Jour 14 - Broken Glass

Mots du jour: sante’ (cheers), verre (glass), casser (break)

Dalia and Yacine at The Corniche of Marseille

Today, Dalia took us on a tour of Marseille. ‘It’s so beautiful here’, I reflected, as we drove through the city center. ‘You think so?’, Dalia responded. I could tell she wasn’t in total agreement. ‘Yes, well, the architecture is something I don’t get to see often’, I said. ‘Yes, but it's dirty here’, Dalia replied, pointing to paper and plastic litter swirling in the wind on an adjacent sidewalk. I hadn’t been focusing on that part.

The Corniche of Marseille is a shelf along the sea, with beaches, roads, walks, buildings, etc. It was very pretty. So was Notre Dame de la Garde.

Erik, Yacine, and Dalia saying Au Revoir at the Train Station

We dropped Yacine off at the train station. I’ll see him again in Paris at the end of the trip.

It’s Bastille Day in France. I’m not exactly sure what it means. But it’s like our (USA) Independence Day somehow. There are supposed to be huge fireworks displays in French cities across the country. One of the things some people like to do is shoot fireworks from cars at pedestrians or shoot them into passing cars if their windows are rolled down. I witnessed this in Paris a week ago. Dalia and I skipped the public environment and instead traveled half an hour west, to a small private house party.

Pizza for Bastille Day

I used all my best Francais on the French! I had the language skills of the three year-old also at the party, whom I tried to engage in French conversation a few times. I suggested we become Francais study partners. I wasn’t sure how it was going to go with me not being able to communicate in French, but everyone was so kind and generous. A number of people spoke with me in English, and we’d call on Dalia for help when we got stuck. Some people pointed and gestured as they attempted to utter a word or two in a foreign language (as was my main technique). Others just smiled warmly. I felt very welcome and had a great time – especially with the Pastis; a regional favorite served with 1 part Pastis (anise-based alcohol; 45% ABV), 7 parts water, and ice!

The name of today's post is “Broken Glass”, and it’s based on a funny story. At the end of the evening, as we all got up from the patio table, three women collected the drinking glasses as they headed inside. I wanted to help too and collected the remaining six glasses. As I slipped my fingers into the tops of three drinking glasses in each hand, the man of the house began chastising me. Although he didn’t really know English, I did make out, “women’s work!”, as he motioned for me to put them down. But I was already committed with my mind made up. I would complete the endeavor, or so I thought.

Pastis!

In one hand, my pinky was holding a half-full glass, which proved too heavy for the method. Just as it cleared the edge of the table it fell, shattering on the concrete patio. That was a set back to be sure. However being full of Pastis and not knowing what to say about it anyway, I continued on to the kitchen for a partial victory. I was with the women now, pioneers of drinking glass transport. Just as I was about to set them down, another slipped away to the kitchen floor. I lost no faith in my new friendships but felt bashful all the same and quietly motioned to Dalia that it was time to go.

Notre Dame de la Garde

Notre Dame de la Garde

Dalia!

Première Expérience de la France

Jour 14 – Broken Glass

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