Thus Far

Everyone has something to say about the french. For example, my mother and uncle say french boys are dirty. Rude, sexy, ugly, beautiful, pretentious, arrogant, anti-American...whatever. I think they don't try as hard to be something. When you walk into a boulangerie, which I have done many times this week, I'm always greeted with "Bonjour" sung with two notes, first a high and then a low one, and an honest smile. No one is faking anything here.

Today, I got up and walked over to this little garden/park area with the fountain in the picture above. Saturday pony rides took children around the park, as lovers were making out on park benches. I watched a little boy throwing coins off his bike into the fountain, and so many families stroll around, enjoying the day.
I think what I've loved most are the fathers here. Really I haven't seen a single parent scolding their child so far, and there are sooo many children in Angers! But with almost every child, I've seen a smiling father holding their hand, strolling around, teaching them to obey street lights, whilst never holding a cell phone, or rushing their steps to quickly get somewhere (and the french seem to walk pretty fast usually).
It is true, most people have the weekends off, have two hour lunch breaks, more holidays and vacation time, and school children have Wednesdays off and half days to be with family or work on extracurricular activities. They have made family and life their biggest priority.

Yesterday, we toured the Chateau of Angers. A beautiful castle, built in the 9th century, first used by Romans. The chateau holds a famous tapestry with interesting scenes of the Apocalypse.

Then we walked into the Saint-Maurice Cathedral, a beautiful gothic cathedral, conveniently the organ player was practicing some songs right out of horror movie, which set the mood nicely. I'm not catholic but i might enjoy going to a mass tomorrow, especially one so haunting, dark, with music from the Dracula soundtrack.

Thursday nights are student nights in Angers, much like "Thirsty Thursdays" on 6th street in Austin. The pubs were packed with students watching the France versus Spain Handball Tournament (a cross between soccer and basketball), and I ended up at a international club playing of course American hip hop, reggae, and world music. Thursday night I also attended our first french film screening of the semester, Les Plagues de Agnes (The Beaches of Agnes), an autobiographical documentary by the enchanting and imaginative Agnes Varda. I wish I could have her eyes and imagination for a day. Just found out she teaches at the European Graduate School in Switzerland (um can I go there please?).

The rest of the week consisted of pubs and classes. I keep forgetting I'm in school, although the classes are interesting.
I seem to have a lot of extra time on my hands, so some creative projects might be in due order, until next time...: D
Au Revoir!