Still without money. ATM card that was supposed to arrive Monday is still not here. So, I freaked out a bit and asked my TA to help with cash, since my bank won't give me any more free Western Union wires (not that I don't understand). Turns out that the online prices were WAY OFF for the Centre Pompidou. Instead of $285 for the visit, it was $75. Couldn't have been happier. We had a great guide--take note, Tammy and Sarah...M. Font était superbe--he made the students laugh and the whole tour was a class--what they got out of modern art. He gave enough detail to understand the paintings we looked at to be able to carry it to other works. Same amount of time as at the Musée d'Orsay, but fewer works. We saw in detail no more than 8 and 1.5 hours, but it was so much better to have the Q&A, and the students rose to the occasion. He ended up giving the second half in French since there were no objections and the students requested it. They spoke French during the Q&A...although I must admit that it was the more advanced students.
I didn't have my camera with me since I gave it to a student at the Louvre last night. I had lower back spasms--which made for a fun walk on the marble floors, and had a cold. The Louvre is so poorly organized that I imagined the King asking his servants how to get about. Add to it that we had a wheel chair and it was abysmal !!!! Go down in this elevator, go through that corridor to get to a new elevator to go up to another floor, only to come back to the same wing to go down again. Elevators didn't go all the way through. I understand this, because there's respect for the building, but signage could have been a HELL of a lot better !!!! It took me 40 minutes to return the wheel chair and get to the meeting point, when literally I was no more than 100 yards from where I needed to be. The person in the wheelchair--who needs it for comfort and ease, since standing is too exhausting for her condition, gave up herself and decided to walk !!!
All that to say that I haven't seen the photos from last night, nor tonight. We left after seeing the only Pollock they had...an artist whom none of the guides had heard of in French, until I said it in English, only to have them repeat what I had said with a French pronunciation. Went for kebabs, but I decided not to have any since there was no lamb.
Came back to heat up pasta with kalamata olive paste, oil with basil (now stolen, since I forgot it in the kitchen last night--that's the second thing stolen from our group that I know of!) garlic and roasted red peppers. It was a full kitchen with laughter and fun. A group went out tonight because there's a boat with dancing on the Seine. Other stayed behind and did homework, and I have to say that it was wonderful. I love the one-on-one. It's such a nice teaching moment. I've thought about getting out of Academia all together, but nights like tonight make me question that. Put the cafetière on the stove, pull off the gloves, do some grammar and vocab with some wine and chocolate. It was great. I've thought quite a bit about moving to Europe during this trip. I think I fit in better over here. It's just the matter of a job.
Photos still won't upload, so I'm behind on that, but at least you have the Saint-Malo flag from the last trip...with its white ermine. I'll try to get new ones up, but the wireless here is far from healthy. Students uploaded photos yesterday, in batches of 12. It's the first time since they arrived that they've been able.
OK, time to check email and turn in soon.
Pax,
Stosh
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