A trip back to Montpellier, France

After not blogging for a while, I am now inspired to write ever since arriving at Montpellier to begin an intensive French language program. I first came to Montpellier in 1986 with my brother as part of a language immersion program at the Institut Méditerranéen des Etudes Francaises. This time around, I was would be a student at Accent Francais as well as private classes at Insitu French School.

When I arrived in Montpellier a week ago. I was picked up by my host family. Christiane Denisa is in her sixties and she is married to Philippe. They are antiquities/broccant merchants. They help organize and set up the stands and kiosks at market days. They sell all kinds of decorative items from medals, buddha heads, art, and often lighthearted collectables. Christiane's family is originally from Nice, when they were part of Italy. They have a shy by friendly cat named China who keeps me company from time to time. After making a very nice meal last night of a special steak and cream and mushroom sauce (mushrooms picked and dried in the mountains nearby), Christiane and Philippe woke up at 5am to set up their kiosk at a market place not too far away. They are accommodating my pescatarian diet, so along with the cream sauce, potatoes and mushrooms, they made me a quiche.

I live about 150 meters from the TAM tram stop known as Astruc. It goes straight into town and onto the beach. I can walk to my language school, known as Accent Francais in 30 minutes along the aqueduct known as Les Arceaux. I was placed in Intermediate French, level 1.5 which I understand isn't too bad. This week we went over clothing, plastic surgery, and our final project was a marketing project for a beauty and well-ness spa. Our groups project was called "La Renaissance Lunaire", a spa set up on the moon so that "one can leave the gravity of life back on earth and rejuvenate on the moon".

I spend my time after school studying in the main "mediateque" or library, called Mediatheque Emile Zola, an impressive library with many floors next to an incredibly large natatorium. I also walk a lot and see the city. I've been to "Hot Yoga Montpellier" three times now, which is great as I haven't done Bikhram style hot yoga in Cypress.

Today I'm going to the beach after giving blood at the Rotary event in the main plaza of town called, "La Place de la Comedie". La Place de la Comedie has an opera house and theaters that open up to the fountain known as the "Three Graces" or three charities who were minor greek godesses. Represented in the fountain are the minor godesses of Algalea (Splendor), Euphrosyne (Myrth) and Thalia (Good Cheer). The Three Graces are are surrounded by the stone floor of the original circular plaza which was in that time called "The Egg" due to its shape. The plaza has grown a lot since then and incorporates numerous cafes, businesses and a tram station. On the first day, I saw old Jean Paul, who was giving a tour at Accent Francais for the students of the city center. When I met Jean Paul in 1986 when I was first a student at Montpellier, he had a mustache and some hair. Thirty one years and three marriages later, he has lost all his hair and mustache, though he still is riding his bike and playing Occitan folk music on his flute.

I live in a modest home with an old fashioned washing machine. No dryer, so I dry my clothes in my room on a skeletal wire rack. It has been taking about a day and a half to fully dry my clothes. I have a partial view of the street and windows with shutters so I can sleep in the morning. We wash dishes by hand. The cat likes to come up to me while I did the dishes this morning. Usually Christiane does the dishes, but I saw they were left there so I chose to help out.

Earlier this week, I attended the Rotary Club of Montpellier meeting at the Metropole Hotel. It was great to meet fellow Rotarians in France. I've been invited back on the 24th of April as that is when we will do a banner exchange.

Anyway, it's been a great adventure so far. Already my French is getting more fluid, though far, far, from perfect. Will learn more in time I'm sure. Until I get a chance to write again, au revoir mes amis.

Pictures:

The first photo is with Bernard Jourdan of the Rotary Club in Montpellier performing a flag exchange with the Rotary Club of Houston.

The second picture consist of shots with my friend Bernard Remia, Kivanche (Turkey) and Marco (Brazil) enjoying an afternoon refreshment.

The third photo consists of the following:

1. Cheese kiosk at the market on Tuesdays along Les Arceaux (the aquaduct). 2. Backstreet next to the Polygone Shopping Center. 3. My bedroom. 4. View from my window. 5. The fountain, Les Trois Éphèbes near the main library. 6. China the house cat. 7. The Three Graces fountain at the Place de la Comedie. 8. The TAM Tram at the Place de la Comedie in Montpellier. 9. A fine apple tarte (une tarte fine de pomme).