Today, just tidbits from my pinball machine head!
Friendliness – so far, 99% approval rating! Even when we botch it up badly. If the person answers in English, I am determined to speak French back, unless I just absolutely cannot come up with a vital word. You can get by pretty well in the world by pointing, saying please, and thank you! They actually DO appear to appreciate the efforts to speak French!
Feeling “Frenchie” – walked to the hypermarche (grocery store) all by my lonesome with my cloth bags, ordered ham and cheese at the deli (en Francaise, of course), and checked out without being too self-conscious. Only buy what you can carry on foot! (Bottled water and wine is HEAVY.) And it’s a good thing there are pictures of the food on most packaging. No ranch dressing. (REALLY?) Couldn’t find anything like ziplock bags. I did see Swiffer, Tropicana, and Lays, however! Food = $$$. Great supermarket, outdoor market, corner grocery, and individual bakeries and cheese shops. No one is lacking for choices here — just not the choices we are used to.
Clothing & Fashion – in the storefronts, some clothing is beautiful and some is “meh.” Just like home! Women are wearing their jeans snug to the ankle, sometimes cuffed, and short boots. Muted scarves galore. Bold eyeglasses are fashionable, and are trending back towards large. Men are ALL in skinny pants and pointy shoes. The wedding dresses in the store windows are fantastically beautiful. And, of course, colors are black, gray, black, brown, and more black. Did I say black, black, and more black?
Language – between Tanner and me, we are getting along quite well in daily commerce! He conversed with the rental car lady much faster than I could follow; I got along better in conversations with the real estate agent. We need to stay together all of the time. Wonder how it’s going for him AT WORK today! Today is the end of his first week.
Outlook – So grateful for having this lovely apartment on Rue Blatin to look forward to. Otherwise, our attitude about this temp accommodation would be less than happy. Knowing that we have a beautiful carrot in front of that stick in about 15-20 days makes it very tolerable! Mattress practically on the floor and all. The new apartment is over the top!
Current Kitchen – Figuring out how to turn on the oven was a challenge. Seriously. Strange little symbols, no words or degrees. Funny how we go through our daily lives on auto pilot until it all changes and the smallest of things take mental exercise!
Recycling – Ummmm…..there are different bins for glass, plastic, and trash, but all of them seem to contain the same garbage. Sounds good, but so far, I don’t see any actual sorting going on. Such a disconnect between all the organic food offered, conservation promotions, and the 80% smoking rate.
Address – by the end of November, anyway –
Mr et Mme Tanner Espey (or Mme Mindy Espey)
20 Rue Blatin, 4eme Etage
63000, Clermont Ferrand, France
We’ll have four bedrooms, an inside atrium (jardin d’hiver), a small private roof-top terrace with 360 degree views, lots of natural light, and 2.5 bathrooms. 2,500 SF! Just incredible. Unheard-of. PACK YOUR BAGS!!!!!!! NOW!!!!!!
Parking – I cannot even tell you how we got that very small Renault rental into that teeny tiny sardine-can-of-a-box that is assigned to our apartment. It literally took 30 minutes, guiding Tanner back and forth, inching in with perhaps 2” (TWO INCHES!) on either side of the car. He could hardly get out of the car. We may not drive again until we move to the new place! WHICH, by the way, has two nice covered places without any sides! Halleluiah for the little things in life!
Internet & Data – THE THORN IN OUR SIDE. We DON’T have internet in the temporary apartment, which is a killer. (Which tram to take? The weather today? I don’t know. No connection. You get it.) I have 2 GB / month with my new French phone. We have used the phone as a hotspot to get our email, etc. on our computers over the weekend, not even very much, and blew through that monthly allotment of 2 GB in 2 days. That bill is going to be a doozie. And regarding internet for the new apartment – we were told that it may take up to another MONTH for the internet to be connected. Even the locals tell us, “This is France! You must be patient. Things do not happen quickly.” In the meantime, our connectivity will be hit or miss. I am chafing at the bit…don’t like not being TOTALLY CONNECTED.
However, every day’s a winner. Thanks, Dad, for imprinting this outlook on us! Love you all and thinking of you constantly,
Mindy
So I braved the cold with my coffee this morning and teetered up the tiny wooden circular stairs to see the sun coming out — the Ferris Wheel is almost up in the Place de Jaude, for the Christmas tree lighting tonight! Should be beautiful! Definitely expect more pictures! I’ll have a lot to tell about Christmas in France.
TOOOOOOO MUCH! AAAAARGH!
OK, so this was really bizarre! It’s a place in centre ville (center of town) that you can go to have Cat Therapy! Not therapy for cats – therapy for YOU! It’s a small store that serves tea and coffee and small bites, and there are 10 or so cats inside that you can hang out with. The cats are fat and lazy and apparently don’t mind being petted. I didn’t go in, but it was fascinating to watch through the window.
Here’s an overlay with a map of France placed on top of the continental US. France is slightly smaller than two Colorados (and smaller than Texas). The population of Paris is just a little larger than that of Houston, our 4th largest city in the US.
You must be logged in to post a comment.