Just another day

Another day in Avignon - wake up far too late, go and run some basic errands, go to uni, come home to some yummy warming stew and play some HOMMIII. Still having a mild panic about sorting things out for Vietnam/Austria. 

    Am really keen to take on some volunteering projects whilst I am still here, but alas, it seems like I'm a few months late :-( 

Exams and deadlines are looming, but on the upside, in a month's time, we'll be in Vietnam! 

Also Paris in 3 days time! 

Recommended (Part One)

Sleepwalkers by Van Der Graaf Generator

This song has it all. Bizarre existential lyrics, dubious falsetto, extended saxophone solo played by man in leather hat. One of my personal favourites. Prolific front-man Peter Hammill released two or three dozen solo albums until being momentarily held up by a heart attack in 2003. He has now recovered (three new albums) and is back on the road with some old relics of the 70s art rock scene. I hope to see him before his inevitable death from acute Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.


At night, this mindless army, ranks unbroken by dissent,
is moved into action and their pace does not relent.
In step, with great precision, these dancers of the night
advance against the darkness - how implacable their might!
Eyes undulled by moon, their arms and legs akimbo,
they walk and live, hoping soon to surface from this limbo.
Their minds, anticipating the dawn of the day,
shall never know what's waiting mere insight away
- too far, too soon.


Legs akimbo? Shine on Peter, shine on.

Sex and the City // Vietnam

So... We're off to Vietnam in about a month and no plans as of yet. Typical. Tomorrow, a visit to the travel agent = crucial. I can't believe that in a month's time, I will have finished my time in Avignon - except for the few days where I have to return and do one exam.... It's quite sad that it has gone so quickly. I have met some incredible people here, people that I'd like to remain close to, but given my rather nomadic lifestyle this year, this will be impossible. 

Things I'll miss: the lovely Tunisian girls, shopping for seasonal goodies at Les Halles, the terrible hole also known as Red Zone, being walking distance to everything in the city, the rather slow pace of live around here....etc.

They're putting up lovely little wooden huts at the Place de l'Horloge, a sort of Christmas market thing and every time I walk past them, I let out a little excited shriek (in my head).

Also, I have never watched the first season of Sex and the City, so I downloaded it. It's awful, it's clumsy and awkward. I don't like it. Oh dear, I feel like a man saying that, but it really doesn't appeal to me. I think I'll try to brave a couple more episodes to see if I warm to it. When I watched the other seasons at Eun-Ji's flat last year, I felt the same emptiness. What's wrong with me? Why don't I like cult TV shows aimed at my sex? Why can't I watch things? 

...and Sunday mornings

What is Psychology?

I am writing out my "Introduction a la psychologie" notes and I have no idea what is going on. Words are being written into the word document, but I have no idea what they mean. This is most bizarre. Perhaps it is because I haven't the faintest idea about psychology. Oh dear, I think that in the next few weeks I am going to have an exam on all this stuff and I don't know where to begin... 

   What is psychology? - The study of human and animal mental function and behaviour apparently. I think Wikipedia will have to be my saviour on this one. Again. 

Some people I'd like to meet

1. David Bowie - many many questions to ask - music/fashion/personality related

2. Ginette Neveu - would ask about how she managed to get such a sweet tone in Chausson's "Poeme" 

3. Freddy Mercury - take a closer look at his teeth to see whether they influenced his musical genius. Also would ask him to sing me "Die Forelle" by Schubert, I think he could turn it into the best lullaby

4. Franz Kafka - ask him why his books are so full of all sorts of innuendos/ ask him what really happened between him and his father to spur such a barrage of literature with dominating father figures. 

5. Charles Baudelaire - I want to know what went through his head when he wrote "Les Fleurs du Mal" - also to ask him what he really means when he writes about "L'Ennui" - what/who is he describing? 

many more to follow

Winter is creeping up...

L'eglise devant notre maison! 

L'ete vs. l'hiver

Although we are in the South of France, the cold is really getting to me. The wind here is particularly fierce and violent, so warm coats, scarves and wooly hats it is! (What a contrast to our super-bronzed skin in summer! ) 

             Taught the kids again today - they were super-excited about the "London Quiz", and I am starting to connect with them, even the difficult ones! Yay, I think that when I go back to London I will volunteer to do some tutoring, I really enjoy it in a strange kind of way.

Tried to go shopping but unfortunately the shops here (H&M, Zara and Jennyfer) do not have much variety. I was some warm but cute winter clothes! Maybe I should wait until I get to Austria - don't want to be lugging around extra baggage on our epic trip out of Avignon.

           Wow- Paris and Vietnam soon! I am so excited about both. Paris will be a nice girly trip with Rita and Dana - meals, jazz clubs, tea at a mosque, and maybe even some tourist-y things!

Vietnam is going to be such an exciting experience, I cannot even begin to imagine how much fun I will have there. Then back to France for my 3 (!) hour History of Art exam - then the next stop might possibly be Switzerland...

This year has been amazing so far, it has had its downs, but overall I am extremely excited and happy! I can't believe that it is already mid-November!