Walking on cobblestones in high heels is an art.
Walking on wet cobblestones in high heels is a disaster.
It rained on Friday. It was hard enough keeping myself up while dodging the cracks in between the slick stones, but I also had to deal with my umbrella, which kept blowing inside-out at the slightest gust of wind. It isn’t even really mine, the umbrella, but was given to me by a friend who returned to her university in Brazil after the fall semester. It didn’t help that it was bright green, and all the Poitivien villagers kept staring at the odd little girl slipping and sliding all over the place in black Mary Jane heels. But I made it to school without twisting my ankle, so I guess it was all good.
This week so far has been pretty nice, and for once I haven’t had too much work to do. Today, Saturday, I did my laundry to prepare for my upcoming trip and lugged my little suitcase—full of clean clothes—up the five flights of stairs, as usual.
Sometimes I wonder how it must be for handicapped students, to live in this dormitory. I myself sometimes have to take breaks while lugging my laundry or my groceries up the stairs. I can’t imagine how I would do it if I had a back disorder, or problems with my legs. I think we really take it for granted how in America, nearly every building with stairs has an elevator. But it is not the same here in Europe. It must be harder for those with physical challenges, but to be honest I have only really seen one or two people in wheelchairs while I’ve been living in Poitiers.
On Friday, I got a letter from the Caf, the Caisse d’Allocations Familiales. I’m not really sure what its equivalent would be in America, but I would describe it as a government agency that deals with the social security of French people and qualifying foreigners with their titres de séjour. Especially significant for me, it can pay up to half the rent fees of students. Since I didn’t receive my titre de séjour until late Febraury, however, I’m only going to get a fraction of what I could have gotten back since October. But in any case, it’s quite nice to get free money.
Thursday, I got a package from home, filled with Easter candy and letters from my parents and my little sister. I was really excited, but sad since I won’t be home this year for the holiday.
Wednesday, my friend Carla and I went jogging throughout the town. We ran by the Clain river, and I was so surprised to see how much of Poitiers I had never seen before. It was the first time I had really ventured out of the centre ville (city center) on foot. Usually, if I go out of the town center, it’s on the number 1 bus to go to my Chinese class at the Fac, or on the Number 11 bus to the supermarket Leclerc.
When we were running, we passed by meadows of flowers, backyard sheds wrapped up in sinewy, flowery vines, and houses with open gates and old-fashioned cars in the driveway. While slowing to a light walk and taking a water break, we came across a low wall of jutting stones, which just barely blocked our view of what was behind it. Our curiosity got the best of us—or at least mine did–and I bullied Carla into climbing the wall with me. We didn’t cross over to the other side, but just wedged our feet in the gaps between the rocks, and hoisted ourselves up. The wall hid a little green field, with square, wooden fences bordered by skinny, dirt footpaths. The fences were grouped around plots of budding plants. It was too early to tell what was growing. There were also blooming trees—I think they were dogwood—and the odd patch of white and yellow daisies here or there.
It was so refreshing to see greenery, open fields, new life. Here in the centre ville, nearly every space is closed—the gray townhouses, cathedrals, and shops fill the city (
). Only in the parks do you really see grass, or trees, or little flowers. Only in parks do you see birds other than pigeons. But when we went running out of town, it was so different. I actually saw a little sparrow. I’m looking forward to jogging more often.
Other than that, nothing out of the extraordinary has happened here. I’ve been planning my spring break trip, which is next week. I’m going to Scotland tomorrow, for three days, and to England for the rest of the week. I’ll keep you updated on how the trip goes.
