To Market, To Market

Monday

I tried to get my life started today.  Somewhat in vain.  I waited until about 12:30 to leave the dorm since Natasha (who was the teaching assistant last year) told me that nearly everything in Belley is closed on Sundays and Mondays and every day from 12-12:30.  It’s quaint but perhaps inconvenient.  Anyway, I used the internet(!) to discover that the Carrefour is open Monday-Saturday.  Rejoice!  Rejoice!  (Still, I waited in case they take lunch.)  So I made the long trek over there. 

            Carrefour is located in the “centre commercial” (mall) de Belley.  This means that it has a shoe store, a clothing store, a card store, the grocery store, and the cell phone provider!  Huzzah.  I went into the portable (word for cell phone/mobile) store and did my best to tell the guy what I needed.  I managed to get it all out alright except that I asked for a sim card and a “plan” for my phone, forgetting that “plan” in French means “map.”  In any event, he understood what I meant, asked how long I was in France and complimented my French.  Thinking that he was just being friendly, I told him that I would be in France until April.  Alas, I found out when I looked at my plan and received text messages from the company (hours later, I might add) that included my number, that he wanted to know how long I would be around because that’s how long the sim card works.  And this, dear friends, is why my phone will only work through 30 avril.  Even though I’ll be here through May 13.  Junk.  No bigs.  I’ll just have to be out of the country for the majority of those last two weeks!

            I then ventured into the Carrefour itself to get me some groceries.  I started off with bread.  Easy enough.  I wandered over to the spreads aisle.  Since they had all kinds of jam, I figured that they must have something to go with it in the aisle as well (peanut butter, dur.)  Fail.  I looked up and down nearly every aisle of that store and came across nothing that seemed even close to it.  I came across something that was the same color, but from what I could gather from the label, seemed to be a spread made from cookies.  Mom had mentioned peanut butter being something a bit foreign, but I really had no idea it was this serious.  England got the flavor of peanut butter all wrong, but it at least had a substitute!  Its heart was in the right place..  And so, I put my sandwich bread and jelly back and replaced them in my basket with small baguettes, Camembert, and lettuce.  (Not very creative but at least a lunch!)  By the way, this store had guacamole and tortillas but no peanut butter.  What a crock!  [Listen to Sandra Tsing Loh’s recent commentary on frugality for crock joke.]

            I came home and made myself that sandwich and got on the internet for a bit.  Managed to catch up with Jen who’s doing the same program but in Strasbourg (a few hours north, for those of you unfamiliar with France’s geography), with Lilly, whose in Japan teaching English, and with Camille, whose in med school at UVA.  All quite good.  Almost as soon as I logged into skype, though, I got a phone call from Flo!  It was really great to talk to someone not so far away!  As usual, Flo was just so nice.  Honestly, I think it’s hard for me to believe that someone can be as nice as she is all the time.  She offered to come pick me up as she and her family are going to their chalet this weekend and insisted that I take some towels and dishes from her when I see her.  See!?  Unbelievable generosity!  [For those of you mightily confused by this, Flo was Alex (my sister’s) au pair when my family lived in Boston—when I was just a twinkle in my parents’ eyes.  We’ve kept in touch over the years and I visited Flo and family (who live in Geneva) when I was in London during Fall 2008.]  Sadly, I can’t go this weekend as there’s a gathering of Lyon assistants in the city.   BUT Flo mentioned being able to get peanut butter at a market chain called Casino!  Which is near their home in Geneva!  Someday, my friends!  Someday SOON!

            Anyway, it wasn’t until I hung up with Flo that I realized that I had forgotten to ask about a card for the internet for my computer.  I’m idiot.  Forgive me.  Perhaps I’ll trek back tomorrow. 

           

Eating pasta with sauce that really just seems like thick tomato soup,

            (Non Star-)Trekker