Thursday, November 20, 2008

Brussels and a not 514 euro haircut
















+Belgian Waffles!
+Lady Luck
+Grand Cathedral
+New Hair Part Un!
+New Hair Part Deux!
Has anything ever happened to you that at the time was quite distressing, but afterwards was actually quite hilarious? That happened to me recently when I got “Frenchicized”. Last Saturday, I decided to pay a little visit the local “coiffeuse” to see what could be done about my hair. I’ve always wanted to play with it but have been held back by the combination of it needing to fit neatly into a bun (for ballet) and my own fear. But this time, besotted with my own independence, I figured, let’s give it a go and gave the hairdresser free reign. We decided on a color (“chocolat” which is every bit as delicious as the name implies) and the cut I left up to her saying only “quelque chose different mais jolie, s’il vous plait”.
Well, when it was finished I did think it looked nice, right up until I saw what it cost. She announced the price to me and as I’m horrible with numbers, I asked if I could please see it on the calculator. Glancing down, I lost a good four or five years of my life when I saw that it was 514 euros. Yes, you read that correctly, five HUNDRED and fourteen. I knew that the French valued their appearance - God forbid someone leave the house without each curl in place, eyebrows plucked and five inch heals shined - but to pay five hundred and fourteen euros for hair seemed a little excessive! What was I going to do? Did I have enough money for this? Who did I have to take off my Christmas list? Was it even worth it? WHAT WAS I GOING TO TELL MY MOM?!
Since I didn’t have all the cash with me, I gave her my credit card, but the machine didn’t accept it. I was in a panic at this point and trying to keep my cool and not start hyperventilating in a French hair salon. Luckily, she was very nice and told me that she trusted me (and my host family, whose hair she’s done since the children were very young) and I could come back on Tuesday with the money. Long story short (too late), when my host mother asked what I thought about my hair, I said: “Je suis tres content avec le fringe et le colour, mais pas vraiment avec le prix…c’etait 514 euro” to which she replied “QUOI? Non, non, non…c’est pas possible. You must have not heard/seen correctly, I’m sure it’s only 51.40”.
Calmed, but still incredibly anxious, I returned Tuesday morning during a break from school and paid…the plus petit sum of 51.40 euro.
Now: Funny. Then: Not so much.
Other than that near hysteria situation, I’ve been doing quite well. The weekend of Nov 8th and 9th I went to Belgium with my host family and spent Saturday in Brussels. I really, really enjoyed the city; since it’s the home of the European Union, it’s quite international and I heard more languages and saw more cultures in that one day than I think I’ve ever seen in my whole life combined. It was very beautiful and historic and I saw, among other things, the royal palace, the Saint Michael and Saint Gudula Cathedral, the famous “Mannikan Piss” statue, “Lady Luck”, the beautiful downtown and lots and lots of Belgian waffles. I also learned a lot about Belgium that I never knew…it has a rich history and I’m surprised we never learned more about it in school.
This weekend I have a Rotary conference and as my host family is going to be in Belgium, I’m staying with a Rotary friend, Victoria, for the weekend. Then, Monday I’m going to babysit (I also babysat last Tuesday night), Tuesday I have a Rotary “soiree-cinema” and Friday, I think Astrid is going to have a little Thanksgiving for me. Saturday is another Rotary day…I’ll be working at the “banque alimentaire” (food bank) and the following Monday is yet another Rotary conference. December 13th brings another trip to Belgium for the wedding of my “aunt”, but further than that, I don’t think I have too much going on.
It’s weird for me to think I’m going to miss Thanksgiving with my family this year. I’m trying really hard to think of this whole holiday season not as “inferior” to the one I’m used to, rather just different. Easier said than done.
I should also mention that as I’m writing this I should be in school. However I’m not, because the teachers are on strike. Oh, France…
Happy twelve weeks and one day to me! Wow, eight-six whole days…I can’t believe it! And Happy Thanksgiving to all, enjoy your turkey!

Hope everyone is well! Gros Bisous,
Kristen

Sunday, November 2, 2008

It's November?!

Is my calendar correct? Is it really November? I can’t believe the last time I updated was a month ago…it feels more like a week.
You know the expression “when it rains, it pours”? That sums up how this past month has been. It’s been one thing to another, just bouncing around France (and Germany!!). Currently, I’m on break from school for two weeks. The French like big breaks at random times during the year (I have another one in Dec-Jan, Feb-March and April-May), and let me tell you, I’m really liking it too! I just returned from a week vacation in the French region of Alsace (on the boarder of Germany…think Strasbourg) and Germany. Among other things, we toured a bunch of cities, saw chapels and churches, vineyards and chateaus, went to a bread museum (only in France…), tasted the regions delicacies, stayed in a bungalow, monastary and four star hotel, and went to EuropaPark (the European equivalent of DisneyLand…well, it would be if Europe Disney didn’t exist). It was a whirlwind of an experience – I saw so many cities and so much history and had so much fun! It’s impossible to write it all down. I’m now into the second week of “Tous Saints”, and will return to school on Thursday. But then we’re off to Belgium on Saturday for another weekend and Astrid has promised to take me to Brussels!
My French is really coming along. I feel I’m at the point where I can understand almost all that’s being said, and can also hold my own in conversation past the standard “Bonjour, je m'appelle Kristen. Je viens de New York...mais l'etat pas la ville. Je suis un correspondant avec Rotary. J'aime lire. Qu'est-ce que tu aimes?" That being said, I still have difficulty expressing exactly what I want to say, because of several barriers: One, I always have to be wary of what I’m saying and how it translates. Some things translate literally much heavier than I intended, so it’s important to be on one’s guard, especially when expressing an opinion. The last thing I want is to offend anyone unintentionally! Two, my accent which is improving, but jeez those “r” sounds are just down right hard to say! And three, well it’s only been two months! I’m still not an expert in the French vocabulary.
Other things I’ve done in the past month include taking as many walks as possible while the sun is still out and relatively warm, babysat a few more times, attending meetings of a religious group I’m part of (the purpose of the group is to get together once a month or so and discuss current events. It’s a Catholic group, and I’m Methodist, but I find it interesting to hear another religion and culture’s ideas and opinions), voted for the first time with an absentee ballot, had my first, had my first Halloween away from home (which didn’t even exist really…the French don’t celebrate it and we had just one trick-or-treater which was one more than the de Moffarts were used to having), and attended a large Rotary dinner where among other things, I ate cheese ice cream. Oh yes. Cheese. Ice cream. CHEESEICECREAM. It was…quite an experience.
I’m doing really well and am loving my time here in Compiegne. I’m so happy to have met so many nice and wonderful people, traveled and experienced so much already and have such a wonderful host family. I had a few days last month where homesickness crawled up silently behind me and covered my eyes with its nasty, slimy hands, but I know both from Rotary’s warnings and talking to other exchangees that it’s perfectly normal.
Well that’s all for now. Hope everyone is well and is having a fall. Thank you everyone for your well wishes, love and support! I miss and love you all too!

Bisous,

Kristen