The Proverbial Twiggy - Beached Whale Comparison

Well, folks...I must admit that I have been doing a poor job keeping you all updated on the happenings here in France. I must say, however, that the last two weeks or so here have been generally unpleasant, stressful and towards the depressing side of the scale. There were a few bright spots here and there, but this is to be expected I supposed as the adrenaline and newness of the situation has worn off. So I guess you can say that I'm in one of the varying stages of culture shock. Its been somewhat magnified recently as as I moved into my new appartment and...the heat doesn't work properly, I have no furnishings, no bed, no table, a couple borrowed pots and pans, OH, and did I mention no internet or phone. The later probably being the most difficult to deal with as I can't communicate with any friends and family. But alas, this time too will pass and there's always hope of a better tomorrow. I often use those rosy little lines and in doing so annoy my pesimistic counterparts, but sometimes the hope of a normal life with new friends and a comfortable home is enough to make the challanges a bit more bearable.

Ok, to some of the more positive happenings around here. I went to a co-worker's house and had an absolutely wonderful French meal. Now when I say French meal I mean the 4-5 course works that is usually no shorter than 4-5 hours. Another great plus was that my French was in rare form that evening - possibly a product of the anxiety reducing grape beverage - but nonetheless it goes to show that the French language is inside me. I just need to relax a bit more at work and on the phone. But it was a wonderful evening starting around 7 and lasting into the early hours of the morning. There was another couple there from Portugal that immigrated here a number of years ago. It was great to be able to talk to them about life in a different part of the world. She also had a practically perfect French accent after a few years here. There is hope that I may eventually sound local.

Also, after many attempted phone calls, I got ahold of the president of the Compiègne cycling club. And in fact, they had the first meeting of the year on Saturday. So I tagged along to check out the racing scene. Unfortunately, I found myself in a typical French meeting. This thing took the good part three hours or more! They brought in the mayor to talk about who knows what, along with other "important" political figures. Its a bike meeting for crying out loud! Show us what the jerseys look like for the season, who won what last year, and how much it costs! It could have taken 45 minutes but like all things French, it didn't.... They also were amazed they had a "true" American in their presence and asked me to stand up and say a few things to the 70 or so people assembled. I tried to duck out of it, but they were having none of that. They also kept saying somethinng about me being in the Lance Armstrong mold...oh no!... I'm sure I'll disappoint the American cycling image, but at least I'm clean...haha. So apparently, training begins in two weeks! I don't even have any of my gear here. It should arrive by boat in the Netherlands on the 5th of December and then take 3-4 weeks to make it to my place. (Insert frustrated sigh here...) But a few people from the club have offered to let me borrow some items until that time. There's some very friendly folks here once you get past that initial barrier.

Oh by the way, my form is terrible right now. Thus the training has begun in earnest. I rode a few hill climbs yesterday in freezing rain and snow. It was probably the most miserable ride of my life - oh and the weather was bad too :) Oh how I hate climbing! I'm not exactly your chicken-legged montain goat. My climbing skills on the bike are more apt to be compared to a the strainings of a beached whale than the two-wheeled grace of a masculine Twiggy reincarnation.

Well, it is time for me to get back to my interpretations of what I think my boss is telling me to do. Until the next...

J