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Published: March 9th 2006
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So I've been trying the past few days to get out and see more of this beautiful city I call home. Yesterday after I got back from class I went out for a walk. Arlette told me how to get to the park next to the Tour d'Aygosi and I set out on my excursion.
The park is awesome. There's a stream that flows through it and the banks are lined with trees. The French don't really believe in sidewalks, and they have a weird love-hate relationship with grass, so the paths were mostly dirt as I started out. However I did find a big grassy area where people were throwing frisbees. I haven't seen this much grass since I came to France. I didn't go near it though. I want to savor that green carpet. So I continued on my walk and passed out of the park and along the boundaries of the fairgrounds that I can see from my window.
The spring fair is going on right now and there are rides and game booths and crepe stands all over. I've decided I want to be a carnie- they have some really nice trailers! And they get
The Cemetery Gate
The cemetery I like to explore satellite! I don't even have satellite here. So I walked along the fence keeping me from all the fun and reentered the park at the opposite end. By this time the sun was setting and it was so amazing- all these oranges and reds- this area is an artist's dream. I found a large duck/goose and fish pond and stopped to watch les animaux. There were these two mallards by the fence that had to be the largest ducks I have ever seen- they were the size of geese! So maybe they're a european species- if anyone knows, tell me!
I followed the stream, because I didn't want to get lost now that day was fading and there were tons of people jogging- that's why you don't see any fat french people- they all go running. On dirt paths though, so I don't know what they do when it rains.
OK, so that was all yesterday. Today dawned and I dragged myself from bed to go volunteer at the food pantry just north of school. (That's the Jesuit education coming out in me- "men and women for others".) The bus didn't show up on time so I said "Screw waiting" and walked the half hour distance. It was a gorgeous day, plus I was being aphixiated by the car fumes. The french have smaller cars, but they haven't quite fixed the whole "emission standards" problem yet.
So I had a great walk past the cemetary and through the Cours Gambetta and down and along the Cours Mirabeau- the merchants were just setting up for the clothing market. The produce and flower markets were bustling in the Places Richeleme and Hotel de Ville respectively. I passed a couple beggars and an accordian player in my trek. I enjoyed the smells and the sounds and the sights the whole way. This is why I came to France.
I wandered over to the food pantry- Resto du Coeur (Restaurant of the heart) and reintroduced myself, since I hadn't been in three weeks. Then I got down to the business of waiting for people to come. There were periods where no one came in, followed by times when lots of people showed up. The system is based on how many family members you have and that determines how much and what kind of food you get. When you help someone, you go down the line of shelves and there are signs that tell you what to give people. There's milk, canned veggies, fresh vegetables, little snacky things, cheeses, yogurts and flan and this week there were toothbrushes and toothpaste down at the end. People also get eggs, a baguette and meat- chicken or fish or steak I think. I don't go over to the meat section much. So it's a pretty wide range of foodstuffs- I haven't worked in a pantry in the States, so I don't know if it's the same.
The other workers talked to me a bit and asked where I was studying and where I lived. It's when I interact with lots of new French people that I realize how little I know of the language. Sometimes I didn't understand the questions, but it all worked out. I helped two men and they both asked if I was English- I said no, American and they were both surprised and pleased it seemed. The second man asked me, in english, if I liked work at volunteering places. I replied in my very bad French that yes, I liked to help people. And I told him I was here for four months, taking French classes and art history. Everyone who comes in for food is very nice, they don't seem resentful and sometimes if you passed them on the street you would never think that they didn't have enough to buy food.
I'm going to keep volunteering on Thursdays here and when I get back to the States I think I will put more effort into going to the food kitchen that Fairfield students volunteer at in Bridgeport, CT. And maybe I will find the local food pantry in Lake County and volunteer there too. It's nice to feel useful.
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Aunt Judy
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I'm enjoying your trip!
Sarah, I look forward to reading about your journeys! I feel like I'm right there with you. The pictures are beautiful and your commentary makes my day! I know that you are enjoying this wonderful experience!