Paris in the spring time
Today it’s raining, but in general Paris in the spring time has been everything the poets and songwriters describe. My favorite place, the Jardin Lux, has exploded with flowers. Tulips, daffodils, dogwoods, cherry blossoms, all in pretty pastels. When I arrived a month ago, I took the first picture on the left; pretty, but no leaves at all on the trees. Yesterday, I took the picture on the right. (Note the Parisians eating McDonald’s. They love McDonald’s here. I don’t really understand it.)
Here are some more pictures of the garden. I haven’t really captured it all; on Sundays, it is so lively, with joggers, flowers and statues, lovely winding paths under blindingly green trees, children playing, and old men tossing petanque balls.
OK, so let me answer some of the most common questions asked of me.
Question. How’s your French?
Answer. Still not great. It was nice going to Italy and then coming back, and realizing my French isn’t as terrible as it feels. On the other hand, I can barely communicate with the patient postdocs who practice with me, let alone my French ultimate teammates. French class isn’t great, because the level is a little too easy; on the other hand, I have to miss two weeks, so perhaps it will be better when I return. I’ve been listening to Champs Elysées, a French news program with audio exercises, at speed. I’ve had some success with that, but my speaking is well behind my listening. Reading and writing, I’m better at. This summer I will be taking very intensive classes at the Sorbonne, and ideally surrounding myself with French (getting my news in French, listening to music in French, etc). But for now, it’s difficult, especially with how much I’m working.
Question. Speaking of that, how is work?
Answer. Work is good. Very very challenging. Probably more so because this isn’t my area of expertise, so I’m learning a lot, all the time, just to do what’s minimally expected. My supervisors are quite good and very hands-on, more so than I’m used to. I like it, because I think this is how I will excel, but I’m also stressed out a lot, and very tired. I take the weekends to explore the city. Otherwise, I’m usually exhausted when I get home, and can’t do much more than watch American TV on youtube.
Question. So how’s your social life?
Answer. Pretty much nonexistent. Various people are coming to visit, and that spurs me to actually go out, eat at restaurants, go to bars – explore the nightlife of the city. But eating out is really expensive and not always worth it; it’s tricky to find good places. Drinks are also really expensive, as are cover fees. Bands that would be relatively inexpensive in the States are very pricey here, so I have yet to go to a show. Nonetheless, I want to; I follow music blogs and get Lylo every two weeks, the listing of all the shows in Paris and the surrounding areas. So if I’m feeling peppy one night, I can go on my own. In this also, not speaking French is a barrier. I would like to go out alone and meet people, but I’m essentially afraid to strike up conversation in French (and I feel like speaking English is rude).
All that said, I do have the beginnings of a social circle – postdocs at the lab, Animesh and the Rhum-Rhums crew, the Yaka girls, family friends of Dad, and of course my family in Lyon.