Podcast Radio France

Hello hello! Had a wonderful Jour de Macaron last Saturday, immediately followed by a horrible stomach sickness (luckily unrelated to the macarons) and today I'm enjoying a pleasant Saturday morning (actually more like afternoon...) finally back to my healthy self.

Taking my former french teacher's advice, I started looking for radio podcasts to take with my on my upcoming trip to Romania over Easter (hooooray!). The search was very successful, and turned out 15 pages of "émissions" or specific programs on the french public radio stations like France Inter or France Culture. Public radio here is just called "Radio France," but unlike NPR they have multiple stations. I'm pretty sure you can stream radio online, or just bump around their stations on their website: http://www.radiofrance.fr/

Two programs that I enjoy are "Allô la planete" and "Hors Champs." The former is a travel show where people call in from their travels around the world just to chat and describe what they see. Apparently there is a recurring guest, an old man, who has embarked on a world journey on foot. :) Hors Champs is an interview program that features a good variety of guests on cultural, societal, artistic themes. The interviewees are generally not in a time crunch, so the conversation is pretty relaxed. This means that the French is generally slow and clear... good for those intermediate (but also beginning!) French folk! I think it is really important to listen to a LOT of radio and/or watch a LOT of tv in the language you are trying to learn especially if you don't have a network in that language. It may seem too passive but I think listening continuously is the basis for gaining an automatic understanding of grammar, the ability to tell right off whether an expression "sounds right" or not. Classes may be good at analyzing and explaining grammar, but to really learn a language it is important to have a reflex of the proper grammar rather than just an intellectual understanding of it. Otherwise you'll be at the awful language limbo level forever, where you can perfectly recite how and when to use the subjunctive, but continually omit it while speaking. (Fascinating how that happens though! I guess learning a language is more akin to learning to ride a bycicle in some ways rather than learning to add fractions.) If you're beginning French and can only pick up on 10% of what is being said, I would still encourage you to listen on a daily basis! Don't be frustrated! I think most of learning happens kind of subconsciously anyway - so you'll be picking up on new words and context all the time, even if you don't necessarily realize it. And if not anything else, you'll start developing an ear for a proper French accent. :)

Anyway, getting back to the podcasts! You should definitely check them out! They're a neat way to maintain your French, practice your aural skills if you're learning, and if you're living outside of France, it's a good way to keep in touch with what your French comrades are currently listening to. You may learn something new, or just enjoy some French garble in the background.

The only problem I'm seeing is that podcasts are erased (?) after a while, since only the most recent few programs are coming up. I will further look into this and come back. :)

free films @ Forum Des Images

If you're into films or free things I would highly recommend visiting Forum Des Images, which is found in the underground mall/shopping area of Les Halles (Metro Les Halles). They're always screening independent films and classics usually centered around a monthly theme so walking there is like walking into a constant film festival, except more tranquil. For 5euro you can usually get one big screening and then two hours in the Salle de Collections. There are different ways of mixing what they offer for similar prices at the entrance and they also have a yearly pass for 80euro.

Every day after 7:30pm (19 h 30) you can go into their Salle de Collections for free. There are couches and flat screens computers with a variety of classic films that you can view "gratuit" until they close at 10pm. At the entrace of the Salle you exchange a pair of huge headphones for an ID, and you're golden. Good for watching with another buddy or a date, but not in groups. (There might be a max of two people per screen, but I'm not entirely sure.)

In any case, with a friend or solo on a lovely cold evening, enjoy your French classics! :)

Weekly Cultural Guide - Pariscope

Hello again! I should have probably written about Pariscope already, but since I've kind of avoided it but recently bought this week's edition, now would be a good time to start. It's a little booklet available at tabacs/newspaper stands that is the Parisian equivalent of Time Out for New York or London. Parisians swear by it, though I'm honestly kind of ambivalent toward it. In any case, it comes out on Wednesdays, which is the day that cinemas rollover their films and costs 0.40 euro at the stands.

The good:
Every film that is playing in Paris will be listed in this guide alphabetically (and the cinemas where they are playing will be bolded at the end of each mini-synopsis). The guide is particularly useful this way in that many good indie or foreign films can be otherwise easily missed in the visual bazaar that is Hollywood advertisement throughout the city. Unfortunately and suprisingly the Hollywood blockbuster invasion is as prevalent in Paris as in the States themselves. I was also suprised to see the quality of American films that are imported here. A film like The Hurt Locker may not play at all, or may only play at select smaller theaters, whereas huge posters of Megan Fox for Jessica's Body were virtually on every bus and metro station back in September. Even here, it comes down to budget and advertisement. If you walk around the city, you'll come accross all the big chain UGC cinemas that generally play a stifling surplus of crappy Hollywood films. It is very easy to spend months and months in Paris and not even see one new French film. You almost have to go out of your way to see one. Luckily, there are many small indie cinemas in the Latin quarter and a good mix of commercial and quality ones in Montparnasse. (The Cinephile "Paris est à nous" guide is excellent.)

Film is not the only cultural category exposed in Pariscope; it also features Theater, Music, Events for Kids, Arts, Restaurants etc. The Arts section is also very thorough, listing all the museums and exhibitions goings-on. If you buy this guide L'Officiel will be redundant.

The bad: Personally, I'm not a fan of the layout. The text is small and mushed together and a bit difficult to read. The amount of information can also be overwhelming; you can spend hours going through just the museums/expos section, and yet still not really know what you really want to see. By comparison, L'Officiel has a picture by each museum that at least gives you a quick snapshot of what the exhibition might be about (which is better than nothing). Pariscope is text-based, and at the same time very much Francophone. If you don't speak any French it might only induce confusion/anger.

Overall: If you speak French fluently or a little/intermediate French and will be in Paris for a weekend or a week, it will probably be worth the 0.40 euro to buy. It will probably also amongst the thriftiest purchases. If you don't speak any French/will only be here for a weekend and not get past the Big Name museums/couldn't care less for motion pictures, don't worry about it.

Hope this review of a guide was helpful.

Visits to London - Eurolines night bus experience

If you're living in Paris for an extended period of time, avoiding at least a weekend visit to London would be a crime. Not wanting to commit any such sort of traveling atrocity, Alej and I just got back from our 4 day weekend deal in our neighboring city.

Small bits of experiential advice. We took the Eurolines overnight bus to and from London as it was the cheapest option available (60 euro roundtrip as opposed to about 200 euro Eurostar) and we had had very pleasant experiences with overnight buses in Japan. Unfortunately Eurolines is not whatever Japanese bus line we took, which featured majorly reclining seats and an uninterrupted drive (except for a convini stop). It's definitely just a regular bus, where the angle of reclining is only good enough for major neck cramps. But that's not really the problem. On our way there our passports were checked on three different occasions. We even took a detour to Charles de Gaulle airport for a passport check before heading to the channel. Then our passports were checked twice again at the border before the channel, once on the French side and another on the British side, which lasted about an hour and a half. I found it extremely strange that our passports were checked so often, and how fairly thoroughly and suspiciously we were interrogated. Sadly, I think the customs methods for Eurolines clients is dependant on the niche market of the passengers, and it ruffled my feathers far more than being awoken every 1-2 hours or the neck-busting seats.

Needless to say, we received very little sleep on our way to London, arrived grumpy in the dark cold and then spent another hour and half trying to figure out how/where to buy city bus tickets (since you can't just pay on board in London) but that is another story.

Upon arriving at the hostel, it was far too early to check in, so there was no relief of a nap in our near future. We wandered around the Thames groggily, sight-saw some obligatory points of interest, ate breakfast, visited Tate Modern, all before 1pm. Probably my most productive tourist morning, ever. We were really exhausted throughout the day though, and took a 3 hour nap as soon as our beds were ready.

In conclusion, if you have the money, take the Eurostar absolutely. Alternately, take the Eurostar to London so you won't lose an English day groggy, and then take the Eurolines back to Paris, where you can finish sleeping through the morning in your bed. If you have school on Monday, you'll want to come back Sunday morning. Going to class shortly following your Eurolines night if you arrive to Paris Monday morning will not ensue in a pleasant classroom experience I can assure you. If you need to save money, go ahead and take the Eurolines both ways. It really is not that horrible of an experience, just know what to anticipate. It's a normal bus and you'll be woken up a lot throughout the night. There really will not be a problem at the border, but do not be surprised by some attitude and unexpected questions.

Used Books!

Check out a store called "Gibert Jeune" by place St. Michel (Metro St. Michel). The store spans several locations (and stories too!) around the plaza, categorized by subject matter. Used books are called "livres d'occasion" and are mixed within new ones by author. Check for the yellow sticker denoting "d'occasion." The used books range from 1-4 euro, depending on the lenght of the piece generally. It is a great place to find essential French readings - from Hugo to Camus, Appolinaire and de Beauvoir for really cheap. You can buy the new versions as well here, which would make wonderful souvenirs for your francophone friends and loved ones back home.

Enjoy!

PS - I'm starting to adore reading again because it is the cheapest activity in many ways. 2-3 euro can give way to days of entertainement, and that's not even counting re-reading. :)

PPS - Here is the website. Sorry I haven't figured out how to make it all fancy clickety links.

http://www.gibertjeune.fr/page/public/index.php

Library at Centre Pompidou

Hello again!

Haven't updated in a while, so here goes. Last Friday night while waiting for my significant other get out of class, I finally got a chance to check out the public library at the Centre Pompidou. It made me pretty happy. Most public libraries here close around 7pm, which would hardly service students. For students, studying or working on papers never stops at 7pm. Ever. Unless you happen to be a student ridiculously well trained in time management, but that is indeed a rarity. I've often wondered how students in Paris manage to finish all their work when the libraries close so early, but from asking around I've found that having jobs on the side of being a student is not as popular as back in the States, which would free up the day for library outings.

Anywhoo, the library at the Centre Pompidou (C.P. referred to as Beaubourg) stays open until 9:45pm all days except Tuesday when the center is closed. It is quite sizable, has lots of tables to sit, free wifi, a music listening area, computers, everything. Most of the works are in French, obviously, but I did find some English resources as well.

Also, on the very bottom floor as you enter, there are a few bookshelves dedicated to finding work, writing letters of motivation and CV's in French etc., which look like a wonderful resource for those of us ready for work but unsure of how to handle the process of being hired in France. (There are all sorts of forms of politeness and little tricks you have to add to your French letter of motivation, stuff that you wouldn't think to add to your cover letter in English for a job in the US.)

The library can be accessed from the opposite side of the main entrance to the museum. The main entrance of the museum is the one with the big open space where musical performers like to entertain, and where the Brancusi atelier is found as well. The library entrance is found on the colorful side of the center.

Check out flyers at museums & libraries

Generally, the smaller more specific theme-oriented museums here allow for brochures or flyers coming from external venues, so you can find out about other events in town within the same interest. Example: Went to the Palais de Tokyo last night, and even though the expos themselves were closed, the lobby area with restaurant & gift shop were open. I found a rack with little flyers from other art places... including one for a contest I might end up entering. :) Public libraries also tend to have flyer/brochure racks. Keep a look out for them because you might find out about awesome events you would not otherwise discover.