Specialties from Normandie

"...It's because we're in F_____," (you said it, not me)

2007-11-20T13:22:00.000+01:00

Why just have one group striking during "La grève National" when you can have two? Yes, students AND public sector workers are currently on strike. The students are once again blocking the buildings (flashback CPE) and the trains have been off-schedule because of strikes for weeks.

To find out why (and not just my forever sarcastic reply "Because it's time for another strike" or "Who needs a reason to strike? They're French") click on the following links for more info.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2912825.stm

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL0911214120070509

The two causes have joined forces to march the streets of France today, EVEN THOUGH there are supposed to be talks to try to resolve the problem TOMORROW (for the public sector workers). What is wrong with this picture? Why not wait until after the talks to see what is proposed to see if the problem can't be resolved???

Because THAT would not be French.

So what IS French? Perhaps the mentality, "Let's strike just to show the government we're mad."

WE KNOW YOU'RE MAD.

Duh.

Fun on the phone

2007-09-24T11:34:00.000+02:00

This what happens when you call a doctors office in America:

ring ring...

"Hello, the office of Dr. Smith, how may I help you?"

This is what happens when you call a doctors office in France:

ring ring...

"Hello?"

"Um, er, uhh.... this is the eye doctors office, right?" (And in French, eye doctor is some horribly complicated word like 'Ophtalmogist' that I was desperately hoping to avoid having to repeat in front of a French person).

"Well of course you silly American. French people don't make mistakes while dialing phone numbers, so we don't need to introduce ourselves when answering the phone."

Opps. My bad.

Film festival closing thoughts

2007-09-16T21:28:00.000+02:00

A week later, and I can say I have had my fill of the lives of the rich and famous. I am sick of feeling unworthy. Sick of feeling poor, like I can't even afford (or am too cheap-the more likely possibility) to replace my pantyhose that have several visible touch-ups of clear nail polish. Sick of saying hello to people who make eye contact with me and then just look away, like I am not worthy of a greeting from their botox-injected lips. I worked at 2 hotels- the Normandy and the Hotel Royal. The Royal had mostly the American celebrities, and the Normandy, the French ones. Oddly enough, I felt more belittled in the Normandy. By the end of my long five days, I was so dégouté by this atmosphere of waiting hand and foot on people who, most of which I'm sure, are only famous because they happen to be born beautiful and/or are the brother of so-and-so. I understand there are those in Hollywood who are self-made stars, who have worked their way to the top from nothing- but these are the people who should understand the most what it is to work in the service industry. That we are all human beings, and that they are no better than the person standing across the counter from them.

My first day was definitely amazing- but I guess it took me a day to get over being star-struck and to see this world for what it really is. I would say that overall, I did enjoy my experience (except that whole extreme bordom factor when there was no one around) and that I learned alot about a milieu that I don't know, will never understand or be able to accept. It's good to learn what you want to do in life, but as well, what you don't.

Natalie's Deauville Star Sighting Update- Day 2

2007-09-06T00:22:00.001+02:00

Official star sightings for the day: Ben Affleck and Casey Affleck. I will note that I did see Casey Affleck as well on Day 1, but seeing as I feel he is only famous because of his brother (as the siblings of stars often are, i.e. Ashley Simpson) I guess I forgot to mention him. I saw as well a variety of French actors who were a part of the Jury, notably hottie Nicolas Cazalé, who I ran into in the womans bathroom- fancy that. :)

Embarressement factor: getting up there. Lets say 3. It wouldnt be embarressing though-- as I am quite good at bullshitting when i don't know something-- except for the guy sitting right at the desk behind my desk evesdropping (i'm paranoid) to everything i say. So my bullshitting tactic is useless because I can't bullshit with him sitting there. Alas, i think i might have to study up.

Natalie's Deauville Star Sighting Update- Official Day 1

2007-09-04T00:36:00.000+02:00

Okay, so I honestly thought I was gonna come home from my day of work and have to call everyone telling them that I didn't even get to see BRAD PITT (like I gloated beyond belief that I was going to). BUT I DID. LIKE FIVE TIMES. and the last time he was probably five feet in front of my face. I even got a glimpse of ANGELINA JOLIE. oh yeah, and i managed as well to catch GEORGE CLOONEY as he was leaving the hotel. Today was absolutely the most amazing day, not only because I got to see stars (which i'm not like a star-stalker, but i've never ever seen one so it's a new feeling) but i got to chat with so many interesting people and i loved being allowed to smile and be friendly (unlike previous security gaurd job). I'm sure the rest of my deauville experience will nowhere near compare to my first day, but what a way to get things off to a great start.

Star count: 4 (does seeing someone several times count for more?) :)
Embarressement factor: still 0. amazingly. of course, my most frequent question was, "When's Brad Pitt coming?" That's kinda hard to mess up.

Natalie's Deauville Star Sighting Update- Day 0 1/2

2007-09-02T17:37:00.000+02:00

Hello Monica Bellucci's ass. Yeah, I could have seen her face, but I turned my head at the moment she was exiting the elevator.

Embarressement factor for not knowing the answers to questions people ask me, seeing as I AM the "point d'information":
0, Today was only a briefing about the job. But no, Hostesses are NOT just a pretty face (well, okay, maybe we are...)

Dear old french man walking down the street holding his granddaughter's hand and creepily staring me up and down...

2007-07-23T23:11:00.000+02:00

please stop. you're with your granddaughter. and even if you weren't, it's just not cool.

jour férié

2007-06-01T10:20:00.000+02:00

10 am. wake up

11 am. make my way to the uni for my ONLY full day studying (that whole working 40 hours thing)

11.15 arrive at university- hmm... i don't see any cars... or people.

11.16 realization that the university is CLOSED.

11.17 realization that it is a half-ass jour férié, or bank holiday, if you will- some stores are open, but french administration can't be bothered to work

11.18 realization that the LIBRARY is also closed (i mean, who needs to study during FINALS really??)

11.19 realization that NOTHING is open that resembles a study area, and that I have to work at home ( i generally don't get very far with the work at home thing)

9 pm. make my way to the university hospital to study, where medicine students have designated rooms where they study late at night. have the fear of getting kicked out for not being a medical student. all goes well, get home at 3 am.

my trip to the doctor

2007-05-24T15:04:00.000+02:00

And what do you do in France, Mademoiselle?

Well... I'm a server, English teacher, security guard and student. Yes, all at once.

This calls for a blog

2007-05-07T18:55:00.001+02:00

So last night i attended my first protest of the year, this one being against the newly elected French president, Nicolas Sarkozy. Aka, "Sarko". So I suppose i understand the plight of the French youth- he is a bit frightening in that his politics are a bit fascist, but what i don't understand is what they think protesting will change. 53% of their population elected him. So anyway, then today, what do i hear out my window? yes, protesters! i thought i was having CPE flashbacks but no, it was another one and very real. :) and not just one group of protesters, but two, going in different directions. i still hear shouting, but as im pretty sure it ended 1/2 an hour ago, i guess that means im doomed to hear imaginary protests in my head for the next month or so...

Got milk?

2007-02-22T14:28:00.000+01:00

"Bonjour Mme (H)ideg, Comment-allez vous?"
"Très bien merci, et vous?"
"Oui, très bien aussi. Je m'appelle Françoise et je vous appelle de La Maison du Bon Vin à Bordeaux. Aimez-vous le bon vin?"
"Non."
::pause::
"Et pourquoi ça, madame?"
"Parce que je suis américaine, on n'aime pas le vin."
"Oh... "
::Elle comprend toute de suite::
"Et qu'est-ce que vous mettez sur la table quand vous avez des invités?"
"Du lait."
::pause::
"Du lait?"
"Oui, madame. Du lait. Merci de votre appel."

ENGLISH VERSION

Hello Madame Hideg, how are you today?
Very good, thanks. And you?
I'm good. My name is Françoise and I'm calling from the House of Good Wine :) in Bordeaux. Do you like good wine?
No.
::pause::
Might I ask why not?
Because I'm American, and we don't like wine.
Oh...
::understands::
and what do you serve when you have guests over?
Milk.
::pause::
Milk?
Yes, madame, milk. Thanks again for you call.

tex mex- key west

2007-02-20T12:04:00.000+01:00

Last night we had tex-mex night chez natalie. since alex (dollybird) is from texas, she had a fabulous enchilada receipe from her grandmother. so we gathered all the dollybirds (yes, somehow this includes oscar), their men and honorary guest/roommate aurore for this festive evening. i was in charge of the guacamole- because mashing avacadoes and adding the mix is real hard, that takes talent. alex took care of the enchiladas and oscar manned the refried beans. the soirée was complete with corona, at only 8.89 euros for a six-pack! (not counting the fact that i got double charged, but we wont talk about that.)

some people might not share our excitement of tex mex night. but if you lived in caen, france, you would understand. lets just say the only "tex mex" restaurant in the city is called "key west"- doesnt inspire confidence, does it?

le sein du jour

2006-12-26T11:33:00.000+01:00

For a country that prides itself on the separation of church and state, the daily weather report never fails to include "le saint du jour" (the saint of the day)-- just in case you forgot.

my 9 am vodka

2006-12-10T23:37:00.000+01:00

so i was walking to school the other day with my big ol' starbucks to-go mug, when i walk past this cute old man. he says to me, after looking at what i thought was my mug, "Vous avez raison!" (this meaning something to the effect of 'Good idea'). so i, being used to people giving me strange looks because of my obnoxious american to-go mug that NOONE in france feels is a necessity at 9 in the am, respond with, "It's not alcohol!" (bc ppl usually think it is, and of course i quickly realize that my cute old french man is none other than a drunk). he laughs and says, "no, i meant your gloves!" en effet, j'étais en train de mettres mes gants.. :)

Not only do we have the burning Cuyahoga...

2006-11-08T20:11:00.000+01:00

Today on the tv, after hearing the election results, there was a report on Cleveland. Yes, Cleveland, Ohio. At first, I was elated to see my city showing on national french television. I started jumping up and down, screaming, "chez moi, chez moi!" So what were they reporting about? Oh, only all the homeless war veterans and how this this is a huge problem in Cleveland. Not the best report ever, okay, I can handle that. So then the reporter decided to talk about how Cleveland is the poorest and most dangerous city in America. Is that even true? I doubt it. I thought it was detroit. And the most dangerous is supposed to be Youngstown... right? Oh la honte.

spilled liquid and a lost bra

2006-10-19T20:24:00.000+02:00

so i've been back from good ol america for officially a week. my return was surely an eventful one. i made the two connection trek -cleveland-new york-london-paris- (on friday the 13th, mind you) and luckily enough, my bag was lost! why luckily, you ask? because that meant that i didnt have to carry it through paris! i was seriously stressing about this because well, lets just say i bought a lot of crap. and it was heavy. and the journey involves lots of steps and metro changes. so bonus for natalie. the bad part? when i was checking through customs in cleveland, i had forgotten to remove some pesky liquids from my carry on. this meaning i had to ask this dude at the baggage claim to find my luggage and, with much difficulty, stuff it into my checked bag. i couldnt go with him, and he said that he got it in, no problem. when i got my bags monday morning? yeah, that liquid- opened all over my stuff, plus MY BRA WAS GONE! yeah you may be laughing, but said bra was not exactly walmart brand. anyway, so i think liquid man took my bra. and yes, i did ask mom to look all over the house to see if ditzy natalie didnt just leave it at home. so i complained to american airlines, but they dont seem to care too much about my "missing undergarment". below, gisele, modeling lost article. only mine was pink. if found, please send to my parents house, care of natalie. :)

2 months later

2006-09-02T19:00:00.000+02:00

Below, random updates on what has been happening chez natalie the last few months in which i have choosen to avoid blogging due to extreme laziness.

1. I ACUTALLY passed my year. Yeah, i know, i didn't believe it at first either. I still think there must be some sort of mistake, but of course, i'm keeping my lips sealed. Grades here are out of 20. I got a 10,21. In america, i think this is called failing. in france, it's just barely passing, but i'll take it. :) Will be starting my master in french lit in october.

2. Worked on the coast this summer in Deauville teaching english (surprise). I taught a couple who were 70 years old and a bilingual girl of only 3 1/2. Can we say diversity?

3. My apartment is currently under construction. It should have been finished when i got home from work today at 6... wait no. It should have been finished when i got home from work LAST SATURDAY, but alas, they canceled at the last minute. Last minute being, AFTER i had already moved all my crap accumulated over the past three years into our living room. Yes, i cried when they told me that. I have been living in chaos for the past week. I get home from work today to find two very stinky men (it's not because of the work, they were stinky at 8 this morning) STILL in my apartment. So here i sit and wait, wasting time bc i dont have a room to call my own. Below, our living room (aka, my new bedroom?)

4. Coming to a cleveland near you in about 2 weeks. so excited. don't call me, i'll call you. :)

Hugs!

less is more

2006-06-22T00:18:00.000+02:00

so i've survived all my exams except the last one which is on friday. so far i've learned that i've done quite poorly, but because of good grades on written homeworks i've previously turned in, looks like i might make it after all (knock on wood.) just took my syntax exam today, probably one of my most difficult. but thanks to that handy english class which is grouped in the same grading scale as syntax, the 18 out of 20 that i got (everyone hates the american) compensates for my syntax grade. :) so in theory, i could get like a 3 and still pass without having to retake the exam. there are some pros to the french uni after all.

i've titled this entry "less is more" because this is my new motto. okay, that is a lie. this has always been my motto, but i would like to explain my motto to every french student en lettres modernes. just like last time, here i am, page number 3, and the chick next to me is going at it with her colored pens, rulers, white out and fifteen pages. i used to get all intimidated bc i think they are so smart for being able to write so much, but i've recently decided that i have just not learned how to bullshit yet in french. and that that's all they do-bullshit. space filler. honestly people, less is more, less is more.

in other news, tonight is the fête de la musique- this huge city wide music festival with groups playing all around the town. i have my last test on friday, but as we are in the center of town and it is completely worthless to try to study with all the noise, i permitted myself to go out a bit. right below where i live is the salsa music and so i got to dance some as well. good times.

my bed is a very evil place

2006-06-14T15:17:00.000+02:00

so.
that final i had to study for.
i studied for it.
i made lots of cheat sheets.
i stayed up till 2 the night before pouring over Diderot this, Diderot that.
and then i slept till 9 the next morning, probably as a result of my fatigue.
too bad my test was at 8h30.
i was allowed to take my four hour exam in three hours.
i didn't finish- could it have been the time restraint, or perhaps what looked and sounded like a PROTEST that was going on right outside my window?
i guess i'll never know.
september ratrappage, here i come.

my bed is a happy place

2006-06-13T16:18:00.000+02:00

so i start finals tomarrow and all i can think about is sleep. why is this, you ask? perhaps it's because the last three nights i went to bed around 5. whose fault is this, you ask? lets blame it on 2 american boys who came to visit me the last five days. okay, so its totally not their fault, but i need to have some sort of excuse for doing absolutely nothing and staying out till all hours of the night. the first 5 o clock curfew involved sitting outside my appartment for almost 2 hours without keys and the second was a lovely 2 o clock drive to the beach where we all sat and BSed for a couple hours and listed to the ocean. i have definitely not studied enough for my test tomarrow, but i think it was really good for natalie to actually leave the appartment for once (or twice, or three times...) i was becoming a total basketcase and it did me good. so now that i have tests, back to being a basketcase! :)

here is a pic of the gang at the don.

unfortunately, aurore didn't make it into this photo. let's not have her feeling left out.

organization or procrastination?

2006-06-05T20:28:00.000+02:00

Here is the highlight of my week- a new book shelf! gotta love organization. and a new procrastination technique. i'm sure that a four hour study break was not entirely necessary just to set up a book shelf...

a horible mistake

2006-06-03T23:07:00.002+02:00

so today i had diner with my frend anne cecile an she towd me the darndest thing. she said that "certen peple" (whos names have not ben reveled to the blogger) have made coments about my speling and gramer on my blog. her is my response:

obviously, i'm not making the effort to write properly. i'm so lazy you people are lucky this thing even gets published once in a while (for those who actually read it.) Voilà. i apologize if my poor writing has offended any grammar and spelling fantatics, and i ask for forgiveness and that you give my blog a second chance.

Dissertation blues

2006-05-25T16:21:00.000+02:00

Hit the road, Jacques, and don't you come back no more no more no more no more. Hit the road, Jacques, and don't you come back no more...

a bit of french arrogance

2006-05-18T21:19:00.000+02:00

so shannon (american roommate) goes to paris yesterday to find out about applying to the sorbonne for a masters program there for next year. lets keep in mind that shannon has a bachlors degree in the US in french.
Shannon: "I would like to apply for your masters program please."
French woman: "Okay.... oh wait. You ONLY have a bachelors degree. I'm sorry but your four years of college are only equivalent to TWO years at a French univerisity. You have to apply for the third year of our bachelors program."

Apparently american university isn't worth much here.

my little getaway

2006-05-01T11:27:00.002+02:00

So after five weeks of my "strike" vacation, i am currently enjoying my 2 week spring vacation. even though i have tons of work, i managed to take a trip 3 hours south of caen to angers where a friend from high school is studying. as much as i love caen, i adore traveling to other cities in france and sometimes find myself wondering, "why couldn't i have been placed here?" after almost three years here, i do love this city and i have tons of friends, but things like the crappy, rainy weather put a damper on a great place. the weather in angers was defnintely warmer, but even the city was so cute with lots of little shopping areas, places to eat, etc. it was bigger than caen too. and i'm more of a big city girl. we took a day trip to nantes which is also way bigger than caen. unfortuantely though, nantes happens to be currently under construction (yes, like the whole friggin city, including major touist attractions) so we didn't get to see much. but it was fun anyway just hanging out with sara.

As a sidenote, i randomly heard yelling and screaming outside my window this morning. I thought that it MUST be in my head this time, as the striking was supposed to have officially ended, but no. It was real. What are they striking about this time? Don't know, don't care.

Reprise des cours!

2006-04-15T00:21:00.000+02:00

Alas! We are finally starting classes next tuesday! Why not monday? It's a national holiday because of Easter. So what happens after four (three for me) days of classes? Two weeks of vacation! Isn't France great?

Natalie's first tear gas experience

2006-04-06T20:42:00.000+02:00

This sounds worse than it is. Really. No worries, I am not in any danger. Aurore and I just wanted to be part of the action. At about 7:00 today, I (for real this time) hear people screaming out my window. I lean my head outside and see people racing down the street, knocking over trash cans, throwing stuff around. So i yell to Aurore, "Come look, they're going crazy!" The protesters were at the train station blocking the trains (poor shannons mom couldnt catch her train to go to Paris to go home the next day) and the police came to push them out. So they're all running down the street towards the university. So we decided to be part of the fun.

We followed the police for about a half hour as they were chasing the houligans who were causing trouble, and a few times, in order to get them to come our from where they were hiding, they threw gas bombs. THAT was an experience. It was so strong we couldnt even breathe and had to back away from the crime scene.

Then we followed them to the uni where nothing else exciting happend.

Tomarrow we have a meeting to discuss what will happen with classes, exams, etc. BUT, before that, the police are supposed to come to kick the blockers out of the university. Its official, they are FINALLY supposed to do it. The key word here is "supposed to." No one knows if they will even come or if they do be able to get them to leave. On verra bien demain...

so i found this article on the internet. the author is a bit harsh, but he's got a point.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2006/04/06/do0601.xml&sSheet=/opinion/2006/04/06/ixopinion.html

"C-P-E!!! Non non non!!!"

2006-03-28T11:51:00.001+02:00

I bet the people that lived through the second world war continued to hear those warning sirens even after the war had ended just from being used to hearing it. This is me and protesters. I hear them all the time and I never know when it's real or when it's in my head. In my appartment, (we live on the main street taken by protest marches) when i'm studying at the library, at the school where i work... I think i'm going crazy.

Today is "la grève national"-- this means not only are the students STILL protesting, but the entire country's workers have joined in the fight. In my opinion, it's sorta like with the tram drivers, just another reason to not work.

I've heard that an "anti-bloquage" group of students are going to storm the university buildings thursday in order to start classes back up. Who knows what will happen there. Apparently the protesting students are large and angry, they might not have much luck.

The drama continues

2006-03-19T00:28:00.001+01:00

I would say this is getting ridiculous but it could only be the beginning. Today, as i was working at Dolly', what do i hear but the sound of angry citizens yelling in the streets, bullhorns, drums and chanting. An enormous parade of protesters were passing right in front of Dollys which lasted for almost an hour. I was cursing myself to have not brought my camara. I feel like i am living this great cultural experience that when i am old i will tell my children about and they will marvel at the crazy french people who are always demanding their rights.

The university is officially blocked until wednesday when we will vote for or against the "bloquage." If i am even allowed to vote- not sure i really count- i will vote against. I'm kinda getting bored and i am not sure what will happen if i continue to miss classes. As i miraculously managed to pass my first semester i'll be a bit put off if dont get the chance to miraculously pass the second.

Lazy tram drivers

2006-03-15T12:57:00.000+01:00

So here's a pic from my apt window of the french students protesting. Because of all the protesting, the trams havent been working, making difficult the lives of poor shannon and karina who have to take taxis or walk to get home. We've decided the tram drivers use the protests as an excuse not to work, because honestly, the marching rarely goes near the tracks and if it does, it takes about five minutes to wait for the people to pass. A tram goes from coming every 10 minutes to every 45? I don't think so.

What?! The FRENCH are striking?

2006-03-14T14:21:00.000+01:00

So last week was apparently a good week to miss class- the french are striking again. Last year the national workers strike affected me in that there were no trains to go to work. This year, since its the students who are striking, I dont have class. Apparently all the hype started last week (when I was so convieniently on vacation) and some of my classes didnt take place. But I go to class monday morning and lo and behold the doors to my building, yes mine, not the others, are locked with chains and blocked with desks and chairs. I think, okay, I'll get in downstairs. Not happening. Students are hanging out handing out flyers about their cause (to be clarified) and are making sure no one gets in. Rumor has it I wont have class for the rest of this week. Normally I would be jumping up and down at this information, but alas, these classes must be made up and that will probably happen during our much needed revision week. blah.

So WHY are the French students striking? To try to make it short, in France when you get a job you have a few month trial period where your prospective employers can fire you at will. But, once they officially hire you, according to the french socialist society i live in (not really, but kinda in this case) they are basically stuck with you for life. The government is imposing a new law saying that they want this trial period to last a few YEARS instead for people under 26- this means all the graduating students. Until someone gets hired on for real to a job, their lives are quite unstable bc they can be fired at anytime, they cant rent an appt. w/o a contract, etc. (French people, correct me if this is wrong.) So there you go.

i hate pencil cases

2006-02-02T23:47:00.001+01:00

so i had my two biggest exams today- yes, those four hour long ones. The first one, ninteenth century lit, was okay, but i was a commentary that was quite difficult because of the vocabulary and as well it helps if you know how to write a commentary. natalie does not. i tried to learn, but there's not much you can do in a day in a half, which is the time i had to work on this class since ive been working at dollys and my teaching job. poo.

second exam- i dont think ive ever managed to cry during a test. well, not literally crying, but i was definitely wiping away some brimming tears. i had to comment on this poem, the fair singer by andrew marvell. i had notes on it from a student that took the class last year, but as i, again, didnt have much time to revise for it, didnt know all the different points, and the points i knew i couldnt really explain because i didnt understand them. so im pretty sure that was a big fat zero.

the most obnoxious part about all of this, is that as i was sitting there staring at my paper for hours, the two girls in front of me, from the moment the received their test, i swear, didnt stop writing. i happened to glace at the bottom of her paper- oh yes, she was on page number 15. me- 3. generally the testing sheets have four sides. you can occassionally ask for more paper if you want but four is standard. FIFTEEN. i think its this girls fault i was crying. she kept reaching into her pencil case to change colors... those perfect french students with their perfectly neat and legible papers, dates in green, underline in red (no doubt underlined using a ruler), skip five lines to leave room for teacher comments, two lines between the title and the beginning of the paper- i wanted to scream. and they all have their little pencil cases sitting out on their desks with markers, highters, glue stick, ruler, scissors, pencils pens... i have often thought this might be a practical idea to get a pencil case (seeing as here no one will laugh at me) but i am in continuous rebellion because i am against everything that has to do with this robot way of teaching. honestly, french students are like machines. they are trained to do everything in a certain way, they dont have the free will to choose what color the title should be written in. i was talking with shannon my american roommate who teaches 8 year olds and she told me that when she asks her students to write something down, they always ask in what color and how many lines they should skip. She responds, as many as you want, i dont care. in america we have the right to choose our pen ink.

Opps!

2006-01-23T08:55:00.001+01:00

I almost forgot to mention that my FABULOUS roommate from my first year in France, Cassi, (americain, bloody mary monday mornings, marrying a french dude in july...) came to stay with us for a week! Of course this was my week of madness, so Elisa and might not have been the best hostesses, but we had a great time anyway.

Voici Cassi et Elisa en cuisine.

Just when you thought the worse was over...

2006-01-22T20:31:00.000+01:00

... It's really only just beginning. Contrary to popular belief, my last blog was not during my exams. That was only presentations, papers, etc. This entire week will I am in revision, and then next week starts my exams which last two weeks. The first week I have only two days of exams, but as each exams lasts 4 hours, 4+4=8 hours of exams in one day. I would like to know who decided that 4 hour long exams were okay? Because that is insanity.

So that dissertation... yeah, got that back. As we were going over it before she handed them back, I had this sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach as I realize that EVERYTHING she's talking about has absolutely nothing to do with what I wrote. Yeah.... I got a 10. Out of 20. This is just barely passing, but is actually not considered that bad. However the fact that she wrote only negative comments on my paper and told me that what I wrote was definitely not a dissertation made me think that I didn't really deserve that grade. When I asked her about it later she told me that it was obvious that I worked hard on it and that the fact that I am making efforts to improve "my general culture" (?) was courageous. Gee thanks. So anyway, since everyone else in the class did as bad or if not worse than me, she's gonna let us use this grade if our exam grade is worse. So I've already passed one class, six more to go! It's good to know that ALL of my five four-hour exams will be in dissertation form.

Again, I have another fun library story to tell. (Yeah, I know all I talk about is school-sorry.) So as I will soon be in exams, one would think that the ability to take out books from the library would be quite important. Oh, no one cares here. If you are late returning your book, for every day you are late you card is suspended a day. Therefore, I, being 10 days late (opps) cannot rent books for the next week. What kinda crap is that? I couldn't even bride the librarian. And as I have this pesky anger control problem, I was absolutely fuming when she told me I did not have the right to take out books I needed for my exams. I guess this is what you get when you pay only 200 dollars for one year of higher education. You ain't got the right to demand nothin.

On a more positive note, my rad roommates threw me and my roomie Elisa a birthday party last friday. Was a good time and got fun gifts. I haven't had a birthday party for ages, I felt special.
Here's a picture of the girls of 22 Bernières in action.

As well, I have a couple pics from new years eve (as well held chez nous) complete with sparkers and everything.

Tis all for now. Wish me luck! (Or you can just say "shit." In French this is what they say-"merde"- to wish someone good luck. Maybe it works in English too. :)

natalie's world of fun

2006-01-10T11:07:00.000+01:00

Dissertation, presentation, commentary, essay.... dissertation presentation, commentary, essay, exam.... dissertation....

Coffee just isn't doing it anymore.

No, I'm not on crack

2006-01-04T23:29:00.000+01:00

Okay, sorry guys. This will only make sense if your name is Karina Davis.

"When it was snowing ropes, I bumped my little jew and the day was vacillating."

Think of it like a poem. But not a coupling.

the french dissertation

2006-01-01T23:44:00.000+01:00

Who would like to know what a french dissertation is? Oh, ill tell you. Its an original of its kind. Doesn't even exist in Italy apparently because my italian roommate and I have been stressing over writing this monster of a paper for the past month. In a french dissertation, one must take either a subject or a quotation and from there find a problem with this subject or quotation. After the problem is found, you are then somehow expected to create and argument for this problem, then one against, and then think up this miraculous new literary idea that no one in the history of literature has ever thought of before. Easy, right? Wrong. Natalie spent the first week of her vacation pondering this dissertation and the second week locked in her room (seriously, I left my appartment three times all week, I actually started running out of food) attempting to write this dissertation. It's due in a day and do you think I'm finished? Of course not. French high school students spend their entire student career in preparation for writing this. But hey, I'll master it on the first try- in a foreign language to boot. Pas de probleme.

A Very Frenchie Noël

2005-12-27T12:58:00.000+01:00

SO... I had the best christmas ever. Well, okay, not EVER (just kidding fam!) but after being homesick all week I have to say it definitely made up for not being home.

After working at Dolly's Christmas Eve, (and after closing early because we were dead) I headed off to meet my friend Kévin to drive out to Grandville (near the American Cemetary) and spend that night and then Christmas day with him and his family. I was a bit nervous at first, but after a few drinks and the always expected questions about American politics, I started to relax and have a good time.

First, the champagne which lasts about an hour or so. Then the opening of gifts where i was offered a cute little wooden day calender by Kévin's family. Then we started on dinner at about 10:30, didn't leave the table till, oh, about 2:30. I kept looking at my watch thinking, I can't believe we're still eating at this hour. At home we start packing up to LEAVE at about 10:30. So after tasting some fried oysters, fois gras and some sort of sausage --of which you are not supposed to eat the skin because its the lining of the intestines and, yes, i ate that-- we got our groove on to some old French music that everyone but me knew the words to. Finally, Kévins sister put on some Micheal Jackson and I was right at home. Hits the sheets about 4 in the am...

After passing out chez his grandparents and having a delicious morning expresso, we got ready for another five hours at the dinner table. Turkey, real oysters (this I didn't try, but only because I've already had them and almost threw up because I felt them wiggling around in my stomach) and as usual, unlimited amounts of wine. I love that about France. Of course, wine's alot cheaper here too.

Mon pax partenaire

2005-12-22T22:44:00.000+01:00

Hello all. So this is officially the first entry to my new and exciting blog (with FREE photos!) I have to be honest, this is basically the entire reason I've switched, that and the fact that people kept typing in DAIRYland.com instead of diaryland. Or at least, I like to convince myself that is why no one ever reads my messages... I added some my past diaries from diaryland so you can check those out too if you're interested.

As I generally pretty am lame on updating blogs (it's because my life is just that interesting that I can't be bothered to spend hours in front of the computer) you should check the blog of my friend Karina who lives in Caen with me, who basically lives the same life as me and who, unlike me, has nothing better to do than spend hours in front of the computer updating her blog. It's http://www.confituredulait.blogspot.com. Haha, just kidding Karina, you'll always be my imaginary pax partner. :) Yeah, think I spelled that wrong.

Merry Christmas!

some random comments

2005-11-17T11:06:00.000+01:00

I would just like to say that I am amazed at the number of people I see in the university computer lab playing solitaire when there is a line out the door of people waiting for computers- at least check your email or write in your online diary. come on people. :)

as well, i would like to point out that toilet seats are a luxury in France, even in unisex bathrooms.

got my job as an assistant for january. think i forgot to mention i was applying for that. its a bit different than what i did before as its with a different company, if you will. its only 7 hours a week and normally you are placed pretty far from Caen. That being said, they were SO impressed with me that they asked me where I was placed my first year and asked me if i wanted to go back. of course, as its like 5 minutes from where i live, i said yes, so i will be in caen! horray! and, i still keep in contact with the profs there so im so pumped to go back and work with them. its the middle school level, so no more dealing with "im too cool" high schoolers. rock on. i have no problems getting 450 euros more a month... :)

this would not happen in america

2005-11-07T09:46:00.000+01:00

I would just like to say that only a university library IN FRANCE would open at 10:00 on a Monday morning. Oh yeah, and closes at 7pm every day. While I'm venting, I would also like to point out that classes start and end on the hour. I am late to every single one of my classes. How can you have classes that finish and begin at the same time? I just don't get it.

By the way, I was going to write in there thanking you all for your concern about the riots in Paris, and then remind you that, no, I still don't live in Paris. There ARE other cities in France. BUT, as new developements have come about, apparently this morning it has started in Caen and has been going on in other cities in France. In relation to my well being, no worries, I am personally fine and my invisible car has yet to be set on fire.

subway and starbucks

2005-10-06T00:11:00.000+02:00

so yeah...THERE IS A SUBWAY IN CAEN. words cannot explain how excited i am about this. when i first heard i almost fell out of my chair.
the reason this is good is because subway-like sandwiches are a novelty in france. the sandwich stands here have baguettes with a piece of ham and cheese stuck in the middle. so basically, too much bread, no veggies. so yay. next up, starbucks. (yeah, this is me pretending next up is starbucks- every time we walk past a store being remodled i swear its the perfect spot for a starbucks. but maybe this is a good thing bc id spend all of whats left of my little paycheck there.)

Showdown

2005-10-05T09:20:00.000+02:00

So hello there. I’ve been back in Caen for two days now after a month long vacation in my favorite hometown- cleveland. man, i had a good time and it was great just seeing people after a year of not coming home. i thought it would be weird to adjust to america after living in frenchie land too long, but i got into the swing of things right away. a bit frustrated to not be able to spend as much time w people as i wanted but eventually i will return and make up for it.

highlights- visiting my awesome cousins in michigan for three days, mom spoiling me and buying me whatever i want (i so don’t feel like im almost 25) a sorta pool party thrown in my honor for the friends and fam, friends who came from far away to visit, CAMI, working at scene again (yes i worked on my vacation) going out to dinner w the mom like, 50 times, and as well dinner for my grandmas 70th b day, lunching with my grandma and erica at aladdins, my favorite lebanise restaurant.
yes, most of this involves eating, i realize that.

so i get in wednesday after no sleep on the plane and am dead tired ready to crash. it is at this moment that i receive tons of great news- my appartement is falling to shambles, the landlord is a money hungry jerk who wont fix anything, and my rad roommate is moving out bc of it and in with the woman i work for. rock on. needless to say, wasnt expecting to come home to all this.

so friday night we had a showdown with our landlord. there was me, my recently evicted roommate emilie (the one who had decided to leave but the next day was kicked out anyway by the landlord bc he called her vindictive, rude and poorly raised) her parents, this older french dude who’s a friend from dollys so he could be our protector from evil landlord, and my two roomies. needless to say, when mr. B (landlord) showed up and saw this crowd he automatically started getting all rilled up and yelling. the shindig ended with lots of shouting (mostly on his part) an almost fist fight by mr. b and emilies dad. her familly left so there would be no blood and after mr. B-- after freaking out again and threatening to kick us all out-- finally calmed down, we managed to force him to sign a paper giving a due date for all the repairs in the apart. thats all we wanted. geez. we were also hoping to con him into paying our electricity since hes ripping us off, but after all that, we figured it was a no.

so now we have to find a new roommate by next week or else our landlord willfind one for us. gotta be honest, dont think i trust his taste. so we’ve been looking on this roommate site and sorta “choosing” our potential roommate. its cool bc they have a picture posted and so we’ve been writing down all the cute guys. unfortunately, none of the cute guys have been writing us back. we have currently interviewed 2 girls and three guys and are not really excited about any of them. after meeting these guys, i have to be honest in saying that im leaning towards a chick. i just try to picture myself brushing my teeth in my pyjamas next to a male nurse who plays the piano and drums and sometimes subs as a clown, and i just cant do it. (although he was going to bring a piano...) another guy swore he would bring us fresh croissants every morning, and the other has a washing machine and microwave. ahhh, such choices.

what else... i registered for the university yesterday, got my student card. i choose my classes today. im taking some fun classes and some not so fun classes. syntax of the french language (not so fun) 17th century fairy tales, a poetry class, women in modern litterature (including one of the books i read in english this summer!) litterature and art, and, get this, contemporary american cinema. hopefully i wont get asked lots of questions. as well i am working still at dollys, the english coffee and tea salon, and am giving some private tutoring sessions.