Dear everyone:
I always find that the beginning of a blog post is the most difficult part. Therefore, I am going to pretend that this is a personal letter, and I am addressing each one of you directly.
Today is Wednesday, the 13th of April, and already my dorm room is turning into a small oven. A toaster oven. I miss air conditioning, and I also wish I could find summer clothes that fit. It's funny how when it was cold, I spent so much time wishing it would warm up so I wouldn't get so miserably frozen every time I went outside, which was all the time, and now, even though it's not as hot as an Oklahoma summer, I just wish it would cool down. Ah well, one can't always have what one wants.
Even though Wednesday is supposed to be my day for chasing down adventure, I'm not sure how much adventuring I'll get done today considering the amount of homework I have. For example, on Monday I have to give a presentation on my assigned part of our book in literature class, and I need to catch up on the reading. In general, I love reading. The heroine of this book, however, is not the type of person I'm used to reading about. In this story, a Belgian girl goes to work in a factory in Japan where she works, eats, sleeps, and socializes in the same factory. There are lots and lots of rules, regulations, and restrictions that she has to follow, and she has to respect the strict hierarchy. And she does. I am used to reading about heroines who fight to break free from the rules and restrictions of society and hierarchy. But then, I am American, after all, and "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" are some of the things most valued by our culture. The Heroine of this story, even though she does not (usually) openly rebel against her society (the company), she does rebel internally, imagining up things that would startle the other Japanese workers if they were true. I suppose I may have to adopt her strategy in my literature class.
But, my dear friend/parent/sibling/aunt/uncle/grandparent/cousin/insert-name-here, perhaps you grow tired of hearing my reflections of the culture. That's ok, because I have much more to tell you about. First of all, yesterday I received a reply from the OFII office. That's the French Office of Immigration and Integration (I translated the name, so the abbreviation won't match up quite right). I had to send them a form when I got here, along with photocopies of several pages of my passport. So I have completed the first step of being immigrated and integrated! Now, according to these dossiers, I have to complete:
But I have something more exciting to tell you: my spring break is coming up! It starts exactly in 10 days, on April the 23rd, and goes for two weeks, until the 8th of May. During the first part, I will go to England to see my Aunt and Uncle, and during the second part I will likely travel somewhere else (perhaps Prague) but I haven't solidified that part of the plan yet. I hope to do so today.
My dear human being, I wish you could be here! I wish you could see what I see, hear what I hear, taste what I taste, and... well, maybe not smell what I smell. My friend Ashley and I decided that "stink" is France's middle name, for a variety of reasons. But in any case, I wish you could share my experiences. Learning the words, hearing the sounds: the uvular trills, the resonant nasals; the accordions on street corners, lazy afternoons in the park, the quiches and baguettes, trams and fountains, they fascinate me, and I wish you could share my fascination. Come see me soon!
Sincerely,
Chloe
I always find that the beginning of a blog post is the most difficult part. Therefore, I am going to pretend that this is a personal letter, and I am addressing each one of you directly.
Today is Wednesday, the 13th of April, and already my dorm room is turning into a small oven. A toaster oven. I miss air conditioning, and I also wish I could find summer clothes that fit. It's funny how when it was cold, I spent so much time wishing it would warm up so I wouldn't get so miserably frozen every time I went outside, which was all the time, and now, even though it's not as hot as an Oklahoma summer, I just wish it would cool down. Ah well, one can't always have what one wants.
Even though Wednesday is supposed to be my day for chasing down adventure, I'm not sure how much adventuring I'll get done today considering the amount of homework I have. For example, on Monday I have to give a presentation on my assigned part of our book in literature class, and I need to catch up on the reading. In general, I love reading. The heroine of this book, however, is not the type of person I'm used to reading about. In this story, a Belgian girl goes to work in a factory in Japan where she works, eats, sleeps, and socializes in the same factory. There are lots and lots of rules, regulations, and restrictions that she has to follow, and she has to respect the strict hierarchy. And she does. I am used to reading about heroines who fight to break free from the rules and restrictions of society and hierarchy. But then, I am American, after all, and "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" are some of the things most valued by our culture. The Heroine of this story, even though she does not (usually) openly rebel against her society (the company), she does rebel internally, imagining up things that would startle the other Japanese workers if they were true. I suppose I may have to adopt her strategy in my literature class.
But, my dear friend/parent/sibling/aunt/uncle/grandparent/cousin/insert-name-here, perhaps you grow tired of hearing my reflections of the culture. That's ok, because I have much more to tell you about. First of all, yesterday I received a reply from the OFII office. That's the French Office of Immigration and Integration (I translated the name, so the abbreviation won't match up quite right). I had to send them a form when I got here, along with photocopies of several pages of my passport. So I have completed the first step of being immigrated and integrated! Now, according to these dossiers, I have to complete:
- A radiology exam
- A general health exam
- Some kind of convocation in November? um... I'll be long gone
- pay a tax of 55 Euros
But I have something more exciting to tell you: my spring break is coming up! It starts exactly in 10 days, on April the 23rd, and goes for two weeks, until the 8th of May. During the first part, I will go to England to see my Aunt and Uncle, and during the second part I will likely travel somewhere else (perhaps Prague) but I haven't solidified that part of the plan yet. I hope to do so today.
My dear human being, I wish you could be here! I wish you could see what I see, hear what I hear, taste what I taste, and... well, maybe not smell what I smell. My friend Ashley and I decided that "stink" is France's middle name, for a variety of reasons. But in any case, I wish you could share my experiences. Learning the words, hearing the sounds: the uvular trills, the resonant nasals; the accordions on street corners, lazy afternoons in the park, the quiches and baguettes, trams and fountains, they fascinate me, and I wish you could share my fascination. Come see me soon!
Sincerely,
Chloe
Lovely descriptions of sights, smells, food, and bureaucracies. I miss seeing you and eating all those baguettes.
ReplyDeleteAre you french toast yet? In your toaster oven in France?
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see you in England! We will be taking you to Hardwick Hall was used as Malfoy Manor in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!
Love your blog.
The second post (and this one) are actually from Uncle PeterG and Auntie Molly. Looks like you got two posts from your Daddy (or three now). :)
ReplyDeleteThe heroine in your book reminds me of the story of the little girl who was forced, against her will, to sit down. She says, "I'm sitting down but I'm standing up on the inside"
ReplyDeleteAlways enjoy reading your blog, Chloe.
I wish I could come see you!!!!! I would love it! Maybe someday Ill be in France singing! :) That book sounds interesting... I can see what you mean about not quite relating to her.
ReplyDeleteYour Spring Break is going to be soooo much fun! you will have to take LOTS of pictures :)
Love you, Darling!