Day 19

We had class again in the cafe. The only bad thing is that I haven't been able to access the wifi there. This is problematic, since I have come to rely on it, especially when the wifi at the apartment is acting psychotic. We also had a new student. A retired gentleman from Arizona, who likes country music. He has a smattering of French, and I think he must have studied Spanish at some point in the past. However, he grates on me. I hope to be mistaken in my impression on the morrow. 

Christine also brought me a pack of creme de marrone in a tube. When I asked how much, she replied that it was a gift. How nice! Maybe later this week I can say that I tried it, loved it, and found some at the Monoprix that I unexpectedly stumbled upon. And, I will bring her some chocolates as a thank you/farewell gift, like Venus did the other week. I had already planned on it, but her unexpected kindness stiffened my resolve. This Friday will be Gillian and my last day in class, so we are planning on going out to lunch. At least everyone who wants to come along. Yes, even Alan. 

Over to the Gilbert bookstores near St. Michel to buy a verb conjugation book that Christine recommended. There are so many Gilbert stores within just a few blocks. One for fiction, one for science, another for politics and economy, one for languages. I wish I could read all the books in the store. It's one of the strangest things for me here, being unable to read quickly, and understand what is on the page. The book is "Bescherelle Conjugaisons," by Hatier. This means that I must continue with my French studies when I get back to the states.

Over to Musee Marmottan. Quite liked the Impressionist works, especially that of Caillebotte, Cheret (posters), and of course, Monet. I particularly liked the "Portrait de Poly," whose subject looks like a jolly fellow, and "Impression, Soleil Levant," which is the painting through which the movement was named. Originally, it was meant as a slam by a journalist, but the artists adopted the name, and became the Impressionists. 

Didn't much care for the illumination work, or the religious artwork. Yes, it can be very beautiful, but I just haven't been in the mood.

Very much enjoyed the Berthe Morisot exhibit. She was one of the few female artists who regularly exhibited, and she was revered for her great art. I particularly liked the portraits where the faces were visible, such as in "Paule Gobillard Peignart," "Jeanne Pontillon," " Fillette Au Jersey Bleau (pastel)," and "Marthe, la flour Au chevaux." There is something quite luminous and. Harming about the way that Morisot used light and texture. Eduard Manet painted a delightful portrait of her, titled, "Portrait de Berthe Morisot etendue,"  which shows her as a piquant young woman. 

In 1890, Morisot wrote in a letter, "nowadays, little girls attend five or six classes a week, then come out into society, the get married and dedicate themselves to their husbands. Hence, no more models - no more delightfully picturesque, lazy, languorous moments. People are busy, people are fidgety, does no one understand that nothing is more precious than two hours stretched on a chaise lounge? Dreaming is the stuff of life - and dreams are more real than reality."

I had it in my head to buy some prints or postcards. But when I got to the shop, the copies didn't have the charm of the actual works. Especially with impressionist works, the texture conveys a certain vitality to the work, that leaves copies feeling rather flat. Also, the tourists crowding the shop were intolerable. I decided that I could look at images on the net, without cluttering up my walls or luggage, and I left.

Walked over to the Maison de Balzac, but like the Musee Picasso, it was closed. Back to the metro station. Dithered, but decided to go with the RER C, even though I hate it; there are so many different branches, that I often windup waiting a long time for the right one, or even jumping on the wrong one. This was the train that made me late to meet Karine the other night! I should have listened to my instincts. I got on the wrong train, but had a hard time seeing the station signs. So, at one stop I got up to look, and missed the step right at my foot. Like a drunkard, I stumbled around a bit, gathering unwanted stares. One kindly African woman inquired, "Ca va?" I replied, "Ca va," even though my ankle felt a bit twisted. Will need to keep it up and take ibuprofen tonight! 

Stopped off at a cafe near school to write this, while I ate a quiche and tarte tatin, and drank some sparkling mineral water. Now, I'm off to Parler Parlour, for some conversation practice!   

PP was an interesting experience. I'm sorry to have missed the other weeks. Our group shifted around a bit, but I got to meet a chemical consultant from Philadelphia who has been living in Paris for 2 years, a professor from ? Who is staying in Paris for 2 months during her vacation, a Canadian history professor who is vacationing in Paris for a month with his wife (whose speciality is history of Parisian architecture post-Haussmann), a day trader from England who is in Paris for 6 months, and two Parisian IT guys who want to improve their English. Interesting concept, the first 45 minutes we conversed in French (I was the worst, which is a first, and was quite beneficial for me), and the second half, we talked in English. The Canadian actually speaks Québécois, and they talked a bit about the difference between French French, and Québécois French. Education: how its supported in Quebec and France, how Sarkozy wanted to change it, how US students go to Canada to get a better bargain on university degrees, the rising cost of higher education in the states. The development and spread of the internet. The upcoming festival of music in Paris. Lots of different topics. It's so good to talk with people outside the US, and get an international perspective on world events. It reminds me of Orson Scott Card's discussion of center and fringe countries in his scifi book, "Xenocide." I often think that Americans are so wrapped up in thinking that the US is the most important country in the world, that we fail to consider foreign sentiment. Then again, I am definitely guilty of this type of US-centric egotism. Or maybe it's that my daily life is so full of work and school, that I have little brain left with which to think of anything besides what I hear on NPR news, or what gets discussed on the Exponent II blog and list serve.