Snow, movies & love

Last week, it started to snow, but it didn’t stay much. Today, big snow. When I woke up the flakes were floating in the air, as in suspension. It was magic. Fortunately neither of us needed to go to work. I needed to do some cleaning, Saturday is the ‘cleaning day’, but I had no will for it. Instead I turned the radio on (Classical Radio) and made a dozen pancakes (I prefer crèpes, but we have a box of pre-mixed pancakes stuff that we have to finish). Mmmmh!

Later D and I went to rent a couple of movies to watch tonight (and surely tomorrow too). One of them is «When Harry met Sally», which I mentioned previously. D doesn’t really like romantic comedies, but I insisted on that one, because I often think of the story a an un-stereotypical romantic comedy, since there is no love-at-first-sight. I think, we are romantic persons in our own way, but we don’t fit in any stereotype, and no one really does. I hate romantic movies that finish bad, as if when you are finally happy it has to end one day. Before knowing D, and realizing we were meant for each other, I use to think like that, «Toutes bonnes choses ont une fin» (All good thing aren’t meant to last). Well, good news: Love (real love) lasts forever! It’s written in our favorite book.

«Love is patient and kind;
love does not envy or boast;
it is not arrogant or rude.
It does not insist on its own way;
it is not irritable or resentful;
it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends.»

Are you game?

D and I often try to compare the differences in culture in the countries we have lived in. For me it’s hard to talk about the way French people live, specially the financial side of it, because while growing up I didn’t worry/care about all this. I was living with my parents, and only worried of having as much time as possible to read.

For my dad I read too much, it wasn’t a good thing, he wanted me to be social AND have some sportive activity… As a result I’ve tried the basketball team a year, and volleyball another, to realize that it’s not for me since I’m afraid of the ball (its target is always my head). I’m more the arty type, I would have liked dancing lessons, gymnastic (I did during one year), or track and fields… But those activities are not social and not cheap…

I’m a fish in water though (remember, I learned at 5), so swimming and water polo are the 2 sports that I’ve enjoyed doing. For some reason, in water-polo the ball is not attracted to my head, maybe because players wear a «helmet» -uh, it’s more a cap, but yeah there are protecting ears- 🙂

So that’s the story while my dad was providing the «funds».

Later I took my pocket money hardly earned baby-sitting, teaching and I don’t know what else, to pay myself tango lessons. For two years I was a total aficionada, having a lesson per week, plus the practice and the dancing night every week-end. Crazy. I don’t know how much money I spent on this, but for me it was an escape from home. In some way, I was traveling back in time with the music from the 20’s to the 50’s (I’m old fashioned in my taste for real tango), and visiting my birth country without having to buy a plane ticket!

In all modesty, I’m a good dancer because I feel the music in my bones, I won’t ever think of counting my steps… I became such an addict that I knew every regular dancers of the Tangueria, maybe not the names but I could recognize the faces and knew who danced best which style and type of music (tango, milonga, vals-tango). Sometimes we would speak during hours about tango dancing shoes, how to shine them best, and «how come they get used so fast while dancing only 10 to 12 hours a week?» I still have 2 pairs of well-used dancing shoes made in Buenos-Aires. Did I mentioned that I also traveled with my dancing shoes in my backpack? I’ve danced Argentinian tango in Montreal, Québec City, Buenos-Aires (bien sûr!), Hamburg~Germany, and Toulouse~France… Am I crazy?

Of course all this had to end when D and I fell in love. He really doesn’t understand how people could have fun just turning around during hours! LOL.

I confess, we have other things to do.

Smile

Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You’ll get by…If you smile
With your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just…

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just…

Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You’ll get by…

If you smile
Through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile…

That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

Composed by Charlie Chaplin (even though Mickael Jackson sang it in his album «History»)

Oooh. Just wanted to comment that the lyrics and the music are beautiful. BUT. It’s still hard to smile and be happy everyday. I’m not saying that I’m sad or even moody today, non, pas vraiment, but I suppose like all of the blogger world (right?!) there are some days that I’m just hating every one, hating the fact that I’m biking everywhere (when I could be developing a big ass in a car), hating my jobs, the country where I’m living etc…

However, I do find that when you (& I, and your neighbor) smile, people are more wanting to talk to you (us), we become more accessible. Whatever. Some days I don’t wanna talk.

Me-me-me

I’ve seen this exercise in another blog and wanted to do the same.

• My parents got married 2 months after they first met.
• I was born 9 months after their wedding (March 27, 1980 ~ December 28, 1980).
• I suppose my dad wanted me to be a very talented child: I was 5 years old when I learned to swim, bike (with no extra wheel), AND started having piano lesson.
• I didn’t like to practice the piano until I was 15 (did you notice the 10 years laps?!), but I’ve always liked music, singing and dancing.
• Organizing «shows» for my parents and friends has been a favorite for many years.
• When I was 7, I wasn’t sure yet if I wanted to become an acrobat in a circus or an opera singer.
• My mum being Argentinian, my father French, and moving around the world so much during my childhood, I didn’t choose,
• but I did choose to travel by myself when I got the chance to.
• I can teach music in English or French.
• I write in Spanish to my cousins, aunts and grandma.
• As an au pair girl in Germany, where I’ve met Amelie, a great pen pal and friend, and played with kids auf Deutsch!.
• E per me, non c’è problema parlare Italiano, è una lingua romana como lo spagnolo e il francese.
• Also, my mother-in-law is writing to me in portuguese, and once in a while I like to listen to the Brazilian radio (online).
• My neighbour and friend, while growing up, was/is an adopted Korean girl: Marie-Elodie. I think I will write about her one of this days. (ok mimie?)
• When I was 14, I decided to go study in a lycée which wasn’t in my -then- hometown (Castres, France).
• I didn’t mind being away from my parents and brother (really enjoyed being surrounded by like-minded young musicians). However my dad found it anoying, not do be able to control his daughter anymore, and a year later we moved to Montreal.
• D and I were good friends during 3 years before falling in love. A little like in the movie «When Harry met Sally», except that I’ve always liked him before love came in the picture.
• My favorite color is burgundy-red.

I think I’m done for today.
Good night and sweet dreams!

Smart Car

I’m rarely enthusiastic about a car, I see them as something practical, indeed, specially to go grocery shopping, but this one is not only a cute car, it’s a SMART car!

1. First, like all small cars, it’s easy to park. Think of all the time one is waiting looking for a spot to park in a big city… I always look at the enormous SUVs as something ridiculous downtown (and not very practical), if you live in the countryside, have 3 kids, 2 dogs and sell apples and potatoes at the farmers’ fair, ok I understand, but please not for a single person daily commuting to work…
2. Second, it’s well thought and constructed: it has a Mercedez-Bens motor (did you know that DaimlerChrysler belongs to Mercedes, or is a «branch» of the same company, I don’t really know how those things work).
3. It’s economic and ecologic: The average fuel consumption (I’m quoting from their site) of the smart cdi is a thrifty 4.2 litres of diesel per 100 km. And, it emits a mere 90 g of CO2 per kilometre.

Hubby is the one who told me about it. Now I see that car everywhere, and I’ve checked the website… It’s a new fixation of my mind.

We want one! (As soon as we know where we’ll be living)

Autumn & crispy leaves

Time flies away. The weather, Friday and yesterday, was wonderful: an almost warm autumn temperature, with a great shining sun, and crispy dead leaves… Mmmh, once again I regret not to be a photographer, and not having my camera aways hanging from my neck.

Friday (11/11), I wasn’t working at the office and D doesn’t work Fridays anyway. So we were home and did a couple of errands: cleaning the car, repairing the bike (that’s D’s job), cleaning the floor (that’s my thing). And SURPRISE!, my dear aunt Mathé called me to know how we are going… and because my brother told her that we are thinking about moving to Strasbourg. It’s not a secret, but let say that D and I are waiting to be sure, to officially tell everyone about it. However, I told my brother last time on the phone, because between his illness and the medication he takes, I never know if he listens to me and/or will remember what I’m telling him. My parents are constantly asking me to phone him, but I never know what to say on the phone and he doesn’t chit-chat a lot either… I prefer writing, a thousand times more, at least I can think about what I’m saying, and review myself afterward.
So, to come back to my aunt’s conversation, she just wanted to know what was true. And I told her what I just said. Nothing is set yet. We want to pray «long and well» to have the conviction that we are doing God’s will. Amen.

The Phone Rang

Thursday. My office job finishes at 3:00 PM, the time to get on my bike and come back home, I’m usually taking off my shoes around 3:20 PM (it always takes me longer to come back home). Today was no exception, I was glad to have a break in the middle of the day, before going to teach at 5:00 PM.

Then, the Phone Rang.

In a moment of great inspiration, I answer: «Hello?»
Someone with a telemarketers voice: «May I speak to Mr. J. G.?» (My dad’s name. How come that person has my dad’s name on his list with my phone number? We don’t even live in the same country…)
Me: «huh, no, you got a wrong number.»

A little while later, after a cup of tea, a bit of cleaning and eating a yogurt: The phone rings again. Second moment of inspiration: I answer.

Me: «Hello?» (always polite)
Someone with an elegant voice: «Bonjour, Madame B?» (that’s my name, and believe it or not, in 3 years of marriage it’ s the first time someone ever addressed me with my new name!)
*smile of a -now- very satisfied spouse* 😀

This man was from the French Consulate in Montreal. I sent a couple of documents in registered mail earlier this week and he was calling to assure me that they had received everything. I won’t relate the whole conversation, pretty un-interesting for someone not concerned about my business, but it made me realize how the vouvoiement in the French language is an expression of politeness and respect. I don’t want to say anything against the French-Canadians, but this is something that disappears with them who don’t know how to address each other being formal.

I remember when I had just moved in Montreal, back in ’96, I liked the lack of formality from the québécois. I liked to be familiar with people I’d never met before. A couple of years after, when I was in a visit in France, I didn’t realize that one doesn’t say «bye!» at the drugstore, not because it’s an English expression, you can say that to a friend in French, but because it’s too familiar!! Even for the drugstore vendor!

Anyhow. This whole story to explain that today I’ve had a nice surprise. I think that I’m starting to like the French people again.

Reading, Learning & Teaching

I’ve just finished reading «Mansfield Park» by Jane Austen. I first discovered the author browsing through books in the local public library. I read «Pride & Prejudice», discovered by chance it was a ‘classic’ of the English language, then enjoyed «Sense & Sensibility» as well… How strange that I’d never heard of the writer before! A lot of English writers are translated into French, and I remember reading Agatha Christie, for example, in my primary language… But I’m so glad to discover ‘classics’ in the original version! There is always some atmosphere of the book (or movie) that disappears in a translation, even a good one.

On another note, my week passed very fast. Between the office job and teaching, I am spending twice more time commuting than I use to. It’s tiring, specially that I still do most of it biking. D has the driving license, yes, but we have such different schedules that it doesn’t really make a difference in my comfort. At least, I keep telling to myself that I am not paying to go to a gym and stay fit… I’m fit by consequence of my way of life! ha!

Also what I specially like about my, still, ‘new’ job is that D and I can meet for lunch a couple of time per week! His job place and mine are in the same street! Had we planned it, it wouldn’t have worked so well.

I’m still hesitating in taking a TEFL/TESL (Teaching English as a Foreign/Second Language) online course. The money and wanting to do it is no more a problem, but now time is against me. Besides, I do enjoy teaching, but I am still and will never be a native English speaker, and that is often what language schools are asking for as a pre-requisite for a teacher… As if a native speaker knows how to explain his/her own language to strangers! I would never dream of teaching French or Spanish. My understanding of the grammar has always been chaotic (I don’t learn what doesn’t interest me), but because I enjoy reading, it has become a second nature. I can say that I’ve learned these (and the other) languages mainly by ear.