Blogs from Lille, Nord-Pas de Calais, France, Europe - page 6

Rain. That is all it does in Northern France. At least that is the seemed the first day I arrived in Lille. Actually, even now I'm pretty sure that's all it does. But now it's a bit prettier. My first day, I was overwhelmed and felt lonely. But that evening, I met some other Americans, a girl from England, and my next door neighbor from Africa. After that, everything improved. Diana is from Nashville,Tennessee and goes to MTSU. Kevin Hughes is from Tennessee, and attends ETSU. Shaheda is from Manchester, England, and attends the uni there. The city is old. When I first saw it, I thought it was old in the sense that it looked run down. Now it looks more historic, and I only wish that the walls could talk and tell me what ... read more

I am going to fill in some of the other days esp. the map so check for them...but first... After spending Sunday and Monday in Luxembourg, I returned to northern France for one last stop before I proceed to Belgium. I decided to avoid being in France on the holiday, Monday (Bastille Day), which apparently has a splendid fireworks show in Paris every year--but I have been to Paris before so only new places this trip, ten years later! The train ride through Belgium, and Lille itself has been very gray (skies) and I must admit I am not terribly impressed with Lille. I have not been to England, but it seems drab here like some of those industrial towns I have seen in the movies, plus some of the people have adopted the punk style ... read more

It seems I have had several medical appointments lately for various reasons, which prompted me to reflect on the differences between my experiences in the doc’s office here and in the States. Let’s start with the States. So you arrive for your appointment early. The second you open the door to the office, the Doctor’s Office Smell fills your nostrils. You know the one - that oh-so-familiar smell of … of what? I don’t know exactly, but it smells vaguely of sterilized medical packaging and those wooden sticks they use to see down your throat. You walk to the receptionist’s desk where a woman dressed in some awfully patterned scrubs looks up at you (probably without smiling) over a high counter and possibly through a plexi-glass window as you sign your name, the time of your ... read more

In the quaint and cozy city of Lille in northern France, there is a small square with a restaurant. This particular day it’s warm and sunny, there is lots of people on the streets, so we’re happy to get a table in what seems to be a central location. Maybe we should have gotten the hint from the table next to us. A poor English fellow and the woman he’s trying to impress are ready to leave, but have been charged €2 too much. When the Garçon - the waiter - is made aware of this in a brave attempt from the Englishman to try his French, Garçon will hear nothing of it. How dare they come in to his establishment and insinuate that anyone in his restaurant has made a mistake? Naturally the customers have ... read more

I had the windows open today in the new apartment, and there was a lovely breeze drifting through the apartment. I could smell the recently planted flowers in the garden across the street, which was pleasant, despite my allergy to pollen. Suddenly, about fifteen minutes after I had opened the windows, the aroma changed. A fresh and vaguely metallic aroma wafted in. I know that smell, and it is one of my favorites… the smell of spring rain! Mmm. ... read more