We are all just people

I went to watch my host brother at boxing practice tonight and I had an almost-epiphany. I was watching normal guys and girls in their athletic gear softly punching each other while a coach yelled directions and advice. For some reason, while seeing each person's face become more red after each punch, I felt an overwhelming sensation that we are all just people. We all sweat the same, jog the same, joke the same, and feel the same sting when a glove smacks across the face. The only thing different is our language, but even that is nearly the same too. The French communicate the same feelings and thoughts and questions as I do, they just use different vocabulary. It is hard to fully communicate an almost-epiphany even with two languages worth of vocabulary, but it was a feeling of togetherness that was really satisfying. Also at the gym, I saw a workout technique where people walk around each other like crabs, and black belters flipping and slamming each other until their torsos were red (what an amusing night).

I also recently have found myself going half the day before I remember, "I am in FRANCE." I will be walking around the centre-ville, carrying a baguette and cheese round for a pique-nique, listening to an accordion or sax player in the street, and it all feels natural. Then I look at a sign written in french and realize I am in FRANCE and I remember what an awesome adventure I am on. I think that is exactly how I want to feel right now. I feel comfortable walking around town, but even the smallest things like sitting around a fountain are really exciting and fresh.

During a conversation at dinner, I was told that sometimes Americans think that the French are racist. They call people Blacks or Chinese to collect similar looking people into a group. However, it has absolutely no negative connotation like it would in the States (with the Arabs, there is negative tension, "but that is for a different reason," said my host father). France just implemented a new law where women cannot cover their face with a niqab anymore. I found this to be a huge shock and almost an insult, but my host family is satisfied with the law. They said that women who wear these veils cannot be identified while driving or taking a test. Wearing a niqab is not a written religious law but rather a custom, and my host mother is more in favor of the law than against it. It is with customs like these (and table manners, and people not smiling on the sidewalk) that I have to just remember that France has a different culture and that everything has a little different meaning. Rather than trying to connect everything here to something familiar to my culture, it is necessary to act like an infant and take things as they are without placing my previous ideas on them.

There is a little throat scratchiness going around with the IESers and the best advice I have heard so far is, "Wear a scarf around your neck and you will never get sick." So I bought a scarf. If you ever want to look European, just wear a scarf. It does not matter what else you wear, a scarf will give you that European fashion confidence that says "I look good AND I am warm." As for fashion, a scarf should be high on the list in winter for each outfit. French guys have taken the American preppy two steps farther. To fit in, guys need to wear collared shirts with their collars popped (or multiple shirts layered with popped collars) and a sweater wrapped around the shoulders. Their shoes are generally simple and converse-style (except for the high class guys who wear dressy, narrow-toed shoes with their slick business-pressed slacks and button-down shirt). Guys wear capris here very often, but I am not sure if everyone can pull it off. However, I like the way they look and hope it comes to the States soon. People are also wearing parachute-like pants that are baggy around the waist and thighs but tight around the ankles. The fabric is usually light and moves easily, but it is unlike any common pants worn by people in the States. Girls often wear capris styled this way- baggy but tight around the knee- but the only guys who I have seen sporting this style have been more free-spirited/less likely to want an office job type of guys. I think this style will probably stay in Europe.

Some common french utterings:
1. "buh oui" is a pretty normal thing to hear around the house, and I guess the "buh" is just a French filler. 2. When someone wants to get your attention or find where you are, they might say "cou cou." We heard this fairly often on the bus during IES orientation.

Some things I have eaten recently:
1. Kangaroo sausage at a market (probably a joey, sad but tasty). 2. Confiture (jam) de figues et poires. 3. A casserole with cheese and zucchini. 4. A two-foot baguette for .80 euro. 5. Baby flan in a plastic cup at the University cafeteria. 6. La barbe a papa (cotton candy).