Thursday, January 1, 2009

PARIS INCIDENT PART CINQ: BAH-HUMBUG

Wow, it’s been almost 5 months since I wrote one of these. Let’s see if I still have the ability to make this letter interesting enough for the average reader to make it to the end without me losing their attention. Yes, I am still in Paris (at least until my visa expires this summer or I just up and leave or if they deport me). As usual, I’m writing this e-mail sick as a dog. The flu that’s been going around has reached Epidemic levels today as 300 000 French are sick with it. So I don’t feel so alone. I wonder how many people are going to work on Monday.

First of all, HAPPY NEW YEAR AND BAH-HUMBUG. This was my first Christmas and New Year’s out of Canada. I miss all of you and I wish you the best in 2009. Coming back this Christmas just seemed too expensive and last year people were busy with family and/or social obligations. But I will be back in early February if my work loosens their grip on me for a few weeks. I would love to organize a party or a dinner or something so I can see as many of you as possible.

It’s been a crazy couple of months. I visited Canada in the summer (read comics, biked and took a class at Uni), Amsterdam in October (my gf had never been) and London in November (visiting mates). Work screwed me out of my Portugal trip in December but I’ll live. I keep worrying that I might becoming a little too Parisian for my taste. Before I walked around in constant awe of the city and the food, now it feels so normal to me and I don’t think about how beautiful the buildings and places look or how exceptional some of the food really is. What I do notice now is how NOT nice other cities are. For instance, if I went to London a few years ago, I would have loved it. But during my recent visit it just didn’t meet my expectations. It felt dark, drab and dreary, but then again that’s London. When I came back to Canada this summer my insides went crazy from eating too many Burgers and fries. I love it and I miss it. You can’t get Harvey’s Angus Berger here.

Recently, I got it in my head that I needed to see more of Paris because I will be leaving soon, so I’ve been becoming more active in city’s events and attractions than I was before. I’m trying to get my mind back into Tourist Mode. People always think that they’ll just get to it later since it’s so close but never end up going. Many Parisians have never been inside the Louvre because they figure they can always go later. For the next while I’m pushing myself to spend more time doing touristy things. This means more music and shows and museums. Unfortunately, most of my colleagues and friends aren’t really interested in those things; I think it has to do with the English mind set of “Pubs first”, other stuff later, which is ok, but not all the time, at least not for me.

How about some basics.

1) My French is still really awful. It frustrates me beyond explanation. Parisians don’t like people speaking French to them unless it is clearly perfected. I guess they just deal with too many tourists and will not stand for any guff. So as soon as I speak to them with my pidgin French they prefer to try out their cave man English because they think that it’s easier. But think… what would be harder, a French person speaking French or a French person speaking English as if it was French?
I’ve taken many different approaches to learning the language and people tell me I’m improving very quickly but damn it’s hard. And for all the Canadians reading this, if you think I will be able to understand your Quebecois accent you’re mistaken. Most French people who come to Canada have no idea what’s going on. So don’t judge me.

2) Still working at the same place teaching English to bankers, lawyers and other people who receive a training salary by their rich employers.
My current contracts are with Sony BMG and the Ministry of Health of France. Most of the time people just want to hear an outsider’s opinion of their country, just want to complain about stuff or chat. The French love to Bitch and Strike. The job is simple enough and fairly stress free. Not working at the University anymore. It was just too stressful.

3) New appartement – 1 rue du Commandant Lamy 75011 Paris, France. We still accept all forms of donations (chocolate, money, food, etc.). My home phone number is: 0113 31 58 30 79 59 (dial as you see it). I welcome all phone calls. But please remember the time difference. 6 hours ahead of Canada. (5:00pm Canada = 11:00pm Paris). I do sleep, sometimes.
The new area is really sweet. Lots of restaurants and pubs. The new place is much smaller than the last one but I feel more at home in it. But it gets dirty very quickly.

4) Finally found a local Gym that doesn’t cost 300euro a month. I must say that I’m much happier when I keep a set exercise schedule. Everyone needs some form of stress release, I guess this is mine. This has made my lifestyle much more relaxed.

Overall, Life here is pretty good right now. It started getting much better as my French improved, gym and since I moved. Life is kind of lonely though. Not many people around. Finding oneself is time consuming work. I’m not exactly sure what I am searching for anymore but I have changed my views heavily on many aspects of life. Overall values and motivations change so quickly when you have to justify them to other people and either defend them or change them. I’ve learned one very important thing and that is that most Canadians don’t know enough about the outside world and I don’t like how many people choose to accept their ignorance. I came here with a very limited view of most things and that isn’t right. This ignorance is true not only in Canada but also here. The more I tour the more I understand what is really important in life as I can compare how different ways of approaching it. I soon came to realize that what I want is not the “American Dream”. I recently saw a sneak preview of the new DiCaprio movie REVOLUTIONARY ROAD which is made by the same guy who made AMERICAN BEAUTY. Both of these films are a partial explanation of the issues that I am trying to rectify and come to terms with. The task is fundamentally finding the balance between family, life, responsibility and personal sanity. I currently don’t believe one can find that balance if only one option is presented to you. You always have to compare.

Some recent movie updates:
Watchmen will be rated R in the UK

In the meantime I’m still reading a lot of comics (that will never stop), I see about 1-2 movies a week in the theater (for free). And wondering what I should do next in life.
Please, please send me a little e-mail updating me on what’s new with you. I can’t always respond but I always love to hear from you. Shame on those who have gotten these e-mails over the last year and never respond to them. But for those who have, just know it means a lot to me.
I miss you all and I’ll let you know when I’ll be back in Canada. I think around February 9th. All my old telephone numbers are officially cancelled. You can delete them or save them for prosperity.

I haven’t gone crazy yet and I haven’t given up on Canada yet but I’m thinking of going over to the Asian side for a while. Some call it the DARK SIDE.
Sex still sells better than anything else. Naked girls holding an Iphone. Beautiful. I want one.

Klaatu Barada Mikey
“This message has been brought to you by Coca-Cola. Always Coca-Cola.”