Wednesday, February 28, 2007
London
After finishing a difficult paper for my Gender in France class (on Madeleine Pelletier), I'm off on break now in London, until Friday, when I'll meet up with Aaron in Nottingham; I'm returning to Paris Sunday evening. I'm really happy to have a chance to relax. The hotel I'm staying at (Ridgemount) is quite nice with excellent service. Today I've visited the Churchill Museum & Cabinet War Rooms (where I met Mom and Dad briefly) and the Tate Modern; I must admit that I found the latter considerably more interesting. Beside the art exhibits, I enjoyed the five-story indoor slide (check out the webcam). Tomorrow: more museuming, probably.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Friday, February 16, 2007
Misc. happenings
I haven't updated much lately, mainly because not much has happened. I'm still doing my stage at the French school; the language barrier is a problem, and a few of the adolescent girls there are particularly obnoxious (odieuses), but it's rewarding. I also have a lot of work to do - both classwork and the summer job search. I'm really looking forward to my vacation. Currently, I need to work on a short paper about a movie I saw recently, as well as a longer paper, which is an analysis of a reading on feminism.
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
News, and a few complaints
Rouen is a fascinating city, and the Notre Dame cathedral is spectacular. Things are cheaper there than in Paris - surprise, surprise. The only real problem with the city is that there's too much tacky Joan of Arc tourist-trap stuff, especially around the site where she was burned. I'll post photos... eventually.
I've started some volunteer work; basically, I go to a school for a few hours on Monday and Thursday evenings and help the kids with English homework. It's difficult for me to communicate with them, but when I can help them, it's really gratifying.
Finally, a few complaints about Paris in general. Well, really, they're just minor frustrations, but anyway:
1. Everything that isn't a bar or restaurant is closed on Sunday. There are exceptions, of course, but don't count on getting much in the way of shopping or necessary errands done then.
2. Even during the week, everything except for bars and restaurants closes too early. By the time I get home from classes on Tuesday (which end at 7:30), all the supermarkets and most of the boulangeries are closed. There are exceptions (more than for rule no. 1), but in general, it's like Sunday by 8 PM or so.
3. For a city Paris's size, the Metro shuts down far too early (around 12:30-1 most nights).
4. Why do so few of the ticket machines in Metro stations accept bills? It's particularly annoying, since whether or not the machine accepts my credit card seems to be decided entirely by random chance.
I've started some volunteer work; basically, I go to a school for a few hours on Monday and Thursday evenings and help the kids with English homework. It's difficult for me to communicate with them, but when I can help them, it's really gratifying.
Finally, a few complaints about Paris in general. Well, really, they're just minor frustrations, but anyway:
1. Everything that isn't a bar or restaurant is closed on Sunday. There are exceptions, of course, but don't count on getting much in the way of shopping or necessary errands done then.
2. Even during the week, everything except for bars and restaurants closes too early. By the time I get home from classes on Tuesday (which end at 7:30), all the supermarkets and most of the boulangeries are closed. There are exceptions (more than for rule no. 1), but in general, it's like Sunday by 8 PM or so.
3. For a city Paris's size, the Metro shuts down far too early (around 12:30-1 most nights).
4. Why do so few of the ticket machines in Metro stations accept bills? It's particularly annoying, since whether or not the machine accepts my credit card seems to be decided entirely by random chance.
Friday, February 2, 2007
Misc updates
1. Going on a trip to Rouen with other students tomorrow. Should be interesting, though I'll have to get up earlier than I would like.
2. I'm finally moving into my permanent apartment tonight. Hope it works out.
3. I have a tentative schedule for volunteer work, found through Espace Benevolat: Monday and Thursday evenings, I'll be working at the Atelier Educatif, Culturel et Sportif, helping 6-13 year-old kids learn English.
2. I'm finally moving into my permanent apartment tonight. Hope it works out.
3. I have a tentative schedule for volunteer work, found through Espace Benevolat: Monday and Thursday evenings, I'll be working at the Atelier Educatif, Culturel et Sportif, helping 6-13 year-old kids learn English.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Latest adventures
Classes are going reasonably well - I can understand most of the lectures, though I have some difficulty when I'm asked questions. Also, one of them has a 15-page final paper, which sounds extremely intimidating.
The 10th arrondissement is a nice area - my apartment is between the Opéra and the Canal St-Martin, which have a lot of shops and bars, and within walking distance of two Metro stations (Poissonière and Gare du Nord). I have a decent room, but it's difficult sharing space in the bathroom and kitchen with the couple hosting me; when I move into my permanent housing on Thursday, I'll have more space of my own, and there'll be a couple other American students living in the same apartment (though not from my program).
Places I've visited recently include:
Le Musee de l'Erotisme (link not safe for work) Kind of repetitive; some of the ancient art was interesting, as was an exhibit on the history of Paris brothels, but there are only so many dildos and vaginas one can look at without yawning.
La Basilique du Sacré-Coeur Beautiful building, at the top of a hill featuring possibly the most stunning vista in Paris; I actually saw a man propose to his girlfriend there, and I could hardly imagine a more appropriate place for it. I think she said yes, by the way.
Tea & Tattered Pages - excellent Anglophone used-book store. Bought a few books there, and met some more American students - it seems to have acquired a good reputation.
Photos here.
The 10th arrondissement is a nice area - my apartment is between the Opéra and the Canal St-Martin, which have a lot of shops and bars, and within walking distance of two Metro stations (Poissonière and Gare du Nord). I have a decent room, but it's difficult sharing space in the bathroom and kitchen with the couple hosting me; when I move into my permanent housing on Thursday, I'll have more space of my own, and there'll be a couple other American students living in the same apartment (though not from my program).
Places I've visited recently include:
Le Musee de l'Erotisme (link not safe for work) Kind of repetitive; some of the ancient art was interesting, as was an exhibit on the history of Paris brothels, but there are only so many dildos and vaginas one can look at without yawning.
La Basilique du Sacré-Coeur Beautiful building, at the top of a hill featuring possibly the most stunning vista in Paris; I actually saw a man propose to his girlfriend there, and I could hardly imagine a more appropriate place for it. I think she said yes, by the way.
Tea & Tattered Pages - excellent Anglophone used-book store. Bought a few books there, and met some more American students - it seems to have acquired a good reputation.
Photos here.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Addendum to the last post
1. I have no classes before 11h, which means I won't need to get up too early on the day I have that class (Monday/Lundi), even to compensate for the longish train ride from Poissoniere to Vavin.
2. It truly is amazing living in the heart of one of the greatest cities on earth, as opposed to having a more... erm... traditional college experience with more pubs and a silly accent.
2. It truly is amazing living in the heart of one of the greatest cities on earth, as opposed to having a more... erm... traditional college experience with more pubs and a silly accent.
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