As some of you may or may not know, I have become particularly enamoured with colour of late. Nothing in particular, just a general appreciation of colour and particularly vivid or unique examples I come across in daily life. I try to avoid all grey or black or blue days, and generally have something fancy going on with my shoelaces if nothing else.
Well, when I arrived here I noticed a tendancy amongst French people towards black. Sometimes grey, maybe white, but nothing exciting to my eyes. Even when one saw colours in a store display it was generally a muted purple, and that was it, maybe with a few subtle shade variations.
Now of course some people do wear a bit of colour, and I know the techtonique kids (it's a dance/music craze thing) certainly do their part, but the non colours prevail.
Case in point.
I was at a party the other day. Should be fun I thought, and as usual I put EXTENSIVE thought into my wardrobe. I ended up going with a nice pink t shirt and jeans. Nothing too crazy, but then about an hour after my arrival at the other dozen or so at the party, and I kid you not there was nothing but grey, black or white. NOTHING. Someone might have been wearing blue jeans, I can't remember, but if they were they were dark.
I bellowed something about this, people made fun of me because my shirt was actually the colour of the enemy Stade Francais rugby team, and all I could do was sigh. Later when I was complaining again after more people had arrived some girl pointed out she was wearing a pink t-shirt under her black one. Not quite the same lady.
Oh well. At least all the other people who actually had a colour had chosen pink.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
shoulder
And here's a little something for the really getting to know James fans out there.
The shoulder is acting up again.
Harrumph.
I had just started going to the gym and lifting again, so that might have been the problem, but maybe not.
For you see, shortly after restarting at the gym I went over to the apartment of some other assistants for drinks, and at the end of the night, rather than wait to be buzzed out I decided to leap (haul myself) over the gate at the front of the school where they live. And it was the next morning my shoulder had a small ache.
Oh me. Oh my.
It's strange how pain functions. You forget what a bother it was to suddenly feel pain in your shoulder at random moments. For the last few weeks with the pain gone I didn't even remember I had been sore, but now it is back.
It's a shame pain can't be psychic and kick in even if what you're doing now won't hurt until tomorrow. Something for the cyborgs I suppose.
The shoulder is acting up again.
Harrumph.
I had just started going to the gym and lifting again, so that might have been the problem, but maybe not.
For you see, shortly after restarting at the gym I went over to the apartment of some other assistants for drinks, and at the end of the night, rather than wait to be buzzed out I decided to leap (haul myself) over the gate at the front of the school where they live. And it was the next morning my shoulder had a small ache.
Oh me. Oh my.
It's strange how pain functions. You forget what a bother it was to suddenly feel pain in your shoulder at random moments. For the last few weeks with the pain gone I didn't even remember I had been sore, but now it is back.
It's a shame pain can't be psychic and kick in even if what you're doing now won't hurt until tomorrow. Something for the cyborgs I suppose.
follow up
Something I realized agfter scampering away from the internet last night.
It isn't just unions that seem to get in on the strike mentality from time to time. I was in Orléans this past weekend and one of my trains there (yes, one of them, Rodez being Rodez there were a few), was halted at a station for a while.
I had no idea what was going on and wasn't really paying much attention. But then as we started to move again people began to walk past the windows, holding signs, and from the brief glimpses and brief translations I think the people in these smaller communities on the track north from Toulouse were displeased that the train didn't stop there. They wanted to go to Paris too, but to do that they needed to catch a locla train to a larger station.
This is similar to what I did, with the exception that they are right on the same line, but that's not the point of the story. The point is, when in doubt strike! It's both frustrating for me on the train, and commendable. I assume they have registered their concerns in other ways first of course, but to then go out and continue to try and do something about it...good for them.
Do I support them? I don't know. If I lived there I probably would, but I can't imagine it's that difficult to catch one train and then another, although it undoubtedly feels superfluous and excessive.
It isn't just unions that seem to get in on the strike mentality from time to time. I was in Orléans this past weekend and one of my trains there (yes, one of them, Rodez being Rodez there were a few), was halted at a station for a while.
I had no idea what was going on and wasn't really paying much attention. But then as we started to move again people began to walk past the windows, holding signs, and from the brief glimpses and brief translations I think the people in these smaller communities on the track north from Toulouse were displeased that the train didn't stop there. They wanted to go to Paris too, but to do that they needed to catch a locla train to a larger station.
This is similar to what I did, with the exception that they are right on the same line, but that's not the point of the story. The point is, when in doubt strike! It's both frustrating for me on the train, and commendable. I assume they have registered their concerns in other ways first of course, but to then go out and continue to try and do something about it...good for them.
Do I support them? I don't know. If I lived there I probably would, but I can't imagine it's that difficult to catch one train and then another, although it undoubtedly feels superfluous and excessive.
Monday, December 01, 2008
grèves and syndicats
As yo may or may notknow the g word above is strike in french and the s is union.
Both of these things are very popular here.
As an example. I have been asked to choosed which union should represent irregular and part time teachers, this includes assistants as well as many other, more french and I assume more permanent positions. First of all why are they asking a fellow here for 6 months and no great attachment to the system? Who knows, but aside from that how they want me to vote...
Straight-forward, if unnecessarily complicated mail in system for the vote. But along with various envelopes and instructions they give you all the choices, like 12 of them. Each one gets a ballot which is essentially a point form information sheet, and then there is also a a wadge of actual ionformation sheets. AND THEN two of the unions have sent me separate info packages as well. And because there was no way I was going to translate all this stuff I asked one of the teachers what was up.
"That's my union, socialist, socialist, right wing, centre, communist, don't know, never heard of it..." OAnd on it went. Ridiculous.
Another example, at one point a few weeks ago, the Air France pilots were on strike over changes to retirement age, the teachers struck for one day because of proposed changes to the education system (apparently the 26 hours a work man they work has been put at risk with the threat of firing teachers), and there was a chance teh SNCF (railroads) were going out. I think that last one was just on the freight side but feel everyone would have scampered.
Yikes.
I'm not sure exactly what's going on now, but my vote is attached to all sorts of larger doings. Teachers are voting, but given the number of posters that have been put up all over town I feel like other groups may be involved as well.
Yeesh.
ANd then as a super kicker, today as I was killing time in Brive-la-Gaillard, waiting for my Rodez connection, I noticed a building which appears to have been used at one point or another for the regions bakery union, because you know how all those locally operated, one person bakeries can tend towards slavery. Or something...I can't figure it all out.
I'm being punted from my internet connection, but I will try to get more up soon-ish, or failing that, communicate my new form of communication.
Both of these things are very popular here.
As an example. I have been asked to choosed which union should represent irregular and part time teachers, this includes assistants as well as many other, more french and I assume more permanent positions. First of all why are they asking a fellow here for 6 months and no great attachment to the system? Who knows, but aside from that how they want me to vote...
Straight-forward, if unnecessarily complicated mail in system for the vote. But along with various envelopes and instructions they give you all the choices, like 12 of them. Each one gets a ballot which is essentially a point form information sheet, and then there is also a a wadge of actual ionformation sheets. AND THEN two of the unions have sent me separate info packages as well. And because there was no way I was going to translate all this stuff I asked one of the teachers what was up.
"That's my union, socialist, socialist, right wing, centre, communist, don't know, never heard of it..." OAnd on it went. Ridiculous.
Another example, at one point a few weeks ago, the Air France pilots were on strike over changes to retirement age, the teachers struck for one day because of proposed changes to the education system (apparently the 26 hours a work man they work has been put at risk with the threat of firing teachers), and there was a chance teh SNCF (railroads) were going out. I think that last one was just on the freight side but feel everyone would have scampered.
Yikes.
I'm not sure exactly what's going on now, but my vote is attached to all sorts of larger doings. Teachers are voting, but given the number of posters that have been put up all over town I feel like other groups may be involved as well.
Yeesh.
ANd then as a super kicker, today as I was killing time in Brive-la-Gaillard, waiting for my Rodez connection, I noticed a building which appears to have been used at one point or another for the regions bakery union, because you know how all those locally operated, one person bakeries can tend towards slavery. Or something...I can't figure it all out.
I'm being punted from my internet connection, but I will try to get more up soon-ish, or failing that, communicate my new form of communication.
writing on the internet
As I have mentioned a couple of times already I've started to consider about writing on the internet means, as far as the future.
Once it's up here, it's here. That shouldn't affect me too greatly of course, I don't tend towards anything overly salacious, but what does the future hold? What job will I want? What will I care about people reading?
Nothing big, but I mayb look to switch to email at some point, given I'm pretty sure the regular readers of this blog tops out at 3 or 4.
But for now...
Once it's up here, it's here. That shouldn't affect me too greatly of course, I don't tend towards anything overly salacious, but what does the future hold? What job will I want? What will I care about people reading?
Nothing big, but I mayb look to switch to email at some point, given I'm pretty sure the regular readers of this blog tops out at 3 or 4.
But for now...
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