So I am officially moved into my apartment in Laval and am settling in.
Yesterday, I was able to witness and emerse myself in the great STRIKE(la greve!) over Sarkozy changing the retirement age. I tell you, the civic engagement of the French is catchy. I read in the newspaper today that millions of people took to the streets of France yesterday, essentially stopping life for the day to force everyone to focus on the issue of retirement, or les retraites. Between 3,000 and 4,000 ( in a city of around 50,000), took to the streets in Laval yesterday, and it was quite a sight.
I also have gotten a good look at the face of French bureacracy, but hey its not so bad. I had to open a bank account, which was much more difficult than in the US of course, but all is well. Tranfering money from my american account to my french one is kind of a pain, but on the bright side, I learned an entirely new set of vocabulary from this meeting--french financial terms! Basically I just need an attestation of everything--attestation de logement, de non-residence fiscal, de travail, etc. But so far people have been extremely helpful, especially my dear friend Charlotte(and her wonderful mother), who helped me move into my apartment, find a bank, and open the bank account. Oh where I would be without my friends...I know not.
backtracking a bit, I spent about three days in Paris when I arrived. There I saw all the classic monuments which shocked me into silent admiration. But a friend of mine also showed me the Jewish and Gay quarter, Montmatre--very bougie area-- plus some less bougie areas where there are larger immigrant population. The clash of the mode de vie was very apprents, and yet the joie de vivre seems to be similar throughout the unique worlds that one discovers in the universe of Paris. I was also led to the most amazing British bookstore called Shakespeare and Co. which had EVERYTHING in both french and english. It has this charming aura, with someone playing the piano inside, accompanied by the music of several languages--French, English, Spanish, etc. You name it, you see it and hear it in Paris. It's really one of the most cosmpolitan places I have ever visited. I also went out with a good friend of my American soulmate who I met in Algeria, miss liz. He took me out to see the eiffel tower sparkling, and to see some of the Paris nightlife. The best word that comes to mind to describe a night in Paris is, intoxicating. And not(or not just!) in the alcholic sense of the word.
Then I spent about a week with the most wonderful family in the world, chez mon amie Charlotte Persant, in le mans, which is about an hour outside of Paris by the TGV. It is a gorgeous old city of about 100,000-200,000 inhabitants, which has a huge and amazing cathedrale from the 11th-12th century. I was able to learn sooo much in a short amount of time about french politics thanks to my fellow political junkie--french version of me--Charlotte. I have learned to love and discuss the French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kochner, who helped begin medicines sans frontieres, and is a major facet of French socialism, in a very humanitarian fashion. He has traveled throughout Africa, to Bosnia, Afghanistan, etc.
I am becoming much more familiar with the Left in France, and the big names that comes to mind are of course, the socialist candidate in the last presidential election, Segolene Royal, and also her long-time partner Francois Hollands, who is a favorite to run for the social party against the increasingly unpopular Sarkozy, in the next elections. Another name is follow is Dominique Strauss-Kahn(I think thats the spelling), who is the current president of the IMF. Anyway, all important names and all potential rivals to Sarkozy. From speaking to people here, if he continues on his current path, the next election looks pretty grim. The French fascination, and for some, hatred, with the first lady, former model and current singer Carla Bruni, is a whole different topic which fascinates me as I hear a different opinion of her every time her name comes up in coversation.
Anyway, I have so much more to write, but because it has been awhile, I want to share a bit of news. I will write more about Laval, as well as my job here, as my job orientation approaches(next week oct 1, to be precise).
a bientot
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