Hey all,
Things are going well here in Bordeaux; the weather has become a bit warmer, and even sunny at times. The political climate, however, holds little promise on the horizon.
On Monday, the faculty and students voted (again) in favor of the continued barricading of campus. I've resigned myself to the thought that classes will not resume before May, if then; I've spoken with most of my professors (still waiting to hear back from one) and will turn in my final assignments in the weeks to come. The atmosphere is a bit depressing though; here is a culture where activism is valued, the tradition of the French Revolution is far from being history, and people are willing to stand up against a government that condones police brutality. But what is even clearer is the government's refusal to listen in this period of worldwide tumult; and though I do not ally myself with every aspect of the anti-reform movement, I recognize that change is needed and fear that it will be imposed.
It's April and I still don't know where I'll be come June! My underwater basket-weaving classes end mid-May, so I've got a good month to be indecisive before I (literally) pay the price for the situation in which I find myself. Of course, like all 'serious' matters these days, the heart of the problem is money; though I know it's less cost-effective to stay here in France, I also know that I want to be here. In the end, it will come down to the charioteer favoring the black horse or the white horse.
I'm currently reading Les Liaisons Dangereuses in between Corneille plays, which is a lot of fun. My aunt gave me a fountain pen as a graduation present, and I'm really starting to enjoy how beautiful calligraphy is; I recently ordered a Moleskine to log the excerpts of French texts I copy down. I have hideous handwriting, and I never thought I was capable of writing something so pretty! I had accepted that Chinese calligraphy is more beautiful, hands-down, but now, thanks to the fountain pen, I'm challenging that approach.
Until next time!
Benjamin
PS: The quote comes from John Mellencamp. I heard an interview with him on my Fresh Air podcast, which I highly recommend to you all. In it, he also said that everything he hears is his, regardless of who or where he heard it from.
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1 comment:
it's too bad this student revolution coincided with your studies abroad. but in some ways, kind of cool actually. you're a bit part of history.
i believe it is important, if one can swing it, to have a good, solid fountain pen. i have a not-fancy but definitely solid one with several different bottles of ink, my favorite is this french-made brownish ink by some company called J. Herbin. And thick cotton paper (like your moleskin) soaking up that ink is just delicious! happy writing!
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