which might as well be called Verplanck. For those of you who don't understand that, you are lucky. For those who do, yea this town is basically what Verplanck would be if it were an old town in Europe. It is sort of on the waterfront, like Verplanck, with lots of generally sketchy people wandering around and sitting outside all day. No nuclear power plant in sight though. It is, unlike Verplanck, the site of a major WWI battle, and I am about to go visit 4 memorials on a 4 hour tour. Yesterday I visited the citadel (it is not a coincidence that citadel rhymes, loosely, with on-a-hill) where French soldiers lived underground during a nearly year long battle with the Germans. It was pretty intense, but somewhat cheapened by the way in which one must visit it: you take a little train ride through the tunnels, and stop frequently to see holographic images of soldiers talking about life on the Front. It was sort of like a Disney World ride from hell.
I head into the Champagne region tomorrow which should be some bubbly fun.
Also, I am much recovered since my last post, which is good, since I spend my days walking around and need the energy. I was in Metz two days ago, and when the phrase "Let's Go Metz" popped into my head, I laughed to myself for like 10 minutes about how it was funny on so many different levels. I may be becoming delirious, but little things like that crack me up.
I've surprisingly gotten a little ahead on my itinerary, so hopefully I'll be visiting David in Paris next week, so that is something to look forward to post bubbly.
Anyway, off to eat in a sketchy Verplanck like cafe.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Pain, and not the baguette type
So i am in nancy...unfortunately for an extra day because i'm a bit sick (to Grandma, who i know reads this as regularly as the NYTimes, don't worry!!! ive drank lots of tea and soup) and decided a day of rest would help. i am feeling better today and hopefully will be back on track on a train (pun totally not intended...the french train culture has penetrated the pun part of my brain) early tomorrow morning to Metz. Nancy is a surprisingely large city with really wonderful restaurants and (to the joy of my nerdyness) home to the Hemingway cafe. I'm not sure if Hemingway would have enjoyed the enormous flat screen TVs playing loud popular music videos while he was penning his masterpieces. Just imagine how The Sun Also Rises would have turned out if it was written to the tunes of EuroPop. I, for one, don't like to imagine things like this.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
also
it is supposed to rain every day for the next 10 days according to various weather sites. wonderful. mr. sun, please shine down on me. (i know you are shining down now, when i can't go out, so maybe you should go away now, and come back tomorrow. please?)
The Writing half of this job
Strasbourg has been a lot of fun, but I think I'm ready to leave. It was a great city with so many neat areas, but it was also the first city where I encountered tons of tourists, and the annoying vendors/people on the street hawking useless things/huge crowds at places. I didn't like that as much, and I wonder if it is because this is the biggest city I've been to, or it is just because it is now later in the summer and more of a vacation time. So far, Besancon has absolutely been my favorite place.
I finally met people at my hostel, actually went out and stayed at a bar for more than the 5-10 minutes I usually spend there to check it out (before people start checking me out), actually went out to dinner with somebody besides myself. however, this means that i didn't get nearly enough writing done every night while I've been here, so i am currently writing writing writing on my day off. blah. but it was worth it because i had fun, and what would i be doing with my day off anyway besides wandering around and sitting in a coffee shop. the lonely life is more conducive to getting work done, but certainly less enjoyable. I am currently reading Wuthering Heights because I needed to read something slower than the mystery novel I read last week. The mystery novel was fun, but it was very hard to make myself put it down and write, since I wanted to know what happened. Wuthering Heights doesn't seem to mind if I put it down for a few days.
anyway, i should be on my computer all day, so say hi if you get this. not sure when i'll have Wifi chez moi again. tomorrow I head to Nancy, then Metz and Verdun.
Also, I am officially half way done as of yesterday. very strange. it is crazy how much i've done, but still intimidating to look forward to what I have to do (though I guess less intimidating than it was at the beginning.) I am much better rested in general than I was last week, though I think that my wonderful long nights of sleep also might have added to the amount of writing I have to do today.
well, yea, time to do more writing.
I finally met people at my hostel, actually went out and stayed at a bar for more than the 5-10 minutes I usually spend there to check it out (before people start checking me out), actually went out to dinner with somebody besides myself. however, this means that i didn't get nearly enough writing done every night while I've been here, so i am currently writing writing writing on my day off. blah. but it was worth it because i had fun, and what would i be doing with my day off anyway besides wandering around and sitting in a coffee shop. the lonely life is more conducive to getting work done, but certainly less enjoyable. I am currently reading Wuthering Heights because I needed to read something slower than the mystery novel I read last week. The mystery novel was fun, but it was very hard to make myself put it down and write, since I wanted to know what happened. Wuthering Heights doesn't seem to mind if I put it down for a few days.
anyway, i should be on my computer all day, so say hi if you get this. not sure when i'll have Wifi chez moi again. tomorrow I head to Nancy, then Metz and Verdun.
Also, I am officially half way done as of yesterday. very strange. it is crazy how much i've done, but still intimidating to look forward to what I have to do (though I guess less intimidating than it was at the beginning.) I am much better rested in general than I was last week, though I think that my wonderful long nights of sleep also might have added to the amount of writing I have to do today.
well, yea, time to do more writing.
Friday, June 22, 2007
I have officially conquered yogurt
I generally know that I have conquered a food when I not only will suffer through eating it without too much pain, but actually find myself wanting to eat it, and choosing it over other foods.
Laying in bed this morning at 745 after an awesome fete de la musique last night, I forced myself to get out of bed and head down to the hostel's free breakfast because i knew they had yogurt. Yes!
(I will never get out of bed for boudin...ever. I will hide under my blankets).
Direct any yogurt food conquering questions to jeanyang at fas dot harvard dot edu or kaletzky at fas dot harvard dot edu. They helped me start the process of the yogurt conquest.
sigh, back to work.
Laying in bed this morning at 745 after an awesome fete de la musique last night, I forced myself to get out of bed and head down to the hostel's free breakfast because i knew they had yogurt. Yes!
(I will never get out of bed for boudin...ever. I will hide under my blankets).
Direct any yogurt food conquering questions to jeanyang at fas dot harvard dot edu or kaletzky at fas dot harvard dot edu. They helped me start the process of the yogurt conquest.
sigh, back to work.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Strasbourg
is a fantastic city so far. It is the first actually large city I've been in , and also the first city with a normal hostel that is not like 5 km out of town by bus. So I have finally met some people at the hostel to hang out with which is fun (as opposed to the other hostels where they were just school dorms with single rooms with generally cliquish people). There was a bit of problem with a reservation on their part, and it was looking like i'd have to go somewhere else tonight, but luckily there was a cancellation so I can stay. The other place was one of those 2km out of town hostels which generally are logistically annoying.
Tonight is fete de la musique and i am excited. I cant believe it's been a year since I celebrated it in Paris.
Random things (as there always seem to be in these entries)
-Le Routard, the big French travel book company, sells its own brand of shoes for travellers. This is sort of awesome. Maybe Let's Go should do this too.
-I have seen so much religious art. I see representations of the Passion from every era at least 2 or 3 times a day in museums or cathedrals. I went to the modern art museum in Strasbourg today and thought I might have gained a bit of relief from religious art, but no, in the back room they had a 5 story tall enormous painting of the passion. seems a museum just can't stay away from this. Sorry if this is offensive to anyone, but it is a lot to take all the time. The Strasbourg cathedral is absolutely breathtaking though.
-not sure if this song is big anywhere else, but the ONLY song that plays here EVERYWHERE is this song that goes "relax, take it eeee eeee asy" maybe i am unaware of current music trends, but this song is seriously the only song that plays. It has been played 3 times at this internet cafe since i sat down half an hour ago
-i think i will try to continue to keep a list of what i spend when i get home, as i have been doing here. it is amazing how it helps to keep you from buying random useless things...though i also cant fit random useless things in my pack. for anyone who has witnessed any of my moveouts from college, you will know how many random useless things i have. eeks
anyway off to the fete
Tonight is fete de la musique and i am excited. I cant believe it's been a year since I celebrated it in Paris.
Random things (as there always seem to be in these entries)
-Le Routard, the big French travel book company, sells its own brand of shoes for travellers. This is sort of awesome. Maybe Let's Go should do this too.
-I have seen so much religious art. I see representations of the Passion from every era at least 2 or 3 times a day in museums or cathedrals. I went to the modern art museum in Strasbourg today and thought I might have gained a bit of relief from religious art, but no, in the back room they had a 5 story tall enormous painting of the passion. seems a museum just can't stay away from this. Sorry if this is offensive to anyone, but it is a lot to take all the time. The Strasbourg cathedral is absolutely breathtaking though.
-not sure if this song is big anywhere else, but the ONLY song that plays here EVERYWHERE is this song that goes "relax, take it eeee eeee asy" maybe i am unaware of current music trends, but this song is seriously the only song that plays. It has been played 3 times at this internet cafe since i sat down half an hour ago
-i think i will try to continue to keep a list of what i spend when i get home, as i have been doing here. it is amazing how it helps to keep you from buying random useless things...though i also cant fit random useless things in my pack. for anyone who has witnessed any of my moveouts from college, you will know how many random useless things i have. eeks
anyway off to the fete
Saturday, June 16, 2007
You know your frame of reference has shifted...
...when you consider taking a 2km hike in the pouring rain to actually be a really relaxing day off. And by you, I obviously mean me. Okay, so I wasn't just taking that hike for the hell of it, but it was to go see this absolutely amazing chapel designed by Le Corbusier in the tiny town (with a big hill) of Ronchamp. Google image search Le Corbusier and Ronchamp, and you'll see this funky chapel that is made all out of concrete (Mather wishes it used concrete like this). Anyway, that is where I was yesterday. A few days ago I began to get really really exhausted, but I delayed coming to the current town of Mulhouse for a day (actually, not really out of choice, but because of annoying train schedules) and now I'm feeling much more with it and well rested. Also, it is cool I ended up coming here today because they are having a dance festival in the streets today. Sort of fun. I went to 4 museums today..pretty crazy. Even though I am not intrigued by cars, the car museum here was amazing.
I didn't really like Belfort, the last town I was in, as it didn't really seem to have anything special except for this enormous lion carved by the same guy who did the statue of liberty. BUT the hotel I stayed at had the absolute sweetest kindest AMAZINGest owner i've ever met. Funny story to get a sense of how personable she is:
So I had called to make reservations, but it ended up that I would arrive a day later than I thought I would. So I called back the next day to change the reservation, and when she heard my voice (and more likely my terrible accent) she was like, "Is this Alizia?--she kept calling me Alizia. But anyway, Ic hanged the reservation;all was well. So when I arrived the next day it was painfully humid, and thus rained the following day when going to the chapel, but I was totally sweaty and hot and the tourist office gave me ridiculously outo f the way directions to get to the hotel. So I am shlepping along with my backpack and side pack, and according to my map I should be getting close to the hotel, when a car slows down as it comes from behind. The sound of the braking car alarmed me and I looked and saw a woman roll down her window and then said, "Alizia?" I was totally confused and shocked and then realized it was the hotel owner. I guess she wasnt expecting any other sweaty backpackers that day and assumed it had to be that girl with the bad french accent coming from the direction that the tourist office poorly gives. She identified herself as indeed the hotel owner, and offered to give me a lift the rest of the way. Unfortunatly I didnùt fit into the car with my backpack (such cruel fate) but I walked the rest of the way and she was waiting at the door for me. We had many conversations, and it is because of her kindness that I made it back from the Le Corbusier church without having to wait at a trainstation (read: hut on the side of the train tracks) for 5 hours. Before I left to go there she insisted on giving me the number of her friend who was going to be in Ronchamp that day and maybe he could give me a ride back. I took it, assuming that I would just take the train, but when the train arrived at the schedule time, AND DIDN'T STOP, I called Kim (the owner's friend) and he arrived within 45 minutes to drive me to the hotel. All in all, I would return to this crappy town only to stay at this hotel.
She told me I should come back and visit her with my 'mari et enfants.' so i guess i wont be going back for awhile.
Also, in the vain of my cow entry, something else occured to me. So my biggest communication problem in french is actually taking down numbers because it takes me a second to figure out what the number is. This made me think about the English names for numbers, and it occured to me that 'fifteen' 'sixteen' 'seventeen' etc. are just six-ten, with ten being spelled weird. When I had this thought, I got mad at myself that I had never thought about that before.
Anyway, off to do actual Let's Go writing. If you are still reading this blog, drop me a line...i love getting emails.
I didn't really like Belfort, the last town I was in, as it didn't really seem to have anything special except for this enormous lion carved by the same guy who did the statue of liberty. BUT the hotel I stayed at had the absolute sweetest kindest AMAZINGest owner i've ever met. Funny story to get a sense of how personable she is:
So I had called to make reservations, but it ended up that I would arrive a day later than I thought I would. So I called back the next day to change the reservation, and when she heard my voice (and more likely my terrible accent) she was like, "Is this Alizia?--she kept calling me Alizia. But anyway, Ic hanged the reservation;all was well. So when I arrived the next day it was painfully humid, and thus rained the following day when going to the chapel, but I was totally sweaty and hot and the tourist office gave me ridiculously outo f the way directions to get to the hotel. So I am shlepping along with my backpack and side pack, and according to my map I should be getting close to the hotel, when a car slows down as it comes from behind. The sound of the braking car alarmed me and I looked and saw a woman roll down her window and then said, "Alizia?" I was totally confused and shocked and then realized it was the hotel owner. I guess she wasnt expecting any other sweaty backpackers that day and assumed it had to be that girl with the bad french accent coming from the direction that the tourist office poorly gives. She identified herself as indeed the hotel owner, and offered to give me a lift the rest of the way. Unfortunatly I didnùt fit into the car with my backpack (such cruel fate) but I walked the rest of the way and she was waiting at the door for me. We had many conversations, and it is because of her kindness that I made it back from the Le Corbusier church without having to wait at a trainstation (read: hut on the side of the train tracks) for 5 hours. Before I left to go there she insisted on giving me the number of her friend who was going to be in Ronchamp that day and maybe he could give me a ride back. I took it, assuming that I would just take the train, but when the train arrived at the schedule time, AND DIDN'T STOP, I called Kim (the owner's friend) and he arrived within 45 minutes to drive me to the hotel. All in all, I would return to this crappy town only to stay at this hotel.
She told me I should come back and visit her with my 'mari et enfants.' so i guess i wont be going back for awhile.
Also, in the vain of my cow entry, something else occured to me. So my biggest communication problem in french is actually taking down numbers because it takes me a second to figure out what the number is. This made me think about the English names for numbers, and it occured to me that 'fifteen' 'sixteen' 'seventeen' etc. are just six-ten, with ten being spelled weird. When I had this thought, I got mad at myself that I had never thought about that before.
Anyway, off to do actual Let's Go writing. If you are still reading this blog, drop me a line...i love getting emails.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
ah sweet weefee
i am currently sitting in the Besancon University cafe (pretty chill place) where they have free wifi and cheap coffee. score. I really really really like Besancon (I am on my computer now so I don't have the little cedille key anymore...interesting fact about the word cedille--it comes from spanish, meaning "little z," since the squiggly thing under the c is supposed to look like a mini z. but anyway, i can't remember where i learned that, but i know it was recently). It is a town with a ton of personality, filled with students and funky shops and unique restaurants and general coolness. It is the first place I've been so far on my itinerary where I have felt that I would like to come back here and spend a longer period of time in the city. Last night in my hostel, there was a strange world music a cappella concert. 40% kind of cool, 30% clearwater 30% weird. ah clearwater must be soon. this is the second year i am missing it because i'm in france :(. i have been eating at very clearwatery/natural places though.
i just went to this vegetarian restaurant where they only have one option of meal for each meal, but luckily it was really delicious. i went to the most heavenly tea room/restaurant yesterday (heavenly as in it was decorated as if it was actually heaven, and also because it was very tasty)...look for its write up in Let's Go France 2008!
i have basically finished my work in this city but now have to write it all up before I head to Belfort tomorrow, so I think I'm going to write and bask in the zone of free wifi here at this cool cafe. tonight i hit up the gay clubs...fun!
i just went to this vegetarian restaurant where they only have one option of meal for each meal, but luckily it was really delicious. i went to the most heavenly tea room/restaurant yesterday (heavenly as in it was decorated as if it was actually heaven, and also because it was very tasty)...look for its write up in Let's Go France 2008!
i have basically finished my work in this city but now have to write it all up before I head to Belfort tomorrow, so I think I'm going to write and bask in the zone of free wifi here at this cool cafe. tonight i hit up the gay clubs...fun!
Monday, June 11, 2007
La Fée Verte and a question about cows
1. I took a daytrip to Pontarlier today, which is an utterly unexceptional town except for the fact that it was the home to Absinthe back when it packed a punch and also there are a lot of cool hiking trails that depart from it. I tried some absinthe sans wormwood at a local distillerie and wasn't very impressed, and liked the alcool sapin much better. It was pretty rainy all day so it was just kind of a gross day, but not too bad. I got a lot of writing done when I got back so now I have time to update on the hostel common computer.
2. Maybe somebody who reads this knows something about cows and general cow habits. As I have been in the countryside for two weeks now, I have seen many many cows during my travels along the sides of roads and have noticed a thing or two about them. But one thing really is bugging me: why are herds of cows who are just grazing in the fields always facing in the same direction and doing the same thing. They are either all standing and facing one direction or lazing on the ground facing in one direction. What is the deal? Are they drawn to the sun like flowers? That can't be it because often there are several groups of cows on one big field and each separate group is facing a separate direction! Are they keeping guard? Is there a leader cow in each group who decides? Maybe I have developed mad cow from all this scenic travel, but I keep noticing this and each time I am only further intrigued.
3. Madame Bovary=really really good. I know I discussed this in a previous entry, but it has continued to give me food for thought. Speaking of food, I had another wonderful (no sarcasm) baguette and camembert dinner tonight. Maybe this will be a once a week thing. J'adore la France.
2. Maybe somebody who reads this knows something about cows and general cow habits. As I have been in the countryside for two weeks now, I have seen many many cows during my travels along the sides of roads and have noticed a thing or two about them. But one thing really is bugging me: why are herds of cows who are just grazing in the fields always facing in the same direction and doing the same thing. They are either all standing and facing one direction or lazing on the ground facing in one direction. What is the deal? Are they drawn to the sun like flowers? That can't be it because often there are several groups of cows on one big field and each separate group is facing a separate direction! Are they keeping guard? Is there a leader cow in each group who decides? Maybe I have developed mad cow from all this scenic travel, but I keep noticing this and each time I am only further intrigued.
3. Madame Bovary=really really good. I know I discussed this in a previous entry, but it has continued to give me food for thought. Speaking of food, I had another wonderful (no sarcasm) baguette and camembert dinner tonight. Maybe this will be a once a week thing. J'adore la France.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Home of my french textbook
Besançon! This is where I am now. My beginning French textbook was set in this town, but I suspect that people no longer wear the hip circa 1994 fashions of Besançon that were in the book. It ended up pouring today so I didn't leave my new hostel. Yay days off! I was in Dijon sans cheap internet for 4 nights, and now I am on the move again. Dijon was a really cool city with great restaurants, and a wonderful proximity to delicious wineries and chateaux. anyway, today is my day off and I finished reading Madame Bovary, which I had begun the day my luggage was terribly lost at the airport. It is a good book to read here because even though Im reading it in translation, the cover makes it appear i'm reading a french book. yes, I'm a big dork like that. Anyway it was a great read and gave me many things to ponder (since I have much pondering time these days). I took a ridiculous nap today for like 5 hours after I arrived in Besançon, and it was definitely much needed. I hope I can get to sleep on the early side though tonight because I take a day trip to the town of Pontarlier tomorrow. i need to find a new book to read...good thing we list an english bookstore in this town so I can use my trusty Lets Go guide to find one.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
c'est beaune
hi all
quick greetings from this random youth center in beaune where there is free internet. autun had a lot of roman ruins and Beaune is filled with american retirees; i met some from boston on an awesome tour of a mustard factory where I made my own mustard. longer entry when some place im staying has weefee
love
aliza
quick greetings from this random youth center in beaune where there is free internet. autun had a lot of roman ruins and Beaune is filled with american retirees; i met some from boston on an awesome tour of a mustard factory where I made my own mustard. longer entry when some place im staying has weefee
love
aliza
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Medieval Times
Nice relaxing trip to Semur-en-Auxois today. The town could be seen and "done" in maybe 1.5 hrs, but because I bus schedules, and inability to return sooner, I spent a very relaxing 7 hrs there. When I finished checking everything within the first 1.5 hrs, I wandered around for awhile, checking out various "romantic" sites. (the romantic one we list was a bit *too* romantic, with condom wrappers and various alcohol bottles rather disgustingly strewn about.) i took a very long walk to the campsite that was 3km away, and that was the one part of the day when it was beastly sunny. it was by a pretty lake though. then i walked back. i visited a museum that i plan to add to the town write up, and it had these funky contemporary art pieces interspersed with old classic stuff.
..ah i forgot i was writing this.
not that you knew there was time lapse of about 2 hours in between the last two sentences. but anyway. just got an email from one of the readers of my junior essay, who was also my tutorial prof sophomore year. he really liked the paper. this makes me exciting because he always used to critique me for not dwelling on things enough. i guess i've improved in dwelling.
i am just sort of dwelling here now, at 10pm saturday night. there isn't really anywhere to go in this town, and i don't really want to go to a bar alone. i'm also tired. i hope i meet some people eventually--i guess that will happen when there are actually hostel options in the town i'm staying in.
ah yes, the subject line, medieval times. so when i ended up having to stay in this town until 8, it turns out there was a medieval festival beginning at six, where people were dressed up as vikings and such and there were also crazy running races around the old streets of the town. from jean's suggestion, i will try and upload some pics to this, but not now.
tomorrow is my first day off, but i have to just hang around this town till my train leaves at 6:45, since it is the only train of the day. i plan to sleep in. yay. i wonder when i have to check out?
..ah i forgot i was writing this.
not that you knew there was time lapse of about 2 hours in between the last two sentences. but anyway. just got an email from one of the readers of my junior essay, who was also my tutorial prof sophomore year. he really liked the paper. this makes me exciting because he always used to critique me for not dwelling on things enough. i guess i've improved in dwelling.
i am just sort of dwelling here now, at 10pm saturday night. there isn't really anywhere to go in this town, and i don't really want to go to a bar alone. i'm also tired. i hope i meet some people eventually--i guess that will happen when there are actually hostel options in the town i'm staying in.
ah yes, the subject line, medieval times. so when i ended up having to stay in this town until 8, it turns out there was a medieval festival beginning at six, where people were dressed up as vikings and such and there were also crazy running races around the old streets of the town. from jean's suggestion, i will try and upload some pics to this, but not now.
tomorrow is my first day off, but i have to just hang around this town till my train leaves at 6:45, since it is the only train of the day. i plan to sleep in. yay. i wonder when i have to check out?
Friday, June 1, 2007
Thinking of Robert Levin/Every horror movie I've ever seen
Re: Robert Levin
He was my professor for the Swing Era class I took. He used to get really awkwardly emotional sometimes in lecture, like going down memory lane to explain how some song reminded him of some failed romance, and then get sad...but anyway, in one of these awks emotional moments, he said something to the extent, "Jazz is powerful. Jazz will be with you through thick and thin. when things are tough, and things get really really hard sometimes......(students feeling really awkward)....you'll always have jazz. you can always put on louis, or benny..."
anyway, where am i going with this? right. so i was in this pretty good lunch place in vezelay (a tiny town centered around a basilica on a hill...there are like 4 roads. see for you self on the map from this site:
http://www.vezelaytourisme.com/ )
and suddenly stardust comes on. freshman year i had to memorize a solo from it and i started humming along to it. and suddenly i felt really good (not that i felt all so bad in a town where all you can do is drink wine and see pretty vistas). then i thought about what robert levin said and i was happy about jazz.
anyway, that was sort of random. i had some good chats in french with both of my taxi drivers to and from the town. yay speaking french. i still haven't really had any exciting conversations with people because I am mainly just asking for information. i can really understand people now, though i have trouble processing numbers quickly (which i am getting better at too, since people tell me a lot of numbers: "what time is this train?" "what is your phone number?" what are your hours?"
i went to an absolutely breathtaking costume museum today. it was in an old mansion that used to belong to the governor of burgundy in the 17th century. a cute little old lady showed me around. manequins in haute couture dresses from the 18th century on stood in the rooms that were still decorated in their original manner with hundreds upon hundreds of paintings and maps and decorations. It seriously reminded me of a horror movie, in which these dolls would come alive and complain that their corsets were too tight. it was creepy but amazing. it is hard to explain how decorated it was, but it was ridiculous.
anyway, i am getting a bit faster at the let's go writing, which is good, since that means more sleep for me! i'm not sure whether i will become very skinny from all the walking i do all day, or very fat from the delicious food i eat (even if is just a lot of bread sometimes). hopefully, at the very least, these two things will balance each other out.
He was my professor for the Swing Era class I took. He used to get really awkwardly emotional sometimes in lecture, like going down memory lane to explain how some song reminded him of some failed romance, and then get sad...but anyway, in one of these awks emotional moments, he said something to the extent, "Jazz is powerful. Jazz will be with you through thick and thin. when things are tough, and things get really really hard sometimes......(students feeling really awkward)....you'll always have jazz. you can always put on louis, or benny..."
anyway, where am i going with this? right. so i was in this pretty good lunch place in vezelay (a tiny town centered around a basilica on a hill...there are like 4 roads. see for you self on the map from this site:
http://www.vezelaytourisme.com/ )
and suddenly stardust comes on. freshman year i had to memorize a solo from it and i started humming along to it. and suddenly i felt really good (not that i felt all so bad in a town where all you can do is drink wine and see pretty vistas). then i thought about what robert levin said and i was happy about jazz.
anyway, that was sort of random. i had some good chats in french with both of my taxi drivers to and from the town. yay speaking french. i still haven't really had any exciting conversations with people because I am mainly just asking for information. i can really understand people now, though i have trouble processing numbers quickly (which i am getting better at too, since people tell me a lot of numbers: "what time is this train?" "what is your phone number?" what are your hours?"
i went to an absolutely breathtaking costume museum today. it was in an old mansion that used to belong to the governor of burgundy in the 17th century. a cute little old lady showed me around. manequins in haute couture dresses from the 18th century on stood in the rooms that were still decorated in their original manner with hundreds upon hundreds of paintings and maps and decorations. It seriously reminded me of a horror movie, in which these dolls would come alive and complain that their corsets were too tight. it was creepy but amazing. it is hard to explain how decorated it was, but it was ridiculous.
anyway, i am getting a bit faster at the let's go writing, which is good, since that means more sleep for me! i'm not sure whether i will become very skinny from all the walking i do all day, or very fat from the delicious food i eat (even if is just a lot of bread sometimes). hopefully, at the very least, these two things will balance each other out.
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