Today France is doing what it does best: La Grève. This means Strike, and people here eat it up. They love striking. Its sort of like supporting a national sports team or watching American Idol. Its a fun activity you can do with all of your friends to speak out against the man, not work (but still keep your job and get paid), not go to school, and yell a lot. It has a very snow-day-esque feel about it too. For instance yesterday, at the bank, I needed to pick something up and the woman said "well its not here now but come back tonight, but not tomorrow because there's a good chance there will be a strike and we'll be closed!" She was really excited about it. She was also sort of reclining and half doing her job and I wanted to say, "listen sweetie, you're not on strike yet, finish helping me first..." (But the inefficiency of French bureaucracy is something I’ll go into later). All around town people were saying "Oh, ya La Grève tomorrow, things will be closed! No trams! No elementary school! No mail! Can't wait!” sort of like Pacific Northwesterners would say, "Did you see the weather report? SNOW! Its a comin' tomorrow and everything’s gonna be closed!" When I woke up this morning I looked out my window in the 6am darkness looking for La Grève like I'd look for a white blanket of snow. I waited to see signs of unrest or organized closure but alas the Tram rode by and I felt a little let down.
I was told that the University doesn't necessarily observe La Grève but after waking up at 6:15 for my 8am class (to compensate for the possibility of no tram), no one was there. I went to the secretary of the History department to ask if maybe the course moved or if it was in fact cancelled, and she said "I'm closed". I wanted to say, "Wait, I don't understand, you're right there! I can see you! You're not fooling me." But instead I just said "OK", re-checked my classroom (now 8:15) and decided that I had been yet another victim of La Grève.
Now for some other fun French things:
Efficiency and Accountability in French Bureaucracy- Both do not exist. This will be a new recurring feature in my blog. First Example: The other night I had trouble with Internet and went to check the "trouble with your internet?" sign on the info board in the hall. The first three "suggestions" were very helpful, suggesting such useful things as "enter your user name!" "Enter your password!" "Make sure both are correct!" (I totally wouldn't have gotten those on my own), and then it said, "It is your responsibility to make sure that your Internet works". Wait, what? My responsibility? I mean I really want it to work, and I'm trying, but its not my server or my building, how am I responsible for it not working? The icing on the cake you ask? The last suggestion: "If you are still having problems with your internet connection please send an e-mail to the following address...” I just sat with that one for a minute... no internet... send an e-mail for help with internet... but don't have internet to access e-mail... Thanks.
So on a happier note, Things France does REALLY well... American Candy! Of course everyone knows that France has wonderfully good pastries, chocolate, and other tasty delights but surprisingly, they make popular American candies about 100 x better than America does. A Snickers bar in France begins with a wonderful world of deliciously rich and tantalizing chocolate, darker and much more complex than the hard, mildly sweet chocolate shell of its American counterpart. It then oozes with Caramel that actually tastes like... Caramel! Its much sweeter, milkier, gooier, and smoother than the American compromise, and it makes all the difference. The nougat is also softer and lighter, as if prepared for immediate consumption rather than bomb-shelter storage (again a reference to the inferior American bar of the same name). The same can be said for Kit-Kat bars and Peanut M&M's! The Peanut M&M's feature a sweeter, thicker shell that breaks with a crisp crunch exposing almost double the amount of chocolate surrounding the peanut than the American M&M Peanut. Again the chocolate is of higher quality, which allows for maximum enjoyment. This is just a primer for my many future blog posts on Baguette Sandwiches, my views on butter as a condiment, cheese, gummy candies, teas, and 0.99 Euro wine! Don't think I'm just eating familiar American favorites while I'm over here... oh no, I'm just helping you Americans hop onboard for your culinary journey across the Atlantic. Peace, Love, and Grève
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