An American Girl in Avignon

June 5
The last day of classes never felt better!!!!! Next week: two exams and one oddly scheduled literature class for no reason. We had already taken the exam and turned it in and all, but hey, what can you do? It’s France. They’ll hold a class no matter what. I was exhausted after a night out, but going out on a school night isn’t just a Athens tradition. The French make a lifestyle out of it. I don’t know how they do it all the time. Yet, they remain disciplined. They don’t go out every night. They have a serious night, a fun night, a serious night, then vacation and fun. They know how to relax and enjoy life, that’s for sure.
One other thing they know how to do is to get away with carrying man bags, affectionately referred to as “murses,” without looking like a pansy. But then again, it’s sometimes hard to tell if a European guy is straight or not, because they all dress impeccably. There is even a song in Legally Blonde the musical called, “Is He Gay or European?” The lyrics: “they kiss on both cheeks…/ and depending on the time of day, the French swing either way.” The metro look is standard for the most macho of European men, and the bisous (those you-can’t-help-but-like-them cheek-kisses) amongst guy friends is common. It’s like they’re so close to begin gay, without actually being gay. It’s so bizarre. I like the metro look just as much as the next girl. In fact, it’s what I would prefer, but if the guy takes longer on his hair or to get ready in the morning than I do, then Calvin Klein, we have a problem.
I made a trip to the supermarket today to look for some of that delicious fromage blanc that Martine severs us for dessert sometimes in place of yogurt. It’s the consistency of yogurt, but it’s cheese, but it doesn’t taste like cheese. It’s hard to explain, but when you stick confiture (jelly) in it and mix it up, it is heaven in a tub! A plus: it is supposedly good for you. If it tastes good, and is actually good for you, then count me in, we have a winner! As mentioned before, I will be throwing plain yogurt and confiture parties next year if anyone wants to join (eventually accompanied by wine, olives, and cheese). Anyone want to join? But don’t judge until you try. Buy a tub of plain yogurt and mix some fruit-preserves in it. It sounds nasty, but it is soooo good!! I promise! Plus it’s so much better than the weird, rubbery rum-raisin fruit cake that our host mom keeps insisting we have for dessert or breakfast. Never have the words, “Non, merci,” come more in handy.
Anyway, while I was in the supermarket buying this heavenly fromage blanc (which, by the way, they sadly don’t have in the states. Then again, I haven’t checked Jungle Jim’s in Cincinnati yet. I refuse to give up hope! I am craving some right now. Ugh), I saw the most gorgeous French cop, or flic, I have ever seen! He was tall, slim, and standing in line right in front of me. The police station in town is conveniently located in Place Pie, which is conveniently located next to my house, which is conveniently located on my walk to school , and conveniently located next to the places we go out to at night or to eat. I think I may have to do a few accidental walk-bys (okay, purposeful) from now on. I honestly think I was in love. Haha. Just kidding, but seriously, I hadn’t been intrigued or star struck this much by someone in months…or in all of France. He was probably 22 or 23, obviously French, and the sad part: I was never going to see him again. I think that fact made me fascinated with him even more. Gotta love a man in uniform. Wanna know what’s even better?: a FRENCH man in uniform, who just happens to speak French, live in France, and have an accent. It ups the appeal factor. I officially had an overseas crush. Very ridiculous, but I wasn’t the only one who noticed him. Sakinah made a comment about how cute and adorable he was too. I am going to refer to him as Jacques for all intensives purposes, because he comes into my life again on this trip :) Maybe not in the most ideal way, but still, he makes an appearance! Oh well, I already decided that I am coming back. That is for sure. Maybe in the future! Hey, a girl can dream, can’t she?
I can’t believe I leave in a week! I don’t want to think about it…
After class, without any previous plans, John invited Sakinah and I to go with him, Brad, and Shawna to a wine vineyard close by with his host dad. The vineyard was Chateauneuf de Pape, a famous vineyard in Provence. Hey, why not? When his host dad rolled by to pick us up in his fancy black SUV, he, I kid you not, was listening to Kid Cudi’s “Day ‘n’ Nite.” What is it with the French and this song? They love it more than we do! What I was even more surprised to find was what kind of music their 50-something richer than the Jones’s (or the the Pierre’s in this case) host dad was listening to: American rap and pop. It was Kiss radio in France. All of the dance club and Billboard chart hits. Wow. I tried not to laugh to myself when Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, and Flo Rider followed.
Pulling up to the vineyard, I got my laugh of the day. Sakinah asked, “What are those little trees?! Check those out! Aren’t they adorable?!” She didn’t know that they were grape vines. You learn something new every day. You can’t blame her. It’s not like there’s wine being harvested in Chicago, Dayton, or the hills of Athens anywhere. The chateau filled with wine was almost intimidating. A whole book full of vines, the specific vineyard, and year were available for sale. I, knowing absolutely next to nothing about wine, decided to take the employee’s recommendation after a few taste-tests of some exotic strong stuff (46%!!!) and other wines. I finally settled on the 2005 red straight from the vineyard as a gift, and to try myself. That is some good stuff. Unfortunately you have to wait six weeks before opening it after you land, due to the airplane pressure. I guess my homecoming celebration will have to wait a few weeks.
Our next stop after walking through town and visiting several more cellars was the famous chocolate shop of Provence (a student on last year’s trip walked all the way there) called Bernard Castelain’s Chocolaterie! It must have taken the student hours to get there, because it took us long enough by car, even though it was a short car ride. I think I died and went to chocolate heaven that day. Being a dark and white chocolate fan (I like the extremes), I tried this espresso cream-filled dark chocolate piece that melted so smoothly in my mouth. My mouth is watering typing and thinking about it. I sampled several other things after that, including the famous almond centered chocolate olive and famous nougat. So good. In the middle of the store, there was a huge chocolate fondue fountain for dipping marshmallows in: either white or dark chocolate. I bought a few things with all good intentions of bringing them back to the states, but of course, I ate them all before the end of the next week. I know, shame on me, but you totally would have done the same thing!
So, after having a great day, I have to come home, find something out, and then have another disastrous conversation with the homestead. This was not my afternoon. It’s amazing to me how much one thing can turn around the mood of the whole entire day. Feeling like crap and just wanting to go crawl and a hole and stay there for a little while…BRING!! A text! It was from John, God bless him. It literally made my night! “What are you and Sakinah doing? Let’s go out.” Answer to prayer! I just needed to get away from the house. I hurried up Sakinah and we met John at the hookah bar we had been at the night before. We had a great time, talking, hookah-ing (is that even a word?), and just relaxing after the week from hell. This was exactly what I needed: to get out and forget about some stuff. I felt so much better.
So my night ended with the 20-something year old waiter professing his love to me (he was sober). I swear I have the most messed-up love life ever. Being an American girl in France comes with its stigmas. Contrary to popular belief, all American girls are not going to fall all over you because you are cute, dress well, nice, happen to be French, and profess your undying love for us about 30 minutes after meetings us. Come on now.