J'ai passé un bon week-end = I had a good weekend. Did you?
I was scheduled off on Thursday because Vanessa was still on her trip. I got bored and picked up an hour with Julie, then worked my normal hour on Friday with Jocelyne.
I got to ride in a British car. On French roads. Jaguars are British cars, at least they used to be before Ford bought them anyway, so you're probably thinking, "Big deal, Alicia. Why should we care?" You should care because it was an American car, a Ford Escort to be exact, designed for British roads, meaning the driver's side is on what we know as the passenger's side.
I rode shotgun in a London taxi nearly 8 years ago. I'm sure I would have been terrified had I been able to see. But, thanks to an unfortunate incident with my contact lenses, I was unable to see and kept my eyes closed for the entire drive.
Anyway, I had this interesting driving experience in Jocelyne's vehicle. On Saturday, we went to Caen for lunch and did a little browsing and window shopping. Then we went to Julie's house for coffee and dessert before heading to the movie theater in Thury-Harcourt. The theater there shows films in V.O. (version originale). So, if it's an American film, the movie is in English with French subtitles. We saw Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Woody Allen's latest release. I had a really good time.
Sunday was spent relaxing, nothing interesting to report there. Except that I now have a shower curtain. Marie-André brought it by and told me that she had ordered a dresser for my room as well. Hopefully the workers will put the shower curtain up in the next few days and the dresser should arrive next week.
They have Black Santas and snowmen in the grocery store! Not really. They're chocolate Santas and snowmen without coloring, except for Santa's beard which is white, so they look Black to me. I think I'll buy some soon...
Bises,
Mlle. Alicia
Monday, November 17, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
I'm thinking I don't really like French doctors...
Bonjour mes amis!
I had my mandatory government-ordered medical exam this morning and boy was it an experience. I'll spare you the icky details and just say that it was a lot of unnecessary disrobing and each assistant was equally displeased with his or her experience. I did, however, leave Caen with a souvenir chest X-ray and the next critical step to getting my carte de séjour.
The medical visit allowed me to make some new friends. I found out that the English assistants were divided into two groups for the purposes of our orientation meeting and I met most of the others today in the waiting room.
How was Barack Obama Week for everyone? Mine was uneventful. I did a lot of cleaning and laundry and spent a lot of time inside reading Pearl Cleage novels because it was too rainy and too cold to walk anywhere.
I look at these trees every day from my bedroom window. This is my true California showing but it amazes me. In school we always learned that seasons change and leaves fall from the trees and then the trees are naked for winter. Growing up in Southern California doesn't really afford one the opportunity to see this in action, and I clearly missed it in Atlanta, but these trees were fully covered when I first arrived here. Now they're almost bare.
I've had a couple questions posed about laundry. When I first got to the apartment, Mommy and I couldn't figure out how to use the washing machine, which sits right next to the refrigerator. Here are a couple pictures:
The first picture is what Mommy and I discovered when we opened the two lids that this particular machine has. There is a drum inside, similar to our machines at home, but it's oriented differently and latches closed. We initially weren't sure if the clothes were supposed to wash on the outside of the drum, thus limiting the size of the load, or if it was supposed to open and how. I've since been in several homes with the same style of machine so I'm assuming it's standard here. Dryers tend to be luxury items here, so I have to hang my clothes when they're done in the wash. We've set up one of the spare bedrooms as a sort of laundry room. The drying rack and iron are both found in it. The rack is about my height with several collapsible levels to suit the needs of the day. Those are my purple sheets hanging to dry.
I'm not working again until Friday, and only an hour at that. Hopefully it doesn't rain and I can go to the park for a while. I'm afraid I'm getting a little too acclimated to the climate here in Normandy. Most days don't feel as cold as they did when I first arrived and I haven't used my heater in over a week.
Bises,
Mlle. Alicia
I had my mandatory government-ordered medical exam this morning and boy was it an experience. I'll spare you the icky details and just say that it was a lot of unnecessary disrobing and each assistant was equally displeased with his or her experience. I did, however, leave Caen with a souvenir chest X-ray and the next critical step to getting my carte de séjour.
The medical visit allowed me to make some new friends. I found out that the English assistants were divided into two groups for the purposes of our orientation meeting and I met most of the others today in the waiting room.
How was Barack Obama Week for everyone? Mine was uneventful. I did a lot of cleaning and laundry and spent a lot of time inside reading Pearl Cleage novels because it was too rainy and too cold to walk anywhere.
I look at these trees every day from my bedroom window. This is my true California showing but it amazes me. In school we always learned that seasons change and leaves fall from the trees and then the trees are naked for winter. Growing up in Southern California doesn't really afford one the opportunity to see this in action, and I clearly missed it in Atlanta, but these trees were fully covered when I first arrived here. Now they're almost bare.I've had a couple questions posed about laundry. When I first got to the apartment, Mommy and I couldn't figure out how to use the washing machine, which sits right next to the refrigerator. Here are a couple pictures:
The first picture is what Mommy and I discovered when we opened the two lids that this particular machine has. There is a drum inside, similar to our machines at home, but it's oriented differently and latches closed. We initially weren't sure if the clothes were supposed to wash on the outside of the drum, thus limiting the size of the load, or if it was supposed to open and how. I've since been in several homes with the same style of machine so I'm assuming it's standard here. Dryers tend to be luxury items here, so I have to hang my clothes when they're done in the wash. We've set up one of the spare bedrooms as a sort of laundry room. The drying rack and iron are both found in it. The rack is about my height with several collapsible levels to suit the needs of the day. Those are my purple sheets hanging to dry.I'm not working again until Friday, and only an hour at that. Hopefully it doesn't rain and I can go to the park for a while. I'm afraid I'm getting a little too acclimated to the climate here in Normandy. Most days don't feel as cold as they did when I first arrived and I haven't used my heater in over a week.
Bises,
Mlle. Alicia
Thursday, November 6, 2008
In Honor of Barack Obama Week...
I was serious about taking a week off. And I really was scheduled off for today, but then Corinne had an idea and I liked it.
Corinne had me come to two of her classes this evening to work on reading comprehension exercises using Obama's acceptance speech from Tuesday night. It was great. It was great for me anyway, the students did not seem to care at all and put forth very little effort which was mildly disappointing. However, they did randomly cheer "O-Ba-Ma!"
By the way, I've now watched the speech at least 7 times on YouTube. Now I'm looking for the family interview that airs in four parts on Entertainment Tonight. Let me know if any of you have it.
After I work one hour early tomorrow morning, I'm back to not working until Wednesday. Actually, I have a doctor's appointment in Caen on Wednesday morning, so I won't have to work again until Thursday.
Bises,
Mlle. Alicia
Corinne had me come to two of her classes this evening to work on reading comprehension exercises using Obama's acceptance speech from Tuesday night. It was great. It was great for me anyway, the students did not seem to care at all and put forth very little effort which was mildly disappointing. However, they did randomly cheer "O-Ba-Ma!"
By the way, I've now watched the speech at least 7 times on YouTube. Now I'm looking for the family interview that airs in four parts on Entertainment Tonight. Let me know if any of you have it.
After I work one hour early tomorrow morning, I'm back to not working until Wednesday. Actually, I have a doctor's appointment in Caen on Wednesday morning, so I won't have to work again until Thursday.
Bises,
Mlle. Alicia
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Oui, nous pouvons!
The title of this blog is the French version of Obama's campaign slogan, which many are chanting today.
I got up early this morning to watch the live feed from MSNBC online. I've made no secret of my reservations concerning Obama, not because I've ever found him unimpressive, but I still felt the country wasn't ready and the public will be overly critical of everything he does, especially given the challenges this administration will inherit from W. Be that as it may, I am ecstatic. And tearful and wishing I was at home to celebrate with everyone else. At only 22 years old, I never thought I would be alive to witness this, so I can't even begin to imagine what those in the previous generation are currently thinking. The idea is overwhelming.
Obama has kept this in perspective. In his speech from Chicago last night, he reminded us that the victory alone is not the change we need, but what we do with that victory will determine the course of the change we seek. There are a lot of changes that will follow this event, and we'll have to work hard to ensure that they are all positive, but for now I'll just enjoy the beauty of this moment.
Here are some of today's headlines from the French press:
I have not met a single McCain supporter since my arrival in France. I know that generally the world is dissatisfied with Bush and McCain was viewed as Bush revisited. But no one has told me specifically why they support Barack Obama.
I have had virtually no interaction with Blacks in France because I live in the countryside, but Paris has a large Black population. I found an article this morning about the Black French response to Obama's victory and pulled out the following quote:
Many gathered in Paris to celebrate Obama's victory, but it seems doubtful that the event will affect the status of Blacks in France. Patrick Lozes, who heads the Representative Council of Black Associations (CRAN), France's leading Black advocacy group, was quoted as saying, "Barack Obama is not going to change the lives of the black community in France."
That's all for now. I'll be taking a holiday and not working again until next Wednesday in observance of what I am declaring "Barack Obama Week." Just kidding, but I do have a truncated schedule because I only have one hour each day for the rest of the week and Monday and Tuesday are yet another holiday so school is closed.
Grosses bises,
Mlle. Alicia
I got up early this morning to watch the live feed from MSNBC online. I've made no secret of my reservations concerning Obama, not because I've ever found him unimpressive, but I still felt the country wasn't ready and the public will be overly critical of everything he does, especially given the challenges this administration will inherit from W. Be that as it may, I am ecstatic. And tearful and wishing I was at home to celebrate with everyone else. At only 22 years old, I never thought I would be alive to witness this, so I can't even begin to imagine what those in the previous generation are currently thinking. The idea is overwhelming.
Obama has kept this in perspective. In his speech from Chicago last night, he reminded us that the victory alone is not the change we need, but what we do with that victory will determine the course of the change we seek. There are a lot of changes that will follow this event, and we'll have to work hard to ensure that they are all positive, but for now I'll just enjoy the beauty of this moment.
Here are some of today's headlines from the French press:
- La presse française en plein "rêve américain"
- "Oui nous l'avons fait", à
- Obama élu: la fille de Luther King affirme que son père "aurait été fier"
- George W. Bush félicite Barack Obama
- Amère déception chez les partisans de John McCain
- Les démocrates s'assurent une confortable majorité au Congrès
- Barack Obama: le rêve américain est vivant
- Barack Obama promet le changement et appelle à l'unité
I have not met a single McCain supporter since my arrival in France. I know that generally the world is dissatisfied with Bush and McCain was viewed as Bush revisited. But no one has told me specifically why they support Barack Obama.
I have had virtually no interaction with Blacks in France because I live in the countryside, but Paris has a large Black population. I found an article this morning about the Black French response to Obama's victory and pulled out the following quote:
"While black pride over Obama's extraordinary journey was on full display, supporters admitted they would probably not see a French Barack Obama move into the Elysee Palace presidential office any time soon... France, which abolished slavery nearly 20 years before the United States, prides itself as a colour-blind nation that welcomes anyone who wants to be French and blend into the mainstream. Home to Europe's biggest Muslim population and one of the continent's largest black communities, France is also ruled by an overwhelmingly white political establishment."
Many gathered in Paris to celebrate Obama's victory, but it seems doubtful that the event will affect the status of Blacks in France. Patrick Lozes, who heads the Representative Council of Black Associations (CRAN), France's leading Black advocacy group, was quoted as saying, "Barack Obama is not going to change the lives of the black community in France."
That's all for now. I'll be taking a holiday and not working again until next Wednesday in observance of what I am declaring "Barack Obama Week." Just kidding, but I do have a truncated schedule because I only have one hour each day for the rest of the week and Monday and Tuesday are yet another holiday so school is closed.
Grosses bises,
Mlle. Alicia
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Mes premières vacances : le Chapitre Final
Bonjour mes amis!
And Happy Election Day as well. I'm just checking in to tell you about the rest of my vacation time.
On Thursday evening, Corinne picked me up and we drove out to La Manche. Our first stop was her brother-in-law's house, where her husband was helping his brother out with some work. They have an impressive DVD collection a lot of the artwork on the walls are movie freeze frames. Apparently Alban is a huge movie buff. Next we went to Corinne's mother's old home where we picked up Kiki who had been doing work at that house. They're painting and things of that nature so that they can start renting it out soon.
With all of the work being done on various houses, I was pretty much on my own. It afforded me some days of relaxation in the French countryside, with Wi-Fi that didn't require me to bundle up when I was ready to go online.
On Friday, Corinne left the car for me and her niece Manon, who is 17. In France, you must be 18 to drive, so Manon does not yet have a license. She does, however, have a permit that allows her to drive under adult supervision. You know how drivers' training vehicles are clearly marked in the U.S.? Well, the French do something similar. If you're operating a motor vehicle with a permit, there is a large decal that you must place on the back of your car. It has a 
drawing of a 2 people in a car, essentially indicating "accompanied minor". For the first 2 years that you have a license in France, you're required to drive with a similar sticker that has the letter "A" on it. There's also some convoluted driving point system that involves 12 points total and you only have 6 when you first get your license.
Anyway, Manon and I drove around for a while and went into the town of Coutances. There's some nice shopping there and really big church that she told me is the only cathedral in Normandy. By the time we headed back to the house, it was dark and I was scared. There are absolutely no lights out here, and I mean none. People complain about driving to Elan Lane at night because of how dark it is, but it doesn't even compare to these French roads, most of which aren't even paved.
On Saturday, we went to Corinne's aunt's house for a family dinner, a birthday celebration. One of Corinne's cousins turned 21. I keep forgetting to ask if there is some significance in turning 21 or if they just celebrate his birthday every year and it conveniently falls around the All Saints' Holiday. We celebrate 21 in the United States because you can legally drink and you're supposedly an adult at that point. In France, that seems like it should all arrive at age 18. You can smoke at 16, and drink and drive (not necessarily together) at 18.
Anyway, the picture to the left is the dinner table, which was full and an additional place was added for a latecomer. I really enjoyed being around so many happy, laughing people as they ate and drank and enjoyed one another's company. Yet, once again, I was extremely homesick. And after a while, I was exhausted. It's difficult enough to be at one of our family dinners and keep track of all the various conversations. My French comprehension is pretty good, but not perfect and sometimes I just got lost in all that was going on.
I have a new favorite drink, for who are keeping track of my favorite things here in France. It's called a Kir Normand. Normandy, specifically Calvados, is known for apples which are used to create the famous brandies and ciders of the region. A Kir Normand is cider with Cassis. I prefer the sweet ciders, but the brut isn't too bad either. I had two of these Saturday night...
Anyway, I'm back in Condé now. We return to class tomorrow and I'll be up earlier than usual to check election results. You'll probably hear from me tomorrow when I report the French response to the new president of the United States of America. Here's to Obama!
Bises,
Mlle. Alicia
And Happy Election Day as well. I'm just checking in to tell you about the rest of my vacation time.
On Thursday evening, Corinne picked me up and we drove out to La Manche. Our first stop was her brother-in-law's house, where her husband was helping his brother out with some work. They have an impressive DVD collection a lot of the artwork on the walls are movie freeze frames. Apparently Alban is a huge movie buff. Next we went to Corinne's mother's old home where we picked up Kiki who had been doing work at that house. They're painting and things of that nature so that they can start renting it out soon.
With all of the work being done on various houses, I was pretty much on my own. It afforded me some days of relaxation in the French countryside, with Wi-Fi that didn't require me to bundle up when I was ready to go online.
On Friday, Corinne left the car for me and her niece Manon, who is 17. In France, you must be 18 to drive, so Manon does not yet have a license. She does, however, have a permit that allows her to drive under adult supervision. You know how drivers' training vehicles are clearly marked in the U.S.? Well, the French do something similar. If you're operating a motor vehicle with a permit, there is a large decal that you must place on the back of your car. It has a 
drawing of a 2 people in a car, essentially indicating "accompanied minor". For the first 2 years that you have a license in France, you're required to drive with a similar sticker that has the letter "A" on it. There's also some convoluted driving point system that involves 12 points total and you only have 6 when you first get your license.
Anyway, Manon and I drove around for a while and went into the town of Coutances. There's some nice shopping there and really big church that she told me is the only cathedral in Normandy. By the time we headed back to the house, it was dark and I was scared. There are absolutely no lights out here, and I mean none. People complain about driving to Elan Lane at night because of how dark it is, but it doesn't even compare to these French roads, most of which aren't even paved.On Saturday, we went to Corinne's aunt's house for a family dinner, a birthday celebration. One of Corinne's cousins turned 21. I keep forgetting to ask if there is some significance in turning 21 or if they just celebrate his birthday every year and it conveniently falls around the All Saints' Holiday. We celebrate 21 in the United States because you can legally drink and you're supposedly an adult at that point. In France, that seems like it should all arrive at age 18. You can smoke at 16, and drink and drive (not necessarily together) at 18.
Anyway, the picture to the left is the dinner table, which was full and an additional place was added for a latecomer. I really enjoyed being around so many happy, laughing people as they ate and drank and enjoyed one another's company. Yet, once again, I was extremely homesick. And after a while, I was exhausted. It's difficult enough to be at one of our family dinners and keep track of all the various conversations. My French comprehension is pretty good, but not perfect and sometimes I just got lost in all that was going on.
I have a new favorite drink, for who are keeping track of my favorite things here in France. It's called a Kir Normand. Normandy, specifically Calvados, is known for apples which are used to create the famous brandies and ciders of the region. A Kir Normand is cider with Cassis. I prefer the sweet ciders, but the brut isn't too bad either. I had two of these Saturday night...Anyway, I'm back in Condé now. We return to class tomorrow and I'll be up earlier than usual to check election results. You'll probably hear from me tomorrow when I report the French response to the new president of the United States of America. Here's to Obama!
Bises,
Mlle. Alicia
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