Mud

After several failed plans of playing American football with guys from Vintage, this last Sunday we got our act together and met up to play in front of Les Invalides in Paris. There were 10 guys: 5 Americans, 2 Frenchmen, a German, an Australian, and a Kiwi, all joined together to play America’s vulgarization of ‘real football.’ As luck, fate, or God, would have it, it began raining basically the second we started explaining the rules. It rained quite hard. The French “football” players on the other grass fields at Les Invalides left when the rain started, but we, as hardcore as we were/are, stayed. What took place constitutes the greatest hour or two of fun I’ve had since I’ve been in Paris. I was either smiling or laughing out-loud the entire time. There’s something about the combined effects of having no traction whatsoever, not really being able to feel your hands, falling every time you start to move, and being completely soaked in water and mud that takes a friendly game of football from fun to ridicu-fun. After a good amount of time playing football, and a short banana break, we turned the tables on the Americans and switched to playing Rugby.

Obviously, playing rugby favored the French guy who played for Harvard, the other French guy who played a pretty high level club rugby, and those from the southern hemisphere (Paul and Garth) who, although never playing on teams, played it at school like we play football or baseball. Rugby is amazingly tiring. It’s also tiring on my brain when I constantly have to tell myself to stay behind the ball as opposed to in front of it. No matter my problems with the strategy or flow of the game, Rugby was just as fun as football, if not more, as it was full contact (we just played flag football, but even that was basically full contact, as there’s no way you can really stop forward movement in the wet mud). Also, by the time we started playing Rugby, we had in effect completely destroyed the field we were playing on. There was no grass to be seen. I’m glad the cops didn’t come by, although we could always claim ignorance and say that we neither saw nor comprehended the sign that said “no ball games on the grass.”

We were the center of every passer-by’s attention. People came up on the grass and took pictures of us. Every person that passed by stared at us thinking “what in the name of Jacques Chirac is going on over here.” My favorite was when the Open Tour bus passed by with tourists all on the seats on top, and they cheered for us.

After we had worn ourselves out completely, I was in the predicament of “what do I do with my mud-caked body/clothes before I go to a birthday party in a few hours.” I was without the option of returning home, as I didn’t see me waltzing into the apartment saying “heyyyyy host mom, you got some laundry to do, and here, while I’m at it, I’m going to track mud all over your floor” so I had to ask Andrew (good friend, English teacher) if I could shower at his house and if he would wash my clothes. Which he did, thanks Andrew!!

I went to the birthday party with no socks, wet shoes, and a wet jacket. I was cold. More so when I had to wait outside a metro station for about 40 minutes before all my friends got there. I could barely move most parts of my body. I was cold. I wanted to go home and sleep. So I did.
And that’s my story. My weeks been pretty good besides that, had a rotary lunch Sunday, grabbed a beer with Andrew Tuesday, saw the movie Bobby Wednesday with Leo (brazilian exchange student), and I highly recommend it. Yesterday I got my Christmas presents (finally) as my friend Nikki brought them from FoCo for me. Yay!

Also, today there was a revolution in my life. I realized my Professeur Principale (head teacher) doesn’t hate me. In our lab she was talking to people about what they were doing next year, about which Prepas they want to do (Math, Math/Physics, etc, the French higher education is really complicated), and I told her I was going to just take Chemistry, because it’s my favorite. She said she’s noticed that (obviously sarcastic) so I got to talk to her again about how I don’t understand because I’ve never really taken it etc, and she was like “ya since you don’t have the same base it’s probably like reading Chinese for you.” My head response was “Wait what, you are being understanding, where did that come from??!! Then I started talking to her about what I really was going to do next year, and kind of explained the American education system to her. She said, to my complete surprise, that she was going to give me her email so that I could fill her in from time to time on how I was doing. Wow. That’s all I can say. Things are looking up people. She doesn’t hate me.

The end.

Brent

if you want to look at the pictures of football and don't have facebook, go here http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2000375&l=4f9e0&id=1076310089

The Blog, Long Overdue

I think it’s been a good two weeks since I’ve blogged. I have had a somewhat filled up two weeks, hence the lack of a blog, so here she goes.

School started last week (Jan 8th), which I could do without, but hey, c’est la vie. Last week on Wednesday I practiced with Justin and Christian (guys from the church) because I was playing the Djembe at Sanctuary on Friday. It was fun to get my groove on again, even though I realized I’m not that talented of a drummer, but as I told my friend Andrew from church, “I got rhythm.” So we practiced Wed, and played Friday night at Sanctuary which went really well. Although I spent probably over an hour and a half Friday afternoon on public transport, it was a great day. After Sanctuary some of us went and grabbed a beer at “L’academie de la bière” which is extremely overpriced but has a wide selection, and I successfully convinced my waiter to change my glass as it had an awful smell described by Taro as “dirty sponge.” As in French restaurants the customer, in fact, is not always right, as he is in America, I was proud of this achievement.

On Saturday, me, Leo (Brazilian exchange student) and Rike (German exchange student) hung out in Paris for a while, walked around, got coffee, etc, and had a good time. Then Leo and I went and saw Apocalypto. He had free tickets at his apartment so we ran/took the metro there, and then I rode precariously on the back of his bike back to the theatre. My legs cramped because I had to keep them somewhat lifted, and they also came very close to parked cars on the side of the road. I honestly thought I was going to die, and got very paranoid on the back of the bike. I think this summer’s accident has had lasting effects on my confidence on two wheeled vehicles. BUT, we made it fine, and watched the movie, which I found extremely well made, and extremely violent, but I enjoyed it.

Sunday I hung out with some exchange students who were in Paris before heading over to Justin’s house for an amazing table group, where Taro taught us how to make sushi. He bought all the ingredients, and we prepared it all (with his help) and finished with a ri-diculous amount of sushi that only ended up costing 4 euros each, as we just split the ingredients. Unheard of. Unheard of. Loved it. My favorite table groups are the ones where we prepare food together, because it’s just so fun to be in the kitchen talking about whatever and making food together. I just generally like fellowship. I was also able to watch American football, the Seahawks versus the Bears, which was really weird with French announcers, but I enjoyed trying to explain the rules to a kiwi and Taro and realizing that it’s a lot more complicated than I thought. Overall, amazing day.

Monday I headed over to Paul’s house for what else but curry, which was a really fun time. One of his neighbors came over who didn’t really speak French, so our conversations were half in English and half in French, and it felt really cool to be able to flow in between the two easily. We had 4 different nationalities represented between the five of us there. A French, A Kiwi, A German, and two Americans. I’ve realized why Paul (my friend) and Jesus (also my friend) are such advocates of meal sharing. Especially with people of different nationalities, it’s so interesting to be around so many different people with such different backgrounds, because everyone brings something completely different to the table. A different history, different culture, and a different outlook on the world. It’s a conversation that’s totally unique because of how unalike, but yet alike the people are. Also, sharing a meal, or just the invitation, brings such a feeling of warmth and acceptance that I think everyone needs from time to time. So if you have the opportunity (aka you don’t live with host parents), invite some friends (or random strangers, or enemies) over for dinner, I promise you’ll love it.

I got the chance to see my first French play this week, King Lear by Shakespeare. Although it was in French, it seems weird to me that my first experience at a French theatre was a Shakespeare play, but whatever. It was really well made, with great actors and a great set, but the experience was somewhat downplayed for me for several reasons. Listening to French for 2 hours and 40 minutes without an intermission can get somewhat tiring, especially when I’m confused on what is happening and who the crap that person is, or that person, or that person over there. It didn’t help that the girl sitting next to me had basically the same comprehension of the characters/plot as I did, so I didn’t get any much needed help there. But overall, I had a pretty good time, not sure if I’d do it again for 26 euros, but I guess it’s one of those things that you just kind of have to say that you did while spending a year in Paris.

Almost done kids, yesterday after school I went to the well-known English bookstore in Paris, Shakespeare and Co., that I had yet to visit, and spent a pretty substantial amount of time there book looking. The store is amazing, in an ancient house with books lining the old, time worn shelves, and even a section for Russian literature (YES!, although it was somewhat lacking in the Russian Literature in English dept, if I could read Russian I would have been supremely happy) although it felt weird to speak with the checkout lady in English. Afterwards, I went over to Andrew’s house (guy from church, teaches English here, went to Vanderbilt) who is one of my favorite people and ate with him (shared meals!) and one of his friends from school who is also teaching English in Paris. We had a great long conversation, watched some ridiculous videos from their college days, went and grabbed a beer, and continued talking. I love the seeming organic nature of conversation, how it seems to have a life of it’s own, changing directions and themes on the slightest whim. And, that’s the end of my day by day update of my life over the past two weeks. I promise I’ll be better about updating (if only so you don’t have to spend time reading this ridiculously long blog, while reading the word ridiculous probably 100 times, because it’s the only adjective I’m comfortable using).

Some observations:
-I can’t stop listening to Mat Kearney, if you haven’t heard him, hear him.
-I come home in less than 5 months, June 18th, baby.
-There’s still a lot I need to do in the next 5 months.
-Compliments on progress in French make me ecstatic (ex., girl in my bio class, after I was done talking with my professor about the geology of the western United States, aka bragging about how I backpack in canyons there, saying “Brent, it’s amazing how much progress you’ve made in French, I can’t even remember how spoke when you first got here”)
-I love reading.
-It’s getting progressively easier to wake up every morning without an expletive being my first thought.
-This blog is way too long. Next time, “Brent’s deep philosophical observations and thoughts that will make you believe he is the modern day equivalent of Plato”
-I miss my Fanny Pack.
-I miss my family.
-I miss my friends.
-I miss a lot of things.
-Most of which has something to do with food (Chipotle, Positano’s, Wendy’s runs etc)
-This year went by ridiculously fast.
-This year has been amazing.
-Time never stops.
-And the biggest struggle in life is deciding how we deal with the above observation.

Thanks for tuning in,

MILES Brent, Terminale S 1

“You’re taking a vow of silence because of Friedrich Nietzche?”

So ya…school started again today. Hip hip hooray. That, mind you was said with sarcasm. Although, it wasn’t that awful, as I got out an hour early because the History class I joined before break was taking a test, so I didn’t have to go. Chaching. I’m basically just trying to relax and have fun with the time I have left. Not to say I’m going to start doing nothing in school, but I’m no longer going to spend time needlessly worrying about school. After all, school is not exactly the reason I’m here, so it shouldn’t exactly be the thing I spend my time creating ulcers in my stomach about. But enough about school…

The end of my vacation was great, well not ending my vacation, but the latter part…I think you get the picture. Let’s see, saw The Holiday with another exchange student Wednesday which was good but needed more Jack Black. Thursday…I got my haircut. I finally got around to going on the Bateux Mouches (the boat tours on the Seine) Friday when the people who I hung out last week came up from Bourges in central France. The boat tour was pretty good and informative, but semi-ridiculously cold sitting on top of the boat. The day was somewhat random, as we had to go meet an exchange student (Jim) who didn’t ride up with the other kids at a train station where he had been walking around for a couple hours as he forgot his cell phone charger and had to buy a new one so he could call us. Good work Jim. We then proceeded to eat, according to each individual’s taste requirement, Panini, Croque Monsieur, or a cold Hotdog, but the cold hotdog didn’t exactly get finished. Then we went on a somewhat random walk around Paris, as I didn’t have a map, but nonetheless it was a success. Then, me, Jim, and his friend Jon who had just come in from the States went and got some French onion soup on Montmartre at Jim’s bequest, well actually I just mooched some, but that’s besides the point. Anyways, Friday=Good.

Saturday=Also good. I went to this exposition on the history of Paris, then met up with an awesome guy named Taro from my church to see Little Miss Sunshine, which although it was the second time for me, was equally amazing as the first viewing. Then we got some Falafel in the Jewish Quarter, and to preempt questions by those who were with me last time in the Jewish Quarter, no, I didn’t get asked if I was Jewish this time. Maybe because it was the Sabbath and I was in a restaurant and not at temple. Who knows?

Yesterday I went to the Cluny Museum (The Museum for the Middle Ages) because it was the first Sunday of the month, and the museums are free. It is pretty massive, with an inordinate amount of stuff to look at, so much so that I somewhat got bored and tired by the end, but had to go anyways to get to home group, which was amazing, as usual. It’s actually called table group so I’m just going to call it that. But, table group was great, it kind of just turned into me and the two other guys that were there (Justin and Bjorn) just having a discussion about a lot of stuff while Jen (Justin’s wife) took care of the baby. I drank a lot of Orangina. Maybe too much. But, there is never too much Orangina.

Wow I wrote a lot more then I wanted to. Thanks for reading this far. You are a trooper.

I have 6 weeks of school till my first Bus Trip in France/Spain, which I’m uber excited about. Let’s just hope this 6 weeks is a wee bit less eventful then the last 7 I had at school.

Bisous,

Brent

How I Been Rollin’

Quick recap of my after-Christmas Christmas vacation so far.

Don’t worry, I’ve been putting off writing this, so it won’t be tooo long and in depth.

Last week was great. Wednesday I at dinner over at Paul’s house with his brother, two other Kiwi’s that were in town, and Garth the Australian. The dinner and company were great, but when cricket became the topic of discussion I felt probably more confused then I have since coming.

Thursday I hung out with Paul’s brother Jon-O, which was awesome. Got some lunch, went to the Picasso Museum, which I had been to before but was much better the second time, and talked over a beer.

Friday I ate dinner at Paul’s again, then went to a bar with him, Jon-O and some of his roommates, then went to a club with his roommates and Jon-O. Clubs are overrated. That’s all I have to say.

Saturday crashed at Paul’s house. Saw Babel, which was okay, don’t really know if I liked it or not.

Sunday aka New Year’s Eve, hung out with exchange students from Beauvais who were in town, Brittney and Chelsea, who are some of my favorite exchange student friends. We walked for-ever, but it was amazing nonetheless. Then that night I went over to Garth’s friend’s apartment and had New Year ’s Eve, which was fun. Went out and saw the Eiffel Tower at midnight, and was disappointed that there were no fireworks. Got home really late. So therefore slept until 4 in the afternoon Sunday. It’s 2007. Crazy talk that is.

Did nothing Sunday. Watched two movies. Laid around. Etc. Etc.

Today was grrrrrrreat. Wendi (who went to FCHS and is doing her exchange in the West of France) was here, so we walked around for a while (that seems to be a trend for me, as I believe this week has been the most walking I’ve done in a week outside of backpacking), which was awesome and it was great to see her and talk to her again. Then met up with some other exchange students who were in town, Zach and Jim, who I had met on the plane coming here, who were here with some friends from home. We ascended the Arc de Triomphe, walked, ate, caféd, and basically had an amazing time. They are coming back Friday, so I’m looking forward to another fun day à Paris.

“This life is all we are, so prepare your lonely hearts, you know it’s all you have, so breathe in”
-Number One Gun

Brent