Pre-Berlin/Christmas Vlog

Hey! My friend Jaslyn asked me to make a vlog ages ago, which I did, but never uploaded it. oops
Sorry it kinda sucks.

My opposite spectrum France day

Today I had the oddest experiences in the way that they all encompassed the 2 types feelings I frequently experience in France: the awesome and the annoying.

First off, yesterday I received a phone call from the Prefecture (the people who deal with my visa) saying in not so many words that the 4 pictures I supplied them with "manque". Not that they lost them, that they are missing. I was told to show up at the 10th booth to give them new ones any time from 9-1.

So I went today, arriving at the Prefecture at 10:30. No one is at booth 10. Not having an official appointment, and not knowing if any of the other booths can equally process my file, I decide to wait to see if booth 10 will open soon. I wait 50 minutes. This is the annoying part of France, now on to the awesome.

Deciding to take my chances, I totally butt in front of people who actually have appointments and run to the 12th booth (desperate line cutter Cayda I had become). Thankfully, the lady who had seen me wait for almost an hour, takes pity on me and says that she will personally give my pictures to the guy at booth 10, when and if he ever shows up. AWESOME!!!!!

With a spring in my step I leave the Prefecture and walk towards the tram stop. While waiting for the tram, I am approached by a man assumedly in his 30s. He asks me if I can help him out as he has a question. Sure, thought I, maybe I can answer his question. He proceeds to ask me if I'll adopt him and then says something vulgar in french about being spanked and my breasts (which he couldn't even see through my winter coat). A.N.N.O.Y.I.N.G.

I give him the "f-off face" and walk away. The sun hides behind the clouds, pathetic fallacy. Just before the tram arrives, however, an elderly french lady approaches me and talks to me about the weather. She tells me it's cold out and that I should put on a scarf as it would be a shame if I got a cold. Awesome.

So there you have it, in the span of 2 hours, my time in France so far has been totally covered in chance encounters. I admit, this post is a tad melodramatic, but hey, that's life in France.

Going through the motions

Although I have done quite a bit since returning from my Toussaint break (almost a month ago), it doesn’t really feel like it.

I go to class, hang out with friends, etc…but thinking back on my past month, nothing really interesting comes to mind. I’ve had presentations for school and assignments to do. Boring. So maybe this post will be about my realisations thus far.

Realisations:

-I’ve eaten way too many French Kebabs and Tacos (tacos in France are just meat and french-fries in a tortilla-weird but good).

-I’ve drunk a lot of coffee (be it vending machine coffees or little shots of espresso).

-When I run out of food (and am too lazy/busy to go buy groceries) my diet consists of rice.

- The dog of choice in Grenoble is the German Shepherd. It is a bizarre day when I do not see at least 1.

-It’s a good thing I bought a transportation pass as I’ve been approached by les “controlleurs” at least 15 times and would now be homeless due to the sheer ticket fee.

- Apparently when it snows people use umbrellas. I saw 4 people yesterday using umbrellas to keep the snow off. Thought that was interesting.

-Don’t try to go to a non-fast food restaurant for dinner before 7 pm. Ain’t gonna happen.

-It isn’t a law to pick up your dog poo (I knew this already), but it still doesn’t make me less mad every day when I play hopscotch trying to avoid it on the sidewalk: today, rather unsuccessfully.

-French people have a very difficult time discerning English accents. I’ve been asked more times if I was British rather than (North) American.

-No matter how often I sweep the floor of my room, it's always dirty! I don't know how. Witchcraft.

- Wearing a white tank top and drinking red wine at a party is like playing Russian roulette.  No matter how many times you play the game, there is only one inevitable result.

So thats all I can think about at the moment, I'm sure I've realised plenty of other things that just don't come to mind right now.

Voodoo doll Aliya gave me (I named her Cocoa)

God I'm bored.