Paris

Oh, Paris! I was told by many that Paris was a city not only known for love but one that a person could indeed fall in love with. The archeticture was beautiful and plentiful, museums readily available, coffee shops every three hundred feet and shopping was always an option. That said, I grew very fond of this well-known location but found "love" to be a bit elusive!

It is a popular rumor that the French are often rude and unfriendly with foreigners. I fortunately found this not to be true, on most occassions. Whether this was because I maintained company with French natives or stuck to popular tourist locations, I cannot say. As would be expected the food was fantastic and by no means healthy! I was treated to cheese fondue, bread and cheese for breakfast, croissants, sandwiches on bagettes and an unlikely Mexican meal! All of these lovely experiences came with a cost; Paris is not cheap, and I can see how artists become "starving" if they try to prosper there.

My greatest find in Paris was not in a building or a tasty treat (shocking, I know) but actually in the company I kept. I travelled to France, among a large group, with my friend Karine. She is our French teacher and a native of Southern France. Her sister lives in Paris and has been there for eight years. As would be expected, Karine's return brought out friends from all regions. It was with this group I felt a truly foreign experience occurred!

Karine always says that my American roots shine through not only in my dress, food preferences and looks but also in my mannerisms, values and life views. I never really understood this assessment until this weekend! Below you will find a table comparing my Americanism with those of my French counterparts:

Me

• Eat cereal, eggs, bacon, pancakes for breakfast
• Discuss sex with close friends
• Values marriage
• Takes about an hour to eat
• Concerned with maintaining a schedule
• Considers bossiness rude
• Does not worry about being with a group
• Uses deodorant sticks
• Uses curling irons
• Most speak only English
• Modest with nudity
• Waves and smiles at different people
• Shakes hands when introduced

French

• Eat bread and cheese for breakfast
• Discusses sex with anyone at anytime
• Sees marriage as unecessary
• Takes at least 2 and a half hours to eat
• Often late and unconcerned about time
• Considers giving orders "fair enough"
• Sprays perfume under arms to prevent odor
• Uses blowdryer and round brush, if anything, to fix hair
• most speak English plus their native tongue
• Could run around naked without a care
• Keeps distance until formally introduced
• Kisses cheeks when introduced
• Group oriented
  
  The most interesting differnce I found was with social behavior. What I found unacceptable such as being late and telling at native Parisan where to go was not considered appauling in any capcity by the French. Rather leaving a group dinner early, failing to add to a conversation or being inflexible with time was considered inexcusable.
  
  In any capacity, I found the French refreshingly honest and pleasant to be with. I will return to France and my newly made friends in about three weeks. I very much look forward to this!

Another New Experience

Romania, specifically Bucharest, has offered a large number of new experience opportunities. On Friday, I not only had the opportunity, but also the reality, of taking part in my first car accident. It should be noted I had a clean record, 10 years worth, without a ticket or collision before my most recent learning experience.

Allow me to first set the scene: I was wearing gym clothes after attempting to maintain some small degree of health by sweating for a few minutes at my gym club. I had dropped off friends and was driving the usual path home. As I was in the car alone, I started the music and was enjoying the classic Time After Time.

I arrived at a chaotic square about called Piata Dorobanti. This square has three incoming traffic roads and two outgoing paths. I had stopped, at my yield sign and allowed about five cars to go. It was at this time I noticed the green lights ahead of me as well as the cars going forward. I decided this was my chance to venture on...I was only about three mintues from home! Unfortunately as I ventured forward, so did a black Mitsubishi which was driving perpendicular to me. As you have probably predicted, I smushed her driver's side door.

God's amazing grace was with me and my friend, Johnathon, happened to walk by. He immediately hopped into the car and accompanied for the remainder of the journey!

This incident was really the least painful of all. After a winding trip, about thirty minutes long, we finally arrived at a police station. It was then I realized I couldn't find my driver's license and urgently took a taxi home to retrieve it. I returned to the station to find my poor counterparts sitting at a table, with two forms awaiting completion, and a number 165. It was then they told me we were on number 133. "Oh my" was my only thought!

After a four and a half hour wait, which by Romanian standards is quite short, we were called into a separate room. By this time my friends, Lyndsey and Simon, had arrived. Simon, a native of Romania, acted as translator which was needed for all paperwork and police communication.

In the end, I was fined 60 American dollars and received a two month license suspension. Apparently license suspension, especially with foreigners, is not uncommon. They granted me a fifteen day driving permit until the suspension takes place. The suspension included the physical possession of my license which I will be able to pick up in two months from another unknown building.

As my mother said, "This is just another Romanian experience!"

Martisor and Woman's Day

March is a fabulous month to be a woman in Romania. There are two specific holidays, one week apart, which honor women.

Before continuing to read, I must make a confession. I attempted to type my own explanation of Martisor and realized it was lacking. So, being the teacher that I am, I decided to use my resources and google it! The following is an explanation of Martisor, one which is better than I could have ever conjured up.....

Mărţişor (Romanian: little March) is the traditional celebration of the beginning of the spring (and until 1701 of the New Year) in Romania, Moldova and Bulgaria on 1 March.

The day's name is the diminutive of March (in Romanian Martie), and thus means something like "little" or "dear March". Nowadays, men offer women a talisman object also called Mărţişor, consisting of a jewel or a small decoration like a flower, an animal or a heart, tied to a red and white string. However, giving a little nickel tied to a red and white string is an old custom and was originally designated for both men and women. It was believed that the one who wears the red and white string will be powerful and healthy for the year to come.

The decoration is a symbol of the coming spring. A woman wears it pinned to her blouse on this day and up to two weeks after. Occasionally, women also give such gifts to men. In some parts of Romania such as Moldova or Bukovina the symbol of spring was a gold or silver medal which was worn around the neck. After wearing the coin for twelve days, they bought sweet cheese with the medal, because it was believed that their faces would remain beautiful and white the entire year.

The other day, which is more widely known, is Woman's Day! This takes place on March 8th. This is like the Mother's Day of the world. Once again, women reap the rewards of carrying the xy chromosone. On this day, I received flowers as did many others! Could it really get any better????