expat on the go...

DAY BEFORE LAST DAY!

OK!!!  I'm doing a gazillion washes, to get the beds all clean before we leave.  The hubby will be in charge of making the beds when we get home, so I'm washing all the sheets, pillow cases, mattress covers, etc (you get my drift) and placing them into well marked boxes - 'the little guy', 'the Teen', and 'us'.

I went to  the laundro-mat to wash my duvet covers - big, heavy, queen-sized duvet covers.  As I'm taking one duvet cover out at a time, from the dryers, 3 different people came into the laundro-mat.  Not a ONE asked to help with the folding of the covers .... as my newly washed and dried covers sweep the dirty floor... 

You know, when I tell people I live in France, most say, "Oh! How lucky!" or "It's my dream!" - or something to that effect.  Let me be blunt and straightforward - I have lived in 5 countries and this is #5!!! (1 being the best and 5 being the worst!).

As I told my husband, maybe they read more books than we do or know a lot about art, but Jeez Louise!  the major lack of civic-mindedness boggles my mind.

As I was in that laundro-mat (and everytime I'm there) I helped someone fold up their bed sheets - isn't that normal?  Who likes to wash, dry and fold their sheets while they are dragging on the dirty floor!?

Quite truthfully, I'm very happy to be going back to 'civilization' - as I know it.  Hey, maybe we don't know a Renoir from a Rembrandt, but my God, if someone needs help, we're there!  And isn't that what life's all about?

BANKING IN PARIS

My husband, being the 'bread earner' of the family, has ALL in his name here, in France - bank account, safety deposit box, apt, car, phone, my cell phone, etc... you name it.   I'm anonymous here.

He went to close our safety deposit box today.  I had emptied it last week, before he left for a 10 day stint in the states.  I empty it without using my name.  I use his name (!) - and it works...

Husband, "I would like to close the account on the safety deposit box".

Man/banker, "Oh, sir, you needed to make an appointment in order to discuss the closing of your safety deposit box!".

Husband, "What is there to discuss - I want to close the safety deposit box".

Man/banker - blank look in his eye - then realizing that that made sense!  He told my husband he was supposed to be at lunch (sigh...), but would take a whole 5 minutes of his time and make him sign the piece of paper.

Man/banker, "Is your box empty?"

Husband, "Yes".

Man/banker, "We need to make sure, I will go down with you and verify that it is empty".

Husband, thinking to himself, 'suit yourself'.

They go downstairs and he opens up the box and low and behold IT'S EMPTY!

Husband, "Whoa!!!Where are my gold bullions?"

Man/banker - sort of laughing!

Husband, "When you find my bullions, you let me know!"

France, you've got to have a sense of humor!

TYPICAL PARIS

OK, here's another bitch about Paris - especially, its people!

This morning, I had 2 moving company 'suits' come to the appartment to give us a quote on how many days and how much the move would cost, etc...

The first guy:  "Oh! You have Le Creuset  pots.  I'm sure you can't find that in America - hee, hee, hee".    Me (what I wished I'd said): "No, we don't.  We only have hot dog and hamburger pans" - What I did say, "You know, some Americans do cook.  And, yes, Le Creuset has made its way to the 'new world'.  You know that Le Creuset is  now owned by the English?"  (hee, hee, hee).

Second moving guy:  "Well, no, you can't bring back any food, although I'll tell you that most French people moving to America do bring a lot of coffee".  Me:  "I really like Starbucks".  Him: "Ugh!  I hate Starbucks.  They give you this big jug of dirty water!"  Me:  "You know that you can ask for the small  size AND tell them to add extra shots!"  DUH!!!

Went to lunch with the Teen - she's at home sick.  That lunch, with the Teen, is a whole other blog post...  :0

Anywho!  We are sitting outside on a terrasse.  I ask to put the heaters on because I'm cold.  The man, sitting beside us, 10 minutes later, calls the waiter over and whispers something in his ear.... The waiter looks up at the heater - oh! oh!  The waiter looks around and is dumbfounded about what to do?  Do I move the old, cranky guy or do I move the silent mom and teen duo?  He's looking around, ... what to do?  what to do?  Me, being the polite North American, tells the waiter that I don't mind if they close the heater.  The old guy, doesn't even look at me - doesn't thank me, nothing.  And after they say we are 'barbarians' - HA!  That's what I say to that.  This is when I'm glad to be going home - to decent, polite, friendly people.  And, a damn good bbqed hamburger!!! Yeah, baby, that's what I'm talking about!!!

PLUMBING ISSUES...

SECOND UPDATE:

Today is a holiday - May Day (end of WWII).  No plumber, yet, to be seen.  I have a guest arriving on Sunday, please send good wishes that nothing happens to the temporary fix, during next week!  Oh! and by the way, the concierge told me that the management office had not 'oked' the work to be done, yet, so the plumbers could not be dispatched to our apt.  Geez, I wonder what it takes for them to ok a job?

 

UPDATE:

They didn't show up yesterday, nor today.  They may  come next week!  Remember that this is a temporary fix.  Hope it holds up!

I'll keep you posted...

On Monday afternoon, my 'work-aholic' (this is a god-send, when you have a 9 yo boy who scooters down the hallway!), downstairs neighbor came up to tell me that it was 'raining' in her kitchen!  That I must have a leak somewhere.  I did get my dishwasher fixed by my concierge the week before, maybe it was leaking again!

I called the concierge, to check out the situation.  In fact, there was a lot of water coming through the ceiling in her kitchen.  The concierge came back upstairs to let me know that something was 'up'.  We checked out the dishwasher, but that didn't seem to be the problem - so I emptied the bottom of my sink, took out the 'faux' wall and saw that a pipe was leaking down into the neighbors kitchen.  A plumber was called and he showed up at 7:30PM (which is close to a miracle, here in France).  He did fix the leak - all is well, right?  Well,....

Next day - the cleaning lady yells from the kitchen that there is a lot of water in the kitchen!  Oy vey!  What now!!!  The hot water pipe near my washer/dryer (yes, they're in my kitchen - one on top of another), busted a leak.  Water was coming out in a jet, from the pipe, onto my appliances, kitchen counter, and floor! 

I tell my cleaning lady to (1) get the concierge and (2) tell her to shut the water off.  The concierge arrives in the apartment and tells me that there are so many shut-off valves downstairs, that she doesn't know which one to turn in order to shut off my water (I think a few minutes with a plumber, some labels and a string, would do the job of getting to know which handle turns off what water supply - does that sound like a good/effective idea to you?).    She tries to turn it off in the apartment, but the handle has been ripped off, and it doesn't work (are you surprised?).

She calls the management firm that handles this building.  It's 12:30 - guess what, they're at lunch and won't be back until 2PM.  No emergency number, nothing!  She calls the plumbing company - they're at lunch also, but she does have an emergency number for them.  They cannot send a plumber to the building, until the management office  'ok's'  the problem.  NOW, WE HAVE A PROBLEM!  She tells the concierge that she has a plumber 'ready for action', as soon as she gets the fax from the management office.   I'm not even going to waste my time commenting on this!

Let me give you a picture - I'm standing on a ladder, with a towel around the leak, holding a bucket - water is dripping on the kitchen floor.  I have put towels there, to minimize the damage!  The towels are soaking wet within 5 minutes.  The bucket gets filled-up every 10 minutes or so.  I take the heavy bucket and empty it out in the sink, run back up the ladder and keep doing this for   one hour  and a half  -  because they're at lunch, remember!  Two o'clock comes around, still no answer (because, here in France, 2 o'clock, really means 2:10 - 2:15).  She finally gets them on the phone at 2:20.  The plumber gets here at 2:45.  My top is soaking wet.  I kept a dry towel on top of my soaked dryer, to wipe my face, because, when I emptied the bucket (every 10-15 minutes) and let go of the protective towel, water would spray everywhere.  He finally stopped the leak.  He didn't fix it properly, because he said he didn't have time today, but would put in an 'emergency situation' call in for me, for it to be fixed a.s.a.p. (now, how many days/weeks do you think a.s.a.p.  actually means, here in France?  We'll see!  I'll keep you updated!).

I hardly slept yesterday, because I was sure another leak would 'pop-up'.  I have to say that this is my second one in a year.  Same pipe, different leak.  They will, apparently, put in an emergency handle to stop the water flow (innovative idea!), and they will replace the part of the pipe that has the leak (remember that this is the second time they replace a part of the pipe!).  They said they would do it, maybe today, probably tomorrow - Friday is a holiday.  And, I have guests arriving on Sunday, for the week. 

Wish me luck - because at this point, I literally feel like throwing in the towel!

TYPICAL SATURDAY

The honey and I went to 'La Martine', a book & gift shop, to find a graduation present for our niece.  We couldn't agree on the color, so we agreed on calling her mother.  He went back to the apartment and I went on to Monoprix.  I always bring my handy-dandy caddy to carry all my groceries.

 

We leave the caddy at the entrance, do our shopping and come back to the cash register, pick up our caddy and fill it up - quite a nice system..... until, someone takes your caddy!  When I got to the cash register, I realized that my caddy was no where to be found.  Although, I did notice that a similar one was a bit further off - maybe the person made a mistake (I drew flowers on my caddy and put our last name on the back of the handle... but, anyhow....).  I say to the cashier, "I think someone took my caddy by mistake, because this one looks just like my caddy (except for the flowers and the name)".  She says, "Well, take that one and when the person calls to say that she took the wrong caddy we will call you - give me your name and phone number".

So off I am with someone elses caddy.  I call up the Monoprix to also give them my cell phone number.  The 'receptionist' cuts me off (if you've read my blog before, you'll notice that this happens often!) and says, "No, the cashier never makes a mistake with the caddies".  OK, that is  NOT  the problem!!!  I repeat very slowly and clearly with all the minute details for her to totally understand what I am simply trying to do (give her my cell phone number!).  "I   went   to   your   store   a few   minutes   ago,  and when   I had   done   paying for    my groceries,   I realized    that    someone   had   mistakenly   taken my    caddy.   The cashier  told me    to take   the   caddy  that   looked   like    mine    and   she took my    name and    number.......    I     am     calling    to     also    give   you   my    cell     phone     number".    (Comprende, amiga?).   "Oh!  Ok, I'll take your number".   You need to understand that, in France,  it is never their fault - whoever and for whatever.  You have to understand this before you ever open your mouth to anyone, about anything.  So that was settled!   Do you think I'll get a call.... stay tuned!  I had my nice wine bag in there.  We'll see if that's still in there, if I do get my caddy back!  My only saving grace is that the caddy that she gave me is newer than mine!

When I got home and told my husband the story, he said, "Wow, that's complicated!  (and your point is?  - me thinking).   What if that caddy belonged to someone still in the store?  What if the person doesn't remember where she actually picked up your caddy?  What if the person is lives far away and was visiting a friend?...."  You get the picture! 

I then did some laundry.  My washing machine leaked water.  You have to empty and clean your filter here.  Yes, on the washing machine.  When the filter is full of 'gunk', the machine will leak from the bottom.  Nice!!!  So, that was that for the wash.  I cleaned the filter this morning.  Hope it doesn't leak (fingers crossed).

We called Domino's yesterday for dinner.  "I have a coupon, number C5-"   "Pardon?  You have a what?"  "I have a coupon, C  5  4  4".  "Oh!  a coupon!  For the 3 pizzas?"  "Yes".  "Yes, what pizzas?"  "One margharita, one margharita with pepperoni..."  "Two margharitas, one margharita with pepperoni - coka or coka light?"  "No, one margharita, one margharita with pepperoni and one double steak"   "That's 4 pizzas, you'll have to pay for that extra one"  (Again, very slowly - and I speak the language!)  "ONE margharita,      ONE  margharita with pepperoni  and ONE  double steak"  "OK  one margharita, one margharita with pepperoni and one double steak"  "YES!"  (Hallelluja!!!)  "Coka or coca light?"  "Coca light" (diet coke for North Americans).  Here I am,  hesitating to order the 'cheesy bread'.   "And 2 cheesy breads"  "2 cheesy breads" -  YES!  I think, after all that, he's got it!   Where's my glass of wine?  And make it a double!

PS:  Oh!  Did I forget to mention that the elevator door doesn't work on our  floor - only on our floor. 

VISIT: BANKS OF THE SEINE RIVER

Today was my last visit.  Our visit consisted of the banks of the Seine River. We walked from the, 'Pont Neuf' metro (line 7) and ended at the 'Sully-Morland' metro (line 7).

Here is a statue of Henry IV (King of France 1500/1600's):

This a reproduction statue.  The French tore down the original statue, during the revolution and melted the bronze for ammunition.  There is one, original horses' foot, on display, at the 'Cluny Museum'.

 

He ruled in the 16 hundreds and he loved architecture.  He wanted Paris to be as 'modern' as the other cities: Rome, Bologna, etc... So, he put a lot of focus on Parisian architecture.  Here is a typical 'Henry IV' building - a mix of stone and brick (an actual building from that era):

 

If you walk 'down' the Pont Neuf you will arrive at the place where all the 'bateaux mouche' leave to visit Paris via the Seine.  If you look at one particular side of the bridge you will see these 'water gods', protecting the city:

 

 

The studio/apartment of Henri Matisse.  This is where he lived and painted - the apartment with all the windows.  On the left bank, near the Pont Neuf.

 

As we walked along the Seine, I was taken aback by this beautiful wooden bridge:

 

Notre-Dame de Paris - in all her glory:

 

In this picture, notice how the top 'rose' is not the same as the bottom one (yes, I know, one is bigger! - No, not that difference!).  During the revolution, Notre-Dame was nearly completely destroyed.  They even thought of tearing it down to make the city more, 'modern' (!).  Victor Hugo, the author, at that time, thought that the idea of tearing down a middle-age masterpiece was just wrong, so he wrote, "Notre-Dame de Paris" (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, for English readers).  The book was an instant hit, and people started coming to Paris,  just to visit and pay to see this, now famous, decrepit cathedral.  With this money, the city was able to rebuild the cathedral.  Thank you, Victor Hugo!

Now, we're back to the 'roses'.  The bottom one is a newer stained-glass (18-19 hundreds).  Notice how the line of the 'rose' is top to bottom and side to side.  In the middle-ages they didn't do 'straight' lines.  The rose has more of a flow to it, compared to the bottom one.  The bottom one seems 'static' compared to the top one.  I like the top one better - middle-age is good  ;)

 

 

 

When walking in Paris, you may see a few bases that used to house statues.  During the revolution, these bronze statues were melted down to be used as ammunition.  These are what the bare bases look like:

 

 

Here is our wonderful tour guide.  He has taught me so many things! Thank you!!!

 

BHV

This past February, BHV (a big department store here in France), had it's 'white sale' (linen and towel sale).  Honey and I decided that it was time to change our bedding, so I headed out to BHV - metro Hotel de Ville, on Rivoli.  I spotted a nice linen set that the other half and I would like and came back with him on a Saturday because we needed the car to bring home the bed sheets, duvet cover, new duvet, bedspread, etc...

That Saturday, we spent over 1,000 Euros on linens and towels.  I got new towels for the Teen and the Little Guy because the Teen uses 2 CLEAN towels a day (!) - one for her body and the other for her hair - so, often times, the other half and I were left with 0 towels!  Her towels are pink and the Little Guy's towels are blue - our's are white.  Everyone is happy now!

We bought a whole new set of bedding stuff for our bed.  The fitted sheet and the bedspread had to be ordered, they didn't have it in stock, but the young man told us, "no problem, you can get this first batch delivered and when we get your fitted sheet and bedspread, we will deliver that".  I had - after living here for nearly 3 years - the instinct of getting everything delivered at once, but, hey! I let it go and trusted the young sales clerk (mistake).

We got our first delivery - no problem!  Then last weekend, my husband gets the call that our 'back order' stuff has arrived.  I call them up and ask them to deliver the bedspread and fitted sheet.  She tells me that I haven't paid for THAT delivery - I then try to explain that the young man said that...  She cuts me off and tells me that I haven't paid for the delivery.  I try to explain, .....   She again cuts me off - and of course, using a TONE.  I then yell at her - yes, yell at her, "Please stop interrupting me and listen to what I have to say".  I then tell her what happened and she says, "Not only did you not pay for the delivery, but you didn't pay for the bedspread and fitted sheet!!".   WHAT???!!!!!   I get so upset.  I tell her, "after 3 years of living here, I knew I would SOMEHOW get bad service.  I should be used to it by now, but I am not.  Why didn't the cashier charge me for those articles?"  "I don't know?  But I will make sure that when you pick it up, you still get your 'sale' price." (said, smugly).  I tell her, "of course, you will give me the sale price, that is when I ordered it! and should have been charged for it".  No, she is doing ME a favor!!   I did get a call later that day, from a sales clerk, saying that if we wanted other sheets from that collection, I would be granted that sales price for those items also.

Anyhow, Honey went to get our 'stuff' and I asked him to buy an extra set of sheets and pillows.  He gets there (with a towel, from the delivery.   They forgot to take the 'theft' knob off and that is impossible to take off!) and goes to the linen section.  He calls me back and says that he didn't buy the extra set of sheets and pillows because they treated him like a thief - like he wanted to steal that bedspread.  He said, "I'm not going to buy extra stuff from them when they treat me like dirt!"  I say, "Welcome to my world!".  Because of the bad service - yes, we did initially spend quite a lot of money at BHV -  BUT, we were willing to spend more and didn't.  Don't the sales people realize that WE are paying their salary?  If we don't shop there anymore the store closes.   

Here lies the problem - if you lose your job, in France, you still get a salary for quite a while (it's virtually impossible to fire someone, even if they are incompetent).  Big PROBLEMO!!

My husband and I often ask ourselves, "what happened to them in their 'childhood' or adulthood that they treat people like this?".  If someone has the answer, it would be greatly appreciated.

In my Japanese lesson, we are learning how to ask for items in a department store.  My Japanese teacher told us, "the customer in Japan is 'God' - no higher than 'God'". 

Isn't that the way it's supposed to be? 

MONTPARNASSE AND THE "MUSEE BOURDELLE"

Today, our tour group visited the Montparnasse area and the "Musee Bourdelle" - named after the sculpture, Antoine Bourdelle.

We started our tour in Montparnasse, at the metro Vavin (line 4).  Our tour guide pointed out some good restaurants in the area - he should know he lives in the area.  Here are a few of his favorites:

Restaurant Wadja, 10 rue de la Grande-Chaumiere, 75006.  Typical French fair - very good apparently:

 

If your hankering for some GOOD Argentinian  beef - Les Grillades de Buenos Aires -  54 rue du Montparnasse 75014.

 

La Creperie Bretonne- 56 rue du Montparnasse 75014.   We had lunch here and the choices are spectacular.  The caramel crepe we had for dessert was terrific.  I had a nice 'red' beer that is brewed in Brittany and my friend had the 'blond' beer.  Both were quite good and complemented the chorizo, cheese crepe we had for lunch.

 

We then went to the Musee Bourdelle.  Antoine Bourdelle was a student of Rodin.  The museum is interesting because it was his studio and  his house.  So basically, you are visiting 'his place'.  The works of art, especially the sculptures, are very impressive.

 

I'm not a religious person, by any means, although I thought this sculpture of 'Mary and Jesus' was just beautiful.  It turns out that the model for 'Mary' was his wife and the model for 'Jesus' was his daughter.

 

'HERACLES THE ARCHER' one of his most popular works of art.  Notice the closest archer - it's the plaster version.  Now look at the one that is farther away, outside.  The one outside has been done in bronze, using this actual plaster version.

 

The guide didn't talk about this sculpture - I think it has such a sweet, innocent face.  I fell in love with it instantly! 

 

MUSEE BOURDELLE

18, rue Antoine Bourdelle
75015 Paris
Standard : 01 49 54 73 73

 http://www.paris.fr/portail/Culture/Portal.lut?page_id=6408

LE SALON DES VINS... WOW!!!

 

 www.vigneron-independant.com/index.php?entrer=1

Yesterday I went to the wine show with a friend and her husband, who's a wine nut and connaiseur.   I can't believe we've been living in Paris for nearly 3 years and haven't been to one of these!  It was so much fun and quite interesting.  I'm glad I went with someone who knows about wine and just doesn't like to drink it - like I do!  My honey was home sick, with a bad cold.  My friend said he must really be under the weather to miss such an event... he was, but is feeling much better today.  I think the day spent relaxing with the little guy did him (and the little guy) a lot of good.

We got a few goodies at the salon:

Some Chateau Pipeau (Bordeau), Chateau Pontac-Lynch (Bordeau), Chateau Les Tuileries (Bordeau), Chateau La Tour Blanche (Sauternes), Chateau Les Amoureuses (Cote du Rhone). 

We should be good for a week  ;)

But being 'amateurs' of the salon, we hadn't come prepared like the 'pros', so we had to buy, not 1, but 2 trollies in order to carry the wine back to the car...

BRING ON THE NEXT SALON!!!

Today the little guy and my honey went to the "Body" exhibit.  The little guy said he wanted to 'barf' during the entire visit - he said it was really gross.  The other half thought it was really interesting and would love to go again!  I might venture there with him, although I'm a bit like the little guy - or maybe the little guy is a bit like me, in the sense that it may also gross me out!

http://www.ourbodyacorpsouvert.com/accueil.php

I went to another 'foire'/brocante/antiquites with the same friend I went to the wine salon.  We didn't find anything to our liking today - maybe next time...

CUSTOMER SERVICE IN PARIS - YES, I KNOW AN OXYMORON WHEN I SEE ONE!

The other half bought a printer that, obviously prints documents from the computer but, also prints photos, scans, etc...  He bought it at Darty - a big electronics chain here in France.  To get cartridges of ink, for this 'all-in-one' printer, is like looking for ice cubes in the sahara desert.  You would think that since the store sells the product, it would also sell all of its 'accoutrements'.  NOPE.  Well, ... maybe, ... sometimes.  You have to roll with the punches here, folks...

A friend of mine came to live in Paris a few years ago and told me this story.  It has never left me and has been quite helpful from time to time.  She tells me that she wants to get a telephone for the apartment.  She calls up the company to ask what papers she needs in order to get a phone and a line connection.  The company tells her she needs this and that paper - id, passport, lease of the apartment, grade 1 report card (no, I'm kidding on that one ;)  ), etc....  She goes, with all the papers that they said she would need to get said phone and line.  She stands in line.... waits ..... waits...... waits.....waits (you get the picture).  She finally gets to the first available cashier.  He says she is missing, 'the other paper!' (WHAT????!!!!!).  She is very mad.  She gets back in line and (luckily) gets another cashier (the other one is out on a cigarette break ;)  ).  All is good, she gets her phone and her line.  Moral of story - nothing is simple, here. 

So I call Darty this morning, 10am - time of opening - not a good idea, because not all employees have arrived.  I ask the gentleman if he has said cartridges for my printer (I make the mistake of saying 'cassette' for 'cartouche' - that threw him waaaayyyyy off, he couldn't concentrate on what was needed after the 'cassette' word).  He put me on line and just sat there, saying to himself, "cassette? cassette?", came back to me and said that they did not have said cartridge.

I let 15 minutes go by.

During those 15 minutes, I call another Darty and she tells me that they have the pink, blue and yellow cartidge, but not the black.  I call the said  printers 'boutique' store, here in Paris, they tell me they don't have said cartridges (WHAT?).  Can I order  the cartridges from your store?  No (pas possible).   He says I need to google the cartidge number and see where I can purchase them (WHAT?) - I am now at a lose, really.  

Then .... I think of my friend.....

I call the first Darty store again and, thank god, I get another person on the line (not that it's important, but it's a woman this time ;)  ).  Again, I ask for the 'cartouche' (staying away from the whole 'cassette' fiasco).  She puts me on hold - I wait, hold my breath.... 

"YES, we have said 'cartouche'" -  Wow, did they just get a shipment of cartridge's within 15 minutes?!

Moral of story - nothing is simple here.