The United States of France

Hello all,

It has been on my mind for the past couple of months, how much France reminds me of the US. Well, more to the point, how French people remind me of Americans. Both parties would throw up their hands and complain, and this is one of the reasons why they are similar.

Other reasons:
- Both secretly want the others way of life, and end up traveling to each others countries.
- Both are fiercely nationalistic, but will be self deprecating about their country (you're not allowed to be though)
- When you move to either country, you have to assimilate to the culture
- Both like to talk a lot without backing it up
- Both can be obnoxious tourists
- A lot of people (for each) have only traveled in their respective country, and consider themselves well travelled.
- Both love Canada, but know nothing about it

There's lots more I've found, but can't remember at the moment. Don't worry, they aren't all negative.

There is one thing that really inspired this for me though, it was Friday at the bar. I was invited by some French people to go out for drinks, and of course I'm going to join them. We went to a bar surrounded by all these American people. Ok, whatever. Anyways, I was listening intently to the French conversation, but I realized it was really boring. Just kind of discussing nothing, going over minor, minor details that I personally didn't care about in the slightest or would have thought to discuss as talking points. So, my ears wandered to all the English conversations going on around me. And after two minutes, I realized the same about those ones! This hasn't been the first time for either case as well.

Now the point of this isn't to demonize French people and Americans, because there are good people I've met of both nationalities. I just find it funny how that when they both fall into their natural groups, they have so many damn similarities. I feel that Commonwealth countries have stronger ties in culture than I initially thought. Brits, Aussies, Indians, Malaysians, South Africans, and Kiwis are all people that I have generally got along with quickly, or we share the same ideas of culture and conversation. We end up talking about similar things, and in a similar fashion. It's strange how these things happen.

In any case, life is good otherwise. UFC 89 was very entertaining and I'm glad I got a chance to go see one live. Not a whole lot on my mind right now. Just lots of geophysics, aaaaaand fighting.

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Now playing: Venetian Snares - Szerencsétlen
via FoxyTunes

Getting it together

Been a little while, but it's been a busy few weeks. What with parents, friends and a girlfriend all coming to Paris and me running back and forth to London, haven't had a moment to sit and reflect. Or walk and reflect, as often happens in Paris.

About the American elections, I think everything that could be said has been. I guess my only thing is that I would honestly like to meet someone who will vote for McCain. Not to convince them otherwise or anything else, just to actually see this mythical beast. Everyone I meet, American or otherwise, is completely sold on Obama. One interesting study I have read recently that relates is that people will cling to their values despite being presented with evidence that completely contradicts what they believe. So what does this tell you? When someone presents you with something, and it's true; question yourself.

Click!

This fucking disgusts me. I've never liked the idea of Dubai and this further cements it in my mind. People are sacrificing their morals for opulence, and in one of the worst possible ways: building shit. There is a price to making or spending your money there, that being your humanity.

Back to the gym on a hopefully stricter schedule. I can see how it is hard for professionals to keep on a program, life gets in the way. And the French in the gym...good lord. For a guy like me, I need some concentration to lift. When I have a group of guys standing around and damn near yelling in their conversation, it's quite the distraction. I suppose though if they've never really worked out before, they wouldn't know...

I'm actually going to see UFC 89, hell yes! Here's hoping Chris Leben KO's Bisping in front of his countrymen and thus forcing me to chuckle under my breath. I also hope Brandon Vera comes ready to fight, not just get a decision.

Download this new Girl Talk album, it's very good: Click!

I'll try for another update soon. We'll see how that goes.

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Now playing: Girl Talk - Play Your Part (Pt. 1)
via FoxyTunes