observations

So it's been almost a month now, and I think I'm finally getting the hang of this French thing. Except, everyone wants to speak English with "the Americans." (And everywhere we go, we're "the Americans." I hope this stops as I get to know more French people and practice "blending in" Dear, please God, let me meet French people in my classes) While walking home one day, a man on a bike heard a bunch of us talking, he stopped us and talked just to practice his English. He was so excited, "English?! English?! Why are you in Bordeaux?" That is the real question everyone asks, "WHY WOULD YOU GO TO BORDEAUX!? TO STUDY?! NO WAY!" I have been asked by les Bordealais "Why not Paris?" I guess the CA equivalent would be like going to UC Merced to study English. Yeah, it's not the biggest school, but it's near some stuff in CA, right? (OK, OK, enough with the Merced jokes, it's a fine institution...) Also, class is finally starting! At this point, I don't have class on Monday or Friday, I really hope I can understand my professors well enough not to have to change anything around!

In other news, I'm going to Paris this coming weekend (I have to take advantage of my 4 day weekends)! I have also booked a flight to Brussels for the weekend of my birthday. Mmmm, chocolat et moules-frites. So excited. And now, a little list of observations/updates and things, because I've learned a lot in the last month or so....

1. This song is EVERYWHERE. There's also an extended version, for those of you that want a little more accordion. I hear it on the streets, and in most stores; that and Ke$ha, Lady Gaga, Jay-Z, basically if it's American, it's on the airwaves. There's nothing like French girls singing Ke$ha, "Wek up een zhe mohrneeng feeleeng like p. didi..." (Just the regular version, though, no French here)

2. Already observed but the French system for class sign-ups is a little outdated....

Here we are signing up for classes, writing our names on pieces of paper in a classroom.

3. People who go to Bordeaux to study abroad tend to end up back in Bordeaux. I have met several people who work in Bordeaux who ask, "American?" and then continue with "I did EAP! And then I moved back here!" Last night, I met a fellow Bruin who did EAP, and then came back and now teaches at the University of Bordeaux.

4. French girls all wear cowboy boots. It's cowboy boots, with black sheer nylons, some dress or skirt, and a coat that near covers the entire dress or skirt. I would be freezing. I have to wear SO MANY LAYERS here. I don't know how they do it.

5. There is no "American Coffee" equivalent in France. At least, not in the cafés...There is nothing that is the same size at all! A large cup in France is smaller than a small cup at Peets! Granted, this is because here, "un café" will get you an espresso, and "un grand café" will get you a double espresso. All I want is to hold something warm AND be awake! So far, my best bet is the "Grande Crème" it's just a café au lait, but at this one place, it is served in a mug. A mug! I have small hands, but still the little espressos are so small! It's like playing tea party again, as I try to daintily sip espresso, a la francaise, when really, all I want is caffeine. now.

6. There are numerologists in my kitchen. They are divinating as we speak. Two of them are staying with us in our apartment. What is numerology, you might ask? Well, I'm not quite sure, but wikipedia knows! All I know, is that I feel pretty weird going in my kitchen right now, while they're "working." It's all very serious, and, apparently, physically exhausting. Incense, meditation, and yoga are also involved. Yay, hippies! When I went in for breakfast they were talking about the life forces of the number 5, it's liberty and virility. Also, they were talking about a man who has mommy-issues, which is apparent because of the number 18, DUH!

7. Being abroad makes you realize who among your friends are insomniacs. Since being abroad, I have been painfully connected via facebook, skype, BLOGGER, gchat, everything. And, I note when people are online and sometimes, it's a little shocking.

Subnote: 7a. Many French verbs end in -er in their infinitive form. When I am thinking in French, and I read "Blogger" I automatically think in French pronunciation, which would make it "Blah-gay". And I find this amusing.

Alright, I feel like I had more stories, but a list was all I could muster. All for now, I'm about to go to the Marché des Capucins an indoor market filled with yummy treats. I'm sure many photos will be taken. Is that weird? Photos of food? Well, I like them, so hope not! (read: time to look painfully American)

photo dump, pt. 5: bordeaux by night

And with the blue skies comes (slightly, but not really) warmer nights. Warm enough at least to take photos at night without my fingers falling off. So there's Quinconces, Place de la Bourse, the bridge near Place de la Bourse and the Grand Theatre.

photo dump, pt. 4: blue skies!

Alright, so here are a few photos of my life in France when the weather is good. Most days recently have been blue skies and only moderately chilly, so i am now able to wear tights and skirts and things. It's very nice. So the places are the same as the grey sky photos, but they're just a little more happy and less looming. Enjoy!

First, we have the "Grand Théâtre" and then the Cathedral Saint-André and the Tour Pey Berland





And now some photos from the Jardin Public. Even one with me and friends (see, Mom, I really am in France)!






On the day I went to the Jardin Public, I also went to the "CAPC, the Musee de l'art contemporain." It was really fun and pretty bizarre. The building was gorgeous on the inside, and one of my fave sculptures was the "Chairway to Heaven." Another one I really enjoyed was the display box filled with small objects labeled in a mundane way...When trying to describe that I sound crazy. And then there was this crazy string contraption, but there are too many photos for me to upload. It was basically large pieces of string hanging from one rafter all across the museum from the second floor down to the first floor and back up... Well, here are a few photos.

la vie avec mamette et papi

First, a little weather update:



I would like to say that, though it may say so in the photo, it is has drizzled for like a few minutes off and on on the "rain" days. So, for the moment, I would like to thank France for the sunny days we've had recently. Now, if only there could be sun AND warmth...

Alright, now for a short update. My host mother runs a dance company where choreographs and dances in it. This week, she is away "working in residence" somewhere. (I really don't think she told me, alright?!) While she's gone, she has left us in the care of her parents who are called "Mamette" and "Papi." I was warned ahead of time that Papi talks really loudly, but he's not angry at you, and that Mamette would take very good care of me. Those were understatements!

Mamette is the most caring and maternal woman I have ever met. (She also is originally from Spain, and thus speaks French with a Spanish accent, and will pepper her french with Spanish phrases. Marie, veux-tu un...poco de vino??) She cooks amazing food, and is constantly trying to feed me more. On the first night, I had yogurt after dinner, since, she has made sure there is a small spoon and a yogurt hovering near my plate. My glass of water is always full, and in the mornings, she has my place set, water already boiling for my tea, and bread, butter and jams sitting in the table. She does this for everyone, too! My littlest host brother, Paco, wakes up a little later, but his place is always set with cereal and OJ ready. And, after she gently nudges him awake, and he walks in still sleepy, she takes the warm milk off the stove and pours it in the cereal. To ensure perfect eating temperature, she adds a little cold milk. And, for Papi, she has his coffee all ready, with warm milk and sugar, all his morning medications and vitamins on a napkin. It's so nice, I don't know what to do with myself...Ususally, the kids take turns doing the dishes in the evening, but, since Mamette has arrived, we are not allowed, she does all the dishes...so spoiled right now!

And then, there's Papi. Papi is a Tunisian of Italian decent who claims that he is African. He is a large man, who has a deep barking voice, and a ruddy complexion. He enjoys Pastis ("an anise-flavored liqueur and apéritif from France, typically containing 40–45% alcohol by volume" thank you wikipedia) before dinner, and red wine with dinner, and coffee after dinner. He is always asking everyone questions and joking with his grandsons, and he doesn't like pets. He says, "You become a slave to your pet." My host family has 2 cats, and so, he spends a lot of time meowing back at them...They will make a "Please, open the window so I can go outside" noise, and then he will imitate it back, it goes on for multiple minutes. Also, he really likes to whistle and sing, and he's really quite good. Though, he's still whistling Nutcracker songs, so he's a little behind...Also, while his two grandsons play the "xbox trois-cent-soixante" he sits behind and just watches and yells at the TV. Everything he says, though, is at a "yelling" volume.

Last night, Papi asked me, "So why did you take French?" I have no real reason, except that my mother had taken Spanish, and I wanted to do something different. (Oh, tweenage rebellion). I said just that, and he yelled at me for having not taken Spanish. I was replied, "I know! I know I have to take Spanish! I'll do it, OK?!" And his reply, "WHY DID YOU TAKE FRENCH?! YOU HAD NO ONE TO PRACTICE WITH?!?" At which point Mamette interjected, "But her french is really good! So what does it matter?! You asked her why and she replied!" Thank you, Mamette! There are conversations like that at every dinner with Mamette and Papi....Because of the verbal sparring with Papi, I was slightly frightened of him at first, but now I look forward to dinnertime chatter. If anything, I'm practicing my French?

In other news, we are 1.5 weeks away from the start of Bordeaux 3, and there are still no class times. So, instead of class schedules, I am trying to schedule trips for this Saturday, and the rest of the quarter. (Morroco, here I come!) Also, the methodology class I'm currently enrolled in is pretty fun! It's with Isabelle, the leather-pencil-skirt-wearing teacher from ILP, and she's still as straight forward and blunt as always. And, most days, after class my friends and I will pop into a cafe for espresso and a pastry. I already know that I am really going to miss that when I get back to the States, though my arteries and my waistline will probably rejoice....

All for now! A bientot!

photo dump, pt. 3: St. Emilion

Alright. So we went to this great little city/town called St. Emilion, named after the saint who lived in a cave there and had the power to heal the sick. Its architecture dates back to the Middle Ages and it was really cute. (If only it hadn't been raining the whole time!) We went into the large "monolith" church that was dug out of the rock, and then through the catacombs. Underneath St. Emilion, there are over 200km of catacombs, but most (98%) no longer have human remains, because in 1789 (French revolution!) people came through, burned all the bodies, and scrubbed the walls with all the paintings....(way to go, France. grrr.) And after a tour of the catacombs, caves and church, we went wine tasting! First we saw how they make wine, then we sipped on a nice red wine (because, what else can you drink in Bordeaux?!) Also, there were no photos allowed in the church or catacombs, so I mostly have pictures of the rainy outdoors....
















and, at the end, after the wine tasting we were shuttled into the shop to buy wine. There were bottles worth hundreds of euros, and then there was this:


so classy.....after all those pictures, I am going to take a little blogging break. I'm going to go and visit some museums this afternoon, and so, expect more photos soon!

photo dump, pt. 2: Quinconces et Place de la Bourse

Alright, here's place number 2: Quinconces et Place de la Bourse. I know very little about the historical significance....but Wikipedia does! According to Wikipedia, "The Place des Quinconces, located in Bordeaux, France, is the largest city square in Europe (approximately 31 acres or 126,000 m²)." It also has a very famous statue, with much symbolism and historical significance (I would write more on the subject, and really prove to you that I know art history, but I have done a lot of typing, and am not in the mood to expand....) Also, there was very little said about Place de la Bourse, except that "Place de la Bourse(1730–1775), [was] designed by the Royal architect Jacques Ange Gabriel as landscape for an equestrian statue of Louis XV." I also have a picture of the river that runs right along Place de la Bourse and a very pretty bridge, and the circus in the Place des Quinconces... Alright. Photo time!

photo dump, pt. 1: Cathedral Saint-André

I finally went out and took some pictures. Bordeaux is really a beautiful city, and I can't to continue to explore. Thus far, I have really only traveled in Centre Ville, along the major tram stops. These photos are of Cathedral Saint-Andre and Bordeaux's Hôtel de Ville ("City Hall"), which I pass by everyday on my tram ride to school. Usually, though, it is not light out when I pass by in the mornings. It's really pretty when everything is lit up, and I will have to go and take a few photos some time soon....

So, the Cathedral is the large gothic structure, and the Hôtel de Ville is the large building with the French flags flying, right next to the Cathedral. According to Wikipedia: "In this church in 1137 the 15 year old Eleanor of Aquitaine married the future Louis VII a few months before he became king." And according to my "godmother" (the UC student who was assigned to help me with life in France), this church is the one mentioned in the book, "The Three Musketeers."