After a long conversation and some thinking...here's my thought for tonight. I'm sure i'm not the first to have said this, but I haven't seen it anywhere, so from now on, it's a Sanjiv Original:

It's hard to change yourself, but even harder to change someone else.

So i was in brussels last weekend to visit my former work-mate and friend (she's still my friend, i think) allecia. It was a ton of fun. I was interested in seeing Brussels, since I've been reading a ton about the EU here, and so i was interested. Plus, brussels was touted as a mini paris. Good Food, Cultural Relevance, Good Shopping, No French. So i signed up.
It definitely delivered. Not only was allecia a most accomodatnig hostess (and stll with the ribald sense of humor), i really enjoyed the city (despite the cold and the freezing rain). For one, they have cheap beer (nice coming from france) that's really, really potent. Two, they have fries that make me think we need to stop selling french fries in the US and switch over to the belgian variety (thus ending the freedom fries debate - two birds, one stone). Three, they have a fountain of a boy peeing. Three they ahve excellent museums (the Musee de Beaux-Art rivals the louvre in comprehensive art history - if a little belgian-themed. But i digress). Four, they have waffles that taste good plain (I had two in one day). Five, hey also have mussels, and are less arrogant about them.
Anyway, it was a great time, capped off by a wonderful meal at a fine belgian establishment where i was not only able to have the classic bistro steak frites, but also a tuna roll. Which is okkay in my book.
Now if i could just get over this damn cold....

So lots of news today. Be prepared.
First, for those of you that miss me, world currency markets and family demands have conspired to cut short my little European adventure - and I will be returning to chicago this coming friday. I expect a parade, and perhaps many of the department stores to hold gigantic sales heralding my return.
Second, If i never have to take a marseille bus again, it will be too soon. Today, on the "jetbus" it took over 45 minutes to get from the train station to campus. 45 minutes. It wouldn't have been so bad, but i was teamed up against by a dirty frenchman who refused to move away into an open space, and an accident on the road. in america, they usually move the accident off the road as soon as possible, or close off the lane in advance. Not here. Here, the bus waits behind the accident until the tow truck takes the car away. Grr.
Third, I feel really, really bad for some of our professors here. today, in my HR class, we had to give presentations on books that were assigned to us at the beginning of the semester for various reasons, including the laziness of french students, only my group (of 2) and one other was prepared. Leaving 5 groups (of over 6 people each) without preparation. The prof flipped out and left the class one hour early. it was terrible. And the french, didn't care one bit.
Andrea has been visiting the last week - and, she has been cooking dinner. Fantastic - no cooking for me. I love it.
Talk to, and see some of you, soon.
--Sanjiv

30 Dates a Day!

So the month of ramadan has made the supply of Dates in Marseille
plentiful. The local grocer has stocked dates by the cash register, and
they have managed to catch mr. nopulos' eye. So much that he's been
eating about a pack of dates a day - over 30 dates a day. After about
two weeks of watching this date-a-palooza, we finally looked up the
nutritional value. Turns out, Nick's eating about 700 calories of dates
a day! For those needing more description - that's a double quarter
pounder with cheese. Per day! All sugar. Crazy.

My First European Football Game

So it's a little cold in Marseille right now - the wind is whipping up
something fierce. But, being of hardy chicago stock, i put on my hat
(don't have the same coverage there as i did in my youth) and went off
to Stade Velodrome to see the ever-mighty Olympique Marseille take on
Strasbourg. It was a lot of fun. When OM scored a goal, fans would set
off flares in the stands. Although, i was suprised at how rudimentary
the scoreboard and advertising int he stadium was. No game clock, no
video replays, just a board with the score and the time - it was like
old soldier field. And, there was no ads in the stadium, leave the ones
that ring the pitch. The concourse, the overhangs - nothing. Crazy. OM
won, which was great, and we hit up a kebab stand later, which was
almost better (okay, it was). All in all, similar to a cubs game, but
without the beer vendors (another thing - no beer or concessions! Even
knock-off t-shirt vendors were non-existent). I think i prefer the
cubs, but OM is my new football team. Allez!

My First Televised OM Game

So tonight several of us went to a local pub to watch the local
football team, Olympique Marseille, take on arch-nemesis Paris-Saint
Germain. It was a lot of fun. The Marseille fans were pretty excited,
even though the team played like pansies and lost in the second half.
Either way, it was a good run up to saturday, when i'll be attending my
first european football game. Should be great. When OM scores a goal,
the fans shoot flares into the sky and stands. Dangerous, but exciting.

Random Musings....

So bush has won, and the whole of europe still exists. Good news, i
think.
This past weekend, I visited some fellow pepperdiners in montpellier, a
small city (pop. 250K) about 90 minutes train ride from Marseille.
There is a quote that the Marseille tourist office uses to describe
marseille - "It's not a city, it's a shock." After seeing Montpellier,
i have to agree. Montpellier seemed to be the charming town that we
read about, imagine and picture. Small, quaint, and walkable. But with
a whole different side as well - Montpellier is also a huge college
town - so about 25% of the population is college aged - and from many
parts of the world. So it's young and energetic, but truly French. We
partied with Jared and Jason all weekend, and met some fo their
friends. interestingly enough, there are about 2000 swedish exchange
students (70% female), and J&J seem to know all of them. No problems
with that for me....
Regardless a good time was had by all.
This weekend is a marseille weekend. We're off to watch L'Olympique
Marseille (the local football team) take on Strasbourg in a Ligue 1
match. Should be fun. Anyhoo, various personal events and exhaustion
are conspiring to keep me from blogging very much, so if you'll excuse
me, I'll be signing off now.
-

Bush Wins?!?

So the funniest thing i've heard in the last two days - other than the
regular nick nopulos commentary, has to have been the European reaction
to this election. First, their abject confusion at the Electoral College
(which after i explained, caused some city people to be like "Why would
the farmers get to choose president?"). Then, today, the shock of
bush's victory ("if you told me four months ago that bush would win, i
would not believe it") and their confusion at american voting ("Why do
americans vote for bush when they know europe does not like him") to
which i responded - Do you like it when americans tell you what to do?
Then why do you think americans would like it if europeans told them
what to do? Good times.
I seem also to have firmed up an image as "The American" in most of my
classes, as even my professors are looking for comment from me. Which
prings me to another point: I came to france to broaden my perspective,
and see how business and life is lived elsewhere. And, I have to say,
that I really enjoy my professors, because they are not afraid to say
why and when american business or culture is screwed up. And because of
the international make-up of the teachers, they're also not afraid to
say when france or europe have screwed up rules. Although at first, i
was feeling quite defensive about american business - "You think we're
bad? Your banks are closed from 11:30 to 1!" - i'm coming to appreciate
their perspective and points of view - and can see places where america
can and should improve.
But in matters of politics, I'm as convinced as ever that our
unilateralism, while unfortunate, may be our only option. I don't know
if you've been following, but the EU confirmation hearings have been a
disaster, with these countries just plotting against each other to
bring down each other's nominees. There is no "One Europe" - and when
Bush can recruit GB, Spain, Italy, and yes, Poland to our causes, then
it's okay that france and germany are left out - it's not like it's one
country or anything.
Anyway that's all.
Until later...

Back from Barcelona

Was in barcelona this weekend - another fantastic city. After a little
difficulty getting the chinese member of our crew across the border, we
settled in and saw some wonderful modernista architecture - including
the Sagrada Familia cathedral, and the Casa Batllo - both conceived by
Gaudi, a famous architect in Barcelona. Probably the coolest things we
did involved going out to see the bars and clubs. There are some GREAT
clubs in that town. One night, we went to an old dance hall that was
playing salsa and cha-cha music, and then at about 2 am, it turned into
a youthful dance club with great music and a totally different crowd. It
was really interesting to see that change from the older people in the
beginning of the night, to the young crazies later. And then the
costumed maniacs that went on stage at 6 am (our cue to leave).
Other exciting things - Picasso Museum, Contemporary Art museum (in
general, i don't understand contemporary art - can someone inform me? I
always feel like the artists are just making fools of us), Different
plazas and fountains.
We also spent time with Sotiris - who put us up for the weekend. Quite
generous of us, and continued to reaffirm my belief that greek people
may be the greatest in the world. He also informed me that the Greeks
actually discovered america in 300 bc, but thought it was worthless, so
they left.
anyway, today is election day, so i'm sure i'll have more thoughts
later.

Back from Barcelona

Was in barcelona this weekend - another fantastic city. After a little
difficulty getting the chinese member of our crew across the border, we
settled in and saw some wonderful modernista architecture - including
the Sagrada Familia cathedral, and the Casa Batllo - both conceived by
Gaudi, a famous architect in Barcelona. Probably the coolest things we
did involved going out to see the bars and clubs. There are some GREAT
clubs in that town. One night, we went to an old dance hall that was
playing salsa and cha-cha music, and then at about 2 am, it turned into
a youthful dance club with great music and a totally different crowd. It
was really interesting to see that change from the older people in the
beginning of the night, to the young crazies later. And then the
costumed maniacs that went on stage at 6 am (our cue to leave).
Other exciting things - Picasso Museum, Contemporary Art museum (in
general, i don't understand contemporary art - can someone inform me? I
always feel like the artists are just making fools of us), Different
plazas and fountains.
We also spent time with Sotiris - who put us up for the weekend. Quite
generous of us, and continued to reaffirm my belief that greek people
may be the greatest in the world. He also informed me that the Greeks
actually discovered america in 300 bc, but thought it was worthless, so
they left.
anyway, today is election day, so i'm sure i'll have more thoughts
later.