract imaginings of Picasso and artists like him. I don’t understand why anyone enjoys seeing that and even see the beauty in it. The one time I went to Musée D’orsay I went with one of my best friends from 2nd grade and she LOVED Picasso’s work.

Another sight I crossed off my “to-see” list was the Église de Saint-Eustache. This beautiful church has a lot of history. In 1778 Mozart chose to have his mother’s funeral here, the young Louis XIV received communion here, Richelieu, Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, who later became famous as Madame de Pompadour, and Molière were all baptised in this church as children, and later in his life, Molière was also married here.  The architecture in this Renaissance style church is a mix. The construction lasted from 1532-1637 so the church has a gothic silhouette, but a classical façade was added in the XVIIIth century. Also, the church had to be restored in 1840 due to a fire. I much preferred this to my previous favorite church because damn commercialism ruined it.

Notre-Dame became my favorite church back in 2005 when I came with Oregon Ambassadors of Music. That was the first time I felt spiritually connected in a church. I felt overwhelmed and awed as soon as I entered. The sunlight emphasized the intricate stained glass, unlike any I’d ever seen and a gold cross near the center of the church literally glowed from sunlight. I managed to get a picture of the glowing cross and put it on my wall after the trip. As I walked through the candlelit aisle-ways it was right out of the scene in The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and I was Esmeralda, humbly gazing up at the beauty and wonder around me that was constructed to honor God. I made going back to Notre-Dame the last thing I did before heading back to the hotel the night I was going to return to Lille. I went into the church prepared to have the rush of emotions and feeling close to God that I had experienced when I was 17. Instead, as soon as I entered the doors and I ran into the souvenir shop. The first thing I saw inside! I couldn’t find that cross that had touched me years before, and feeling very let-down, I stopped by a candle-lit alter thinking if I could find the place in my heart to pray it wouldn’t be a wasted trip. After finally relaxing I manged to pray

me and the girls back at the hotel. We were going for the "babysitter's club" look

for three people before a tourist knelt next to me to take pictures of the scene. Jesus. I gave up at that. The experience was completely cold and commercialized. If I ever go back to Notre-Dame it’ll be on Monday only so Andy can say he’s seen this renowned piece of Parisian history. So, long story short, when you come to Paris, I recommend Église de Saint-Eustache or the Sacré-Cœur Basilica instead of Notre-Dame if you want any spirituality in the experience.

So Paris was overall a fun experience and remains my favorite French city. My birthday festivities continued the next evening after work when my French flatmates ordered me to go downstairs. They blindfolded me and brought out a cake they had made with candles and I got a birthday wish : ) Such sweet girls. They even got me presents (one was chocolate the spelled out “Joyeuse Anniv” a French abbreviation for “happy birthday.” All the wonderful people who shared my birthday with me made me feel very much at home a continent away from home. Here’s a few pics from that night:

My French Flatmates

My Homemade French Birthday Cake

]]> http://sarahamlerdupras.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/my-24th-birthday-in-paris/feed/ 0 sarahamlerdupras Alex, Ashley and Ellen P1000801 P1000762 P1000743 P1000834 P1000819 http://sarahamlerdupras.wordpress.com/2011/11/13/how-to-look-french/ http://sarahamlerdupras.wordpress.com/2011/11/13/how-to-look-french/#comments Sun, 13 Nov 2011 10:49:46 +0000 sarahamlerdupras http://sarahamlerdupras.wordpress.com/?p=321 ]]> It’s the people, not the clothing or hair that make the French so attractive. I had this realization when I saw a woman on the metro who was absolutely stunning. I immediately looked at her wardrobe thinking if I wore similar clothing or style I could look as good. Her outfit was actually rather ugly, it was HER who made it look good; it wouldn’t look good if anyone less attractive wore it. She was wearing a baggy multi-colored long-sleeve shirt that came past her bum under a long, baggy grey sweater;  one of those “had to have seen” moments. It was simply odd. Anyway, overall more effort seems to go into piecing clothing items together here than most Americans do but it’s the confidence behind the clothing that makes the clothing look good.  So here’s the secret to looking “French beautiful,” yes I figured it out and I’m sharing it with you.

French Style Necessities

• Confidence, wherever you go, whatever you wear, this is a must
• Layers (like over-sized unbuttoned cardigan over a cotton tee or a black or white turtleneck under a cute, black cotton dress)
• A scarf most or all days of the week (except for summer but then silk scarves are appropriate)
• Skinny jeans (or nylons if wearing a skirt or dress) with ballet flats, boots or heels. Tennis shoes are rare
• Dresses and skirts even in the winter, just add more layers
• The bangs haircut that’s straight across the forehead, as opposed to the side bangs, is REALLY popular here. Much more so than I’ve ever seen in the states. I haven’t had that cut since I was in elementary school but the French girls look so cute with it I’m thinking of getting a French cut before I return to the states.
• Simple, natural make-up, if any
• Natural hair color with simple hair styles (either down or pulled back, nothing elaborate). Very few people in their 20’s or younger have dyed hair, it’s not nearly as common as in the US.

Journal entry from le 13 octobre, 2012:

I just saw an Islamic woman running to catch the métro. Usually they look very godly and bored while wearing religious attire that either entirely, or almost completely, covers them including head scarves called hijabs. Anyway, I took great amusement in watching this woman running full tilt toward her ride, pushing that baby-stroller like a bobsled right out of “Cool Runnings” with her long robes swirling behind her feet like fresh snow that has been kicked up and caught in the wind. Definitely not something you get to witness every day. Side-note, I have yet to see anything like that since then.

There’s a lot of North African and Middle Eastern influence here, in the Lille-area and every time I’ve taken the métro I’ve seen at least one Muslim woman wearing a hijab and the other attire. Other proof of the diversity is the large number of delicious kebob shops in the area. Most culturally diverse place I’ve ever been to let alone lived (seems appropriate in 2004 Lille was selected to be the European Capital of Culture due to its diversity).

There were absolutely adorable children on the tram next to me that I described in my journal on October 15th:

The children next to me are absolutely adorable. Blonde with blue eyes and freckles, the mother told me that the little girl is 5 ½ years old and her brother is a few years younger. French children, just like the French adults, are typically dressed up more than those back in the states. The girl is wearing a dark blue pea coat with a little scarf and is sitting very properly in her seat like a doll. There’s a bit of green market left on the boy’s cheek that I can see because he’s standing next to me, looking up at his mother with impish and loving eyes while playing with her purse and practicing counting with her. He’s actually having fun counting and she gently helps when he forgets a number. Seriously, they are melting my heart with their cuteness.

Tartiflette

I succeed in making my first French recipe since arriving in France last night. It’s called “Tartiflette” with potatoes, herbs, crème fraîche and reblochon cheese (French cheese from the Alps region of Haute-Savoie that has the texture of brie, but with more flavor).  A rosé complimented it as did bread from my favorite bakery in Tourcoing.

*Side note: that rarely happens on a day-to day basis. In America, it’s about customer service and putting the customer first, whereas in France they are very proud in their jobs, whatever that job may be, and if there is any problem tell them that it’s always “your” mistake, never theirs/the workers.

My goals between now and May 2012, when my time over here ends are as follows:

1. To improve my accent and my ability to speak and understand French (ideally I hope to be able to speak well enough to have an international job back in the states that uses French and to be able to raise potential kids understanding the language).
2. To continue to be learn more about the culture (this one shouldn’t take any effort. I feel like I’m learning more on this trip than when I studied abroad because I don’t have the support system from the school. I’ve had to be independent and take care of myself which has given me more opportunities to observe the culture here in a new light).
3. To see as much of Europe as I possibly can.

Hopefully my efforts will pay off and in six months from now I can feel successful in achieving my French goals when it’s time to return to the states.

Just Two Random Facts This Time

- “Berger Australien” is what my pup back home is, an Australian Shepherd. Golden retrievers (Bella, my other dog) are the same in French, although I haven’t seen any goldens. Like the streets, cars and portions, the dogs in France are much smaller. I’ve only seen a handful of medium sized dogs and those were no bigger than labs (most of them were in fact black labs).

- There is lots of corn in this region but unlike back home, the corn isn’t as sweet because it’s kept on the stock longer. That’s because it’s mainly grown for livestock, not human consumption.

Classes commenced yesterday, a Thursday- weird. The French schools had been out for almost two weeks for La Toussaint- a Catholic holiday on November 1st but students were on vacation for a longer time period so families could be together. A time of thoughtfulness  and remembering lost loved ones while back in the states children are getting candy and all ages are dressing up. According to my students some French actually go “trick or treating” and one even got money out of it (the house didn’t have candy…). It’s not very common but some do partake in the Anglican tradition.

I took a day-trip over the two week break to Bruges, Belgium. Very romantic city but I would recommend no more than a day trip. Very much the Venice of the north and worth seeing, but there’s only about a day’s worth of sightseeing. I made sure I enjoyed the waffles, beer, chocolate and fries while I was there and yes, these are MUSTS for when you go. They lived up the greatness I’ve heard them described, thank you Belgium. So since there’s  not much to say about the trip, sit back and enjoy the beautiful view- we got lucky and it was sunny!

Bruges is a perfect place for those in love with lots of romantic scenes like this one. I was pretending Andy was with me in this lovely park complete with a fountain and swans

Inside St Christophe

tell how often the bells in Tourcoing ring, but when my windows are open to get fresh air, I can hear the bells play from Sainte Christophe, the neo-gothic church that’s just a five minute walk from where I’m living.  Something about bells ringing from a European cathedral is magical, it’s hard not to smile or feel the child in my heart coming alive. In my mind, I see the city as it might have looked centuries ago or imagine newlyweds joyously walking through the church entrance almost dancing from the excitement set to the soundtrack of those bells. I never saw myself as a “church-wedding” girl. For me personally, I feel more at peace and spiritual in a meadow of flowers and sunlight than in a cold building filled with images from Jesus’ crucifixion. BUT, old European churches are the exception to that. I would happily get married someday in a cathedral or church in Europe. Fantastic acoustics, when the light hits the delicate stained glass, gold decor and massive architecture filled with intricate designs, the interior becomes this place of astonishing beauty and soft rainbows blanketing hard floor. With this sight and the sound of music echoing in the well-designed acoustics the effects are completely overwhelming and yet I feel at peace at the same time. Another

Close-Up

factor that adds to the effect is the sound played from those ancient bells. Everything about these churches highlights romanticism, beauty, being awe inspiring and the majesty of God. In a place of such beauty and heart, who wouldn’t want to pray or get married here? Being inside I have to make continuous mental notes to not start singing to the rafters and let all the emotions inside of me take over, seeking song or dance to release them.

St Christophe

I also appreciate the history of each European church. People have been seeking refuge in them since before the United States existed. Weird to think about, right? The sounds from the bell tower in Saint Christophe aren’t simply bells, but they are carillon. This bell tower is a historical monument from the 16th century and it was enlarged in 1991. I don’t know the melodies, but wherever I am when I hear the carillon from the cathedral, I can’t help but turn my rambling thoughts off to simply listen and let the pictures in my imagination go like I’m opening a storybook. Tourcoing has gone through extreme changes over the centuries, but the bells keep ringing. Before the year 1000 Christians came here to this church to pray.

A carillon consists of at least 23 cast bronze bells that are tuned in chromatic order and played from a keyboard. Most carillons encompass three to four octaves but the bell tower in Sainte Christophe has 5 octaves and there are 61 bells. The greatest concentration of carillons is in Northern France and neighboring countries, the Netherlands and Belgium.  The carillon originated in Flanders 1480 so it makes sense it’s still only in this region. If you would like more information about the carillon, click here.

In Lille, the carillon plays “Ode de Joy” every 30 minutes from the bell tower, called the Belfry of Lille. The Belfry of Lille was established to warm when invaders were coming (keep in mind it has been the most sieged city in France). Each town has its own melody and only one town hall or church in each town has the carillon- the others just have regular bells.

The Belfry of Lille

First off, entertaining info that involve the names of the two men most dear to my heart: Kevin and Keck (my Dad and boyfriend). For what I’m about to share I’m glad they both have humor like mine.

If someone is essentially embarrassing/inappropriate (around here they typically partake in karaoke- it’s not appreciated like it is back home or maybe Christine and I are just special) and here’s the key, if he or she wants to appear American/speak English but totally fails he or she is pulling a “Kevin,” or Kéké (sounds like kk) for short. It’s a familiar term used at least up here in the north. Now, I mentioned my boyfriend’s last name to my two new German friends the day I met them and they started laughing. Not too reassuring. Turns out Keck in German means “fool” and it is used for people who are annoying. The phrase actually used in Germany is “du Keck”- or “you fool.”  Those are the only names that have other meanings in these cultures so I find it ironic that it’s the names of the two most important men in my life.

Random Facts I’ve Learned in My  First Week Living Here:

• Book stores = librarie BUT libraries are called biblioteques
• hard liquor is referred to as “l’eau de vie” (water of life)
  

  remains from wind mills

• “Pain perdu” is French toast (literally means lost bread probably because it’s typically made with old bread).
•  Lille got it’s name because it was island-like back when it got its name due to canals and rivers running through the city
• Charles de Gaulle is from Lille
• Ch’ti (sh-tea) is a dialect in the region; it’s more French than Flemish.
• French fries started in Brussels. The villagers were out of fish so they cut potatoes into the fish-sized pieces to temp. replace the fish. Thus, french fries were born (they’re called frites in French).
•  There used to be over 300 mills 150 years ago but there are no working ones today
• Lille has been the most sieged city in all of France
• The first subway (mètro) in the world was in Lille
• Germany has the #1 economy in Europe

with Alex on the remains of the 1st courthouse's pillars

On September 29 a French friend named Tib gave me and our friend Alex a tour. Here were some things I learned: 1,000 years ago a church was destroyed and a courthouse was built in its place next to the water. It was destroyed and an uglier courthouse was built in its place. It was thought to be the ugliest courthouse in the north of France. The crypt from the old church is still under the courthouse and it’s opened to the public two days a year.  There’s talk of destroying the “ugly” courthouse because it threatens to collapse.

Tib explaining the "star" design

The Citadel

Random note, agricultural business is France’s biggest industry. Farming and transformation of food products and the science of preservation. Also, each French region has its own specialties (in case you didn’t already know that).
The Citadel fort was built between 1667 and 1670 on the orders of Louis XIV upon conquering the city. With the fort’s completion it formed a double line of strongholds reaching from the North Sea to the Meuse to protect French borders. The base is star-shaped because the angles made it harder for canons to bring it down and get through. Really a brilliant combination of art and architecture. The French base in Lille is currently being used by the NATO Rapid Deployment Corps-France.

Louise XIV made Lille French. It was Flemish before he conquered the city but because it became part of France later than a lot of other cities is has, and has retained, a lot of Flemish influences. For example, the typical “Parisian” look for houses are those of stones and like that below (on left), whereas all the brick homes here have the Flemish look (see below right). I personally prefer the traditional “Parisian” look, but Alex prefers the Flemish look so I guess there’s something for everyone in Lille I just adore the flowers in the windows. When I have my own place I want to do that- it’s just lovely.

I LOVE the traditional houses

The Flemish "Look"

Rose from Andy after making it to DC

Cute story that depicts the beginning of my travels on this trip.  After staying with me until midnight my last night in the states, Andy left a rose on my Mum’s van at 4 am so I could take it with me and have something nice to look at while I traveled. This poor rose survived the flight to DC, an international flight to Iceland and poked its head from my backpack as I went through securities, lines for everything and a third flight into Paris. From there there was the train ride and walking around the city completely lost. It survived! Resilient little thing. It was very comforting to look at and it was a good topic of conversation. Primarily women, but on one international flight a man sitting next to his wife stopped me when I was getting my bag from the overhead to ask me if it was from someone special and he was impressed when I told him it came all the way from Oregon.

So it made it to the hotel room in France, mostly together and it had even retained its scent. From

First Night in Frace View from the Hotel Room

that hotel room on,  it stayed next to my bed as a symbol of home. So things have calmed down from the excitement of not knowing I had a second school and them not knowing they had an assistant- surprise! And now, beginning of my third week living in France, I have a place to live so I can finally stop living out of my suitcase. I spent week #2 staying with two lovely girls about my age in a town called Roubaix outside of Lille. They were lots of fun and I’ve gained two new friends Prayers were definitely answered in staying with them and again with having a room in a house in Tourcoing.

It’s been a week since writing that much and I’m coming back to my blog. I’m about to start week 4 and I very much like my new living situation. The rose was my very first decoration in the room and it’s next home will be back in the states- I’m going to have Andy safely bring it back with him when he visits in December.

Final Shot, next stop back to the US

I was really sick for over a week but I’m back on my feet and this past Wednesday  I had a really fun outing with some new friends to get this ball coverings for lights. They are very cool. The colors I selected are based off Monet’s waterlilies (when I get back to the states that’s going to be the theme of my room). Below, that’s my room and I’ll be cozy here until the end of April when I get spring break for two weeks and then head home. In case you’re wondering what’s next to my pillows and below the pictures, those would be French verb conjugations

My French Room (look how cool those ball lights are!)

There are three French university students who live here too and they are good flatmates. I’m very much looking forward to getting to know them better. From the little time I’ve had to spend with them they were very welcoming, kind and patient with me as I expand my vocabulary and work on my pronunciation so we can communicate. I only speak French with them and my landlord so 10 out of 10 on immersion; this is great for me to make improvement. One of my flatmates speaks some English, my first night here she mentioned that she had visited the US once before and wants to study abroad her junior year at the university (yeah!!). When she does I’m going to be on a mission to convince her the wine in the west coast of the US is equal to that in France (for example, I prefer red wine in the Loire Valley, and white wine in the Willamette Valley).

The flat is a 5 minute walk from the metro/tram which I take whenever I want to go to Lille (Tourcoing is 30 minutes north by metro), a 10 minute walk to Marie Curie (one of my schools) and a 40 minute walk (I timed it on Friday, it was such a beautiful day) to my other school, Lucie Aubrac. For the latter I will typically use the bus. I’m going to start going to service in the beautiful

View from my bathroom, it's just above the garden

cathedral in town to hear the acoustics and listen to the language, but writing about the cathedral, that’s a different post to come. I watched my first French movie in a French cinema yesterday.  I loved it!! It was super cute. I’m hooked on the music now. “Un monstre à Paris,” you can see a clip here.

Garden View from Outside Bathroom Window

A fun term I learned today is to “parler yaourt,” which means to “speak yogurt.” It’s used to describe the French who make sounds to try to sound like Americans, but they aren’t actually speaking words. It’s typically heard when singing, which I’d believe. During my study abroad a few tween boys were singing “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” but weren’t really saying the words, just repeating the sounds they heard- I love the yogurt imagery. America music and fashion are very popular here. I’m down the street from a clothing line called “The New Yorker” that sports clothes that I assume are supposed to be what the French think New Yorkers dress like but I have yet to see any American dress like those mannequins.

One of My Two Schools

Getting to the hotel was a disaster. To put the long story into a nutshell, the staff at my hotel don’t work on weekends (surprise!) so arriving on a Sunday was a mistake. I was locked outside with no way in, no room information, just my suitcase. The payphone wasn’t accepting my phone card and I was alone with no where to go and no one to turn to after about 24 hours of straight traveling and only the nuts my aunt gave me for the plane. A kind stranger (who I found out later is a student in Lille from Morocco) found me crying next to the pay phone and decided to take the time to help so by 8:45pm, almost 4 hours after arriving in Lille I was in my room and had a baguette and cheese for my meal for the day.

So Monday, my first full day in Lille, I introduced myself to my main school and then spent my afternoon walking the streets looking for a place to live in Lille. All the signs that said rent were just for businesses but the Lille Tourism bureau was able to give me a brochure on housing that I’ve been going through. After that I took a break when I found a cafe called “Le Pain Quotidien” that looked like a cute place to eat. The baguette and cheese I had as my one meal yesterday also served as breakfast today so I was famished and that smoked chicken with freshly shredded Parmesan over greenery hit the spot.

My first meal in Lille. My journal that goes every where with me is next to the food

It only took me three months to figure out how to get the French people in Angers to warm up to me, but I found the secret this morning! I bought yarn yesterday so I can knit on the plane ride home to avoid boredom and I randomly decided to knit on the bus knitting. Not only did EVERY older woman on the bus beam at me, but the older woman next to me talked to me about knitting and I could finally practice my French with strangers. I’ve been trying to start “small talk” everywhere during my time here and was continually given the cold shoulder by strangers until this bus ride. An older man smiled at me before he got off the bus and told me that my knitting reminded him of his mother. It was wonderful, FINALLY!

My favorite spot in Angers (when it wasn't raining)

Beyonce came on the show “Star Academy” last Friday, as well as Enrique Iglesias and Jason Mraz. Beyonce represented the states better than Brittany Speares had (surprise surprise) in her conversation with the host after her performance. I think the main difference in Beyonce’s word choice in her answers to his questions and her presentation as she displayed poise and class. One part of the show was unlike anything I’d seen on a serious TV show before: during the judges reviews and feedback after a performance the two blond women judges got into a verbal cat fight. They were completely inappropriate in their behavior and sudden lack of maturity and the poor male host tried desperately in vain to gain control of the situation and keep the show going. It was really entertaining.

Peacoats are the mode (thing/fashion) here for men, women and children on a daily basis. A number of women wear white pea-coats, which I think look very chic, and almost all the peacoats, especially for the women, have belts around the waist. Most people back home wear heavy, practical coats or snow jackets during winter on a day-to-day basis; few men sport the peacoat and women primarily only do when dressing up. I can’t imagine pairing a peacoat with my sweats and flip flops, but then again I haven’t seen sweats or flip flops worn here. The men’s jackets and peacoats here play down the shoulders of men, making them look narrower and the overall build appearing even more petite than they already are. Back home (men, correct me if I’m wrong) men’s jackets/coats are designed to have the opposite effect- they play up the shoulders, making them look broader (and in my opinion more masculine). I think this may go back to that statement I made weeks ago about things being big in the states is important (big cars, hamburgers, buildings, shoes, houses etc.) whereas here most things are small; or played down (tiny roads, simple meals, small homes, etc.)

In my classes we’re been countering the holiday happiness with reminders that many people are suffering, enduring hardships and many hate this time of year. It’s not cheery, but it’s reality and I wanted to share a few statistics with you, some of which I was not aware of:
*300-400 people currently live under a tent in Paris because they lack a house for a home
*130,000 people in France are positive for HIV
*In France 5,000 people are contaminated with that virus a year

Other Info from Class Discussions:
*French in general have good ideas, but then don’t run with them because of their fear for mistakes so others get the credit. One example is a Frenchman developed the I-pod in the 1990s at a quality good enough to sell, but the banks wouldn’t take a chance on it so someone in a different country got the fame.

*In Quebec, the French accent is different than that in France. For example, the Rs are rolled, but this is also done in some French country towns, there’s a “z” sound at the end of “d”s and an “s” sound at the end of “t”s.
*In Quebec French the tip is called “le tip” (from English) and in France it’s “le pourboir.” Tips are included in the price of food, so paying additional money for a tip is optional in France, but not optional in Quebec.

In closing, after living in France for three months I think I will want to live primarily in the United States after I start my career, but I still learned and used aspects of French culture here that I’m taking back with me: my new connoisseur skills for good wine, chocolate and cheese, use the beautiful French language whenever I can, read French books and, if God so decides, if I have children in my future I would like to speak and incorporate the language with them at a young age so they can have a head start later in life if they decide to pursue a language. The simple, yet well thought out meals is another trait that I appreciate. On that, there are facets of my life with my parents, especially with meal time, which I didn’t realize are French until I lived here. I value them and want to follow my mum in these ways such as frequently eating baguettes, a lot of fruits and veggies, good and a variety of cheeses, almost only all homemade foods and only fresh foods. Also making a big deal about the “ambiance” and “presentation” of special meals. Meal time is about everyone being at the table and enjoying each others company with good conversation instead of eating in front of the TV or stuffing quickly and leaving the table. I’ve developed even more appreciation for my mum and her French ways being over here. Finally, the last bit of French culture I’m planning on bring back is the great fashion I saw here- we’ll see how long that lasts before the flip flops and comfy sweats return

Thanksgiving was celebrated by my international program. It was much more formal that home Thanksgivings; it was like Thanksgiving celebrated in the states,  only French-style. We started out with a drink that’s like champagne, but more bubbly and made in Angers (city of my home-stay). The turkey was served in slices with green stuffing over them and an optional cream sauce to pour on top. Of course, as custom here, everything came in courses. Between dinner and dessert I provided “entertainment” by singing “Somewhere Out There” in French and then later before the holiday celebration was over I took the mic again and sang “La Vie En Rose.” That was one of my favorite moments on this trip. The majority of the French host parents are between 50 and 80 years of age, so this song (originally sang by Edith Piaf) is close to their hearts, or at least is well known. A few women started singing with me and I encouraged everyone to join. Each time the chorus came up every French person in the audience sang with me in unison. A friend told me after the song how great that moment was “for everyone” because it turned the night from being formal and stiff, to a warming bond before everyone left for the night. It never fails to amaze me how music has the gift of bringing strangers together.

Random trivia:

MY FAVORITE FACT-
*In French, the literal translation for sprinkles is mouse poop.
*The police fine 100£ to those being loud after 11pm any night of the week.
*Before Internet access, in France it was averaged that people would hear a song on the radio 13 times and then purchase the CD.
*Chérie FM 105.1, NRJ (pronounced “energy”) and Skyrock are three radio stations in France that are popular with the young French.
*More French women smoke than men.
*Toast sayings (spelled phonetically): chin chin (France) Prost (Germany).
*Everyone at the dining table is supposed to put their hands on the table to ensure nothing is going on under the table where their hands can’t be watched.
*More dining table info; the “maitresse” (head women because traditionally that’s the cook in the family) starts eating first and everyone follows her, or she will tell the other members to go ahead and start as soon as you get food (and in that case it’s rude if you wait).
*It’s a French tradition to hold a small party when one moves into a new home (house warming party). It’s called “prendre la crémaillère.” Interesting phrase because the word “crémaillère” is the name for the hook in the chimney that supports pots or kettles over the fire.
*Potlucks are not done or are very rare in France. If you have a party you’re expected to provide everything, including all the food, yourself.
*Instead of the American “piggy bank” the French use a squirrel (un écureuil) to store their money.
*Wedding dinners can last about 6-8 hours of eating time alone! Traditionally dinners are long here so wedding/special occasion dinners take forever.
*In Normandy an oyster-type sea creature is eaten alive- another French specialty.
*Also in Normandy one dish traditionally eaten here is pig intestines.
*Horses are really important in Normandy. Yearlings (1 year-old horse) are shown in a large city here and are sold at exceptional prices; sometimes one yearling is bought for one million euros.
*I forgot to add this to my e-mail during the election: Obama’s slogan was “Oui, nous pouvons” and McCain’s was “D’abord, le nation.”
*The French word “liberalism” means the equivalent of the English word “capitalism” and “libre” means liberal views.
*Ironique (sounds like the English word ironic) doesn’t mean ironic, but instead “sarcastic” (I was corrected on this a few weeks ago).

On that note, (by the way that word, pronounced noté (photetically, note-ay) is often used in place of “encore” here after performances; note also means grade here).