for some giggles

So, now I just feel like sharing some of the random language-barrier type issues I've run into since I've been in France.

-instead of going to sign up for renter's assistance, I went into the family assistance office. They asked me if I already had children or was pregnant.

-In a conversation about U.S. politics, I called Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton's husband.

-I told a group of students that I don't like cheap wine, meaning to say spinach.

-I was asked why I didn't have a boyfriend by a co-worker (this was when I first got here), and although I tried to explain that I date but am too picky too commit, by the end of the conversation she thought I was a lesbian.

There have also been several that I haven't committed, but have witnessed.

-In attempting to hit on native English-speaking women (myself and several other assistants) a 17 year old boy told us that his "sex was big and tall". He also tried to convince me that he was 18 as he was showing me his I.D. card that said he was born in 1989.

That's all I can think of right now. But if I can think of others, I'll add them. Ahhh, language barriers, gotta love them.

pictures, as promised

Here are some pictures from Paris and Thanksgiving.

I also want to make a quick comment about transportation in France. So, I take the bus and the train wherever I need to go, pretty much. There is a train station in my town, so I can get to wherever I need to go. Unfortunately, I'm not always able to do that. Not because my weekends are too busy, oh no, but because there is a greve at the train station or with the buses. A greve is mostly the same thing as a strike, except no one walks around with signs and no one really knows what the purpose of the greve is for, either. So, this weekend I had plans to go to a lovely Christmas village in Amiens and also to see the largest cathedral in all of France. But no, there are no trains to Amiens this weekend because the workers have decided to have a greve. It's great. Anyway, back to the pictures.

By the way, Mike, you can see I still have the same boyfriend. Thank you for your faith!

everybody put your hands up

So this post is going to dedicated not to things I have done or seen in France, but to what questions I am asked being an American.

On Friday I was asked to go to a history class for the terminale students (seniors) as they are studying the United States. They had questions they wanted to ask an American. I asked the teacher to give me a list of questions before I went to the class so I could be prepared beforehand. Some of the questions I received were easy, and a little amusing, like, "Are the roads different in France?" Other questions were more thought-provoking.

For example, "Is life in France or the United States more difficult?" I said that economically speaking, life is more difficult for poor people in the United States than in France. The French government takes care of poor or almost poor people much more so than the American government. (They're even going to help me, and I'm not French!) Yes, there are homeless and poor people in France, but the people who are at the tipping point are much less likely to go overboard in France. There is affordable housing everywhere, for families and single people alike, and it's not only in bad areas of the city.

As for myself, I said that life is just different in France. I'm getting used to not having a car and having a schedule that relies on those of other people much more.

I also am asked quite often how I feel about George W. Bush. And I'm open with my opinions, as in France in general people are more open for conversation on these types of things. I told the class that I did not vote for him. One student asked me who I voted for, and when I answered with John Kerry, the class began clapping.

Another question I'm asked often is how Americans perceive the French. That question is so difficult. Of course the French have a reputation for being a little snotty. But I still remember that time of "Freedom Fries" when Chirac basically said that Bush made a bad decision when we started a war with Iraq. Bush has said some bad things about the French, and some Americans have went along with him.

We had a long conversation on violence in the United States. Before I left, I knew that the crime rate of the U.S. is much higher than most other "developed" nations. But I didn't feel it, ever. Now I still read the Star Tribune online almost every day, and I'm shocked at what I read. It's Minnesota, state of 5 million, and there's a story of a recent murder every day. In France there are 60 million people. Since I've been here, I believe there have been 3 murders. The city of Minneapolis has a higher crime rate than the entire country of France. I told the class that I didn't realize truly how big a problem crime in the U.S. is until I left.

It was a very interesting class schedule. I'm still thinking about the questions they asked. I know people read this, and I would be very interested if people posted comments, especially on this post.