The Metro: “Normal”?

Even though I have not in the 7 months so far learned to full on “love” the Metro here in Paris--or public transport for that matter--I’ve come to at least appreciate the importance and fact that the Metro takes considerable part in Parisian culture and daily life. I also have to say that frequenting the rail-like animal (indeed depending on it) has given me different perspectives on a lot, as well as prime people watching. :)

The “Metro” consists of 14 main lines within just the city itself, a couple of shorter off-shoots ("bis" lines) and then the “RER” trains that run in both Paris central and the “banlieues”--the immediate area outside and surrounding Paris proper. Also, there are a few peripheral “trams” that have begun to spring up (which I like because they are above ground) and then some other banlieue trains that have letters that I haven’t figured out yet.... Anyway, all of this ends up looking something like this:



Then, across the Channel, London, England has it’s own counterpart to the Metro known as the “Tube”. (This might seem a random statement, but please bear with):



My point: I particularly enjoy the contrast between the two systems. I find that these two maps are prime examples of A) an Anglophone approach and way of thinking (the camp to which, come to realize, I most decidedly belong) vs. B) the Francophone approach and/or way of thinking. Or the other way around if you so wish. In sum: if Anglophones are a “grid” the Francophones are a “web”.

I find this fascinating. There has been so much about this culture that I has taken me by surprise and I’ve found myself “judging” it in a way, almost immediately. “That’s weird” I’ve thought, so often. It's painful to admit.

I remember saying once, it kind of popping out of my mouth (coming from who-knows-where) that there was “No such thing as 'weird' or 'normal'. Only ‘customary’ and ‘uncustomary’ according to what one is ‘accustomed’ to.” I said this and then thought about it for a long time! I really think this is true.

There have been so many times when I’ve experienced situations or happenings or interactions here across the pond after which I’ve struggled in my "Anglophone" or more precisely American mind to not write off as “weird”. Even though I think it will take a long time to erase the word from my vocabulary, I am beginning to wonder if the word “weird” isn’t often a slightly (or not so slightly) arrogant judgment call. To call something “weird” and i.e.“not normal” is so alarmingly subjective.

I look at these Metro maps and smile. Indeed, both are effective. I’ve experienced and used both of them. I know they both work, and well. In just about every way they behave according to the same principles and both accomplish the same thing--just through completely different approaches and each with their own particular nuances. Both approaches work, they're just different.

I love this these graphics because they put so succinctly something I’ve learned a lot about this year: if I think that something is “weird” it’s probably because it’s different than what I’m used to and outside of either 1) my comfort zone or 2) my realm of experience or 3) my cultural paradigms. I’ve also found that I learn so much more and appreciate my circumstances here and this deep run culture more if I stop and take the time to appreciate how the “weird” thing might just be “different” and “uncustomary” to me instead of just stopping at “weird”. And sometimes I find out I actually prefer the "weird" way. Interesting. :)

This is an approach I want to take home with me. It's not as easy as the former approach. I think it'll be a life-long journey integrating this mentality into life, but it's a good one, methinks. Indeed, the approach I’ll take with me, but I’ll be excited to see my car too. Me and the Metro are OK with each other now, but I love my Subaru. I’m looking forward to sleeping in the back of it out in the woods. :)

Update: May :)

I took a look at my “France” blog yesterday and remarked two things about my last entry: first, that it was over a month ago, and second that it was about some philosophical/emotional parallel about tears and rain. Uh, I remember very well what I felt like when I wrote it, but I decided that maybe it was time to update for both of the above aspects mentioned. My disposition has changed a lot, even in the last week.

For Easter vacation at mid-end of April Jake and Lydia Larson were here in Paris for a few days (we had a BLAST) and Abby joined up with us and then she and I took off to Italy and Greece for a 10 day cruise. Being over here in Europe has truly afforded me some really cool opportunities to see the continent, and I feel that I’ve been able to take decent advantage of that. I love that part so much. I made sure to post pictures of all of said adventures, though there are many of them--I ended up taking about 800 pictures in two weeks! I’m LOVING my new camera and figuring it out. :) Here are just a few:











Also, the cruise was apparently just what I needed as far as rest. I slept so much. I have never been one to nap, and I napped every day, slept in every day....apparently I was more exhausted that I thought. As a result, in coming back to Paris, I have felt so much better physically, and even mentally! I say mentally, because another thing I’ve noticed coming back to Paris this time, is that my French has very much improved. It has been coming to my mind and tongue so much easier and I’m feeling, really, really rewarded by that. (After all, that was what this whole experience was supposed to be about in the first place!) I had a French friend compliment me the other day, saying I had almost “no more accent”. This was an overstatement, but still made my week, even if she exaggerated. :) Anyway, I was trying to imagine why all of the sudden something had clicked, and I think that, once again, it was just a matter of rest. Wow, I’ll never understate the power of “repos” again!

I’m back to school and I’m back to nannying, but one thing that has changed at home is that the woman in whose home I reside has left for the summer. She left on Saturday. I’ve mentioned her before and have probably characterized her as a little eccentric and quite particular. Overall, something that I’ve learned about French culture is that it is not particularly encouraging and verbally affirmative--but I didn’t realize how much of a presence she was for me until she left. Until now, home has been more stressful than I was aware because I was rather living on tiptoes and in fear of getting scolded by her. Now I can use the oven and microwave to my heart’s content and do as much laundry as I desire and even leave my computer plugged into the wall when I’m gone. This dynamic too, surprisingly, has added to my state of feeling a lit bit more relaxed and rested. Amazing. It’s just me and Nicolas now, and we get along great. :)

Also, I think I’ve mentioned it before but, if I didn’t already know that I’m a relationally oriented individual, this experience has confirmed it. The hardest part of this experience is being so far away at such a time difference from everyone I love. What’s really cool about these last couple of months here, is that I’m now beginning to enjoy some relationships that it’s taken a bit to build and it just makes me smile to look at my calendar and see it fill up with my old friends that are coming and my new friend’s incredibly kind and increasingly ubiquitous invitations. I’m loving this stage. And this home stretch is going to be busy. In a good way.

On Sunday I spent a really wonderful day with a friend from school and her family. She and her husband had just gotten back from New York City over Easter break and surprised me by bringing out these treats, which I hadn’t seen in a long time! :D


Also, here are some pics that me and the kids that I babysit took one day when we were goofing off with my computer. They make me smile.




Oh yeah! One more thing. Today I got a new pair of shoes. And it feels really good to be smiling. Here’s to May!