Shoutout today to Dan G., who's turning 22. Also to Mr. Robert Cenzon, turning 23 on Thursday. These are probably my two American friends that I share the most in common with in terms of our France interest(s). As a result of said interest, Mr. Bert will soon be returning to France for quite a while, and we will likely be celebrating the New Year together...but, like, not kissing and stuff at midnight. Probably just singing with French people.
La vie hasn't been that entertaining lately. In the last week or so I briefly entered panic mode about improving my French, but I guess it's coming along more steadily now. The problem is that my forum of expertise within the language (verlan and gros mots) is not (usually) one that can be interspersed with great ease during the course of a normal conversation. I'll just have to learn some technical engineering language. That way, when people talk about things I don't really care about, and they refuse to stop talking in spite of the fact that no one else is participating in the conversation (this happens somewhat frequently in French culture, by the way), I can turn the conversation to an even more boring topic, of which they will have little knowledge. Although I am not there yet, this dawned on me today in, roughly, the following context (translated, of course, for your amusement):
There is a really nice teacher at the high school, but she talks more than anyone I know, and when you're trying to get something done before a class, this can be difficult. Today, the question was posed to me, "Greg, what is your favorite aspect of French literature?"
Well, to be honest, I would like to know about this topic a bit more, but I will readily admit that my knowledge is lacking in American and English literature, let alone that of the French.
"Well, I am not really familiar with French lit."
"Do you like poesie?" (I'm leaving that word untranslated because it's funnier to me for some reason)
"Hmm, probably mathematics."
Game, set, math. Conversation: OVER. One could say I threw a zero into the denominator of that exchange.
In other news, I'm excited for traveling over the Christmas break, during which I'll see Marta in Madrid and then meet my friends Scott and Kevin to see Rome, Athens, and (briefly) Paris. Right now, as you may know, there are some riots taking place in Athens. I have an unfounded certainty that this will be settled before our Dec. 26 arrival. Although this occurrence is somewhat of a scary thought at this date, the bright side could be that we three Dallasites finally get to experience the kind of mayhem and looting that we were too young for during the 1993 Dallas Cowboys championship parade. Nostalgia, no?
On that note, the Cowboys, as is the case with all Dallas franchises, recently provided us with another last-minute, heartbreaking meltdown. This should be expected. In fact, I feel there would be reason for disappointment if this weren't the case. However, always looking on the bright side, there has been a lot of media attention directed lately toward Plaxico Burress's recent shooting of Plaxico Burress in a nightclub. As it turns out, Plaxico Burress has been suspended for the season by his team and could be facing jail time for this act of aggression, and Plaxico Burress had to be rushed to the hospital by Plaxico Burress's teammate. Plaxico Burress was already rehabbing a hamstring problem before this cruel and uncalled-for attack resulted in another minor injury. Athletes these days. I say bright side, by the way, because this story is nothing less than hilarious and awesome, and I've brought it up at least twice to French people.
Recently, I was extremely disappointed to read a rather conciliatory-sounding public statement by Lance Armstrong regarding his return to the Tour, in which he said he would try to support the best rider on the team. This is not the kind of "We're gonna win, baby!" comment I like to hear, but as long as Lance doesn't shoot Lance in the leg, maybe he's got a chance. I was asked last week what I thought about the return. I responded to my French colleague by loosely referencing the words of French swimmer Alain Bernard, who this summer made a statement in reference to the American relay team with Jason Lezak and Michael Phelps saying, "We will explode them. We came here for that." Of course, after the team anchor's stupid statement and historic collapse, I feel the need to bring him up at critical moments (jettez l'ancre, France). This was a critical moment because it was in anticipation of the irritating response that is guaranteed in France regarding Lance: "You want him to win, even if he's doping?" Holding my tongue, I had to explain how he was never found guilty of any doping, and 8 years later some agency decides to start retesting old urine samples that were not found to be problematic before. I don't even like what Lance Armstrong has done in his personal life, but the people here are clearly jealous of his success. Additionally, they ignore what a joke the Tour has become the past few years, with large numbers of riders being expelled from the race for doping. When the topic was extended to American athletes who have been found guilty of doping, and the valor of Americans then questioned, I was tempted to demand whether they thought doping was necessary on our nation's part in helping overcome the Germans in World War 2. In spite of the choice words I wanted to offer, that's not fair to do to them, but it must be pointed out that there are intelligent and stupid athletes (see above) everywhere. Putain.
On a less bitter note, one professor at the high school is not having her courses this week, meaning that my workload has been cut to a more bearable 7 hours. I used some of my free time yesterday to make one of my most exciting purchases in recent memory: 3 euros for 25 of these creme-filled chocolate things that are rather indescribable.
As you may be able to see, some of them have coconut. I just read that coconut oil is likely to be beneficial in the prevention of heart disease. I don't even know what coconut oil by itself is like, but tell me no more. In the ultimate effort to combat heart disease, I could soon begin a diet consisting of no more than coconut oil and red wine. Unless, of course, 8 years later this is going to present problems with my urine samples.
6 comments:
23 genius, the same age that you'll be in january.
The snacks look, how you say, delicious. BTW, how are the exploits of Dallas' favorite Frenchman, Antoine "Le Roi" Rigaudeau?
God save the Queen.
May I share with you my similar feels on Plaxico. 1st, who goes to a club in sweat pants? 2nd, who carries a gun in the waist band of sweat pants? 3rd, he is massive, the buddy he was with was friggin massive. I would argue that the most dangerous people in the club were the 2 football players, though that seemed to be proven as the night went on and he was attacked- BY HIMSELF!!! What a f*cking idiot!
Anyways, I miss you and hope you are getting fat!
In response to Caelie, let me say you never know when Shante Carver is lurking around the corner. You always need to be on guard. I heard Shante appears when Lil Jon is played at clubs. Or when the Golden Ratio of drums to bass occurs.
hahaha 1) sorry for that typo bert...I spent so long trying to figure out how old dan is now that it didn't even matter what I put for you. change made
2)Antoine Roi is doin fine. we play bball each week under the bridge near the soccer stadium. He likes to be near big stadiums to feel at home.
3-4) Sweat pants need to be incorporated into more modern attire. Plus, Shante Carver is not someone you want to run into when "Throw Your Hood Up" is playing. When this song in particular comes on, Charles Haley has been known to show up as well, no sweatpants.
Haha, I just ran the Trail of Lights 5k and received a can of cancernut water for my participation...it was delicious!
Take care homie!
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