Hmm...so, here I am. In Paris.

Here's a little something I wrote in panic on the plane:

Ahh the wonders of technology. I'm on my flight to Paris right now, and writing you this. Surely this is a delayed blog, but take what you can get. I'm suddenly surrounded by French people, and I don't know how I feel about it. Recognizing easy words, like numbers and subjects, is coming quick, but I have no context. "Ok, so I know you are talking to me in a group setting, and you mentioned the flight number..." This will be an entertaining few weeks as I stumble about Paris.

I'm already missing Calgary a bit. It is such an easy lifestyle I live while I am home, how could you not enjoy it? Being in your native culture also is refreshing. I find that simply being around people who think like you do is innately satisfying. There was the usual 20 minute panic attack at the airport in Calgary today, much like when I've gone other places. I suppose I should start realizing that when that happens it means it is good and it will all work out. Hopefully.


Ok, cut to the now. Here I sit in the only cafe close to my apartment that has both internet and dinner, sipping a beer and stuffing my face full of baguette. It's admittedly pretty cool so far. French people are actually pretty nice, and most recognize after the first syllable that I'm an Anglophone so they will try to speak English. It's nice, but definately isn't helping me with my French, which is coming along very...average. I dunno what it is, probably the accent, I just am not nasally enough, even with a cold.

So what's good here? The food! So damn delicious, and in a completely different way than Houston. In Houston the food was god because it tasted good, whereas here it is so great because of the inherent quality of it. A burger will taste good if you douse it in grease, and slap on a ton of cheese. But duck will simply taste good in a pan fry with bread crumbs, because it's simply good food. The cafeteria at work simply rocks. For 3 Euros I get a full meal, including an appetizer and coffee afterwards, and it's the real deal. Stewed pork, tandoori chicken, baked salmon, it's all good. The coffee! Good lord is it delicious, this is why people drink coffee! Starbucks tastes like utter crap in comparison, just burnt with no real flavour. I honestly look forward to my coffee breaks not for the break but because of the delicious java. I went to my first bakery today as well, had a danish with raisins, but not quite. The pastries are light, fluffy, warm and without much sugar. It's just so damn good. Sooooo yeah, the French know how to eat.

My apartment for the week is pretty cool, I walk out a little ways and see the arc de triumph. People at work ask me where I stay, and then look in disbelief and laugh. It rocks, it rocks. The only problem is the lack of internet, though that's probably a good thing since it gets me out and about.

However, that's the other thing so far. This city is friggin confusing, it is the complete opposite of a grid system. Streets that go nowhere, everything at angles, there is no real sense of direction since you are surrounded by apartments that look exactly alike. Restaurants? Hmm...cafe, braissere, bar, sushi parlors, all packed together, looking identical. My only real reference right now is the orientation to the arc, as I know what side I'm on (sort of).

Aaaaand the bad. French people and ridiculous systems of rules and laws seem to go hand in hand. The legal procedure for getting me here is simply asinine, there are so many forms to be filled out in duplicate, information repeated everywhere on different forms; very, very specific pictures of me; and I'm not even close to being done it. At work, there are a lot of unspoken rules and regulations people follow, and even more rules which are actively implemented. No listening to music at work (as you may not hear the fire alarm), I can't give first aid to someone since I don't have certification in France, there are fire extinguishers which I can't use because you have to take a course to use them, and that isn't even touching the actual business aspects. I guess the inherent difference is that the French think it is easy because there is always a procedure to follow, whereas I think it is hard because I naturally could find a better way to do it.

And this discussion actually reminds me of Midnight's Children (which I truly intend to finish!). Saleem talks about being able to cheat on exams and whatnot, and I realize that even if I had the ability during school to do so, I wouldn't. Simply because it would be way to boring otherwise. The only enjoyable aspect of a test is the challenge of it. To work your mental muscle, it is innately satisfying.

I'm going to take some pictures soon of random crap, and probably of the Museum of Modern Art because it's just so...hippy. So hope all is well with everyone and send me e-mails/comments to let me know how everyone is doing.

Peas,

Joshy Poshy