So French, so Roland Garros

Hey all,
This past week has been very busy, yet relaxed. I had all my homework deadlines extended until this coming monday (so, I shall have a very fun weekend), and last weekend was a long weekend (again), so I took advantage of it around Paris. It all started on Wednesday night when I went with friends to watch Barcelona FC kick Manchester Uniteds ass. I was thrilled that Barcelona won, since I got to see them play live last fall, meaning I got to see the best of the best live!

On Fridat night, I went to a Ballet at Opera Garnier (beautiful Opera house in Paris) and saw a Ballet based on a Marcel Proust novel. It was one of the weirdest ballets I have seen...very strange. After the ballet I joined up with friends on a friends rooftop where we took in a nice sunset over the city.

Saturday morning, I was heading to Laure's house to have lunch and throw in my laundry. When I told her I was planning to go line up for evening tickets at Roland Garros (French Tennis Open), she was like, "O! I didn't realize you were interested in going! I had some tickets earlier this week that I could have given you". Although she had no tickets for that afternoon, she was able to work her magic and snag me and my friend general entry tickets. So, within an hour of arriving at her house me and a friend were soaking up the French Open. It was lovely there. We got to see Del Potros play against Andreeve, and then Robredo vs. Gonzalez (my spelling may be way off). We then saw some doubles play, including a Canadian player Nestor.

The rest of the week consisted of 2 going away dinners :(... I am so sad people are already leaving, a couple picnics in parks and a lot of shopping. You see, I have the Sciences-Po Gala this Saturday, so I had to go dress shopping with friends. I found one that I really like, but it is a bit odd... so I may have to go to the shops again to see if I find anything better. Anyways, back to writting my exciting presentation on the "Birth and developpment of Yoga in the Occident".

Good Volleyball!

After the fun tournament this weekend, I was up for even more volleyball, and boy did I get it!
This morning I had my regular practice with my Sciences-Po team, and tonight I went to play with the N2 Vincennes Volley Club team. In France this is the 3rd highest league following Professional and National 1. It was the most intense practice I have attended perhaps ever in my life and after playing only mediocre volleyball the past year, my muscles were tensing up after only the warm up. Also, it was all in French, and I had a lot of trouble following what was going on. All in all, it was a great experience, and as their season is done, they don't mind having visitors at their practices so I plan to go again on Thursday, and then perhaps 2 times a week until I leave if I can. It is a lot of time, but it was excellent volleyball and I would really be able to improve my game by going. The coach liked that I am Canadian, and said that in general, Canadians are fighters and have a really good work ethic and that for that reason, I can stay. Wish me luck keeping up to the girls there, or at least avoiding embarassment!

Searches

I was just checking over the report on who visits the blog which includes information as to how many visitors there are a day, which country they are from, and how they accessed it. I have about 20% of you coming in from search engines. Out of those searches, the majority are directly trying to find my blog, but there are also other random things searched such as people trying to find information on the city "Nancy" in France or about my school, or about the sports tournaments I went to. I think the one that amused me most is the person who visited my blog while trying to find information on "swimming pool etiquette in france". I am glad there are people who would like to know about proper swimming pool etiquette, but unfortunatly, as I have previously written, it is non-existant in France. I would love to write a guide for the French people on matters such as: "swimming pool etiquette" or "walking down the street etiquette" and "stopping for pedestrians etiquette". They obviously lack one on these subjects. I know I am being incorrect in say this, and I should just accept that their culture is different, not wrong... but at times, it is hard. Anyhow, point being, it is nice that there is someone out there, who is interested in knowing "swimming pool etiquette in France", that there is a person who values proper conduct at the pool. I hope I meet them.

CRIT 2009

So, I am finally recovered from my weekend at the CRIT in Lyon. The CRIT is a large sports tournament between all the IEPs in France. There are 9 of them, and each has their own colours, and cheers and stereotypes. Sciences-Po Paris is Yellow and Black, their cheer is a vulgar song about Bulgaria, and their stereotype is being very stuckup and elitist.

This elitism all comes down to: them being from the rich Capital, but mostly from the "Arceuil". The Arceuil is the entrance exam to Sciences-Po which is very difficult. The Paris school is the best one, and most people's first choice, so when Paris cheers "Souviens toi d'Arceuil?" (Remember the Arceuil?) They rub it into the faces of the other teams that they got into Paris while the others are more dumb and did not. In reaction to this, the other 8 schools gang up on Paris and cheer "Provence unis, tous contre Paris!" (Provence unit against Paris!). Things this weekend got a bit violent at times, and there were some Flag burnings. It was slightly anarchical with no administration there and really no rules or code of conduct.

On the Friday Night, we all went to the Old Lyon, 2750 people and stormed the streets, it was VERY crazy. People stood on monuments and lit fire works and climbed up lamp posts to wave flags. There was also constant cheering present. It never stopped... the ENTIRE weekend. Most teams had a drum team, or a small marching band that came with them to play their cheers or increase the energy level during games.

I still haven't mentioned this, but our volleyball team won ALL our games. We had no competition. The atmosphere was crazy though with 400+ watching our final all cheering and beating drums. We could not hear each other at all. When we won, all the supporters from our side rushed onto the court and even lifted some of us up. It was the coolest atmosphere I have ever played in.

Sunday night was our last night there, and we had a closing ceremony at a stadium they rented out. PARIS WON! It was great. Then at 2am we got bused back to Paris, arriving there at 8 am... just in time for people to go to class. (I was lucky as I don't have courses til 5pm on Mondays... so I got some sleep).

Some pictures of the weekend.

Volleyball

I was worried coming to Paris that I would not the normal dose of volleyball that I am used to, and that concern has become reality. However, not to the extent I thought. The school has an Association Sportif where students can choose from about 25 different sports ranging from horseback riding, fencing, Judo, chinese dancing, toVolleyball! I was tempted to try out one of the more obscure sports but I stuck with Volleyball and may venture to another one next semester if it fits my schedule. Since the summer volleyball has been destined to occupy my Friday nights.

The team here is great! There are about 40 girls who come out to play and then we are split into skill level. Being part of the competative group we will get to play every Thursday against other Grands Ecoles. The team is allowing me to meet non-international students here. It will also allow me to see some more of France in the spring. We will go away one weekend for intense training, and then another weekend to the Crit. The Crit the large Sciences-Po tournament that occurs in the Spring where all the campuses compete against each other. To pump up for this tournament our team will do more bonding activities as well as advertise our team. This years will be held in Lyon!

Practice time!

They run and are fun!

Everyone here is active, it is amazing. This, not diet, in my opinion is what is keeping them all thin! I went to the park yesterday morning and there were so many runners and people in running clubs that past by me. Later in the day I was taken to a tennis/country club to watch a tennis match. It is the biggest club in all of Europe and consisted of about 50 courts, a large swimming pool, a gym, track, 2 volleyball courts, 2 restaurants, 3 ping pong tables, and a basketball court. It was very cool.

Yesterday night we went to a club called "les planches" where we receievd VIP treatment. No line, no cover, and a bucket full of drinks with a value of around 400€. It was definatly a fabulous first night out in Paris.