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New York

2006-10-28T16:08:00.000-04:00

For those who don't know, I've started tour managing. My first tour is with a Norwegian band called 120 Days. While we're in Montreal right now, we'll be in NYC next week for CMJ. That means you should get in touch. My email is carterneeld@gmail.com.

Pro pecante homine, that means you.

Jobrasnake!

2006-08-18T11:55:00.000-04:00

There are few things lately that will bring me out of blogging comatose, but this is one of them:

See you there.

This word from Carter24

2006-06-03T14:30:00.000-04:00

This Justice. video leaves me anticipating their fall tour in the states more than anything I've seen in a while. After seeing Modeselektor play last week in Detroit (4 heures du matin, presque personne dans la salle) and letting Cuizinier's mixtapes blow up my stereo, it's easy to see that it could very easily be the summer of "eurocrunk."

2006-04-26T09:47:00.000-04:00

Finally spring has arrived. The days are longer, I'm sweating out hangovers, and I don't dread the 15 minute walk to work. And,it's a time of year when every post to fluokids makes so much more sense.

And if that site doesn't make any sense to you, you can certainly enjoy the new Hot Chip video for the bet song on their forthcoming album, released in May by DFA.

ATL vs. Houston?

2006-04-01T13:31:00.000-05:00

I gotta say that with T.I.'s new single "What About You," Big Boi's "Kryptonite" and Dem Franchise Boyz, ATL is starting out way ahead of Houston for '06.

time for the round-up

2005-12-24T17:55:00.000-05:00

Yeah, it's the end of the year, and with every blog and website making all of their end of the year lists, I could help but wonder just what would be on mine. Best concerts? Tracks? Dinners I've eaten? It's hard for me to remember all of the concerts I've seen and the food I've eaten, but I can seem to remember individual tracks that have really excited me about music. Here are a few.

1. Three 6 Mafia :: Stay Fly
2. Jose Gonzalez :: Heartbeats (and be sure to check out this video)
3. Death Vessel :: Deep In The Horchata
4. Modeselektor :: Dancing Box (featuring TTC)
5. Iron and Wine :: Jezebel
6. Ladytron :: Destroy Everything You Touch
7. Hot Chip :: Crap Kraft Dinner
8. Paul Wall :: They Don't Know
9. Spank Rock :: Backyard Betty
10. Isolée :: Schrapnell

And what was the best thing I ate this year? It's a toss-up between any of the côte de boeuf consumed just before leaving Nantes in May and the bone marrow and oxtail marmalade I had in NYC in November.

Happy Holidays, ya'll.

où commencer?

2005-11-23T22:15:00.000-05:00

And now it's Thanksgiving. The apartment is quiet, I've made myself a nice dinner and, thanks to the small amount of beer I've had to drink, I find myself in a haze of slightly drunken food coma. I like the nights before holidays, the quiet, the peacefulness as everyone hustles into their homes to share a few moments with their family and loved ones. And I like the cold. Summer holidays are so rambunctious while the winter ones are more 'paisible' and relaxed. And I like being alone. I like the stillness, the quiet of the air which seems almost crystalized. I'll take this time to read, and to write, and to look forward to tomorrow when, after a bit of rest, I'll make my way out to the train and then to the suburbs to share the day with my roommate and her sizeable clan.

To those who haven't heard Death Vessel yet: listen now. It will change everything. And then listen to "Heartbeat" by Jose Gonzalez.

Wow, it's been ages

2005-10-20T20:19:00.000-04:00

It's hard for me to believe that it's been so long since the last time I've written, but it's well over two months now. I've been ridiculously busy with work, seeing shows, and moving into my new apartment and somehow a few things have taken a backseat, mainly correspondance. However, now that I'm getting settled it seems as if things will slow down a bit and I'll have a bit more time to develop a routine. However, that's what I said a month ago, and here I am...

Hot hot hot

2005-08-02T11:52:00.000-04:00

In Chicago, and for the first time in quite some time, I woke up sweating. It reminds me of when I spent my summer living in San Juan and would sit around my apartment dripping. Today, I will devote some time to creative use of box fans, seeing if I can't figure out how to alleviate the situation. Maybe it's not a bad thing to wake up at 8:30 every day, right?

Je m'en vais

2005-07-29T00:29:00.000-04:00

And like that, I'm leaving again. I've yet to be home for a week but am already heading back to Chicago, this time for good. I got the job that I was looking to get. It's nice to know that I've got something and don't have to worry about the job hunt once I get there. So, if you're in Chicago, pipe up and let's get together. I'll see you starting Tuesday.

Home again

2005-07-23T10:05:00.000-04:00

I'm back in Georgia and have finally caught up on my sleep and rehydrification after what was a pretty crazy week in Chicago. Intonation, birthday parties, barbecues and pétanque, drinking sessions dedicated to local celebrities, not to mention a job interview or two. It's good to know that I've got a job when I get back, and I'm waiting to hear from the other one. It's strange to think that in the next 48 hours I will know what course my life will take for the next few years.

Because I was busy doing everything mentioned above, I missed the Real World on Tuesday night. Fortunately, Byron Crawford has a great recap on his site.

Pas de chomage

2005-07-18T18:51:00.000-04:00

So, it seems I may be employed. That would be quite nice.

Chicago-bound

2005-07-14T19:08:00.000-04:00

I'm heading out tomorrow for Chicago (via Nashville). Round two of interviews will be taking place last week, and hopefully by the time that I leave the Windy City on Wednesday I'll have a job, because, honestly, I'm really ready to get out of north Georgia. Not that I don't love it, but it'd be nice to have a tad more stimulation. Plus, I'm getting tired of driving so far to buy good beer.

Speaking of things Illinois, I want to go on the record as saying that I'm not a huge fun of the new Sufjan Stevens, Illinois. While I was a huge fan of his first installment in the "states" series, Greetings from Michigan, and Seven Swans, I find that this new one is lacking in the sincerity and introspection found on his previous albums. While Michigan was billed as a concept album, it was much more intimate and honest. If Sufjan sang about a town called "Romulus," it was because he had gone through a specific experience there, not as an abstract concept. I can't imagine that to be the case when he sings about Decatur, Illinois on the new album. And while some people find the ending of "John Wayne Gacy, Jr." to be a "choker-upper," I find it to be cliche, employing the over-used trope of identification with the other as Sufjan admits that "I am just like him." C'mon Sufjan, you're not just not like him and you know it. Perhaps it's just me, but I find that the listening to the album reminds me of watching the "historical pageant" in Waiting for Guffman. While in the end, Illinois is better than "Red, White and Blaine" I couldn't help but be let down. I think I'll stick with his earlier output for the time being.

While in Chicago, I'll be hitting up as many concerts as possible. Intonation is taking place on Saturday and Sunday, though I'll probably skip out on Saturday in order to see the Constantines at the Empty Bottle. However, Sunday's line-up has me excited, particularly the show by Dungen in the early afternoon. I've heard mixed reviews of their live performances, but I've thoroughly enjoyed listening to Ta Det Lungt almost every day since I bought it in May. If only they were playing a bit more than a meager 30-minute set.

ahh, summer

2005-07-11T08:45:00.000-04:00

First things first: Goodbye, Claude Simon.

Now, from the high-brow to the gutter. Over the past few years, The Real World has declined into a series of whiny, self-serving kids boring the living hell out of me. I will admit that it was fun to get together and scream at the television while these dopes as they made asses out of themselves, but really, they weren't all that interesting. However, the new Real World. Whoah. Within the first three episodes, we've had a ridiculous fight, roommates hooking up, racial tension, and just about every other possible theme. Normally, these things don't come up until the last third of the season, and even at that each event becomes one of the season's highlights. And! And! The fourth episode seems even more promising, with Melinda hooking up with one of the other housemates after already proclaiming her undying love and affection for (and hooking up with) Danny. I can't wait until tomorrow.

And here's something that has me excited this week: The Valve's "book event" surrounding Theory's Empire.

a celebration of independence

2005-07-04T08:16:00.000-04:00

The 4th of July is by far my least favorite holiday. Perhaps this comes from living in the South, where the day has turned into a celebration of American-style free-market democracy and the veterans of wars who are willing to do the dirty work necessary to spread it over the world. Sure, the fireworks are great, as are barbecues. But, to me, it's mostly recognized as a day without mail (this is how I view most holidays). So, instead of checking that little box to see if I have a letter or package, I'll sit at work and listen to infinite numbers of people tell me about how we'd all be speaking German if not for our grandpappies landing on a beach in Normandy. And all of this I hear while sitting behind a cash register.

yup yup

2005-06-25T00:32:00.000-04:00

Somehow, I managed to save the last entry as a draft instead of posting it, so it's not being published until just now. You'll be happy to know that I have since been rid of my earache, which is quite nice. I'm back at work, though not receiving nearly enough hours. So it goes.

I think that one of the things I've been meaning to do is to make a list of all the various blogs and sites that I read / visit. Here are a few of them:

jake's page. Consistently one of the best blogs, updated almost daily.
Maitresse. I came across this girl while in France. She's an assistant as well, though I never met her. I do, however, find her page interesting. The same goes for Better than Hamlet though I do wish she updated more often.

Sascha Frere-Jones provides one of the best blogs about music, which I have to say don't really interest me. The pictures are quite snazzy as well.

And, of course, I read blogs by Sara and Joe.

As far as sites are concerned, well, I guess I'll get to them later

otitis externa, aches and pains

2005-06-15T22:31:00.000-04:00

as i lay awake at five in the morning, hampered in my attempt to sleep by acute otitis externa, i find myselfdrawing up my last will and testament for kicks. it's
funny to realize just how much stuff i have to give away.

my french languages books can be divided between my dear friends françois massonnat and aurélie noel.

my english books should be split between the lovely mi conlon, sara eilert, and übermensch david clark.

mi conlon, louisa warren, and liza newman can have my graphic novels and comic books (with the stipulation that my two volumes kramer's ergot and other anthologies go to eliza).

my cds are to be split between david clark, john chavez and greg chatterley, who may distribute any doubles or shitters to musik hausers as they see fit.

all tintin paraphenalia goes to alice anderson and leighton aycock.

ana musachio can have my matthew barney poster, thomas laquer book, the few klezmer cds that may have worked into my collection, and my computer.

and the rest you can just figure out what to do with.

i don't really think i'm going to die, though, but it's nice to divide up your belongings.

To the grind

2005-06-07T10:41:00.000-04:00

Who would have imagined that an eight-hour workday could be so exhausting? To paraphrase one of my college friends, "not this guy." After spending a full workday on my feet, telling endless numbers of people where to find the bathroooms and hawking all sorts of various gore-tex laden textiles, I come home to find myself exhausted and usually ready to take a nap. A nap! As if I had nothing better to do. Well, honestly, I imagine that I don't. Something about living in a dry county with a population that includes about four unmarried 20-somethings.

I'm getting sleepy. Maybe I'll go lay down...

Uh oh, what happened?

2005-05-30T13:25:00.000-04:00

Though I've been back in the states for a good three or so weeks now, my first post in ages is prompted by the French. What on earth happened yesterday? Why on earth did they decide to let xenophobie and economic fears be a factor in their vote for the advancement of Europe? They've managed to stall the fate of the continent, while at the same time doing nothing to improve their own economic problems. I've spent the last few weeks wishing I was still in France, though now I'm not quite sure if it's a country going in the right direction.

It's been a while, huh?

2005-04-11T10:29:00.000-04:00

Yes, yes, I know. It's been a while. I'd like to claim that the reason for this absence is that I've been off saving the world, touring with an old German prog band, or writing the great American novel that has been just out of my grasp for the past few years. But no, I've basically been here in Nantes, reading, writing letters and hanging out. Occasionally, I work. But only occasionally.

Anyhow, as the end approaches and I think about heading home, I realize that it's been a good time. While nothing huge has happened, such as the sky turning a violent shade of violet or me winning the lottery, I'm amazed at all of the little things that have added up. Rarely do I find myself being bored, and often is it that I find myself wishing that there were more hours in a day. There's always a ridiculous number of things to do, and I'm going to miss that when I leave here because Georgia isn't going to be quite as busy. Oh well.

And now it's spring, so I'm going to get out of here and hit up the park.

Carter

Back to school!

2005-03-09T04:04:00.000-05:00

Last Wednesday was the first time in roughly 10 months that I stepped into any sort of room in order to take part in an activity that can be considered academic (at least from my perspective). Yes, I realize that technically I'm a teacher of some sorts and hence do nothing but deal with school, but I consider that job as falling more into the sphere of well-paid babysitting than the realm of academia. Anyhow, the class was the first meeting of a short-course on Hélène Cixous. The professor who was supposed to give the lecture had to cancel due to sickness and was replaced by some douche from the E.N.S de Lyon who lectured not about Cixous, but about various strains of feminism as manifested through the works of Antoinette Fouquet. Thank you, mister, but the last thing I want to hear is you rambling on about essentialism, literary history, and other things that most university students have heard in introductory lectures. I can only hope that tonight will be a bit better and we'll actually get to the heart of the matter and deal with some of the texts that the course is supposed to cover.

As a sidenote, I had to go to the main library to photocopy an article by Cixous and as I was perched over the photocopier I felt a slight pang of nostalgia for school. Maybe it's time to start working on those grad school applications...

Il fait froid

2005-02-25T11:18:00.000-05:00

As I get updates from my friends at home in Georgia telling me that it's a cool 56 degrees at ten o'clock at night, I sit here in Nantes freezing. The heat in my apartment doesn't seem to be cooperating, so I've been exiled to cafés and other public places in search of heat. Additionally, it's snowing in Nantes, which happens only every so often. But, then again, snow seems to be the theme of the past two weeks. First, snow in Cauterets. I imagine that's to be expected being that Cauterets is a skiing town in the midst of the French Pyrenees. Then, there was snow in San Sebastian. It's not supposed to snow in Spain, dammit, but it did. Just like it snowed in Bordeaux when I was there a few days ago. And now it's snowing in Nantes. You would think that I would be used to it after having spent so much time in the upper Midwest, but I seem to have lost all resistance to cold that I had acquired in Grinnell during the past few months.

Yup, that's about right

2005-02-01T04:44:00.000-05:00

Consider a mug of American coffee. It is found everywhere. It can be made by anyone. It is cheap—and refills are free. Being largely without flavor it can be diluted to taste. What it lacks in allure it makes up in size. It is the most democratic method ever devised for introducing caffeine into human beings. Now take a cup of Italian espresso. It requires expensive equipment. Price-to-volume ratio is outrageous, suggesting indifference to the consumer and ignorance of the market. The aesthetic satisfaction accessory to the beverage far outweighs its metabolic impact. It is not a drink; it is an artifact.

This contrast can stand for the differences between America and Europe —differences nowadays asserted with increased frequency and not a little acrimony on both sides of the Atlantic.

--Tony Judt, New York Review of Books, January 12

This just about sums it up.

Audio poverty

2005-01-24T09:11:00.000-05:00

It's about time that I start listening to some new music. With a 19% TVA tax added onto each CD, the crap value of the dollar, and the fact that most good music here is imported from either North America, Germany, or England, you can quickly begin to understand why I've purchased a grand total of about six albums since arriving here in October. Fortunately, I loaded up on things before leaving (thank God for that Arcade Fire album), but I've still yet to hear things such as the new (or not so new these days) albums from Panda Bear, Annie, Death From Above, and Johann Johannson. The only thought that consoles me is that I'll have ridiculous buying power on my return from France from my last paycheck and will spend liberally on new discs. In the meantime, however, I'd love it if someone were to make me a mix. Anyone, anyone? Bueller?

Neighbor troubles

2005-01-17T07:40:00.000-05:00

Can you imagine living in an apartment where the walls are made out of cardboard and the neighbors hear everything? I can, and I do. It's not a problem for me, because I can zone out the noise coming from the other side of the wall. Unfortunately, it's not necessarily the same for the crazy family from Madagascar that lives on the other side. I swear that every time I have more than 5 people in my apartment they come over and ring the bell. Last Saturday night my neighbor came over and started yelling, and it didn't help that he was drunk. Uggh. This has got to stop.

My job isn't so bad after all

2005-01-11T11:41:00.000-05:00

Case in point: today I spent two hours teaching my kids how to play M.A.S.H. I had forgotten what solid entertainment it provided during my own tenure as a middle-schooler. I'm seriously debating having some sort of M.A.S.H.-themed party here in Nantes in the near future.

Via Chicago

2005-01-05T07:07:00.000-05:00

I just saw Jake's New Year's photos and I've come to two conclusions:

1. I think that I want to move to Chicago.
2. Dammit, I really need to get a Polaroid camera. That wall of pictures if fucking genius.

However, I do have to admit that I thought the wall of Polaroids was genius when I saw Damon Dash's pictures in VICE back in the day, but somehow I had forgotten about it. If only film wasn't so expensive here in France. I don't think that's gonna stop by from by a Lomo Kompact, though (As long as I pay the US price for it in euros, I'm set). The last time I had a camera in France, I left it at Napoleon's tomb, so I cross my fingers and hope that this time around a camera will fare a little bit better.

Hopefully in the next few days I'll have all my paperwork ready to go and apply for French welfare. Welfare, you say? That's right. I'm going to be on the dole here in this wonderfully socialist country. Even though I pay less than a hundred euros a month in rent, I'm eligible for housing assistance since I don't make too much here and made even less last year in the states. Hot damn.

Oh yeah, by the way

2005-01-03T07:32:00.000-05:00

Start emailing me at carterneeld@gmail.com if you want to actually be in touch with me. my grinnell account is over and out.

Pour 2005, je veux (in no particular order):

2005-01-03T07:24:00.000-05:00

1. gain some weight.
2. do everything to the extreme
3. get a job, a real one.
4. apply to grad school, at least take the gre.
5. read all volumes of 'a la recherche du temps perdu'

sounds pretty good, right? things i can actually do, right?

anyone? anyone?

2004-12-29T11:10:00.000-05:00

You guys don't happen to know where I could get a job next year, do you? It's about time that I start looking.

There's no place like home

2004-12-23T09:05:00.000-05:00

I have to agree with Dorothy on that one, though in my case I should point out that "home" doesn't necessarily have the same connotations. Home, in this case, is Nantes, where I'm living at the moment, where I have all my things, where I have my own private space, and where I can completely relax. By that definition, I've made my home in Georgia, Iowa, Puerto Rico, and France in the past four years. It's a topic that's interesting to me, particularly as I find myself moving around a lot. In the past week I've visited Lille, Arras, Lens, Belgium, and Cologne. I saw things that I'd never seen before, had wonderful conversations, and had a chance to relax. Yet, there was still a certain excitement in getting home to Nantes last night. The excitement, and "soulagement," of returning to a place that I know and understand.

And now it's Christmas, or almost. Time to spend time with my host family, enjoy time in front of the fireplace, and eat some wonderful meals. While I wish that I could be at home in Georgia, spending time with my family in the shadow of the mountains, I realize that being here in Nantes, at home, is almost as nice an experience.

Now that almost all of my holiday purchases are finished, it's time to sit back and watch some movies, read some books, and write some postcards. For those who are out there that haven't heard from me in a while (are you even reading this? I realize that at times I'm typing into the void), just signal your presence to me and I'd be more than happy to send you something. I've been pretty crap about being in touch with people, which I hope to remedy in the not-so-distant future.

Oh Tannenbaum

2004-12-13T07:47:00.000-05:00

Christmas is a stressful time, particularly here in France. For those of who aren't familiar with the French holiday season, I can assure that they've got the Americans beat as far as pure consumation is concerned. You don't want to be downtown in French city between the hours of 10 am to 8 pm because it is going to be a madhouse and you will be flooded with visions of hyper-active kids, people wearing Santa hats, and bad music being played over public loudspeakers. That said, you can only imagine the stress that I am undergoing as I think about all of the various holiday purchases that I have to make.

One of the purchases that I did make, however, was a Christmas tree. They are quite cheap here, though they do seem a bit shabby at times. Not wanting to fork over copious sums of money for ornaments and decorations, I threw a Christmas party where everyone that came was required to bring something to hang on the tree. I now have a tree that is creatively decorated, and the party was quite nice to boot.

Crevé

2004-11-22T03:55:00.000-05:00

That's right, I'm tired. Fatigué. Pooped. There's just too much going on and not enough time to sleep. I figured that France, with it's 12-hour workload per week, would be a great opportunity to relax, but instead I find that I'm busier here that I've ever been. First off, the 12-hour work week is kind of a hoax. I spend 12-hours with kids, but I spend much more time at the school since I can't really go home between classes if there's only an hour or two break.

But, this week, I vow to rest up. I'm going to watch some of the DVDs that I have, catch up on my reading, and make some decent dinners. At some point this week, I'm resolved to make a grilled cheese sandwich. I don't know why, but I'm craving one ridicuously.

It just doesn't stop

2004-11-16T09:37:00.000-05:00

Kronos Quartet tonight. It's been a few years since I've seen them, so I'm pretty excited. Additionally, pieces by Sigur Ros and Steve Reich are slated to be played. It's just another one of the endless activities going on here. While the number of things that I have done is pretty incredible, the list of things that I've had to skip can be downright depressing. Take for example, the Daniel Padden concert the other day, or the conference at the Musée de Beaux-Arts on Gerhard Richter and Sigmar Polke. That's how it goes, though. I'm actually surprised by the number of things that I am able to do here in Nantes, in comparison with Paris or New York. The advantage of being in a medium-sized town graced with a large-sized cultural scene is that it's easier to do a number of things than it would be in a 'grande ville' simply based on logistics. It's easier to get around, things aren't nearly as expensive, concerts/movies/conferences don't sell out, etc...

In other news, I've been reading quite a bit, which is nice. I still am suffering from the horrible habit of buying more books than I can read, but that's ok. I consider it stockpiling for a time in my life where I won't have the money nor the access to books that I want to read.

Another year down

2004-11-15T07:42:00.000-05:00

Yup, that's right. Yesterday, the 14th, marked the passage of another year in the life of your's truly. As required, I celebrated accordingly, inviting most all of the people I know here in Nantes to come and visit. What transpired is the following: some fifty people from a handful of various countries (America was the best represented, while England and France were close seconds) packed into my apartment to drink as much as possible and dance a little. I don't really understand it sometimes--while Americans tend to get drunk and dance, the French (and to a lesser extent, the Brits) prefer to sip on a beer and smoke. The Germans, well, they just stand there and look very teutonic.

And now it's off to go and buy myself some music, movies, and DVDs to celebrate my birthday.

Alive and kicking

2004-11-09T09:55:00.000-05:00

I'm here, I promise. Just a bit busy at the moment. However, more updates will be coming soon.

Uh oh

2004-11-04T07:23:00.000-05:00

So, really guys, what happened? The youth dropped the ball on this one. 10% turnout is pretty pitiful, but I guess that's how it goes. The only positive thing I can think about at this point is that Bush has only one term left and won't be able to run again...

In other news, I'm glad in some ways that vacations are coming to an end. Not that I don't mind having a lot of free time, but I find that it's rather expensive to do nothing. It was nice, however, to have a good number of people around during the majority of the vacations. Since moving into my apartment, I've found that I've become somewhat of a hotel for those that want to spend some time in Nantes.

I've moved

2004-10-22T04:41:00.000-04:00

Yup, I've moved. One door down. The difference between a small studio and a lavish (by French standards) two-bedroom apartment. There had been talk of the possibility of moving into a larger apartment since my arrival, but it wasn't until yesterday that I was able to really do it. I give all of the credit to my contact at the school who, after hearing about the problems in my old apartment (a studio, really) went immediately to the administration and insisted that I be given another place. This other place has a huge terrace, a kitchen, a living room, a water closet, and a bathroom complete with a bidet (the first that I've seen in france). The wallpaper is absolutely horrid, but in a way that borders on hip. I'm really, really pleased to be there, and now all I have to do is start furnishing it.

In other news, I'm heading to the coast this weekend for a wedding. And then it's two weeks of vacation. France is ridiculous at times.

Settling in

2004-10-19T05:23:00.000-04:00

I'm now two days into what I would consider to be my first 'real' week here in France. The past three weeks have mostly been an opportunity for me to orient myself in my new environs, to meet new people, and to reconnect with old friends. Now that that blast of excitement is over, I'm starting to settle in. I know my schedule well--though I still have to glance at my calendar to see what rooms I'm in--and I'm developing a sort of routine. I'm really starting to enjoy teaching and feel that I am somewhat good at it. Much of this is probably due to my experience with leading groups while I was in high school and college and my tenure last year as an 'animateur de séance pratique.' Much of what I'm doing now is the same thing, though the languages are reversed; instead of teaching French to beginning American students, I'm teaching English to French students who have just began their study of English.

The weekend was quite exciting, with concerts by both Oxes and Miss Kittin. The Oxes concert was one of the better concerts I've seen in a while, and perhaps the best that I've seen here in Nantes. The venue was a place called Blockhaus DIY, which is a World War II bunker that has been converted into a Do-It-Yourself kind of arts venue which plays host to a large number of independent theatre productions, art openings, and concerts. The Miss Kittin show--if it can be called that--was at a large venue on the outskirts of Nantes. Her DJing is amazing and I was having a wonderful time, though technical problems with the house electrical system did cause some disruptions. Unfortunately, due to staying out past 6:00 a.m. on both days has left me tired and with a cold. I'll have to rest up this week in order to be ready for the wedding that I'm going to this weekend.

The kids are alright

2004-10-12T09:55:00.000-04:00

I'm sitting in one of the two middle schools to which I'm assigned, and I have to tell you that the kids are ok. Some of them are absolute nightmares, while others are eager and ready to learn. The only complaint that I would have is that, in this school, I have nothing but sixth graders, which means that they've just started English and don't have too strong a vocabulary. The upside of this is that I get to speak French, while the downside is that I get to speak French. From a pedagogical perspective, I realize that I should use only French in the classroom, but unfortunately pedagogy at times gives way to pragmatism when you're dealing with middle-schoolers.

I also have a new phone number. Email me if you want it.

it's coming around

2004-10-09T11:57:00.000-04:00

Slowly, things are starting together. To begin with, I'm more or less ready to move into my room. I've yet to spend the night there, but I could if I wanted to. At first sight, it wasn't the greatest thing, but with a bit of cleaning and some t.l.c it will be a place that's not too hard to live in. To give you an idea, it's a room about the size of a normal double dorm room with a small bathroom and shower attached. It's outfitted with furniture and wallpaper that surely dates from the 1950s but that is interesting in its own kitsch-y way.

In other news, teaching starts next week and I'm excited by the prospect of having something to do. I've become a professional sleeper during the past few weeks, though I've yet to master my goal of being capable of sleeping on demand. It will come, though. No doubt.

Last night, I was sitting in town at a bar with Hallie, another assistant, and a guy approaches us and asks if we don't know of any good bars to hang out in. Turns out he's one of the guys in the Album Leaf, who are playing tonight in Nantes. I showed them around a bit and in return I'm on the list for the show tonight. Not a pretty bad deal. I wasn't planning on going since they were playing with a crappy French band, but I'm not going to say no to free tickets.

Linguistic olympics

2004-10-05T08:37:00.000-04:00

I was speaking with one of the other assistants, Hallie, yesterday, and we got to talking about how being in a foreign country where you're faced with the prospect of communicating in a non-native language creates a situation where you find yourself lacking in both languages. Speaking in French isn't a problem, really, though it does become tiring after a full day of doing so, but speaking in English can sometimes be quite awkward. My English grammar and syntax are beginning to resemble that of French, and I find myself grasping for what was once common vocabulary.

I also find that I'm much better at sending emails and writing letters during the morning hours, before I begin my day 'en francais.' Like at school, my mind was clearer and could handle more stimulation in the morning than later in the day. By the evening, I'm usually more ready to read magazine articles or just crash than to sit down and compose a letter or read a novel. So here I am at 9 o'clock in the morning, writing this post.

the death of the bachelor

2004-10-03T17:02:00.000-04:00

In France, they don't have bachelor parties, they have what they call "the burial of the bachelor." That's what I did last night. We gave Rodolph a good send-off into the married world.

And today, after sleeping for hours, I went and saw !!!. They destroyed.

2004-09-30T09:01:00.000-04:00

And I'm here, though it wasn't particularly the best trip ever. Due to the hurricane remnants hitting Atlanta at roughly the same time I was leaving, we were delayed, which started the domino effect and caused me to miss my flight from O'Hare to Paris. I was placed on a flight to London and then to Paris. All in all, it took about 24 hours to get here. Fortunately, I didn't have problems with jetlag and was able to stay up until midnight the first evening and sleep until eleven the follwing morning.

I've been lucky that I haven't had too many problems trying to get used to Nantes again. I've had good luck as far as finding my way around and getting things done. It's a bit of a hassle to do things such as apply for a bank account, but I imagine that will all come soon enough.

Anyhow, I'm going to go now and see if I can't get my carte de sejour. Once that happens, things will be a lot smoother and I won't have too many problems.

And they're off!

2004-09-27T02:25:00.000-04:00

Well, here we go. People have been asking me all day how I feel, and my response is that I feel roughly the same as the night before I leave to go back to school. I guess that I've spent enough time in France, and even in Nantes, that it seems as if I'm just "heading back" there, even though that's not quite exactly the case.

So, I don't really know what to say. I guess I'll post a bit more once I get to France. Tomorrow, it's me, my clothes, a sleeping bag, and my computer on a plane. After that, sleep. Then, who knows?

This is a test...

2004-09-25T21:36:00.000-04:00

Right now I'm checking out the blog feature that allows you to post via email. If it works, I'm sure that it will turn out to be a useful tool while I'm in France since I'm not terribly sure what my internet situation is. While it isn't terribly difficult to find a place in Paris with Wi-Fi access, wireless seems to be limited outside the capital. The last time I checked, hotspots in Nantes were limited to a few of the larger, business-oriented hotels located outside of the city center. That said, I'm sure I'll persevere.

I spent last night in Waynesville, North Carolina with my family in our own little version of a 'bon voyage' party. This translates to dinner out, followed by ridiculous conversation and the viewing of a shitty movie. Now, though I'm home, and it's time to get packing. Fortunately, I have a bit of a headstart and it looks as if I might be able to get most everyting squared away this evening.

On a final note: While reading some of the blog's posted by people that will be going to France, I see that certain folks are excited to be gaining something or sad to be losing another as they leave for France. I'm going to miss a few things from here in the States, mainly music and beer. First off, let's tackle the latter. Beer? Why on earth, you say, would you miss beer when you're going to a place coveted for its wine production and close to Belgium, arguably home to the best beer in the world? Well, let me tell you. Microbrews and diversity, that's why. Try finding an India Pale Ale or a Porter in France. It's not going to happen. Yes, you can find Chimay cheaply and Hoegaarden is everywhere. However, that's where it ends. That leaves music, and let me tell you, current French bands aren't that great for the most part. Yes, there are bands such as Cheval de Frise, M83, and Abstrakt Keal Agram, bands that I count among my favorites, but they are exceptions to the rule. The rest are bad knock-offs of Anglophone (and Québecois) bands. Of all the shows that I'm excited to see in France, only two or three are bands/people that actually come from and reside in France. The rest, well, are either British or American. And that's in quite a different number of genres, from modern classical to metal.

The next time I post, I'll have less than 24 hours left in the States.

il ne me reste qu'une semaine

2004-09-22T14:31:00.000-04:00

So, being as there's only a few days left before I take off for Nantes, I figure that I'd better go and take advantage of all that southern Appalachia has to offer. First stop, Akata's Japanese Steakhouse and Seafood, in Murphy, NC. A complete and total bust. This place is obviously a front for some sort of illicit operation, and a bad one at that. The food was so bad, it prompted Anthony (my adventurous friend and I) to abandon our lunch and seek refuge in a nearby Arby's. The food left an aftertaste similiar to that 'bile/gonna-throw-up' taste that you get in your mouth, though it lasted much longer.

However, redemption was found in a nearby attraction, in both the religious and literal sense. Fields of the Woods is located but a few miles from Murphy, allowing Anthony and I the opportunity to laugh at the religious zealots who are responsible for all of this while enjoying the nice views and gorgeous weather.

I also failed to mention that Chicago and Grinnell were both wonderful, though I'm back now with my pockets a little lighter and quite a bit more fatigue. Hopefully, I'll be able to recuperate before Monday, when I leave again. We'll see...

and the checklists start

2004-09-14T16:51:00.000-04:00

The first thing that I checked off my list before going to France was "quit/finish job." As of last night, that's done. Next up: "Visit Chicago and Grinnell to see friends and attend concerts." I'll get started on that tomorrow. Unfortunately, it seems as if the trip is being modified. I won't be seeing Les Savy Fav tomorrow night in Atlanta, nor will i see Tortoiseon Monday in Chicago in order to accomodate the fact that others going with me on the trip have real jobs and can't be as free-going as me.

Also, check out the Electoral Vote Predictor. While national polls get the most attention, it doesn't tell us very much about the actual outcome of the election. This site keeps up with the state polls and tallies the distribution of electoral votes between candidates, giving a much more accurate view of their current standing.

Perhaps this week will see me finish Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian. It'd be one less book to take to France.

and here we go

2004-09-14T02:51:00.000-04:00

in the interest of better journaling, i'm going to make an attempt at chronicling my adventures in france and elsewhere while at the same time making gratuitious use of gerunds. as i begin, i find myself pondering the following questions:

primero :: do i use proper capitalization or not? i pledge to use paragraph form, but hitting the 'shift' key might prove to be a bit exhausting.

segundo :: what language do i use? haha, no, really. french would be a joke. but we'll see.

and we're off. see you soon.