cinq semaines!

Wait, what? You're going to tell me that I only have five more weeks of classes left in Paris before a brief exam period at the end of May. Five weeks! But part of me feels as if I just started swimming in the deep end of Parisian and French culture. There are only two weeks before an April break that also takes two weeks off of the calender. Does this mean that I need to start eating every nutella-banane crepe likes its my last? Maybe.

Yesterday I spent two hours in the afternoon playing some basketball with some of the other Middlebury students, plenty of français and a few international students and what can best be described as a French YMCA. But apparently the court where we were playing around was actually where basketball was first played in Europe. I don't have any fun dates or photos, so you'll just have to take my word for it. The court itself probably hasn't been updated since that first game. It was parque in a chevron design where the individual pieces of wood would jump out of place if you make a sharp enough cut or dribbled a little too much. It made for quiet a few pauses in the game action. The other unique aspects of the gym were the two giant pillars in the middle of the court playing as fifth and sixth defenders for one of the teams. The set some pretty decent picks, but their key roll was limiting the angles of potential shots. There was also a track above the court, also made of wood, and on a slight incline. It really felt like I was playing in a completely different time period.

I can't wait for next Saturday. Maybe I should find some period appropriate clothes?

Finally, I'll leave you with a film we recently watched in my Nouvelle Vague class. Its a French poem about the magic and origins of making plastic.

Le Chant du styrène
Uploaded by Lunethique

à plus

plante un arbre

So spring officially started a few days ago. I missed it. The 21st is basically Arbor day through out Europe. But it is no longer that first day of spring, I've missed my proper chance to celebrate. Luckily, Uganda has National Tree Planting Day on the 24th of March. So, in honor of this newly standard Parisian sunshine, and since the American version is still a bit aways, go outside and celebrate the festivities of Spring tomorrow.

Plante un arbre

Plante un arbre (La Chanson du Dimanche / saison 1-5)

le clasico

There was no need to go to watch the classic PSG-OM match tonight. I can hear the chanting and the singing and the booing and the cheering from my room. We had dinner tonight with such great ambiance or bands of soccer fans in the neighborhood. As I just checked the score when we finished our after dinner teas and stories from the weekend, PSG tied the game up. The cheering was immense. There are only a handful of games les at Parc des Princes, so I'm running out of time to make my move and go and watch a game in person.

Its on my Paris bucket list. Along with going to the last World Cup qualifier while I'm in the country. Its on April 1st. Any takers?

Looks like I'm headed to Strasbourg for April break to explore one of the three EU captials. Should be an exciting time sitting in on parlimentary sessions and court cases about human right violations between Georgia and Russia.

Now its back to some grant proposing...

The noise from outside has stopped.

Looks like its mi-temps

À plus

Geothe-Institut

As of right now. At this moment. It looks as if my European year abroad is going to be prolonged through the month of June as I try and learn German in Germany through the Goethe Institute. Sounds like fun, no?

But in the meantime, I've still got exposés to worry about, courses at Bates to sign up for, and spring time in Paris to enjoy.

In preparation for the general grève that is coming up next week here in France next week, I'll leave you with a little song from La Chanson du Dimanche...



Enjoy!

À plus

oops

I haven't completely forgotten about this whole blogging about my adventures in Paris. Its just that February happened a lot faster than I thought it would.

The past month can best be described as never actually starting. Finals ended and classes started up again after a three day weekend. There was very little time to reflect. To breathe. To pause. I went right back into the world of classes, but none of the actors were the same, except for a few. It almost didn't feel real. Homework? Really? I have to read so and so chapters? My exposés aren't until just before April break? Fine with me.

I decided to take a new course at the Sorbonne back at the beginning of last month, trading in North America for the Mediterranean, but a funny thing has happened between now and then.

LA GRÈVE!!!

My Sorbonne classes are no longer guaranteed classes. Professors are striking potential reforms proposed by the government. Students and leftist unions are join in the strikes trying to expand the base of complaints. There are public demonstrations at least once a week. The first things Middlebury proposed to us was to exchange a Sorbonne class for a Middlebury class. I picked up a French history class, Revolution to the Resistance. This left me with only two classes at Paris 1. Fast forward to this past week and Middlebury is again asking us to sign-up for another class with them so that we can guarantee our credits for the semester. Today was my first day with this new class. Its another French history course, covering about the same time period, Revolution to Today, but concentrates more or less on two large themes throughout this period, France and a "grande nation dans le monde" and France as a "république." I haven't yet broke the news to my profs at the Sorbonne about this developement. I guess I should do that tomorrow at the latest.

But now I'm kind of sad that I am no longer grève-ing. I have four classes out of five that are assured to take place just until the end of May.

Bummer.

But, hey. I've lounged in some parks recently evesdropping on four year olds as they play with their boats and parents near fountains. And compared to last semester, all of my classes truely interest me. I have an April break coming up. My sister is coming back to visit me in Paris for a few days, and then it is off to Munich.

Spring is starting to come out and play.

À plus