Counting Down the Hours
Hi again,
While the fall semester at all the American colleges and universities begin to wind down, the Parisian semester only begins to pick up. I only have a few grades to quantify my success here, so the jury is still out. I sure feel like I've learned a lot, especially in my course on Frano-African relations. Have anybody's world history courses in high school even mentioned this continent? I went in knowing next to nothing about African history, and though I've broadened my knowledge a bit, so much goes untouched.
Between all the classes, however, Sarah and I managed to escape for a weekend to the city of Strasbourg, just on the French side of the German border. At once the seat of the European Union and a former possession of Germany, Strasbourg has a lot of culture attached to it. Sarah and I found it the perfect place to walk around given the beautiful architecture, densely populated downtown, and historic atmosphere. We happened to arrive on the second day of the annual Christmas market, a noted event in Europe. That means the merchants prop up little stands to sell local and regional products, and the lights of these stands illuminate the otherwise gray streets. The lighting made for a really wonderful effect, especially near the jaw-droppingly enormous cathedral somehow tucked behind a couple blocks of houses. Gothic and ornately designed, the cathedral soared four times higher than any of the other building around it. We ate at a funky vegetarien place and a comfortable old-fashioned creperie. All in all a great trip.
Continuing in an anti-chronological fashion, which I did not plan, the Hamilton group ate a delicious Thanksgiving dinner at the Brasserie Fernand. I think, based on the sign outside the restaurant, that "Fernand" refers to the dog of Tintin. Can anyone confirm this? Anyway, we had the traditional Thanksgiving feast of duck and lobster bisque. What else did you expect?
I'll stop there. The pictures I've taken recently explain much more than the stories I've typed. Here's the quick link. I miss everyone at home very much, but I'll be back in less than two weeks (how bizarre!). Keep in touch, or maybe I'll see you soon.
--Chris