Strike One

Today was a long day, and this week already feels like a long week. I woke up and felt like I had back-stepped un peu with my French conversation skills. I had to work hard to put my sentences together, and it was a rather important day to know french. Today Nantes had a strike (un greve) so lots of the transportation either stopped running or had limited routes. I took the bus this morning with some other students who live close by and although it was a little late, it took me to the right stop. But because of the strike, the store that sells passes for the bus and tram was closed today, so I have to continue to buy individual tickets until tomorrow. We waited probably 30 minutes for the bus to go home this evening, but it never came (sounds like the work of le greve) so we took a scenic walk back to our homes instead (I had to walk quickly because I did not want to be late for le diner with my family!). While I was still in my IES orientation, apparently there was an hour's worth of people who clogged the streets in le centre-ville. Hopefully I will be able to see them next time there is un greve (which is probably fairly soon).

Today I bought a sim card for my phone (mon portable). It is hard to buy a cell phone in English, so just imagine trying to work everything out in French. I finally activated and charged my phone after two trips to "The Phone House" where I struggled my way through deciding which prepaid plan would be best. My host mom had to help me activate my "recharger" code because the automated voice on the other line would not slow down for questions. Although it was a very stressful ordeal while it was happening, I now have a phone that works and I just have to recharger each month.

I also finally met my host sister tonight. She is tres sympa and fun to talk with. I showed her pictures from a book about San Antonio and she liked seeing Shamu swim with a trainer at Sea World. We watched le match de foot together with my host mom and cheered as France scored two goals to win the game. During the game, some fans threw a smoke bomb onto the field and caused a little chaos. My host mom explained to me that the French are rather unsettled. Rather than support something, they prefer to oppose the other side. One of her sons visited the States during an election time and said that Americans are very patriotic. While Americans like to support their candidate with flags in their front yard, the French do not vote For a candidate but rather Against another.

I think it will be time for dinner soon in the States, so below are some fun meals I have eaten in France.

At the hotel in Vannes: 1.Salad with a fried cheese topper, salmon on a bed of vegetables (des lugumes), mango ice cream over sliced pineapples. 2. Salad with beets, corn, and hearts of palm, sardines, tarte du framboise (raspberry). 3. Thinly sliced ham over cantalope, a meaty white fish on a bed des lugumes, chocolate mousse tarte.

In le centre-ville in Nantes: 1. un crepe with mushrooms, egg, and cheese. 2. un sandwich with avocat and salmon.

Chez Moi: 1. croque-monsieur (toasted sandwich with ham and cheese. A croque-madame is the same plus an egg on top ). 2. eggs over easy with green beans (les haricots verts)