I’m always amazed at how amazed I get. When we make plans – airlines, buses, hotels, etc – I’m usually the one who makes the arrangements. I know in great detail what’s coming – where we go, when we go, how we get there. But somehow, I find myself amazed when it actually happens.
The ferry out of Samos, the night bus to Istanbul, being in Istanbul, getting up at 3:15 am to go to the airport, saying goodbye to my wife and getting on an Alitalia flight to Rome and then on to Nice…at every step I’ve been amazed. It’s as if it’s all unfolding before my eyes – like a waking dream. Who makes a quick stop in Istanbul between Samos, Greece and Cannes, France? Apparently, I do. This has become my life. And it’s amazing.
We held hands all the way to the airport. We said goodbye at the check-in counters because our airlines were at opposite ends on the large international terminal and we weren’t sure if we would get to see each other on the other side of passport control. But I suspected we would.
Sure enough, Istanbul is like so many airports and the secured area for all the international flights is shared. So, I was able to walk to the area Emily came through and we were reunited. She even sang “Reunited” in her best Peaches voice.
But our reunion was fleeting – just enough time for coffee before I had to go to my gate. My flight was first and this time, goodbye was real. It was both sad and a little worrisome to leave Emily in the Istanbul airport and hope all went well for her flights. After all, I land in Nice before she even gets on her connecting flight from Munich to Los Angeles.
What I can say as I write this 40,000 feet above Eastern Europe is that Alitalia is so far better than expected. Sure, they didn’t announce the flight boarding and I learned that it was time from the hoard of Italians swarming the gate. But somehow I expected exactly that. These are people who pull up to espresso bars every morning and form violent mobs after lost soccer matches. But the nice, new airplane, friendly service and extra leg room was surprising.
The next two weeks, we will spend our first time apart since getting married – not just in different cities, but on different continents. I know that after ten years of marriage, there are people who would love to send their spouse to a different continent for a couple of weeks – but we haven’t been married that long and hopefully never will feel that way….
The time of course is more sweet than bitter because we’re going to places to do things we love. Emily gets to visit family, friends and most importantly, our nieces. She has a one and four-your-old combined birthday blow-out to attend.
Meanwhile, since i have to wait for her somewhere, I am going to visit my old friend, Cannes and hopefully we’ll catch up and have a great time. Cannes and I haven’t seen each other since December, 2007. A lot has happened in my life since then – although for Cannes that time is just a blink of an eye. Cannes is very popular and has a lot of friends, so she’s kept busy since then and probably hasn’t noticed that I – one of her greatest admirers – have been gone so long.
So, in light of the fact that I write 99.9 percent of this blog and am therefore, the narrator of our story, the blog will follow me to France as any sensible blog would. However, Emily’s travels and experiences these next two weeks are just as much a part of this story as mine, and I will do my best to incorporate everything I can of her story. Maybe I can even goad her into writing a post or two.
You’ll also have to suffer along with my photography. For the past month, Emily has taken most of our photos and the quality of our imagery has greatly improved. I will endeavor to capture the Cote d’Azur as best as possible.
This will also be the first leg – and perhaps the only for a good, long while – where English is not a predominant language. I have been constantly amazed at how much English people have spoken throughout our travels.
Nothing makes me feel more “Pax Americana” than seeing how everyone uses English as their international language. It is very common to see two or more people who are not native English speakers communicating in English. Signs, instructions, announcements are always in the native language and English. In Samos we also saw a lot of German signage and menus. But that was it. The people in the touristy areas of Istanbul amazed me with their fluency and comfortability in English. There was no struggle or challenge of any kind.
France is a country whose language once dominated Europe and the international scene. It was the language of the Russian court and numerous other European courts. French was the language of diplomacy and Paris and Versailles were where you signed treaties. From the glory of Louis XIV’s rein to the empire of Napoleon to the power of a french romanticism, impressionism and modernity throughout the 19th century – France suffered occasional setbacks, but never stopped dominating European and world culture. No one goes to Britain or America to study art and cuisine….
Accordingly, the French aren’t so smitten with the idea of English dominating the international scene and especially their homeland. To speak English casually and comfortably within the confines of France is to suffer an unnecessary defeat. The language of France is French and they will resist with all their might any attempts to subvert their culture and language.
That’s not to say they don’t learn English. They’re not stupid. The French won’t let learning a foreign language leave them behind in the world. They use it when traveling and conducting international business. They’ll even use it at their hotels. But no one is going to force English into their country and their daily lives. Vive la France!
This is one of the things that brings me to France. I love French. I love French history and culture. So, I am going with every intention of speaking French until I polish it smooth. I want to tame, or apprivoiser (a great word for which I thank Antoine de Saint-Exupery) French.
Unfortunately, unless you’re the Little Prince or his fox, taming usually means incurring some scratches and bruises. The next two days will involve me remembering the right way to say what I want to say about a minute after the awkwardness and humiliation of my recent conversation. It will also be an excellent exercise in remembering what so many people around the world experience when trying to speak my language with me and others.
Bienvenue a France!
Sent from my iPad
