The Ricain in Rennes

New Beginnings

2010-05-01T01:28:00.005+02:00

The flowers have bloomed. The trees have sprouted new leaves. Birds chirp. Cafés bustle non-stop. Spring has arrived.

The regenerative miracle of Spring never ceases to astonish me. The short, cold days of winter give way to long, sun-filled days. Bare, gray trees cede to sprouting leaves and flourish. People shed their dark, heavy coverings to reveal light, colorful linens. What was once dormant awakes and lives without apology. It really is a site to behold.

This Spring is particularly astonishing for me because Winter seemed so long. So dark. So cold. These adjectives describe not only real, tangible phenomenon, but also a state of mind. Somehow I (someone who generally loves the Winter) was affected by a sort of seasonal slump, and it is truly amazing what some warm weather, sun, and renewed personal relationships can do to chase those blues away.

I've rediscovered old friends and what a pleasure it has been! Color is back in my life, flowers are blooming, and smiles abound. I hope your Spring is as full of life as mine!

Evolution

2010-04-27T09:08:00.004+02:00

Life has a funny way of evolving without our consent. Little by little things change and then, one day, we realize just how much things have changed. I'm suddenly quite aware of this phenomenon in my life. And in general, evolution is treating me well.

Only a few years ago, I was toiling away on a Masters and then PhD in French at Ohio State with the goal of becoming a university French professor, and now I'm teaching English (loving it too!) in Rennes. With this change came a slow and steady evolution of professional and personal goals.

I've evolved physically too. Not surprisingly, I've lost more hair and have gained some more wrinkles. While not thrilled about the prospect of going bald and getting wrinkly, I've accepted that it's part of life, so no biggie, right? I weigh less than before, but still eat like 2 normal people. The effects of working out more or getting rid of bad, processed American food? Either way, being trim is always in style, right!?

Relationships are where slow yet steady evolution is most visible in my life. While I see my family much less due to distance, I feel even closer to them. I cherish the time I have with them even more now, and weekly phone conversations are so much more meaningful now than they were when I was calling from just a few miles away. Normal!

Circumstances and life have a funny way of separating the meaningful, long-lasting relationships from the ephemeral and short-lived friendships that dot all of our lives. Being away means not seeing friends, and so some of us have grown apart. This makes me sad, but at the same time it's a completely natural and normal part of life. We all have people that come in and out of our lives at different moments for different reasons: friends, colleagues, acquaintances based on what we're doing, where we live, etc. Just because we don't remain close forever doesn't mean that the relationships we've had with them were not meaningful or important to our own development. I think of close friends from high school, marching band, grad school. There are some who transcend places and periods of our lives, but those are few and so, even more cherished.

I don't know what my life has in store for, be it experiences, jobs, or relationships, but I've become more aware of how much each individual with whom I've crossed paths has affected and continues to impact me.

"Who can say if I've been changed for the better? I do believe I have been changed for the better. Because I knew you, I have been changed for good."

Le Printemps du Cinéma

2010-03-24T01:19:00.005+01:00

This evening was the last night of "Springtime at the Movies," a lovely little promotion the theatres here do to welcome in Spring. There were huge lines and tons of people. Then again, not surprising considering that the tickets are only 3.50, compared to the usual 9.30! I went to go see Shutter Island with my friends Sarah and Anthony.

I had heard mixed reviews, but I was curious. While there are some parts that are just trop, it is, overall, an excellent movie that leaves you wondering at the end what really happened. So, if you get a chance, go see it and let me know what you think.

Throne Room Restored

2010-03-23T17:11:00.003+01:00

After months of having a broken, unattached toilet seat(my second of the year), the throne has finally been restored to its former glory!

The American Myth

2010-03-22T00:20:00.002+01:00

America has the best health care system in the world! We've all heard this on political talk shows and from members of Congress, but saying it doesn't make it so. I wish it was true! But just because we're America doesn't always mean we're the best. In fact, this blind acceptance of American superiority has become so wide-spread that I think it has begun to prevent us from seeing something really important: reality. The reality is that the WHO has consistently ranked the country where I live, France, as the country with the best health care in the world. Why? Because it is fairly paid for, it is of high quality, and it provides access to 99.9% of the population. Even non-French residents like myself. The USA, if you're wondering, ranks 37th. The best in the world! Except for those 36 other countries...

But Todd, it's a government-run, socialized system, so doesn't that mean that there is rationing and long waits for treatment?

As a matter of fact, no! Even though it is government-run, you choose your own doctor and they are free to refer you to whomever they see fit or prescribe you whatever treatment they see fit, even if that means you'll need to miss a week of work. By the way, there are no limits on sick days in France. If the doctor deems it necessary for you to miss work to get well, then you get an arrêt de travail and your employer has to continue you to pay you.

That must cost a fortune! Right?

Well, France spends a lot on health care, about 11.2% of the GDP, which is still far less than the US, which spends 15.2% of its GDP. And the French are taking actions to reduce fraud and abuse, and investing in new technologies to further reduce costs. This is, of course, difficult, but far simpler when it's a single-payer system and not a web of complicated private systems that vary from state to state, like in the US.

Yeah, but socialized medicine stifles research and medical advances. That's undeniable!

Actually, no. This may be the case in some countries, but this is certainly not the rule. France is consistently in the forefront of medical advances. From isolating the HIV virus to advances in stem cells and medical equipment and surgical procedures, the French have demonstrated that single-payer health care isn't incompatible with medical advances.

Today, the US Congress may pass an historic bill that will reform health care. It will not, unfortunately, create a system like in France. It won't be socialism. It won't be a government take-over. People will remain uncovered, people will still spend far too much. The reform proposed is far from perfect, but it will be an improvement. We won't be #1 anytime soon, but 37th is unacceptable!

Avranches

2009-11-23T19:10:00.003+01:00

Last Friday, I went to Avranches with Hélène, where she is doing her student teaching in the local high school. She invited me to a dinner hosted by her students who were raising money for a ski trip to the Alps.

It was a very interesting and wee bit hilarious evening. It was, however, not exactly like any high school dinner/fundraiser I'd ever seen in the USA.

Let's start with the commonalities:

People in rural areas, whether in the US or France, have no idea how to dress/put on make-up.
People in rural areas tend to be a bit heavier than city folk.
There are always people who live in the country but try to act like they come from the ghetto.
People from small towns are à la fois close-minded and welcoming.

A few notable differences:

Alcohol is served at the dinner.
Parents don't care if their kids are outside smoking or drinking.
A dinner means dinner: apéro, main dish, cheese, dessert, café.
Songs with vulgar lyrics are not banned. For example, a song about smoking a big joint or touching "la chatte."
There is no prayer before the meal. Church and state do NOT mix here!
The dinner/dance lasts until at least 2am.
Students come not in cars but on scooters.

Autumn Leaves

2009-11-23T18:45:00.002+01:00

I've taken a long break from blogging. I really haven't had the time and still don't, but this is another excuse to avoid reality for a few minutes.

The fall months have flown by with the speed of a TGV. Faster even. I feel as if I've just arrived, and yet here it is the end of November. The principal reason for this blur of a season has mostly been due to my work. I've taken on quite a bit more this year than last, so it hasn't been all cafés and clopes like last year. I'm teaching 5 classes and have all of the responsibilities of a lecturer, which means roughly 35 hours a week at work, not counting the grading and prep time. Eh oui! Ca bosse!

My work life has been intense, as has my personal life. I've met new friends, reconnected with friends from last year, and yes, I've even met a boy. A lovely law student who kept me busy and smiling for over a month. Things between us right now are not quite so great. Our collective stress and neurosis have led us to take a break, and I'm not sure what will come of this, but whatever the result, I'm glad he has been around, and I hope he will remain a part of my life here, even if only as a friend.

Thanksgiving is almost here, and I miss my family and friends terribly. It is difficult knowing that they will all be together, having fun, eating my grandma's delicious stuffing, laughing... I'll be home for Christmas at least, so that will make up for missing them this week.

Meanwhile, I've got two Thanksgiving dinners this week: one at the Richter's and the other with a bunch of friends and a few colleagues. They'll both be a blast, but it is going to be a stressful lead-up to the weekend. Cranberry relish, stuffing, pies, cakes, etc. Il y a de quoi faire!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

La lunette

2009-09-19T18:35:00.005+02:00

Two weekends ago, I had a bit of an accident in my apartment. Nothing serious, just an inconvenience really. Saturday morning, I got up and made coffee as usual. While the coffee was brewing, I went to the restroom. I was still a bit tired and not fully functioning, so I decided to sit down on the porcelain throne. Not out of necessity, but rather out of laziness. I sat down normally. Well, perhaps with a bit more force than normal. As I came into contact with the seat, I heard a pop and promptly slid off to the left, arms flailing, catching myself before I landed on the floor. I was now wide awake! I had popped the seat right off the toilet, breaking the cheap plastic clasps clean off!

Instead of going to the market, which was my original plan for the morning, I decided I had better head to Leclerc and get a new lunette, which is what the Frenchies call a toilet seat. I rode to the store, wandered around a bit, and finally found the aisle with bathroom furnishings. There were only two choices, both of which were over 35 euros, so I decided to put it off and deal with squatting for a few days.

On Sunday I called my friend Hélène and asked her if it would be possible to go to Leroy Merlin (a kind of Lowe's or Home Depot) at some point in the week. She, as usual, was more than willing to lend a hand, though she couldn't stop laughing at me and how I broke the thing!

On Wednesday, we went and I got a new, sturdier seat for only 10 euros! I was pleased. After we had finished, she dropped me (and my new toilet seat) off at the university. Needless to say, my colleagues asked lots of questions and, naturally, had a nice laugh at my expense. After I was done working, my toilet seat and I took the bus home, receiving strange looks from people along the way. "Why is he getting on the bus at the university with a toilet seat?" "Is that really a toilet seat he's got in the seat next to him?"

After arriving at home, I immediately installed the new seat and took it for a test spin. Solid, roomy, doesn't pinch: perfect!

Two days later, I closed the seat cover to sit down and put on my socks, which I usually do in the living room, but since I had a new, sturdy toilet seat, I thought, "Why not?" I got one sock on and as I bent over to put the other one on, shifting my weight, I heard a creak. A few milliseconds later...pop pop pop!! The effing seat exploded beneath me and into the toilet! So, needless to say, I will soon be taking another trip to Leroy Merlin for yet another toilet seat.

This is all that's left of the lid after my FA got done with it...

Photos

2009-09-05T11:34:00.005+02:00

I put photos on my blog from time to time, but I have the rest of my photos on Picasaweb, so if you want to see where I spend my time, what I've seen, etc., feel free to check them out here

L'Administration française

2009-09-05T10:39:00.004+02:00

France is a highly centralized country and is often considered to be the birth place of modern bureaucracy. As a foreigner who works for the Ministry of Education (my official employer), I've had the privilege of dealing with lots of administrative agencies.

Today, my carte de séjour, the piece of paper I need to be allowed to live and work in France, expires. As such, I had to renew my card yesterday. I should have gone before, in case there was a problem, but I was waiting for documents to arrive from HR at the university, which was waiting for documents to arrive from the ANAEM (the agency that deals with foreign workers in France). I never received the documents. To be fair, I never knew which documents I actually needed, since every time I asked someone I got a different answer. Oh, the joys of complicated and constantly changing administrative procedures!!

Yesterday morning, I got up early, ran down the street to have identity photos taken in the lobby of a grocery store (a machine, not just a random person who takes photos in the lobby), and then hopped on the bus to go to the Préfecture. I arrived at 9:05 (it opens at 9:00) and found a line out the door. I thought to myself: "If I wait three hours and don't have the right documents, I'm going to kill someone!" Once inside, I took a number, found a seat, and waited. There were people everywhere. I probably heard 10 different languages. Slavic, Asian, Arabic, and random African dialects. Some people were there to renew cards, to get one for the first time, to apply for asylum. Others, French, were there to get titles for their cars, get a driver's license, renew their ID cards. If you think the BMV is chaotic, you should visit a Prefecture.

After about an hour, my number was called and I nervously approached the window. I greeted the woman working very politely and with a big smile. Every little bit helps! I explained that I came with every document I was able to acquire. I was missing the authorization to work, but she told me just to send it as soon as I got it. Lovely woman! She could have refused me, and then that would really have complicated things. But she didn't! I had my provisional card, a récépissé, within 5 minutes (see photo above)! As such, I remain a legal immigrant in France.

Grocery Shopping

2009-09-02T00:18:00.005+02:00

I don't own a car in France. I thought about buying a clunker, but decided against it because of the administrative nightmares that buying a car would entail. As such, I have three principal modes of transportation in and around Rennes: Pumas, buses/metro, and my bike. In general, I'm more than happy with my urban, environmentally-friendly modes of transport. There are two situations, however, that lead me to dream of my Versa and how nice it would be if I could have brought it with me: inclimate weather and grocery shopping.

Living in the center of town, I have a few options for food. I can go to small superettes near my house which are convenient, but there is little selection and the prices are high. I can go to larger, high-end supermarkets in-town like Galeries Lafayette, but they are even more expensive and entail schlepping groceries back to my apartment. The other option is to go out of the center to an hypermarché, where the selection is good and the prices low, though schlepping is still involved. For last minute necessities, I'll go to a superette, but for my main shopping, I prefer the hyper outside the center. One problem: the distance.

Before I had a bike, I took the bus to go shopping. I had to walk to the end of my street and hop on, ride for 20 minutes and hop off right in front of the store. Not too bad, except waiting for the bus and the time of travel usually made going to the store at minimum a 2 hour affair. While this was a bit annoying, it allowed me to stock up and get lots of food for little money. Now that I have a bike though, things have changed.

The Leclerc super-store closest to my place is just a 5 minute ride west along the river. No need to wait for the bus and no long ride. Perfect, right? Well almost. There is one obvious problem with grocery shopping and transporting the goods home by bike: the bike. Now I've got a system worked out where I fill up my saddle bags and once they're full, I stop. Normally this allows for a decent amount of groceries, but nowhere near as many as I could get when taking the bus. Every once in a while though, there is a problem with my system. I don't follow the system, and I get too much. This occurred yesterday evening.

I decided to stock up on some staple items since I had nothing in my place and went a bit crazy. I had the saddle bags full as well as a full reusable grocery bag. Oops! I was quite the spectacle in front of the store loading and reloading my bike. I spent about 15 minutes doing that and then spent another 5 minutes securing everything. People walked by, looked curiously, some doubtfully, but said nothing. This is a very French trait, by the way: Look curiously, stare critically, but say nothing. Mutter to yourself or someone you're with, but don't speak loud enough to be heard! I love it. Eventually, I got everything loaded and was on my way, down the dirt path along the river, steady, confident. I arrived without incident, proud of my logistical skills. There was just one problem to resolve: where to put all that toilet paper!

Health Care Reform

2009-08-30T15:01:00.003+02:00

Watching the so-called debates on health care reform over the summer made me thankful that, for at least another year, I will be fully insured through the state run French system Assurance maladie.

The advantages of the system are without question: prices are low, everyone is covered, there are no long waits, people choose their doctors, and quality is excellent. The system is not perfect, but it seems to me that Americans could look to France as a model or starting point for a single-payer system in the USA. Opponents of single-payer systems often cite the UK and Canada, which are good systems, as reasons why we should avoid this type of solution because they have more problems with "rationing" and long waits. Are we so anti-French that we cannot admit that, for once, the French have gotten something right and their health care system actually is an example of good "socialized" medicine?

Another advantage of the French system, aside from the aforementioned cost and coverage benefits, is that a state-run system allows health officials to better prepare for pandemics like the H1N1 Flu. Upon arriving in France, posters and announcements greet citizens and tourists alike explaining symptoms and the proper course of action to take if such symptoms occur. These posters and announcements are in airports, train stations, buses, and other public places, as well as on TV and radio. If this really turns into a deadly pandemic, the French have the public health structures in place to rapidly and effectively deal with the problem, and since everyone is insured, people will not hesitate to take the proper steps to be treated. Will this be the case in the US?

This winter could teach Americans a lot about how well our health "system" works and how vulnerable ordinary people really are. Hopefully this is a lesson that can be learned without unnecessary loss of life.

Retour à Rennes

2009-08-30T14:20:00.002+02:00

I was in Rennes on Monday, but for less than 24 hours. I went to Dijon on Tuesday morning to go see Julie, Sabine, Stéphane, Julien, and some other people at CIEF. I was a lovely trip. The weather was good, and I got to catch up with old friends.

The first two days I stayed in the dorm with Julie and the OSU students. The students were all scrambling to finish work at the last minute, so I helped Julie answer their questions, edit papers, etc. It was kind of fun to be working with French again, if only for a short while. I got a chance to talk with some students about their experiences: how was it, what do you miss about home, what drives you crazy about the French, etc. It was rather interesting. The biggest complaint for most students was convenience, which comes as no surprise since lots of things close in August. Some students complained about the food, but when I pressed them on this they admitted that they really hadn't tried much. I, of course, lectured them on the importance of diving in and trying new and "weird" things.

The following days were spent at my friend Julien's place, where we did little except watch "How I Met Your Mother" and eat and sleep. I needed to recharge my batteries, and he had had a long week at work, so it worked out well for both of us. He's a very nice guy, and it is always a pleasure to see him.

Throughout the week, I got to hang out with Sabine and Stéphane, who are quite simply two of the coolest people on the planet. We talk politics, culture, food, and usually do all that while eating or drinking. I brought them some micro-brew beers which I hope they'll like. They're both always looking to try a new beer, and I figured this was a good way to show them that not all American beer sucks (They only get Bud in France).

It is Sunday, and so I am doing nothing. I have to get used to everything being closed again. I still have to unpack and organize, so hopefully I'll at least get that done. I have no food, so I may have to bite the bullet and go to the one place that is open (all the way across town) and pay too much for a few basics to get be through tomorrow.

My week should be calm, but I have meetings and things to prepare at the university. We start classes next week, and I'm teaching two, so preparation is in order. I also have to go to the Prefecture to renew my carte de séjour this week. That will hopefully not be too much of a hassle!

Arrival in France

2009-08-24T12:28:00.004+02:00

Well I'm back in France. The trip started out wonderfully. I arrived at Port Columbus and there was not a single person in line at the Continental desk, so I checked in with no stress. We arrived in Newark, NJ ahead of schedule and I had lots of time to kill, so I walked around, stepped outside and read some, and then went back through security. From there, I went to the duty-free store and browsed a bit. Totally normal.

We boarded our plane late, but it looked to me like we were going to get out without too much delay. As soon as we started to taxi, I saw a line of planes that must have been at least 15 planes long. We got in line and didn't move for 2 hours. Evidently hurricane Bill had caused the normal path to Europe to be closed, so all of the planes were waiting on a re-route. We eventually got it, but that meant we arrived in Paris over two hours late. Normally that wouldn't bug me too much, except I had booked a non-refundable 62 euro ticket on a train that was to leave at 10:27. By the time I got through immigration and got my bags, my TGV was long gone. Actually, I got to the station at the airport just 10 minutes after it left. Why does SNCF have to be on-time today!? I booked another ticket (59 more euros), and I'm waiting in the gare right now.

My dear friend Hélène was supposed to pick me up at the station in Rennes, but I called her (and woke her up) to let her know I wouldn't be there. Unfortunately, my phone had less battery than I thought, so I was unable to tell her exactly when I arrive. Hopefully she'll be there when I get to Rennes!

I'm surprisingly not that tired, thanks to a little Tylenol PM on the plane. I'm sure the train will rock me to sleep though. It always does. Even when I'm wide awake. I'm getting sleepy just thinking about it. Off to grab a tiny café!

Updates

2009-08-20T17:55:00.001+02:00

I know there are millions of people out there just waiting for an update! I'm sorry about my negligence, but I do plan on trying to make a better effort this year about posting more often. Stay tuned!

Hélène Richter

2009-03-08T19:06:00.003+01:00

For some strange reason, I've somehow forgotten to adequately mention my friend Hélène in my blog entries. Hélène has often reminded me of this grave omission, so I am going to try to make up for it with an entry devoted solely to her. Here goes!

When I arrived, I met a lot of people. I'm very thankful for all of my friends here: Nina, Sarah, Cynthia, Lisenn, Perrine, Axel, Youenn, Madison, Emma, Franche...the list goes on. They are all great and I am really glad to know them. Hélène, who I met very early on, is a special case. I chatted with her at work, and we were amical, but we never really did anything together. I wanted to get to know her better, so I invited her to actually do something outside work. We had a blast. We still have a blast! She is really amazing: smart (though at times a bit slow), funny, clumsy (like me!), athletic, honest, loyal.

She even invited me to go eat with her family, who I now see rather frequently for dinner! They are really great, and they've welcomed me into their family like I was one of their own. They have really made me feel at home here, and I'm very thankful for them. I often miss my family, but knowing that they are there is really comforting for someone whose family is thousands of kilometers away.

I think I'll stop now. I don't want Hélène to feel too important! Thanks for being you Hélène. You're amazing! Dommage que tu sois une fille. ;)

The Gays

2009-03-08T18:35:00.005+01:00

This week was dominated by a theme: gay. There seemed to be gays/gay themes all over the place this week in my life. Sign on to Facebook and my friend Jon is uploading pictures of his trip to Winter Party in Miami, a big gay party weekend. I started going to a gym this week and, of course, where there's a gym, there are gays. The French government announced that new family law would no longer mention "mother/father," but rather "parents," opening the door to finally recognize gay families. On MSNBC, they were discussing the California Supreme Court deliberations over the constitutionality of Proposition 8, which takes away the right of gays to marry.

On Friday, I went to see "Milk," which tells the true story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in the United States. The movie was excellent and Sean Penn was fantastic. He certainly deserved the Oscar! The movie is really heavy, and it really makes you realize how far society has come (or hasn't come) over the last 30 years. The film is powerful for anyone who believes in human rights, but it is especially moving for someone like me: a homo. It really makes you appreciate how much people struggled and fought so that I and others like me can live my life openly, honestly, and proudly. It was difficult to watch in parts, because you hear the arguments that people were making against gay rights in the 1970's and they are the same as those of today. The major contributor to the hatred and intolerance of gays and lesbians was and is still religion. We all still have a lot of work to do to really be treated equally and to live our lives as we wish, where we wish, and with whom we wish.

My "BIG GAY WEEK" ended yesterday/today. I went out with my friends Hélène and Sarah to some gay bars in Rennes. I had been neglecting this part of my social life and it was really starting to bother me. Don't get me wrong, I love going out with friends to straight bars, but there is something to be said for hanging out in a gay bar. First, the music is always better. Second, the atmosphere is a lot more fun, crazy, colorful...gay. Sometimes you just need to be around people who are like you, and I really needed that this week. We went to a "bar de nuit" that stays open until three, and then Hélène and I went to Espace, a night club that is gay friendly. I was sceptical, but it was a blast. There were homos everywhere, good music, and even drag queens! It was like I was back home. I met people, danced my ass off, and we left at 5:30 in the morning.

I had almost forgotten how much I love being gay! If you're gay, you know what I'm talking about. If not, just take my word for it; we have a blast!

Voyage à Dijon

2009-02-17T13:44:00.002+01:00

Well, I was supposed to leave for Dijon at 7:05 this morning, but the train didn’t leave until 7:40 because the police evidently had to intervene on the train coming from Brest because two “voyageuses de comportement fortement aggressif” were causing problems. GIRL FIGHT!

This retard of course meant that I missed my train from Gare de Lyon to Dijon. I sprinted from the bus with my backpack and bag and arrived on the platform just in time to see the train pulling away! Putain bordel de merde! While sprinting to the platform, I saw my old “friend” Guillaume. If you know me well enough, you know who I’m talking about. If not, you should get to know me better! I seem to cross him randomly and always at inconvenient times. Plus I’m sure I looked hot running and panting like a draft horse through the gare. Way to go Todd!

I did get a seat on the next train, but that doesn’t leave until 1pm, so I‘ve got time to kill. Donc, the blog entry. There is Wifi in the station, but I never set up my account from my service provider, so I have no access. Double putain!

Another nice thing about the train stations in France (which I’d never noticed before because I am always here in the summer) is that there are really no walls and no heat. Alors, I’m freezing my balls off! Gotta love it! There are waiting rooms, but they are packed full of people and I would rather hang out with the pigeons. And sparrows. One of which just came up to me, begging like a gypsy in Rome! GET A JOB!

While I’d rather be on a train right now, it is kind of fun to just sit here and watch the myriad of types walk by. Lost Asians, Muslim women in hijabs, old widows with mangy poodles, FLAMING homos, children, more old ladies, MORE old ladies, and half-awake SNCF personnel. Oh, there are lots of beautiful women too! That’s for Jake.

I’m looking forward to 10 days with Stéphane and Sabine in Dijon. For those of you who don’t know, Stéphane is a teacher at the program I’ve done the last three years in Dijon, and Sabine is his wife. They are both AMAZING and I love hanging out with them. Only thing is, I hope my liver won’t fall out after this week. We always drink WAY TOO MUCH when we’re together. I’ll also get to see Julien and Clarissa while I’m there, as well as Sebastiano and his wife Margaret, also linked to CIEF. I’m not sure if I gave this address to any of my students from this summer, but if they read this they will all be jealous. The girls were OBSESSED with Sebastiano. For a 60-something Italian, he sure does well with the young ladies!

That’s all for now. I need to put my mittens back on before my fingers fall off! Take care!

Weekend

2009-02-08T23:24:00.002+01:00

This weekend, like most of my weekends, was lazy, but somewhat productive. I went to the market on Saturday with my friend Sarah, just like I do every weekend. We found a new fromager (cheese maker) and got some really excellent cheese for a wine/cheese gathering Sarah was hosting. The people that work there are really nice and really helpful. I wanted something to go with the vin jaune (literally yellow wine) from the Jura region that I bought and the eyes of women working there lit up. She hooked me up with an amazing Gouda, aged for 48 months, and a Gruyere. I have a feeling I'll be stopping there every Saturday from now on! Hopefully I won't go bankrupt because of cheese, but it's possible!

After we did our shopping at the market, we went to a Quebecois café that I found in a magazine. It was really nice. They had brunch (just like in Canada (and America)) and the atmosphere was really nice. I'm sure I'll be back there soon too!

The rest of the day was spend running errands and then baking an apple pie with gruyere cheese in the crust. After, we drank wine, ate fresh oysters, cheese, pie...it was a good evening. My friends Cynthia and her boyfriend Matthieu were there, as well as one of my bosses, Lisenn. Lisenn and I were sitting next to each other all night joking around and talking about tout et n'importe quoi! I'm really glad I am getting to know her better, little by little. Both of my bosses are really cool, but it is easier to hang out with Lisenn because Perrine is married and has kids. Too bad!

Today was spent in my apartment, as are most Sundays. The weather was not so great, so I just decided to stay home. I made a roast with vegetables and some apple bread, so time was well spent. It is so much nicer to have an oven! Maybe now I'll gain some weight back.

This week looks like it should fly by. The strike continues, so it should be calm around campus. Friday I'm off to Dijon for a week of vacation. Updates to follow. Have a good week!

Sorry! My blog went on strike!

2009-02-05T20:34:00.005+01:00

The last time I posted was December 2nd. With the holidays and the beginning of the semester, I've been rather busy. And lazy. But mostly busy.

I'm teaching 3 courses this semester, which is in addition to the responsibilities I have of holding interviews with students and office hours. I am teaching two courses for first-year students, known here as L1. One of my classes is WONDERFUL! The other is not so great. Hopefully they will get better, but I can only do so much. The other course I am teaching is for first-year Masters students, and they are fantastic. I walk out of that class everytime with a big smile. They are very motivated and they are open to anything, which makes for lots of fun and good results. Overall, I'm happy with the way things are going.

On the other hand, the university is undergoing some reforms and the teachers, most of whom are left (or very far left), are not so happy. As you may know, when people are unhappy in France, they strike! Both this week and last week were marked by strikes, and I have a feeling that this may go on for a while. I'm not on strike. Nor are the other anglo-saxons who work there. We are not affected by the reforms, so there is really no reason to strike. I have been trying to get as much info as possible about why everyone is so unhappy, but it is difficult. The people who strike use a post-marxist, propaganda-like discourse, so it is difficult to take things they say seriously. The media is covering it, but there are biases there as well. I'm sure I'll take a position on it at some point, but I'm not there yet. I'll keep you all posted, since I'm sure you're dying to know what I think about this issue that has nothing to do with you!

Otherwise, life continues to fly by. I go to the market every weekend, I cook, I bake, I eat. I eat. I cook some more. I drink wine. I drink beer. I walk. And walk. It rains, rains rains. Random sun appears and it goes away five minutes later. Life, quoi!

Thanksgiving

2008-12-02T01:35:00.003+01:00

While I was sad to not be with my family for Thanksgiving, I have to say that I had one of the most memorable Thanksgivings of my life this year. It was a two-parter, and it was fantastic!

It all began on Wednesday, when Lisenn loaned me her lovely Peugeot 206 to go shopping and pick up the bird. We went to Géant, which is like Kroger Plus or Meijer's. The first thing we (Sarah and I) saw was a group of dairy farmers who had emptied the shelves of all of the butter and piled it into a shopping cart to protest how little they are paid for the product and how much stores charge! Gotta love France. We bought our necessary groceries and then headed for the country to go to the farm and pick up our turkey. We got lost, and after driving around for around 20 minutes, I called the woman and she got us to the farm. From there, we went to Cynthia's (to begin cooking for the next day.

The next day was stressful, since we all had to work and then go directly to Cynthia's to cook more. She was nice enough to host, which was amazing. Our menu included: Bean dip, Deviled Eggs, Turkey, Corn Bread Stuffing, Corn Bread, Creamed Shallots, Brussel Sprouts, Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Cake, Apple Pie. Not bad! We ate with Mathieu (Cynthia's boyfriend), Sarah and her friend Hélène, Hélène, Perrine, Lisenn, and Nina (former lecturer, Judo champion). We ate well, drank well, had a blast.

The next day, I went to Saint Cyr en Arthies, outside Paris, to spend Thanksgiving weekend with Candice's parents, Patricia and Claude. They were great, as always, and I was put to work Saturday peeling potatoes, making more sweet potatoes, and more deviled eggs. I took a walk around the village and took some cool pictures, which I posted on my picasaweb site. The dinner was great, and I met some very nice and very interesting people! I've gotten to know Babette and Dan, a franco-american couple, who were there, and it was good to spend an evening with them. All in all, we were up eating, drinking, dancing until 4:30am, so Sunday was the trip home and then bed for me. I fell asleep at 5:30pm and woke up today at 7:30. I needed the rest! All in all, I had a great week and weekend. Thanks to everyone that made this Thanksgiving special!

Looking up

2008-11-21T17:06:00.003+01:00

While the beginning of the week was a bit rough, the week ended on a high note! Thursday evening I went to see "Riders to the Sea," an opera by Ralph Vaughn Williams, with my friend and fellow lecturer Sarah. It was preceded by Williams' "Travel Songs." I enjoyed them both, but Sarah doesn't really get into atonal or dissonant music, so the opera was a bit much for her.

After the show, we went to a little bar à vin called La Grappe, which is rapidly becoming our haunt in Rennes. It is owned and run by a very fun middle-aged couple who always treat us well and give us good advice on what to drink. We sat and talked about love, friendship, people we miss, why we love France, why we hate France (basically anything and everything that could be discussed). She is a great person who is fun to hang out with and we get along quite well. I'm glad she's here.

Today was, as you may or may not know, my day off. We each have a day off during the week, and mine is Friday. I went out to lunch with my friend (and boss) Perrine. She is adorable and I always enjoying spending time with her. We went to a little restaurant called La Cerise sur le gateau (The Cherry on the Cake). It is a tiny little restaurant owned and run by an adorable and sometimes hilarious gay couple. I'll definitely be going back for more dessert (we shared Pecan Pie and Apple Cake, both of which were delicious!).

After lunch we went shopping for her husband, who is evidently the same size as me, so I tried things on and modeled for Perrine. It was pretty hilarious. My other boss, Lisenn, met us for coffee not long after. She is also fantastic, though I don’t see her very often. She is taking us to la Forêt de Brocéliande tomorrow to visit more sites. I'm excited since this time we'll be going in a car, which means we will be able to see a lot more of the cool enchanted forest! The weekend should be fun, but for now I have to grade and do laundry, which seems to be a constant struggle to keep up with these days. The laundry, not the grading, though I have been putting that off too. I miss having my machine in the basement. Oh well! I'm in France, so I really shouldn’t complain! Bon week-end!

Rien

2008-11-19T00:43:00.002+01:00

An update to state that there isn't much to update! Things continue, preparations are taking place for Thanksgiving in Rennes and the weekend Thanksgiving dinner at Candice's parents in Saint Cyr en Arthies! I may be going to the enchanted forest again this weekend. I should have more to say soon.

This week has been one of odd ups and downs. Probably the grey weather and the routine setting in. Hopefully things will clear up soon. Know that, regardless of my inability to stay in touch, I miss you. Just remember, I'll be home in just over a month for two weeks!

An Important Message from Keith Olbermann

2008-11-12T02:14:00.002+01:00

Another Day Off

2008-11-11T19:38:00.002+01:00

As is the case in the United States, November 11th is a holiday is France. Here, it is known as l'Armistice, since it was on this day in 1918 that WWI ended. Contrary to Veteran's Day in America, all of the stores here are closed. No big Galeries Lafayette 36-hour sales. I've done nothing all day except eat, watch TV, and waste time on the internet. It was lovely!

Sunday was a good day for me as well. As usual, not much was accomplished, but my friend Hélène invited me to come to her parents' house for dinner. Not one to turn down a free meal, I accepted. They were very welcoming, and it was nice to have dinner on a Sunday night with a family, even though it wasn't my own. I do miss the Sunday night meals at home.

Otherwise, not much to report. Stay in touch, send a letter, an email, a pigeon...

Even the dogs in France love America

2008-11-07T02:21:00.004+01:00

On November 4th, I have to admit that I was a bit sad to not be back in Ohio, experiencing the elections first-hand, but being here has afforded me a fascinating view of the French reaction to the elections.

The evening of the elections, the Institut Franco-Américain in Rennes hosted a soirée élection where the local Consul spoke about the electoral system in the United States and how it compares to its French counterpart. What was really interesting to see was how interested the French were in learning more about their paradoxal, sometimes incomprehensible ally. While we've had rough spots, watching these ordinary French citizens in this setting demonstrated their continued interest in and fascination with our country and our culture.

The morning of November 5th, the same institute held a petit-déjeuner at 7:30am to celebrate the results. The atmosphere was electric! Americans were hugging one another! Everyone was smiling (And when I say everyone, I mean everyone...even the French)! The joy was, of course, because Americans chose to decisively break with the past 8 years, but also because of the historical importance of the first black (technically biracial) President of the United States. I have to admit, that I have never been more proud of my country than that morning. We not only had an amazing election, but we put the stereotype of the US as a "racist nation" to rest.

Walking through the streets and sitting on the bus, I couldn't help but notice that everyone was talking about it. How excited they were, and how impressed they were that "ils ont osé le faire!" They dared to do it! Even the French Secretary of State for Human Rights, who is black, praised the US and called for France to take this event as a "delicious provocation" by the US. In other words, prove Americans wrong when they say that it is only possible in America. "Si les Américains peuvent le faire, on peut également le faire!"

Today, a professor told me and the other lecturers that she was organizing a cocktail hour tomorrow in our honor and in honor of the Obama victory. She came in today with her Yorkshire Terrier, who was wearing an American flag hat! Honestly, I never thought I would see that in France! Of course, I never really thought I'd see a black President in America, so I guess that just goes to show you that anything is possible!

The New, Old America

2008-11-05T14:39:00.006+01:00

I am so proud of

America

today. I stayed up all night watching the results online and at 5:00am, I heard the great news. I was overwhelmed by the impressive victory and the powerful message that it sends not only to the world, but also to parts of our country that continue to resist change and the natural evolution of our society.

Just after MSNBC declared him the projected winner, the panel began reflecting on what the election of Barak Hussein Obama means for America. I was struck by all of the panellists' reflections, but Eugene Robinson brought me to tears. That's right, tears! I knew that this election would be important to black Americans, but hearing first-hand how it impacted this journalist who grew up under segregation, who doubted that this day would ever come, who was brought to tears when speaking about his really hit home. He said, “I’m no longer lying when I tell him he can be anything he wants to be.” This moment in history is one for everyone who believes in equality or has ever experienced discrimination. While we have come a long way, we still have a long road ahead of us before we reach real, honest equality for all Americans. Nothing underscores this point more than the fact that two, and possibly three states passed bills banning gay marriage, which deprives one part of the population of a right that others have. While it may be unpopular or difficult, we MUST confront this type of inequality: not for the sake of gay or straight people, but for the sake of our quest toward ending discrimination of any and all kinds.

Barak's speech was inspiring and honest. He talked about our country’s past failings and spoke honestly to the American people about the challenges that confront our country and our world in the months and years ahead. He spoke of hope, but demanded responsibility and sacrifice. He spoke to Americans' hearts AND minds: something that has been sadly absent from the politics of late. Now it is up to us; we need to work together and make sure we stay engaged. I'm already mulling over my return to the USA and what I will do to make a difference. Seriously, let's stop talking, get off our asses, and get shit done!

Election Day

2008-11-04T15:08:00.004+01:00

I'm holed up in my apartment reading articles and watching clips on MSNBC's website. I''m so excited, nervous, proud, adjective, adjective, adjective! I'm off to E.Leclerc, the French equivalent of Meijer, to stock up on food and then tonight I will be at the Institut Franco-Americain in Rennes for an election party. I doubt I'll sleep tonight. If you haven't voted, for the love of GOD go vote!

Great vacation, long trip home!

2008-11-02T22:48:00.001+01:00

I’m writing this in the train station of Le Mans, which is an hour east of Rennes. I left Dijon at 11:25am and arrived here in Le Mans at 6:15pm. Normally I would already be home, but I took the slow train to save money and I’m wondering if it was really worth it. I did get all of the rest of my grading done while on the train, so that is a good thing, but otherwise it kind of sucks. I have just under an hour between trains here, which means I leave Le Mans at 7pm and get to Rennes at 8:10pm. It is cold and rainy here and the train station in Le Mans is under renovation, which evidently means that there is no heat! Oh well! I had a great week of vacation and I am excited to get back to work tomorrow, though not so excited that I have to be there at 8am. This week should be exciting with the elections, so I’m sure I’ll be posting things like crazy. I’ll also have some photos to add soon too. Stay tuned and, most importantly, stay in touch!

The Election, or Todd on His Soapbox

2008-11-01T00:30:00.005+01:00

While I am in France, I'm not completely cut off from what is going on with the elections in the US. For one, there is a miraculous thing they call the "internets" that enables you to watch news and read papers from around the world. Sen. Stevens of Alaska explains that it is a series of tubes. I'm not sure how it works, but it is GREAT!!
Secondly, the French, like most Europeans, are OBSESSED with this election so it is all over the news here. This phenomenon is understandable for many reasons, but one explanation for their interest is really telling: they want to believe that the real America is not really what they have seen over the last eight years. Most Americans, while aware of some of what goes on in the world, are completely unaware of the omnipresence of America in the lives of people around the world. Having spent a substantial part of the last three years in France, I can attest to this reality.
When you turn on the radio, you hear American music. When you turn on the TV, you see American TV shows. When you walk into the streets, you see American cars. Coca-Cola and MacDonalds are everywhere. But now, our latest successful export here is "la crise." The global financial crisis, which is largely the result of lax enforcement of regulations or the lack thereof in the US, is crippling the world economy. While most Americans are worried and outraged about how this crisis is impacting the United States, they neglect to see that the impact is not simply national, but international. In other words, what we do has an impact on the daily life of a Français, Italiano, etc.
We are, at least for now, the most powerful country in the world, but the previous eight years have had disastrous effects on our image in the world. While some of the negative opinions of America around the world may be unjustified, the fact is that the way we are perceived in the world has far reaching consequences on our economy and our national security. For these reasons alone, we should be accutely aware of what we do in the world and, perhaps more importantly, how we do it. And yet, despite the dark clouds looming over our reputation, Europeans still respect us and have a renewed faith in the American people, largely thanks to the Obama candidacy.
They see the possibility of an Obama presidency as a return of the America that the world loved and respected during the twentieth century. The French Defense Minister, Hervé Morin, recently explained that the French obsession with the current elections is the result of a deep admiration for the hope that America still represents. He explained that, in spite of inequalities that persist in America, it shows that the social elevator in the US works and makes things possible that are still far from attainable in France. That is to say, a minority president.
If Obama is elected, we will have once again shown the world what makes America so great. If John McCain wins, he will have an uphill battle to reunite the country and regain the trust and respect of some of our historic allies. It may not be impossible, but it seems improbable that McCain could effectively repair the damage done by the Bush administration.
On November 5th, I will hopefully know who the next president will be. I hope that Americans will choose hope and not fear. Thought and not gut. Equality and not injustice. If this is the case, Americans will be greeted with open arms and open hearts all over the world, save a few predictable exceptions (and no, France is not one of those exceptions!). If not, whether you think it justified or not, we will be seen by many as ignorant, close-minded frauds. I really hope people don't treat me like a leper on Nov. 5!

Vacances de Toussaint

2008-10-31T13:20:00.001+01:00

So, as most of you know, France is a country where vacation is nearly as important as good food and good wine. It may be even more important. Well, I'm taking full advantage of my first week of vacation in France. This week is thanks to the Toussaint holiday (All Saints Day). While November 1st is a Saturday, we get an entire week off to recharge our batteries until the Vacances de Noël, which begin on December 19th.

This week brought not only vacation, but also the definitive arrival of fall weather and the time change, which, as you may have noticed, takes place a week earlier in Europe than in the USA. Parts of France were covered in snow yesterday, but I only got to experience a very, very cold rain.

Monday, I went to the Forêt de Brocéliande with Sarah and Cynthia, the other two English lecturers. The forest is where the legend of King Arthur takes place and it is around 30km southwest of Rennes. It is also where you can find the fountain of youth and Merlin's grave. Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to get to either of those two places, but I plan on going back soon.

I'm spending the rest of the week in Dijon, which is kind of my "hometown" in France, since I've spent the last three summers here and have quite a few friends here. The train ride down to Dijon from Paris was absolutely amazing. The sky was mostly grey, but the sun made a habit of regularly peaking through the veil to shine down onto the gorgeous landscape that is Bourgogne. In the summer, the rolling hills, covered in trees and pastures, are a vibrant green. The fall, however, is even more gorgeous. The leaves are bright orange and yellow and the pastures still green, though now with hints of gold. Absolutely spectacular!

It is good to be here and see the city in a different season and catch up with my friends and colleagues at the university. I'm staying with my friend Julien, who I've known for three years now. Tonight, I'll have dinner with Stéphane and Sabine, who I would have liked to have seen more, but a little time is better than nothing. That just means I will have to come back in the winter.

Something New

2008-10-31T12:51:00.000+01:00

I've realized that I haven't been in touch with my friends and family as much as possible as far as what is going on in my daily life in France. I've decided to try a blog to keep people up-to-date. While I know this is a less personal way of sharing my stories, it is a better way for those who are interested to see what I'm up to. Feel free to visit often and leave comments/send messages.