What's the French word for stakeout! Dammit!
Oh the French. I think if I could sum it all up so far, it would be, "The French just don't give a fuck." I see people walk down the streets and in Metro stations, almost purposefully getting in your way, walking very slowly, sliding in front of you in lines, standing around in the streets, etc... Watching the traffic here just makes me cringe, the driving is nutty, people doing things that make me scratch my head.
So I was in the Metro station on Friday morning, and for the second time, I had heard what sounded like a lady, yelling "Si vous plait!". Really emphasizing the 'plait'. This pisses me off, because at 8am, the last thing you want to hear is someone yelling something over and over. So I figure that this time, I need to find out who this is. It's like what George Carlin talked about when your driving, if someone does a real asshole move, you need to get beside them and see the person to say, "Hey! This guy does look like an asshole!" So I wander on over, all casual, and I finally see this lady. To my surprise, it looks like she has downs syndrom and homeless, so it suddenly all connects. Basically, when people walk by her, without acknowledging what she said, she will yell until you do acknowledge what she said and say, "No" at least. I'm not quite sure as what to think of this one yet.
What else? The fuckin Gypsies. Ok, on the train again, coming home after a long day from work, and this...asshole starts yelling. Not the usual gypsie style of a general announcement to the train, that yes, they are useless and have had such a terrible life, oh they need your mercy. No, this jerk starts yelling it, really abrasively as well. Me, I was asleep in one of the semi-rare occasions I got to both take the train alone and a window seat (with the requisite arm rest, which you then prop your head on your hand), and am woken by this jerk. I mean, really, if it is your job to beg and recieve alms from people, you should at least be good at it. Or have some knowledge of what, I don't know, PISSES off people. Yelling at me after 9 hours of work is not going to inspire sympathy ane encourage me to open my wallet, it's going to encourage me to spit in your general direction. He didn't get a single coin, so maybe this is evolution at work.
I went to a Go Sport location here, which is basically like the French version of a Sport Chek (for you Canucks). Wow, this is how a sports store should be, I was seriously impressed. Everything, all sports, in one store, all with quality items for each sport. There wasn't much selection in terms of brands, but I mean, you at least had one nice thing for each item you need. In principle, it's perfect. I also like how there is only one big chain, that's your sports store, you go there if you need sports stuff. It just makes sense.
The reason I needed to go to said store was because in my boxe francaise class, the professeur finally got on my back about wearing shorts and my cross-training shoes. Basically, he was trying to tell me why pants are necessary and the boxe francaise shoes. They were some bullshit reasons about sweat, but I think it's because of two reasons. One, the French don't like wearing shorts, and they don't want to see anyone else wearing shorts. I don't know why, but it's weird. The second, they don't like actual physical contact (unless you are really good friends, and then you can be lucky to get a fake kiss on the cheek :P), so they don't want to have to be closer than they need to be to my leg. Hell, they don't even kick with their shit, it's with the tip of the shoe, it's as if they are so disgusted with having to touch someone else, they will do it with the furthest point on their body. Whatever.
So yeah, this may sound like I'm upset here, but not at all really. I just find this whole situation very entertaining. I consistently have a good time doing pretty much anything, and I'm always enjoying the food. Yann and I went for dinner last night and I definately enjoy social interaction over food. Sharing meals with someone is a great experience, it's also essential to have a bottle of wine. Also, I love having baguette bread to sop up the delicious sauce at the end of the meal. Then a light dessert, a digestif, and your money.
In terms of literature lately, I highly recommend Hiruki Murakami, as I've found his books very entertaining. They have so much imagination, and the writing style is so quirky, it's as if it is a Japanese Harlan Elison. Try reading "Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World" or "The Elephant Vanishes".
Music, I've been digging the album "I'll sleep when you're dead" by El-P. It's very solid rap, and not quite as hardcore as the album title makes it out to be.
Otherwise, I remember I had a few other things to say, but when I get back the laptop this week hopefully, I'll write another proper blog.
So I was in the Metro station on Friday morning, and for the second time, I had heard what sounded like a lady, yelling "Si vous plait!". Really emphasizing the 'plait'. This pisses me off, because at 8am, the last thing you want to hear is someone yelling something over and over. So I figure that this time, I need to find out who this is. It's like what George Carlin talked about when your driving, if someone does a real asshole move, you need to get beside them and see the person to say, "Hey! This guy does look like an asshole!" So I wander on over, all casual, and I finally see this lady. To my surprise, it looks like she has downs syndrom and homeless, so it suddenly all connects. Basically, when people walk by her, without acknowledging what she said, she will yell until you do acknowledge what she said and say, "No" at least. I'm not quite sure as what to think of this one yet.
What else? The fuckin Gypsies. Ok, on the train again, coming home after a long day from work, and this...asshole starts yelling. Not the usual gypsie style of a general announcement to the train, that yes, they are useless and have had such a terrible life, oh they need your mercy. No, this jerk starts yelling it, really abrasively as well. Me, I was asleep in one of the semi-rare occasions I got to both take the train alone and a window seat (with the requisite arm rest, which you then prop your head on your hand), and am woken by this jerk. I mean, really, if it is your job to beg and recieve alms from people, you should at least be good at it. Or have some knowledge of what, I don't know, PISSES off people. Yelling at me after 9 hours of work is not going to inspire sympathy ane encourage me to open my wallet, it's going to encourage me to spit in your general direction. He didn't get a single coin, so maybe this is evolution at work.
I went to a Go Sport location here, which is basically like the French version of a Sport Chek (for you Canucks). Wow, this is how a sports store should be, I was seriously impressed. Everything, all sports, in one store, all with quality items for each sport. There wasn't much selection in terms of brands, but I mean, you at least had one nice thing for each item you need. In principle, it's perfect. I also like how there is only one big chain, that's your sports store, you go there if you need sports stuff. It just makes sense.
The reason I needed to go to said store was because in my boxe francaise class, the professeur finally got on my back about wearing shorts and my cross-training shoes. Basically, he was trying to tell me why pants are necessary and the boxe francaise shoes. They were some bullshit reasons about sweat, but I think it's because of two reasons. One, the French don't like wearing shorts, and they don't want to see anyone else wearing shorts. I don't know why, but it's weird. The second, they don't like actual physical contact (unless you are really good friends, and then you can be lucky to get a fake kiss on the cheek :P), so they don't want to have to be closer than they need to be to my leg. Hell, they don't even kick with their shit, it's with the tip of the shoe, it's as if they are so disgusted with having to touch someone else, they will do it with the furthest point on their body. Whatever.
So yeah, this may sound like I'm upset here, but not at all really. I just find this whole situation very entertaining. I consistently have a good time doing pretty much anything, and I'm always enjoying the food. Yann and I went for dinner last night and I definately enjoy social interaction over food. Sharing meals with someone is a great experience, it's also essential to have a bottle of wine. Also, I love having baguette bread to sop up the delicious sauce at the end of the meal. Then a light dessert, a digestif, and your money.
In terms of literature lately, I highly recommend Hiruki Murakami, as I've found his books very entertaining. They have so much imagination, and the writing style is so quirky, it's as if it is a Japanese Harlan Elison. Try reading "Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World" or "The Elephant Vanishes".
Music, I've been digging the album "I'll sleep when you're dead" by El-P. It's very solid rap, and not quite as hardcore as the album title makes it out to be.
Otherwise, I remember I had a few other things to say, but when I get back the laptop this week hopefully, I'll write another proper blog.
posted by Poshy at 9:04 AM
2 Comments:
If its any consolation, I usually find martial arts feels more aesthetic in long pants :)
Otherwise, glad to hear that the culture differences aren't bringing you down. It'll be good to have you back in Calgary over the holidays.
Cheers
If its any consolation, I usually find martial arts feels more aesthetic in long pants :)
Otherwise, glad to hear that the culture differences aren't bringing you down. It'll be good to have you back in Calgary over the holidays.
Cheers
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