4 posts tagged “france”

Now that I've had a couple of days at home with a nice large shower and a loving boyfriend to welcome me back I have had the space I've needed to digest my Parisian adventure. After being inundated with the "how was your trip" inquiry, I have a canned "it was awesome" answer. In truth, the reply is more complicated. It was awesome. And frustrating and lonely and empowering and eye-opening.

It was frustrating because I was not prepared for the trip. I was told by many people my lack of French would not be a problem. It was. I don't know if it's because I didn't extend the courtesy of learning their language, but it seemed that many in the service industry knew enough to let me ask my questions in English only to brow-beat me into shame by refusing to conversate back in English, only in French. I deserve it though, and know that if they were to come to the U.S. and only speak French they would most likely have the same treatment.

It was lonely because I couldn't speak to anyone. And because I walked around in a near permanent daze, I wouldn't have been much fun anyway. But it was odd to not run into any other Americans, outside the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower (and to be honest, I ignored those people anyway. I guess I'm a snob.). A hostel might've been the smarter way to go...

It was empowering because what little French I know was able to let me order food, find restrooms, and navigate the fabulous transportation system. I was able to defend myself against swarmy men. I was able to familiarize myself enough to not need a map most of the time. I was able to muster up the confidence to travel down unknown paths to find more interesting places to spend time. All while on my own.

It was eye-opening because it was the first time in my life I felt like a foreigner. I had people look down at me. I had people scoff when I told them I was American. I now know what it's like to experience a range of emotions and not have anyone to share that with. And most of all I can now testify to the wonderment within France's borders and can stand back from the experience and feel lucky and priveledged and humbled. And that was what I went for: an adventure. And my god, did I have one.

I've been bad about updating since my first day in Paris. Rather than bore you with my inane ramblings, I'll do this list style.

Places I've been:
Eglise Saint Severin
Reims - Cathedral Notre Dame
Jardin du Luxemborg
Napoleon's tomb
Pere Lachoise
Shakespeare & Co
Forum Les Halles
Gare de L'Est

Now a bit of observation. Myths I would like to go on record to debunk:
No, the streets are not covered in shit
The French are not mean people, though they do dislike Americans. I totally understand all their reasons why.
Not all metro stations smell of piss (though some do)

Myths that do exist:
There are not many overweight people. Not everyone is a waif, but they certainly don't follow the obesity trend.
Yes, many people smoke.
It does seem to be a burden to have so many tourists, so they aren't necessarily awesome towards them. But after witnessing the swarm, I can also understand why.
Surly waiters, but see above reason.
They do love their comic books (ah le B.D.!)
They do tend to be fashionable. If only men all over the world took the care to their appearance as they do...

So that is it, thus far. I leave Monday, so I probably won't update until I am home in Seattle and can completely digest the experience...

I've been fidgety and spacey all day and couldn't figure out why. Then it suddenly dawned on me at lunch, while flipping through a tourist guide, that today is the start of my Paris countdown. Three weeks from today Dylan and I will be en route to Paris (Freckles will be staying at the Seattle Canine Club).

We are going with no agenda, other than checking in at our modest, but hopefully cool hotel in the Latin Quarter (Minerve Hotel). We have a running wish list of things we'd like to do, but we won't stress out if we can't get to everything. I'd like to check out the market on Rue Mouffetard, the Notre Dame, Pont Neuf bridge, and Montmatre. Dylan wants to go to Musee Rodin. Other than that we just want to sit at cafes and eat good food and enjoy the sights. I'm sure our 6 days/5 nights will go too fast, but I'm glad we have to opportunity to go, thanks to low airfare and visiting during a lull in the tourist season.

Since I've already started reincorporating cheese into my diet in preperation of the French cuisine, the only thing left for to us to do before leaving for Paris is to brush up on French through downloaded audio lessons and flip through a gigantic, intimidating beast of a book called The Big Blue Book of French Verbs.

Oh, we have to LOTS of film to buy too. Anyone have suggestions for traveling with film?

Because I am constantly daydreaming about places I want to travel, and today I'd rather be anywhere but here at work, I thought I'd limit my country list to 15 and share some interesting tidbits about places I want to go:

1. France: In France, the law guarantees everyone five weeks of vacation, and most full-time workers get two full months vacation.

2. Morocco: Rabat, the present capital of Morocco, was founded in the 12th century

3. Japan: The Japanese throne has been occupied by a member of the same family since the sixth century. The present emperor is the 125th in succession.

4. Portugal: A unusual museum named Museu da Imagem to be found at Campo das Hortas that contains 120.000 old glass photo negatives.

5. Cuba: When Ernest Hemingway met Fidel Castro in 1960, when Fidel awarded him several prizes for big game fishing.

6. India: India invented the Number System. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta.

7. Czech Republic: Every year on St. Václav Day weekend (weekend closest to 28 Sept), thousands of Czechs go to the forests in search of the special Václavky mushroom.

8. Germany: At the height of inflation in the early 1920's, one U.S. dollar was worth four quintillion German marks.

9. Scotland: Golf was invented in Scotland. It was entitled Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden and that put the word GOLF into the vocabulary?

10. Iceland: The people of Iceland read more books per capita than any other people in the world

11. Spain: Spain is the second most mountainous country in Europe after Switzerland.

12. Greece: The National Anthem of Greece has 158 verses.

13. Turkey: The only city in the world located on two continents is Istanbul.

14. New Zealand: No part of New Zealand is more than 128 km from the sea.

15. Belgium: Belgium is the only country that has never imposed censorship for adult films.

So there you have it - raw proof that everywhere else in the world is more interesting than where I am right now (in a cubicle trying to look like I am working while working my Google magic).