Thinking aloud

Well, after two weeks, lots has settled down. Our home is set up, I know where to find food, how to get around. Surprisingly, my Ottawa french comes back to me sufficiently to get me by. I continue to meet PLEASENT French people, despite my caution from previous experience. The odd arrogant one recieves my sympathy. Why bother, really.

We are watching CNN in English here. The run up to the election, even on CNN, is stating nothing about the policies of Segolene Royal, the socialist female candidate for President. The clips being played are asking her who is staying home caring for her four children. One French man even stated "we are men, we are French men, and men are supposed to be running the country". I know little about each candidates acutal thrust, but it will be interesting to follow.

We are also about 4 blocks from the Institue du Monde Arabe. The building is fascinating, and one of these days I will go through the musueums. The "eyes" of each window adjust like irises. I enjoy hearing the multitude of languages as crowds wander the streets. This Sunday coming up there will be 35,000 runners here doing a marathon... and it is supposed to be ~28 celcius!


Some people go to Montmartre for the view and the church... I went for the fabric shops. Hard to find the Provence - "Soleiado - Les Olivades" fabrics.. but success!
We have learned the method of walking in a crowded street - it seems no one will give way to another, no such thing as a right hand pass. Eye to eye does not help... one must simply step off the curb into the traffic. "Excuse me while I don't get out of your way". Another wonderful thing about the internet is http://babelfish.altavista.com/tr - this allows me to block a page of instructions and then translate them into english. Thank you Lord!