Yes.
So I guess there's nothing left to do except fill my 1-quart bag with liquids from my carry-on, finish charging my iPod and zip up my suitcases. France, j'arrive!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Aujourd'hui!
I'm going to France today! Right now I have "last time ever" syndrome: this is my last shower in America for six weeks; my last breakfast in America... My flight leaves at 6:15 pm and I've been trying to speak in French as much as possible to get ready. Last night I even had a delicious French meal with my family and the Winchesters (my other family): we ate poisson.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Bad Jokes
There's a line in the ABBA song "Thank You For The Music" that goes, "When I tell a joke, you've probably heard it before." They actually wrote that song from my perspective because, even though I love jokes a lot, I'm not very funny. One time, I told a friend ten jokes to make her feel better. And no pun in ten did.
However, wit and humor are really important in France. Assuming, of course, that French culture hasn't changed since the eighteenth century, having l'esprit (wit; also means "spirit" and a shoe brand) is an important marker of intelligence. For example, once Louis XVI asked a courtier to make a joke using the king as a subject--to which the man replied, "Le roi n'est pas un sujet." Oh how punny! (This was used in the movie Ridicule.) A pun, in French, is un calembour, and French literature is full of them. That's why translations always have so many footnootes: to explain the puns.
My favorite novel, Notre-Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo (not to be confused with this monstrosity, which I refuse to acknowledge), opens on the fête des rois, or Epiphany, which is the day before my birthday. In medieval Paris it was a carnival day much like Mardi Gras still is, and they would crown the Pope of Fools. Part of the sparring takes place with jeux de mots which are punny but also a little harsh. Victor Hugo comments: "A pun is immediately understood at Paris, and consequently is always applauded." So there you go.
What is the point of all of this? Some people mistakenly believe that puns are a form of cheap humor, like it's not hilarious that the Romans in Asterix are named things like Armisurplus and Crismus Bonus. (So good.) So it's totally intellectual that I am Aix-cited to go to France tomorrow.
Get it?
Also. Why do cows wear bells? Because their horns don't work.
However, wit and humor are really important in France. Assuming, of course, that French culture hasn't changed since the eighteenth century, having l'esprit (wit; also means "spirit" and a shoe brand) is an important marker of intelligence. For example, once Louis XVI asked a courtier to make a joke using the king as a subject--to which the man replied, "Le roi n'est pas un sujet." Oh how punny! (This was used in the movie Ridicule.) A pun, in French, is un calembour, and French literature is full of them. That's why translations always have so many footnootes: to explain the puns.
My favorite novel, Notre-Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo (not to be confused with this monstrosity, which I refuse to acknowledge), opens on the fête des rois, or Epiphany, which is the day before my birthday. In medieval Paris it was a carnival day much like Mardi Gras still is, and they would crown the Pope of Fools. Part of the sparring takes place with jeux de mots which are punny but also a little harsh. Victor Hugo comments: "A pun is immediately understood at Paris, and consequently is always applauded." So there you go.
What is the point of all of this? Some people mistakenly believe that puns are a form of cheap humor, like it's not hilarious that the Romans in Asterix are named things like Armisurplus and Crismus Bonus. (So good.) So it's totally intellectual that I am Aix-cited to go to France tomorrow.
Get it?
Also. Why do cows wear bells? Because their horns don't work.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Wedding and Westfield
I'm home in Westfield, New Jersey for another week before I head off on my France adventure. (Could I get the term Aix-enture to catch on? Yeah no.) Andrew was just up here from Florida, and we were in Fredericksburg right after graduation. While there, we met with Rev. Fisher, who is going to co-officiate the ceremony with my dad; we saw the country club all set up for someone else's wedding; we met with some photographers and some rehearsal dinner possibilities. Planning a wedding is hard, even though it's a year away, so you should validate it by stalking our wedding website. And then we spent a solid three days working on our still-not-done registries. It was draining. Using the scanner is fun, though!
Unfortunately, the heartbreak of falling in love with the perfect silver pattern only to find that it is discontinued (and yet they are still showing it to you in stores; how cruel) has been distracting me from packing and preparing for France. I don't think that watching the French Open while I typed addresses onto the guest list Google Doc really counts. Tomorrow I'm going to Newport, Rhode Island with my parents, since Daddy has a conference at the Naval War College. Oh how important. Meanwhile, Mommy and I will explore some of the mansions with the lovely Elizabeth Foltz. It should be glorious. I'll try to post pictures in preparation for my "real blogging" once I get to Aix.
And a shoutout to the one and only Shiri Yadlin, who is back in America! Shiri spent this past semester studying in Jerusalem; her stories and experiences are incredible. I can't wait to hear all about it in person when we're both back at W&L in the fall. Elizabeth is back too--she was in London this year--but she stopped texting me back, so whatever.
Unfortunately, the heartbreak of falling in love with the perfect silver pattern only to find that it is discontinued (and yet they are still showing it to you in stores; how cruel) has been distracting me from packing and preparing for France. I don't think that watching the French Open while I typed addresses onto the guest list Google Doc really counts. Tomorrow I'm going to Newport, Rhode Island with my parents, since Daddy has a conference at the Naval War College. Oh how important. Meanwhile, Mommy and I will explore some of the mansions with the lovely Elizabeth Foltz. It should be glorious. I'll try to post pictures in preparation for my "real blogging" once I get to Aix.
 |
| Marble House, one of many gorgeous mansions in Newport. It was built for the Vanderbilts. If I were forced to live there, I guess that would be okay. |
And a shoutout to the one and only Shiri Yadlin, who is back in America! Shiri spent this past semester studying in Jerusalem; her stories and experiences are incredible. I can't wait to hear all about it in person when we're both back at W&L in the fall. Elizabeth is back too--she was in London this year--but she stopped texting me back, so whatever.
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