Jours 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14...

Ok, wow. All of the days are beginning to run together here in Angers.

    I guess I left off after the festival on Saturday night, so Sunday is where I should begin...

    After going out with everyone Saturday night, Sunday was a very mellow day in comparison. I set out on my own in the afternoon to get a glimpse at the festival in daylight, and it was such a good idea! I didn't think any more people could have fit into those crowded streets, but I was very wrong.

      First of all just let me say that no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to wrap my mind around how much shit is actually in these streets. When I say shit, I mean actual feces (mostly from les chiens). I'm serious. People just let their dogs squat right on the sidewalk and no one picks it up. Every day you have to watch where you step, and usually there are foot prints through and around the merde. I literally walked past a dog pooping on the sidewalk today. ?? Anyway, I had dodged several land mines that morning.

   Back to the story (sorry). The first show that I walked into was that of the same acrobat that I had seen two nights prior. This time however I watched him scale the entire cathedral and then tight rope walk across the plaza. It really was a sight to see, especially because all of his moves were choreographed beautifully to this ominous sounding music. Once the show ended, I walked down the long steps in front of the cathedral to the plaza below. There I found an area of small street vendors. Crêpes, wine, etc. There was also a small museum set up at the base of the hill. It was called, "The Museum of Daily Life," and it was very interesting! There were small interactive booths for people to create their own photographs. I don't exactly know how to describe them best. One had bed sheets stretched across at different levels, one had clothes pins hanging in it, etc. All around the place there were pieces of artwork involving everyday people and ideas. I just have to post pictures, because this description pales in comparison. 

  As I walked around the city, I saw a Spanish dance performance, a French musical, some more dancers, some kind of homeless street prophet, a comedian, and a whole lot of dog/horse poo. 

    Monday was a very average day, nothing out of the ordinary. I caught up on the current season of Weeds and watched a bit of Modern Family in between my classes.

    Tuesday was a day to remember! Classes were typical, but that night I went to my first French soirée at a townhouse close to my residence. One minute I was drinking Crémant de la Loire (it was champagne, however, only wine from the region of Champagne has the legal right to be called champagne, so I guess technically this was a 'sparkling wine'), and a bottle of wine, and the next minute I was sitting in a rooftop courtyard drinking a Desperado. Desperado is the equivalent of a Four Loco in Austin... It is beer mixed with tequila and a flavored energy drink. Cheap. Effective. Not nearly as disgusting as Four Loco. 

  

   Politics definitely came up at this party, and of course I was eager to hear what the French had to say. There was also the inevitable back and forth swapping of cultural stereotypes and societal norms. I even had the chance to talk to a Chinese ex-patriot about Tiananmen Square, Taiwan, Tibet, Communism, and the Beijing olympic protests in France. It was probably the most interesting conversation I've had since I've been in France. I picked his brain and here is what he said in a nut shell: 'Oh well' about Tiananmen Square (and its censorship), Taiwan will reunite with China, Tibet will never be autonomous, Communism is the only choice that the Chinese people have for stability, and that the French protest of the Beijing olympics REALLY upset the Chinese (and him in particular). Wow that doesn't even begin to do the situation justice. 

   After more drinks and shenanigans, we went out to a bar with billiards and a dance floor and had an even better time. I think I must have spoken more French Tuesday night than I have the entire time I've been here, collectively. The only downside was that I was deathly sick by the time I returned to my dorm, a combination of too little to eat and too much to drink.

   

   The next morning I had to wake up for a meeting at the English Language Library. There was a tour of the library and a description of the volunteer services that our group would be doing there, and then we all got library cards.. It was raining as I left the library to go to French class across town. Ashton and I shared my umbrella on the way. We stopped in a boulangerie to pick up sandwiches and drinks, and then for about five minutes we ate each other's sandwiches without even noticing. Throughout the entire walk to campus food was falling out of our mouthes. Lettuce, ham, cheese, all falling to the ground as we attempted to eat. I ended up sitting out of French class because I wasn't feeling well. You have to understand that the classes here are much more laxed than they would be at home. Apparently it was for the best, because the professor decided to postpone the pop quiz planned for that day so that I wouldn't miss it. 

    I know that now this will sound ridiculously irresponsible, but Wednesday night was Wine Tasting Wednesday, and after some recouping, I was ready to give my new 2007 Côtes Du Rhone a try! It definitely didn't disappoint, and now I have a new favorite. Dry, deep red, and not acidic at all.

 Thursday, is always the longest day of the week. We have the same professor from 10:30 to 6:15, and it definitely gets tiring after the first two classes. After getting out early today I went over to the train station and got my 12-25 card, which is a student discount card that will get me at least 25% off all of my train tickets here for the next year. I am officially free to travel on the weekends! This weekend is a two day Paris excursion! Of course pictures will follow. I was also craving Tex-Mex like CRAZY, and was only satisfied when I found a Taco Bell hot sauce packet hidden in my luggage somewhere. MMMM.

   Tonight the group went out for college night to our regular places. Falstaff, Le Kalypso, and SOFT. It was fun, we danced with some people from Ireland and sang along to all of the English songs. The most interesting part of the night happened after we got back to the residence. Right outside of my window there were people streaking through sprinklers and yelling at the top of their lungs. That was to the right, to the left was some helpless guy passed out in a puddle of his own vomit. We all got together in the window and I threw a water bottle out to his friend to make him drink it... I guess that was a mistake, because instead of sitting the guy up and making him drink some water, the guy's friend poured the whole water bottle on his face and kicked him. The guy's two friends called an ambulance, and as soon as the (annoyed) paramedics arrived to load the guy into the ambulance the two friends ran away. 

The lesson here: People here will not keep track of the amount that you drink. If you do get sick, they have absolutely no idea how to properly handle the situation. And when they have dumped you off onto someone else, they will ditch you. We just watched in amazement. 

It's almost 4am. My feet stink. People are still singing outside. It's bed time! Sleeping in tomorrow, no class!

Kevin