Happy Halloween!!!!

The candy bowl, post-trick or treaters. Yeah, you read that right. 

Starting a couple weeks ago, my Leclerc put out bags of candy at the front. Could it be? Bonbons for a Strasbourg Halloween? I got really excited until I remembered that I would probably not be in town for Halloween, given that Halloween naturally falls during the Toussaint vacation (when I had planned to be visiting friends elsewhere).

Well, plans get made and then plans change. Last minute, I had to change my travel schedule and that change meant I could no longer afford the Ryanair flights to take me to the UK. That sucked, but it was probably for the best because: (1) the generous, sharing child that I babysit passed on his fever/malady and it hit in full force the first day of Toussaint, (2) I saved money, (3) I got to see GORGEOUS snow in Strasbourg and (4) (probably the most important) it has given me time to work on a bunch of school things I'd been putting off. We're now past the halfway point of the semester and I'm probably quite a bit further behind on my reading than I care to admit (it doesn't help that every time I read the reading for a class on time, the professor acts under the assumption that no one has read it yet. It's confusing).

I also got to babysit today. Knowing that I'd be babysitting on Halloween, I decided I would buy some candy and a little extra, just in case there were trick or treaters. Babysitting was a lot of fun (I should write more about that at some point, but nothing is certain with me and getting things posted). Just fyi, the kid would be batman for Halloween if he ever did Halloween. And apparently he could've.

Tonight around 7:30pm, I had begun to despair that any trick or treaters would come. I knew from last year, that sometimes the trick or treaters here (and they are not a common occurrence) go into open businesses to ask for candy. I put out the bowl seen above by the front door for my flatmates when they would get back from work/Toussaint. I was a little sad, but not too sad, because on my way home I saw the great sapin de Noël (Christmas tree) of Strasbourg getting put up in Place Kléber. Screw Halloween, it's already Christmas time in la capitale de Noël (the capital of Christmas). Seriously, next to the paltry display of possible Halloween candy were a bajillion advent calendars and the start of a little Christmas toy section.

Le sapin de Noël

So, anyway, I was prepped for a lack of Halloween on my street. A little after giving up, I heard voices in the street. Children's voices. Could it be? Charlie Brown and Linus, could it BE? So when out on the street there arose such a clatter, that I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter! Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. 

And what did I see? The most beautiful sight of all (okay, not really), children dressed up for Halloween. Sadly, they were down the street and walking the wrong direction. So I felt sad again, now convinced that all the children were just going to centre-ville to trick or treat there. Just in case, though, I left my window open. 

After messaging a friend that I thought I had missed my opportunity to give out candy, I heard voices anew! I looked out the window and, sure enough, there were dressed up kids leaving next door! So I ran to mine.  Opening the door, I was greeted with a "BONSOIR!" TRICK OR TREATERS! I was so pleased. After that, there was only another group. But I didn't really care, I was just so happy to help French kids have a Halloween somewhat similar to those of my childhood. 

Since it's 9:20pm now, I'm guessing the trick or treating is over. Ah well. It was fun while it lasted. Now, back to work. 

Bisous, mes amis, and a VERY happy Halloween to you all!!!

MCJ

Having a Bâle (a Sunday in Basel)

Welcome to Switzerland!

Made by the same guy (Jeff Koons) that made Puppy outside of the Bilbao Guggenheim, this here is his dragon head outside of the Fondation Beyeler. Split-Rocker is the name. At the time it wasn't so clear, but now I see that the head is actually split and he has a bit of a rocker vibe. Aha!

The foundation. 

To the left was France. 

To the right was Germany. 

Basel is a German-speaking city in Switzerland. Being clever-like I decided to buy my ticket in German. Sadly, it turns out I'm not that clever. 

Me: A ticket for a student, please. [Awww yeah, lookit that, I can communicate things in German!]

Cashier: 12 Swiss Francs. [Whoohoo! I understood her reply! She replied in German! Things are going well.] 

Me [puts down cash and student card]

Cashier: ?!??!????! 

Me: [Fuck.]

Cashier: [Gestures something to do with the cash.]

Me: [Attempts turning the cycle the money/card has been placed on.]

Cashier: [Hella frustrated.] WHAT LANGUAGE DO YOU SPEAK? FRENCH? ENGLISH? 

Me: [Turns to German friend.]

German friend (in French): You have to take the student card off. 

Me: [Embarrassed, removes card, receives change, runs away.]

There's something very confusing about being in a German speaking place minutes away from France with Francophone companions. As part of my "studying" German this semester, I've been watching copious amounts of German tv. Sadly, none of this passive comprehensive knowledge I've received helped me there. Some people I understood, others I didn't. 

Basel likes its fountains. 

Even though I don't frequent Starbucks in the US, I was still really excited to see all the Starbucks in Basel. They're the closest ones to where I live now. Honestly, I would only really want to go in there if they had the Horizon organic chocolate milk they have in the US ones and I'm pretty sure they do not. Tant pis. 

Lots of roads like this. 

And the cathedral, of course. 

Fall is coming! Autumn is here! Pétanque!

It was a Sunday and people were few and far between on most streets. 

There was even a manif'!

(Speaking of which, I participated in my first a couple weeks ago and it was excellent. Post to come.)

Where a Nobel Prize winner worked. We went into this courtyard because we were promised a talk on the importance of the arts and kids' crafts. We did not actually find said talk (I suspect it was through the doors...) but we were not terribly upset by this. 

The queen says hello on an utterly empty street. 

The Rhine follows me everywhere. 

The Griffin seems to be a symbol for Basel. Haven't looked this up to confirm, but he's EVERYWHERE. 

Along with the symbol on that flag. This is a little ferry that goes across the Rhein, it's operated by a motor that stretches across the river and the poles to which were put into place during the 19th century. 

A friend and I had the same reaction: HARRY POTTER. 

Life is going well. I have a week and a half before the Toussaint holiday and lots to get done in that time (including what is essentially my final in one class). I should get on that.... Last Saturday, we had a debate in class (we were assigned sides randomly) and I saved my team in a heroic fashion. So much so, that when we had another debate in class today my team tried to make me be one of the speakers, despite my not having contributed anything to the prep discussion. I declined today, which I still feel bad about. The fact is, living in another language, some days you have good speaking days and other days you have bad ones. Today happened to be a bad one. It was just hard to focus on things in French today. Given that today's format would be addressing things brought up by the other team it just didn't seem like a great idea for me. And sitting/listening through it, I know I made the right call. My team did great without me speaking. 

For Toussaint, I'm planning on going to the UK to visit some friends and to travel with my dear friend D from last year who is back in Brittany assistant-ing! I just need to buy tickets to get there. 

Big bisous, 

MCJ

Domesticity

My herbs have started sprouting!

Déjeuner. Sautée garlic, onion and bell pepper (orange), add boiling water and a bouillon cube. Verser into the glass pan, add a bit of diced potatoes and seasoned chicken (I used herbes de provence, thyme, cumin and black pepper). In the oven at 210°C (~400°F) for 30 minutes, remove, flip the chicken, add frozen peas, turn the oven to 180°C (~350°F), let cook for another 20 or so minutes. Enjoy delicious, tender chicken with lovely chicken gravy to spare. 

Wall decorations + orchid.

My lovely new futon!

My room is wonderfully bright and now I have a comfortable couch to sit on and enjoy the sunlight. Strasbourg is treating me kindly and I promise to write about it soon. 

Gros bisous

MCJ