So maybe I've been a little lax about updating, and I apologize to anyone those of you who check on this every hour to see what's new. For the past few weeks I've been in pre-stage, which is a really ambiguous French term for doing something while you wait, basically. In this case, what we're waiting for is real classes to start with the university.
The problem was that last semester there were student strikes that delayed classes for weeks on end, and through the month of January, the Fall semester has been finishing up at Paul Valéry. Meanwhile, we American students don't have anything to do but review grammar and go on weekend excursions. Last weekend we went to Arles, famous for its insane asylum which housed Vincent VanGogh, meaning that now I can say that I've seen with my own eyes the subjects of several famous paintings. Also of note in Arles is a big arena built by the Romans and used to defend the town during the Middle Ages.
After Arles we went to Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, which is where Mary mother of Jesus, Mary mother of two disciples (I forget which two), Mary Magdelene, and one other Mary but I forget which one, all landed in France on the same boat (according to tradition). The church there, though, was built in honor of Ste Sarah, the servant girl who came with them and offered her coat or something to the two Marys who decided not to say. Ste. Sarah, as it turns out, is the patron saint of the Roma people (insensitively called "gypsies" by most Americans) and the town has plenty there. We were warned before getting off the bus about people who will grab your hand, read your palm, and demand money.
The weekend before we went to Pezenas and Sète. Pezenas' claim to fame is that it was the birthplace of Molière and it once housed in its hôtels particuliers the likes of Nostradamus (who also studied medicine in Montpellier). Between Pezenas and Sète, we went to Cap d'Agde, where the largest nudist colony in the world is located. Unfortunately since its "winter" (really the weather feels more like mid-April), the nudists weren't around to gawk at. Too bad. Sète is one of those breezy (and it was really breezy) southern French port towns with all the different colored houses along the port. It was cute, but there wasn't a lot to do there.
Tomorrow are the final tests for the Pre-stage, and on Friday, I sign up for my real classes. For now, I'm trying to buy pants, since I only have like two pairs that I keep switching back and forth between and it's just getting a little old.
3 comments:
Hey buddy, it's interesting to hear about what you're doing, and compare it to what I know Emma did last Spring. Do you have a digital camera there? I'd really like to see some photos to complement the writing
yeah yeah ... i keep meaning to upload my pictures. now that you've specifically asked, i'll try harder to remember.
Hey buddy, I second tom's comment. Except the part about comparing it to what Emma did last spring, because I'm not really sure what she did. You're lucky you moved out when you did. Ryan warned us that some guys were going to come to remove Asbestos from our basement, but they would show up at like quarter to 7 every morning this week. They made enough noise down there for 5 or 6 punching bags, so we've all been early risers. The worst part, though, is that what Ryan didn't tell us is that they were removing asbestos in order to install new furnaces. So today we've been without heat, with the temperature below zero for most of the night.
Post a Comment