Life in France

The chalet is situated just below the highway that runs through these parts. The chalet itself is part of a group of little cabins that are meant more as vacation spots than regular apartments, and the 'road' that they are on, which is really a walking path, is called Montana. So we live at 315 Montana; this seems appropriate since we are three Montanans living in France. (Me, my best friend Christina from Bozeman, and her boyfriend from Eureka.) There is a wonderful view of the whole city just below it extending back into the mountains on the other side and the cliffs that border Millau on the right side. Far to the left is the Viaduct, which is visible from just about everywhere in town. In the middle of town are these bizarrely gnarly trees that probably look like totally normal trees in summer but right now just look like something out of a stylized horror film. We went to Roquefort, where they make the cheese and age it in caves-I personally think this cheese tasted rancid. There are these giant posters of butterflys everywhere and you are supposed to follow the butterfly, which if you look closely is made of roquefort cheese, to the caves.


They were closed when we found them, but the countryside was pretty.

Then we went to St. Afrique (pop. approx 7000) last week to visit one of Christina's fellow assistants, and friend Justin (Ohio, 22). (Roquefort, Millau, and St. Afrique are all within 30 minutes of each other, so this was easily achieved because we still had the Super U car at this point...) After getting the grand tour (consisting of 5 minutes and the church - not a cathedral, just a church) Justin commented on a French park on the 'main drag' (St. Afrique is very small, so I use the term main drag loosely) and how the French really keep everything really manicured because they really like to try and control nature. I must also point out at this time that this tendency seems to mostly apply to large trees, because this French park, 'like most French parks,' had no grass.

Justin came and stayed with us last weekend here in Millau. He is the only assistant, and only American, in St. Afrique, so needless to say, he was happy to hang out with us. We all had dinner then went out and drank some beer. We didn't get back to the chalet until 4am (I was shocked by the time) and then Justin and I stayed up talking until 6 am. He is 22, from Ohio, and I pretty much love him. Justin and I walked back from town together on Saturday together, discussed the celebrities we saw in Chrisitna's French Glamour magazines, and talked about books and philosophy. I love this whole traveling thing, because everywhere I go I stay up late at night like I am back in college and discuss current events, global politics, philosophy, and the endlessly entertaining world of famous people. Dana and I did it about language and culture shock; Dana's friend Kostya and I did it about history and Russia in general; Dana, her friend Maxim (who was kind enough to put us up a couple of time in Moscow at his apartment) did it about Russia and the world economy and our generation's place in it; and Christina and Jed and I have had some of the same conversations, revolving around history, the American economy, the English language, and how much we love creme fraise (French sour cream). Anyway, we were all pretty tired on Sunday, and it was the only truly nice we've had so we went to the park (which has free wi-fi) and played on the internet and read some more bad magazines in French.

This weekend I am going to go to Nimes (Neme) with Justin and maybe Christina and Jed also. It should be cheap, and I am looking forward to it.