:: Life of Dave ::

:: Tuesday, September 30 2003 ::

Woke up early, climbed a mountain. Had a nice conversation with a woman at MCI who may or may not be interested in hiring me. But the important event for today: we visited the Lindt chocolate factory! Today was their weekly 'reject' sale, where they sell the misshaped, mismarked, mislabelled, or whatever chocolate at crazy low prices (roughly 8 dollars a kilo, or less than 4 dollars a pound) for all the amazingly good chocolate they make. We purchased what can only be described as an insane amount of chocolate. Thankfully, we ate so much Thai food for dinner I am unable to even think about eating the chocolate. But as soon as I've digested this food, that chocolate better watch out!!
:: David (13:25 in Michigan, 19:25 in Paris)
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:: Monday, September 29 2003 ::

Oh - I forgot - I was complaining about the cost of a toilet in Paris, and then I visited the loo in Zurich. 2 Francs, or about $1.66, for a single visit to the bathroom. Wow! But I am informed they are very, very clean.
:: David (13:55 in Michigan, 19:55 in Paris)
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I finished a book today called Ants at Work - it has a website associated with it (ant.stanford.edu) - which was a darned interesting book on the life and times of ants. It's been a while since I read pop-science (if that's what it was...), and it was nice to feel informed on something totally random, like ants.

Also, a big ol' congrats to my friend Erik, who seems to have gotten himself onto a game boy advance cartridge for his game 'Euchre' (originally written for the atari 2600!)
:: David (13:52 in Michigan, 19:52 in Paris)
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Another job bite today - I'll call tomorrow - MCI/Worldcom wants to ask me some 'pre-interview' questions...

Other than that, we visited a nature park today (lots of photos to come) and yesterday went to a city festival in Zurich (also lots of photos to come). I'm excited about the job contact, although I feel fairly certain they're going to ask me about my work papers, which will end the conversation. C'est la vie....
:: David (13:47 in Michigan, 19:47 in Paris)
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:: Friday, September 26 2003 ::

Fun story in the Guardian today about Starbuck's planning to open a cafe in Paris. It will actually be in a really central place, and I'm sure will do quite well. Brad (Sasha's brother) informed us that Zurich was where Starbuck's had been 'testing' the European market.
:: David (13:50 in Michigan, 19:50 in Paris)
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Well, we headed in to Switzerland today, to see Sasha's brother, sister in law, nephew, and hopefully hike a mountain or two. We headed out about 8am, and other than the obnoxious students that were in the same train car as us who insisted on singing loudly and off-key, the trip was quite relaxing.

I discovered the joys of the Paris train station bathroom en-route, where it was my pleasure to pay 50 cents to use a very questionable restroom. The woman watching the door was actually talking on a payphone nearby and had to interrupt her conversation to ask me to pay. Very odd. I'm sure the government could come up with a better way to give her a job....

Switzerland, at least what I've seen of it, is quite lovely. More later.
:: David (13:46 in Michigan, 19:46 in Paris)
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:: Thursday, September 25 2003 ::

Jason Allgire recently asked me "[H]ow is it being 'an American in Paris', given the current political climate? Have you had any conversations with people yet?" To answer the second question first, I have not yet had any conversations with people concerning this issue. In point of fact I've not yet spoken to any truly French people in a social situation (excluding things like 'where is the metro?' and their ilk). I look forward to being employed and/or Sasha's classmates for the opportunity to guage more accurately individual opinion. As for being 'an American in Paris', the fact of the matter is most people aren't particularly concerned by the US/France political situation. Only the Americans seem to be bothered by the whole deal. Don't get me wrong - the newspapers make it quite clear that the US and France do not agree on Iraq and the use of 'pre-emptive force', but at the same time it's only a political issue - of interest as a conversation point, but not something to go dumping bottles of American wine into the river about.

I'm sure that when I get the opportunity, I will have very interesting conversations on these points, but by and large, they do not affect me, nor my relations with those around me.
:: David (19:16 in Michigan, 01:16 in Paris)
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There's an interesting article about hourly workers on Harvard's campus in the Chronicle of Higher Education. Having dealt so much with Higher Education (as student and staff) I always find it one of the most interesting areas to examine, because everyone agrees that the money at a university should be spent on students, but take that premise to one possible extreme conclusion (paying staff less than a living wage) and you get some very questionable results morally.
:: David (19:04 in Michigan, 01:04 in Paris)
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:: Wednesday, September 24 2003 ::

I updated my job search webpage today with two more jobs I've applied for. Expect the applications to come fast and furious, as the new issue of FUSAC came out today, with a whole new batch of jobs for me to apply for. Today I applied for the two I would like the most. Each day I will become less picky about the jobs I apply for. And in two weeks, the new issue will come out and I will start the process over again. Crazy stuff.
:: David (18:24 in Michigan, 00:24 in Paris)
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:: Tuesday, September 23 2003 ::

I applied for yet more jobs today, including one with MCI/Worldcom (!) . Nothing tremendously exciting otherwise - Lindsay is still here (and will be until Sunday), so we see her occasionally. I've been trying to make my camera work as a webcam, but there's some kind of driver problem, so I'm waiting on a response from Tech support. Other than that, the only fun is waiting for the UN speech Bush is giving, so we can laugh at the European reaction.
:: David (10:32 in Michigan, 16:32 in Paris)
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:: Sunday, September 21 2003 ::

From the New York Times:
"In August, French connoisseurs of chocolate definitively lost a battle against the bureaucrats of the European Union. Up to 5 percent of the cocoa butter in chocolate may be replaced by other vegetable fats -- [one chocolatier] refers to them as "bad margarine" -- and still be called chocolate."

This is an issue close to my heart, because chocolate in the US is so completely crap. It's an indication of the 'lowest common denominator' mentality that every time trade rules are made the quality of food goes further down. Because of course now that they can make it with any random fat, many will make it with any random fat. And because the price is lower, this means the majority of consumers will eat adulterated chocolate, until one day, just like in the US, noone asks 'why does my chocolate taste like wax?'
:: David (05:56 in Michigan, 11:56 in Paris)
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:: Saturday, September 20 2003 ::

Today we headed to an open-air market south-east of us. At first we couldn't find it, and then when we did, Sasha described it as some kind of warped space, because although it only looked like a single parking lot, it turned out to be something crazy like a half mile long. Anything you could want, and at least three things you never would, were for sale. We then headed to Auchan for some seriously crowded shopping, and after that there was nothing to do but go back to the house and collapse.
:: David (17:42 in Michigan, 23:42 in Paris)
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We watched the original Italian Job (from 1969) yesterday. I am of the opinion it was nothing like the remake they did this year. To give you an idea, one of the characters was played by Benny Hill. It was unexpected, funny, a little disturbing, and well worth a look if you haven't seen it.
:: David (17:36 in Michigan, 23:36 in Paris)
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So for my birthday dinner (Sasha makes an amazing pasta with vodka sauce that I have now eaten two birthdays in a row) we decided to get a nice bottle of wine. Since we had seen our neighborhood wine seller and determined his prices were a little steep, we decided to go down the street, to a wine store we had not yet visited. Once there, we settled on a nice Gigondas, and I picked the bottle up off the shelf, at which point an alarm goes off. The woman looks at me, frozen in place with a bottle of wine halfway plucked from the shelf and says (something like) "Do you want to buy that?" and I (still frozen) nod yes. So she comes over, slaps another bottle into the vacated place my bottle had lived, and proceeds to check us out, all the while explaining that she used to have a lot of theft, so she put alarms on the wine. I just wish I could have seen my face, standing there with a wine bottle in one hand and a startled and slightly guilty look on my face. Very fun.
:: David (13:23 in Michigan, 19:23 in Paris)
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:: Thursday, September 18 2003 ::

So as we have difficulties on our side, getting Sasha's residency card and somesuch, the person we are renting from, who has moved abroad to the US, has difficulty on her side - it seems the apartment she thought she was renting was rented out from under her, or something like that. It seems all moves abroad are full of fun.
:: David (12:14 in Michigan, 18:14 in Paris)
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Lindsay just phoned - she has arrived at the airport and is making her way here by way of the train and metro. I don't envy her the journey, which will include two train changes, which she will have to make while carrying her luggage. On the upside, it appears she will be arriving while our favorite trumpet player is doing his thing, so she too can revel in 'Lady of Spain' and 'Blue Moon.'
:: David (06:51 in Michigan, 12:51 in Paris)
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So we purchased tickets to Zurich yesterday, to go see Sasha's brother (and apparently there will also be some cousins etc. to see as well). On the envelope the tickets came in was the following image, which is apparently the current advertising scheme of the train company's vacation packages. I found it amusing:

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:: David (06:47 in Michigan, 12:47 in Paris)
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:: Wednesday, September 17 2003 ::

More applying for jobs today, and maybe a road trip (well, sidewalk trip) to the Gare de L'Est (East train station). We're trying to work out the best way to get to Switzerland for the weekend (to see Sasha's brother's family). We'd like to take a slow train over, both because of price and because of the probable view (lots of French countryside, and presumably some mountains). Right now, however, we've been unable to find information that makes sense, so a visit to the train station is in order. The internet seems to be working this morning, periodically, so I'm making the best use of it. I sent an email to our cable company asking why things are so slow, but I don't expect a response anytime too soon.

Random information about life in Paris - we live on the seventh (top) floor of an apartment building in the 20th district, North and East of the city center. Our apartment has no elevator, so the climb to the top each day when we go out is fairly taxing (or at least, was taxing at the beginning - now it's just part of the routine). The first floor of our apartment building is devoted to a pizza shop on the left and a wine shop on the right. There are several other small shops near by, a vegetable stand, a cheese shop, a bakery, and all that. On the corner we have a video rental place, which we have not yet braved because Sasha is fairly certain you have to have a bank account here in France in order to get one, and she can't get a bank account until she is a legal resident, and she can't become a legal resident until she gets registered for classes at the Ecole des Chartes. Confusing? Yeah - me too.

Like my last trip to France, I've been eating lots of bread and cheese. This time, however, there are many more varieties of cheese. In addition, we've been adding quickly to our wine list, as we work our way through the multiplicity of wines on offer. We just received the annual wine catalog from two of the larger stores in town, and it's quite an interesting read. The stores also have sommeliers on hand to guide your wine purchase. Quite fun.
:: David (05:53 in Michigan, 11:53 in Paris)
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:: Tuesday, September 16 2003 ::

Today (september 16th) I had an unexpected interview with a company here in Paris. Basically, I've been having some problems with the email I use for business, and all of my messages were delayed until last night. One of them was regarding an internship possibility with Alcatel, dated the 10th. So I wrote them back and said something like 'oh lord, I'm sorry, can I still interview? I'll be available tomorrow in the afternoon.' Apparently they emailed back to say 'ok - we'll call at 2:30' but I didn't get the message. I did get the phone call, and we chatted for about 20 minutes (myself and two individuals). I don't think I sounded too dramitically stupid, though I was woefully unprepared. One issue is that it seems they need a US university to be associated with me to move the paperwork through, so I'm examining that angle and we'll revisit it in about ten days. I'm also worried this is an unpaid internship. We'll work on that. There are other options also being investigated - we'll see what happens.

We then headed off to Carrefour for some shopping excitement - basically lots of cheese and some hair clippers (we're both ready for a trim). Other than that, I'm sad to say there's been some civilization 3 being played here, while we waited in case someone called.
:: David (13:15 in Michigan, 19:15 in Paris)
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A couple of notes I jotted down while we were waiting to fly over on September 3rd/4th:

7PM EST- I love neckties-they offer unexpected amusement from people you expect to be serious (based on the rest of their clothing). Like the guy I walked by in Chicago who was wearing a veggietales tie.

1AM EST- Miles to go before I sleep. I'm not sure why I so rarely sleep on planes-it's not as though I'm new to the experience. A function of habit. I suppose - after many long flights, all of which I have stayed awake for, more or less, I just expect to be awake. Much to the chagrin, I am sure, of those trying to sleep, but unable because my overhead light is on.

If you must see a movie this month, i do not recommend 'bulletproof monk'. Just FYI.

:: David (13:07 in Michigan, 19:07 in Paris)
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:: Monday, September 15 2003 ::

Well, Sasha, who has more patience than I, went back to the evil internet box this evening and found that, once people had settled down and gone to bed, the speed is actually quite OK. I'm not sure what I think about a sometimes internet, but for the moment it's what I've got.

I managed this evening then to get the photos of the basilica of Saint Denis up. There's also a small (2MB) movie, which is really nothing more than a pan around the basilica while I was standing in the centre.

As much as I would love to finish updating the blog on what's been happening for the past week or so, we got up pretty early today so Sasha could do some more running around for the French Government, and as such I am beat. More soon.
:: David (18:29 in Michigan, 00:29 in Paris)
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Easy come, easy go. We had 'high-speed' internet installed today, and unless something is awfully wrong with it today that isn't tomorrow, we'll be sending it back, along I suspect with the cable unless Sasha really likes it. Frustration is the name of the game this evening. We are barely able to look at even one web page, let alone lots at once (like I usually do). To add insult to injury, NOOS (the cable company) doesn't have a toll free line, they have a toll line - almost 40 cents per minute to tell them something is broken, fix it.

Lest it sound like I'm not liking Paris, nothing could be further from the truth! But every now and again a little customer service goes a long way....

I was going to upload lots of photos I took at the church on Saturday. I almost managed to get two uploaded, but it didn't happen. The one I did manage to upload is a cutie. Look at it and pretend there were dozens more like it. *sigh*
:: David (16:02 in Michigan, 22:02 in Paris)
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:: Sunday, September 14 2003 ::

Have I mentioned how difficult this damned keyboard is? The French Keyboard has the letters 'azerty' across the top row and 'qsdfgh' across the second. Tough to type! Anyhow, for today, information for those wanting to send me a birthday card (it's coming soon, you know) - my address, formatted as you should write it, is:

David Barber
218 bis, rue des Pyrenees
Paris, 75020
FRANCE

That should get it here in about seven days, so get writing!!!
:: David (07:02 in Michigan, 13:02 in Paris)
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:: Sunday, September 7 2003 ::

OK i cant find the dash and Im not looking for the apostophe. Directions to ,my house. Take the metro to Gambetta. Find the exit to the Rue des Pyrénées (Pyrenees if this doesnt display for you). We live about 100 metres north of the square at 218bis (which is :not: 218, which is next door). We are on the right side of a wine shop and the left of a greek pizza place. Call before you come so we can give you the door code. We are on the top floor, on the right (the last door possible).
:: David (7: in Michigan, 7: in Paris)
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:: Thursday, September 4 2003 ::

We made it! Now if we can only find food....
:: David (4: in Michigan, 4: in Paris)
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:: Tuesday, September 2 2003 ::

Applications, job searches, random email sent to people I don't know. Yuck! I've just sent yet another CV to yet another recruiting agent. I sincerely hope I manage to locate some other method of job searching once I get to France.

Last post, I think, before packing up the computer and so forth. Wish me well - I'll be flying out tomorrow afternoon, landing in Chicago, and then off to Paris, arriving around 5am EST. I hate sleeping on planes, so I'm sure I'll be a very nice guy all day Thursday.
:: David (2: in Michigan, 2: in Paris)
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I was looking for the article I mentioned below concerning TV ratings, and I ran across a sneak-peek at the upcoming season of Angel, talking about how Spike will make the move.
:: David (2: in Michigan, 2: in Paris)
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There's a really interesting story from Monday's Guardian talking about why public broadcasting is important. Recently the BBC (in the UK) has come under fire for, well, existing. This article is a well reasoned piece on why the market will never provide what is needed by a democracy. Coupled with a recent article (I think it was in TV Guide) about how the number one rated show among African-Americans was being cancelled because even if every single African-American watched your show, the ratings simply weren't good enough, I'm feeling fairly convinced that public TV is the way to go.
:: David (2: in Michigan, 2: in Paris)
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