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New words I've learned
since arriving
l'appareil
rembourser
améliorer
amener
déménager
surgéle
la poubelle
la démission
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April 18, 2002, 1400 hrs
Just back from my interview.. It went very well. They have about 40 people in the Paris office (Agency.com, that is) and about 100 in the Amsterdam office. The new president of the Paris office, installed here about 2 months ago, is Dutch. We spoke for about an hour and a half (fortunately in English, though the operating language of the firm internally is French) and had a really good talk. He is hopeful of staffing up in another month or two, depending on work coming in. He thought the interview went well, so I've been invited back for a second set with junior staff. Nothing like starting at the top I guess.. Let's see.. what has happened in the last couple of days. Class has been going well, and I've been learning a lot. Though I'm giving some serious thought to asking for a language tutor if I get a position with Agency. I think I would get a great deal more out of the same amount of time with more conversation (and help with terminology). I just don't speak enough now, probably because I rarely engage in full conversations with merchants. I saw a demonstration in the street the other day on the way to close (photos below). I thought at first that it was a Green demonstration against nuclear power, but then I remembered where I was living. It appears to be a demonstration in support of French nuclear power workers (something like 60% of the country's power is generated by nuclear stations): )
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The French political race is heating up.. there appear to be candidates for every flavor of political conviction or adherence. I've seen Green candidates, fiscal conservatives, the standards (Jospin and Chirac), Le Pen (far, far right wing) and a host of other lesser-known lights. A Le Pen rally was on TV last night in the bar, but we fortunately cut away for the soccer matches (4-0, England v. Paraguay, 0-0, France v. Russia, 2-1, Republic of Ireland v. USA). England looked absolutely brilliant, passing in a continental style (or the old Liverpool style of the late 60s depending on your point of view) and they dominated the game against Paraguay (who had previously beaten Brazil, Columbia and tied Argentina in the South American cup this season). I thought they were minnows, but those are some awfully good results. I was a bit down yesterday. I went to find Brentano's (the largest English language bookstore in Paris), which is near the original Opera house: )
I've been walking even further lately (quite far when I realize that one of the squares on my Paris Pratique is 500 metres). Both to get some exercise and to see some of the very cool stores that fill every niche here. I took a nice walk through the gardens of the Palais Royal (outside of which was this marvelous 'post-modern' sort of sculpture - the garden is filled with even more in a temporary exhibit): )
Saw a bunch of young salairés (yuppies) playing boules on the hard pan of the Palais walkways.. I could definitely see the attraction of the game.. looks like lots of fun.. On my way out of the Palais Royal I discovered a little restaurant called "La Palet Lafayette" (there is a second one of the same ownership in my new neighborhood, fortunately) that was serving:
Saute de Kangourou au Cognac
I've decided that I must try it on my next dinner out. I've never had kangaroo before (if that is really what it is - my Larousse say it is). Dad says that I have if I've eaten at Jack in the Box - but I never have to my knowledge (eaten there). I put it in the same category as McDonald's. Speaking of which, Metro, the local quotidien (daily) had a two-page spread on how the French are taking on American eating habits and getting fat. Apparently 20% are now overweight (compared to 60+% of Americans). I confess I don't see it in the young people, but apparently it's growing in the younger age groups where cost and convenience are driving parents to fit the kids quickie foods (they are also, apparently, taxed at a lower rate - 5.5% as opposed to 19.6%). 19.6% might seem like a lot to Americans but that's all the taxes rolled into one - so sales tax and all import duties are made visible in the one tax. Which I get back if I keep all my receipts when I leave the country. After "experiencing" Patrizia's gym, I decided to go to WAOU in my new neighborhood. A different quality of gym all together. Much more in the line of an American spa/very high end health club (the prices reflect it though). But very nice, highly modern, and clean (lots of machines, not a lot of free weights is the only drawback). It has a hamam (middle eastern steam room), sauna, massage, cardio machines, tons of classes including spinning (just coming into vogue here..). I will mostly likely subscribe, 'cause I feel a need to get back in. My classes finish next week, and then we have at least a one-week (maybe longer) break before the next session starts up. It's the late spring break for French schools apparently. Black is still in, in a big way amongst the trendiest people here. I walked through Paris St.Germain yesterday evening on the way to class and saw lots and lots of nice clothing stores. I think one could literally spend as much money as one had in a stretch of only four or five blocks. The latest trend in shoes is.. wait for it.. wicked witch shoes.. I kid you not. The trendiest women's shoes right now seem to have about four inches of extension on the tips - to quite a point. I did a double-take when I first saw them. But now that I'm looking for them, the best-dressed (most expensively dressed) women all seem to flaunt them. They look to be in the same category as super-long fingernails. If you can have them, you probably don't need to work for a living (I can't really see how you could walk up steps in them). Maybe sideways like a crab. Well, I'm off to a movie downtown (blowing off classes today to let off a little stress) and I'll probably write next on the weekend. |
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