Tiptoes and tutus... and other stuff

Bonjour tout le monde! This will be my last update before I leave Paris for the next two weeks: I will be in Berlin from Sunday to Friday for class (yes - it's a field trip. Can you imagine... 8 years ago field trips were to the Butterfly Farm in Teluk Bahang!). After that, I will be doing some traveling - Berlin to Switzerland (Zurich to Lucerne to Interlaken) and then to Geneva and Chambery where I will meet Janvier and Claudine who used to worship at North when they were in Penang!! Join me as I sing the refrain of the ever popular "It's a small world..." hehe. So yes, please keep me in prayer as I blaze a Malaysian trail across Europe. Well from Germany back to France via Switzerland really but who's fussy? I plan to be back in Paris on the evening of the 8th. So if I'm not back by then, send out the search party... I'll still have my cell phone with me. I hear that it works there too. Ok quick recap of this week!

Shoah Memorial

Visited the Shoah Memorial for class. It's pretty new... and educational. And it was very sombering to see all the names of the Jews who were killed during the deportation in WWII.

Inside the memorial was a museum - very well done..; and a crypt.

On assignment

So one of my assignments was to do an interpretative essay on a monument in Paris. And being the kind of person that leaves things to the last minute... this was me on the day before the assignment (we were given the assignment probably over a week ago! haha). Went all over Paris looking for a monument to write about. Went to the Arc de Triomphe. Too many tourists. And scammers. And pickpockets. Then went to the L'eglise Invalides where Napoleon's tomb is... this is a famous er champs... look familiar??

Invalides

There were two churches built here actually; one for the soldiers and one for the king. But they're in the same place... they used different entrances. So yeah, I didn't write about Napoleon's tomb because el cheapo here didn't want to cough up the dough to get into the museum. What pay for museums? No way!

Tiptoes and tutus

Another highlight this week was definitely the trip to the ballet at Opera Garnier! Oh the glitz, the glam. I can almost imagine what it must have been like for the Parisiens when this place was first built! No expense was spared... that's for sure. This is me and Priyanka.

The view from my 2nd floor seat. Yes my seat... my box seat!! What a treat! The room even had coat hangers and a bench. Whatever for??? Ain't it grand though? There is also this huge chandelier that weighs 16 tonnes... or so my trusty Rough Guides book says. Wouldn't want to be sitting underneath it.

Me and Jenna... who was positively enthralled! She does ballet... and after the first act, she had to step outside and perform a couple of pirouettes... she was that inspired!

The orchestra pit.

Me and Amy.

And voila! The ballet. It was Cendrillon... Cinderella. Although what interpretation of Cinderella, I don't know. There were scenes with King Kong and in Chinese opium dens. Oh by the way today I had Chinese food for lunch.. from the shop downstairs, not far from my home... it wasn't bad! But it was daylight robbery!!! 8,55 euro for rice, dumplings, fish and dessert. I can't wait to go back home for ECONOMY RICE!! Or the Malay food at the Square. Yum! I miss tau chui...

Anyway back to Cendrillon. This is Cendrillon and the prince doing their thing.

And this is where the French theater goers congregate in between Acts One and Two and Two and three... in the beautiful foyer... TO SMOKE! Omigosh its like les usines.. however you say that in English... FACTORIES! With their chimneys constantly puffing out smoke. My host brother and I I did some math the other day... and the amount of cigarettes he's been puffing on these past 6 years, he could probably buy a 2nd hand Kancil in Malaysia!

This is me outside the Opera Garnier. Oh funny story about Opera.. the metro stop. Oh yeah!! One more thing! Met christelle too... the ex-French LA, if that means anything to anyone! So funny story... not really funny.. but.. went to watch a french movie at the cinema tonight with Pam, Kate and Kelly (movie was great!!). But dear Pam texto-ed me and told me to go to the Opera metro stop which was here... but in a previous texto she had said Bastille... so anyway. Told you it wasnt funny.

Anyway, I think that's all for now. Tomorrow's going to be a chill Saturday I hope. Going to go to Sacre Coeur. And hopefully get my packing done. On Sunday I have to leave at like 7 in the morning... no church :((

Oh yeah something to pray about, if you could... I have been DYING to have some way of worshipping God with an instrument and with like minded people... it's so difficult to do that in Paris. I'm realizing how much music and singing plays a part in how I express my worship to God. Maybe He's teaching me different ways? Maybe He wants me to seek Him in His word more? I don't know. Whatever it is, I'm feeling pretty dry now. But I'm fixing my eyes on Him, looking to the hills (kind of hard to do.. so many buildings in Paris, can't see the hills) and expecting Him to surprise!

ANYWAY. Thats it from me for now! Priyanka's father is here for a day. Dad when are you coming? I leave you with a candid shot of the group in front of the Opera. Bye! Love you all! 

The grace of God strikes again

Eager to use my recently bought Carte Trimestriel that allows me access to 34 or more municipal pools in Paris (bought with money given by Carleton of course, thanks Carleton, I love you!), I went swimming again today. I emptied the contents of my pocket into my bag except my Carte Orange (my transportation card). Together with that are two phone cards. The total value of those cards would have amounted to more than 70 euro!

So imagine my horror when I discovered upon leaving the place that it had gone missing!! I was so freaked out. Started praying instantly! Ran back... and in rapid and breathless French told the guy: Je pense que j'ai perdu ma carte...

He smiled. And gave me back my card! Thank God!!!

(Ok so not the most exciting way to tell a story! Be grateful.. all my languages are melanging... WHOA thats a franglais word! haha... er... merging? together...)

Quickie with Josh

This is going to be a quick one. I think! On verra. Life is good. Food is good. This past week I swam a lot... I think I will get the trimestriel pass. Golly words don't really make sense to me anymore. I don't know if I'm writing in French or English. Okay so last Monday... I know it's a long time ago, but it's a good one... warranted 100+ photos!!! haha. We had an excursion to CHARTRES! If you don't know what it is, go google it. Oh by the way it was Leonardo da Vinci's birthday two days ago! Hehe. So Chartres is a quaint town. With not much except this church that has been around since the 1300s I think... burnt, still remained, rebuilt, lots of stained glass windows, 3rd largest crypt, Carleton's whats the word... Carleton's labyrinth was modeled after this one... and they sacred relic is a piece of cloth that is believed to be from Mary's clothes. Mary as in mother of Jesus. ANYWAY. This is not a historical update. So here is a scene from Chartres:

And this is Pam, sampling French fare with utmost gentility. Genteel? Argh.

Introducing Kate and Kelly, two great gals

And someone tell me this dude doesnt look like Harry Potter!! He's my professor's son... Paul.

So this is Notre Dame de Chartres.. I photo stitched the picture! Cool eh?

This is Mr Miller. Martin miller? Mark or Michael... I forget. But hes something of an institution... he is this english dude who is EXTREMELY knowledgeable about Chartres cathedral and apparently one of the worlds most respected er.. whadjamacallits of Chartres Cathedral. He gave us the tour.. and I was thrilled just cause I read about him in my Rough Guide Paris book!

Inside Chartres... Each panel of the window tells a story. Loaded with symbolism and iconology. Won't go into detail! Ask me when you see me!

After the first tour inside the cathedral, we were given a bit of time for lunch and to wander about before the SECOND tour. I know; at that time I thought it was a bit much... but keep reading I promise its good. Anyway this was on the grounds of the cathedral... it was a SUPER BEAUTIFUL DAY!

Parisian model... ;) I hear he's the next big thing! Probably you've seen his face on Ralph Lauren ads or something. haha!

Here's my artsy shot... and here's where it starts to get good! Not that it wasnt already. so better is the word

The next tour took us UP INTO THE ROOF OF THE CATHEDRAL! Just like Quasimodo! This is something not usually allowed. We had to make SPECIAL arrangements and have a security person or engineer or someone come with us... it was AMAZING! Not just the vistas but seeing the architecture from the inside and all the little nooks and crannies. We were in pitch dark rooms, tiny rooms with wooden beams and BUTTRESSES haha say that aloud.. that are older than your greatest great grandfather... Anyway this is what the inside of the roof looks like! Everybody say WOOOOOOOOOAHHHHH

On top of the world... this is the north tower or the west. More likely the west. Because of the sun.

Francis, does this look familiar?

I should start making postcards eh BUTTRESSES

This is my prof Scott Carpenter

And this was the view from the Chartres Cathedral grounds...

Okay. Now onto other highlights. Firstly, I had the chance to sample RACLETTE! French dish.. like steamboat conceptually at least. So you have cheese and you put it on this little dish and stick it in that white thing and it melts the cheese and you pour it over your potatoes and eat it with smoked ham and saucisson... er... however yous ay that in english... its not extremely healthy but OH SO GOOD

Oh this one is good too! I visited the Places de Vosges! Omigosh! BEAUTIFUL garden surrounded by 17th century buildings INCLUDING the former home of Victor Hugo. Tried to go in - its a museum now - but el cheapo here didnt want to pay entrance fee...

Oops this was supposed to go first. This is the Bastille memorial!! woot!

Fountains! Slow exposure! hehe

The best part though was hearing music... and following my ears... and discovering that on one side of the garden, on a walkway beneath the 17th century buildings... was a group of musicians... a string orchestra... performing for the public! They were GREAT!!! That made my day! Later on I wandered around that area some more; stumbling upon the Jewish quarter (SOMETHING was cooking and it smelled SO GOOD)...

Walked all the way to the Ile St Louis... which is GORGEOUS. nothing much there just pretty buildings...

... and tiny streets to wander through

Visited the Institut du monde arabe... not as impressive as it was made out to be I think

Found myself in the oldest garden in paris... behind the notre dame...

Took photos there of the fountain!

Had dinner at my host brother's friend's housewarming gathering... had a chance to mingle and get to know some parisians about my age albeit slightly older... they all smoke. a lot! I'm getting used to cigarettes. the smell of; not smoking them. I don't smoke! Hehe. Anyway the home was near this building... the Ecole Militaire. There was a party here on the way home... very loud. I mean we SAW a party going on my host brother and I on the way home.. gee I better wrap up soon I dont even understand myself!

And of course L'eglise invalides! Never knew it looked so great... to me, it was just a metro stop! haha

Me at the spot I was with my parents 11 years ago. Except this was today. With Pam and Priyanka...

We spent part of the afternoon lying down on the grass at a park near Trocadero, looking at the Eiffel Tower ...

This is Priyanka NOT doing work...

All this happened after church... what a way to spend the afternoon no?

So instead of doing homework I took pictures of the flowers...

And more flowers and the Eiffel Tower..

And then for kicks.. for kicks hahah.. I walked to the Champs de Mars. haha... There were SO MANY PEOPLE there! It was crazy. This is the view from beneath the Eiffel Tower.

The best part was seeing a French troupe doing TAI CHI!! It was hilarious! :)

That wraps up my update today! Phew! Hope you guys enjoyed it! Love getting your comments and EMAILS! and smses / text messages / TEXTOS! Thats what its called here!! hehe Ok lah. Ciao ciao! 

Transition Shock!

You have probably heard of "culture shock." The term "culture shock" was coined to describe a specific type of reaction that can occur when people travel abroad or confront ways of life substantially different from their own. Culture shock is caused by the stress of entering and adjusting to an unfamiliar culture. It has been called an "occupational hazard" of travelers and is a well-documented side effect of encountering cultural difference. To some extent, the degree of culture shock experienced varies depending on how different the country is in contrast to your own. Of course, personal factors and your goals for traveling abroad will influence how quickly and appropriately you can "fit in" and, therefore, the level of culture shock you will feel

- Taken from the Univsersity of the Pacific website

Boo!!  


So yeah, I am going through the U-curve. I kind of naively assumed that since I know so much about it from Cross-Cultural studies class I would be exempt from it. No such luck! I do think, however, that I won't experience it as severely as most. Perhaps because I've left home once before and had to go through the whole process. Does one become more adept at adapting?

There are four states of culture shock:

Euphoria: This is the initial state of culture shock, which tends to blend in with the highs of planning a trip and starting off on an adventure. Like a new love, we tend to overlook some of the host country's short-comings and delight in all the new pleasures of being abroad. A quaint 3-hour walk to the closest market and source of food is a quaint representation of how to enjoy the simple things of life. Enjoy this initial state but prepare for a come down.

Hmm.. refer to posts from the past two weeks. Yup, I would definitely say "euphoria"! And yes I enjoyed the state, yes I was prepared for the come down, but still...

Anxiety: A growing amount of anxiety can develop during which the traveller may feel helpless. The difficulties of living abroad, such as language barriers, absence of social cues and familiar geographic references can come to the surface. This can develop into frustration, anger and sleeplessness. Not knowing where and when to cross the street or even how to find your way back to the market can result in a physical discomfort.

Oh been there done that! Physical discomfort... like COUGHING maybe??

Just today, I wanted to go swimming and because in Paris you HAVE to have a swimming cap, and NOT wear swim shorts but swimming trunks, I had to do some shopping. Asked the lady in the office of the school I am studying at where to go. She gave me instructions, which I SOMEWHAT understood. But here's a life lesson: ALWAYS be sure, and if you're not, don't be afraid to ask again.

As a result of my idiocy, or maybe it's a guy thing - not wanting to ask for directions, etc. - I ended up spending over half an hour looking for the place... at the wrong train station! Bother.

Found it in the end. And had McDonalds! I know, I know. Even after watching Super Size Me. But Michael (CBF) insisted that the McDonald's in Paris is different, so I had to try it right?

Rejection of the new culture: This is where that once quaint 3-hour walk becomes an unbearable nuisance. You find yourself thinking in terms of things being 'wrong' and 'backwards'. Commonly travellers in this stage start to withdraw themselves from the local community preferring to surround themselves with other foreigners. Beware the 3 am impulse to suddenly call a family member or friend back home.

Oh boy! I think this is where I'm at now! It bugs me that I have to leave 45 minutes before class starts. That the streets are always full of cars and pollution. That I'm still coughing. That it's always too late to call Malaysia and too early to call the US. That I have to study History of Modern and Contemporary Art which in many cases is just a euphemism for pornography. (I jest of course, but you should see the amount of nude paintings or pictures not just in the museums... EVERYWHERE! Oh on that note, do you know the recommended age limit for shows like "Sex and the City" is 10 years old here? 10 years old!! Sex and the city!! A show about SEX! and the city!)

Ok so yeah. But no, I DON'T prefer to surround myself with foreigners. Maybe that's because I' constantly surrounded by them! I do wish that classes would be with other French students. Carleton students are great, but seeing the same people day in day out, in class and out of class... gets a bit tiring after a while.

So what do I have to look forward to?

Adjustment: With a it of luck and advanced preparation, one enters the adjusted stage. At this point you can recognize some of the perceived shortcomings of your host culture without rejecting everything. The 30hour walk becomes just that; a necessary inconvenience.

Okay I guess. We'll see. On verra.

I'm speaking fine in French but it is starting to be a pain in the behind to forever have to simplify a sentence to avoid past conditional tenses or subjuntive tenses! Argh!!

Well, at least I know one thing: I chose the right major - psychology. If this isn't a self psycho-analysis then what is?

And yes, I am homesick!

Plus que tout... pikachoo?

Make that FOUR in two days! Wow I'm on a roll. How could I have forgotten to update about church?! It was such a blessing. Worship, while technically no where near what FGA can do or Rejoice for that matter, was so genuine!! Have you ever seen one of those Transformation videos where people in Nigeria or Ghana get together and worship fervently? Yeah it was like that. And amazingly, I experienced a huge release not when we sang in English (intially that is) but when we sang in French! I know its strange! My dad says there is something about singing in the language of the land... I think I agree, like singing in Malay in Malaysia... it moves me every time. Anyway we were singing "Everything" from Lakewood.

Plus que tout, plus que tout
Dieu tu es, plus que tout pour moi
Plus que tout, plus que tout
Dieu tu es plus que tout pour moi

And that just got me going! And we also sang Above All.. and you know the line that goes "Like a rose trampled on the ground" well they cant very well traduire that into French... so its more like "humiliated, Jesus was tortured for us". Something like that. It moved my heart to worship in French! Anyway, other than having a guest band lead worship (they usually sing to midi tracks! i know! FGAC people don't ever complain about music again!!) today was special also because there was a BAPTISM service! Two people got baptized! Praise The Lord!! Hallelujah!! That's what they do at CBF. Pastor says Praise The Lord! Everyone says HAAAALLELUJAH! Haha. Like Banke does! Anyway here is Pastor Mike 'interviewing' the first baptism candidate. That is how the candidate tells how he came to Christ, made the decision to be baptized...

Candidate number two was a Muslim!! He was on his way to Ireland but ended up in Paris! And became a Christian! And got baptized! Wow! Makes me pray for the Malays in Malaysia.

In you go...

This is CBF! The lady on the right is Carole! The lady in red (ha ha) is Pam! You may also be wondering why all the exclamations? Its because the exclamation point is where the period is on the French keyboard! boo!

Church really was awesome! And the best part? Well other than all the other things I've mentioned. And God. is... next week both Pam and I will be serving on the worship team! Sweetness yeah? I'm so excited... they had been praying for a long time for a keyboardist! And then when I contacted Pastor Mike and told him that I played the keys... he was like WOW. Well not literally. The French don't say wow. But I'm paraphrasing. So yeah.. We are meeting this Tuesday at Debo's house. Debo is a SUPER COOL dude from Nigeria. He was in Singapore this past week. And when I asked him how Singapore was he said it was cool. Then in typical Josh fashion I said: Dont you mean it was hot? To which he replied... OK! But not in a sarcastic way. It was hilarious! Really! REALLY! Ok... never mind. Situational joke!

I'm excited! I can't help but feel that God's plan for me here is beginning to unfold. And like He's done in the past, He's using the gifts He's given to me to open a door for me. It's biblical! Read the Proverbs! Yup. I don't remember where it is... Can't wait to see what Week 3 in Paris has in store! God, thank you for providing before I ask. Thank you for people who love you and who show your love to others... thank you for your faithfulness!

Oh yeah one more thing. In church they not only ask first-timers to lift up their hands. They have to stand AND introduce themselves and say where they are from! So last week, I introduced myself in English AND in French. So the translator didnt have to do anything! But anyway the COOLEST part is after that they PRAY OVER all the guests; a quick prayer that God's purpose for them being in church would come to pass! DAD, theres an idea for North Zone yah??

Oh yeah did I mention; the service is bilingual!!! I'm learning a lot of French christian vocab!! Okay that is it for today! Promise! Que Dieu te benisse! Thats God bless you! And I mean it! Love from Paris. Thanks for your emails, thoughts and prayers! 

Best way to see Paris

Wow another update! Thats three in the past two days! Incroyable!

But I have to.

Today, I got to ride through the streets of Paris... on a motorbike! Haha. No, I wasn't driving; I was with my host dad and we were driving outside of Paris to a nearby suburb to play tennis. Tennis was fun as always. He, being from the older generation, had weird slice and underspin on his shots. Took a bit of getting use to... but it was cool after that!

And on the way home.. WE DROVE BY ROLAND GARROS!!! We were driving past the outer courts, and I was thinking to myself "Wow nice courts. Maybe I'll see if I can play here!" Then he turns around and says "Là, c'est Roland Garros!" And I was like WOWWWWW! Court Phillippe Chartier!!! I am SOOOO going! I need to get tickets! I need to!

Thanks for your smses Ben, Bobo and Bestestbud! Running low on credit... it's 30 euro centimes to respond... but I got them fine!

My French Culinary Cultural Experience of the day

HOT OFF THE PRESS!! I just had a fabulous dinner. My host dad's cousin and wife came over for dinner. And we finally had des escargots!! mmmm... so it's better than it sounds! in fact its SUPER! i love it! the texture is kind of like chee lay.. but theres lots of butter, garlic and basil i think. YUM. Cousin's wife lived in indonesia for two years so she knows some malay. Yup they speak really fast though! And whisky as an aperitif may be a little bit strong for me... and wine... I feel sleepy!