A Day in Paris

Sunday 23/08/09

 

Today is to be my biggest geographical test – survive a day in Paris on my own.

Just me, a map and my amazingly good sense of direction…hmmm.

 

Oh NB – today is not going to be very food-focused for those who care…time for a cultural interlude I feel…

 

Luckily I’ve given myself the whole day to do not much, thus allowing for the inevitable time wandering around and getting hopelessly lost.

 

First to Le Marais and special French boutique cologne shopping. I’m rapidly running out of coin so settle for second best in the form of Fragonard, still preety fucking sweet though.

 

Then on to the Museum of Art of the Arab World. It is enourmous, like 8 stories, and designed like a mad modern mosque. Very intriguing.

 

The standard, ancient collection is excellent, the section showing the evolution of Arabic script particularly interesting.

 

The temporary exhibition showcasing modern Arabic artists is (for my taste) far more interesting. The pieces are often based around war, hardship, poverty, death and the general diaspora of the many of the Arabic peoples, the Palestinians especially. Two visual pieces stand out – one a mockumentary of a female astronaut from Jerusalem being the first person to walk on the moon, the other a historical film showing the rise and spread of a giant orange, lemon, Clementine and lime orchard in Palestine…and how over the last 4 years the Israeli armed forces have all but destroyed generations of work.

 

Tough stuff, but stimulating.

 

It is brilliant to be in another world (Paris), discovering things about a totally different world (Israel) that you could not so easily access in Australia.

 

This makes me think of what has obviously become the most stark difference between the our two cultures – that of actually being cultured.

 

Whilst it is a general stereotype that Frenchies (and by extension Europeans) are somehow superior to “convict stock” Aussies, I am beginning to see it more and more as an acceptable truth.

 

Whilst Paris is obviously a far more cosmopolitan city than Sydney or Melbourne, part of this clearly comes with the sheer size of it. The remainder however can be based upon what I can only see as superior education. Multiple languages are encouraged at school, an understanding of the basic tenets of the major schools of philosophy is necessary to undertake tertiary study, a general appreciation of European and World Politics is not only expected but almost a given in order to take part in daily conversation. An active love of cinema and theatre – again on a global scale – is common. Even down to such a basic thing (and yet such an important thing!!) as a simple love for food and wine – I have been witness to conversations between girls 2 years my junior, discussing the best method for making a tiramisu, an apricot tart, a mushroom risotto. I have had discussions with guys whose only contact with wine is with their parents or in restaurants – discussions as to the cepages of the various appelations of the Loire Valley! I have been given lessons in the etiquette of cutting cheese by a girl who couldn’t speak English.

 

Truly these people are not only blessed and wise, but an inspiration to our entire nation.

 

Education is taken to another level in this country. I offer this simple example.

Lea – 22 yrs old

 

Finished school.

Spent one year at a special ‘preparatory school’

This enabled her to sit an entrance exam to Science Po, the university she currently studies at.

Upon passing this she studies for four years to attain her Masters.

Once graduated, she has an interview to judge eligibility for the school of Le NA.

If accepted, she spends another year in study, to sit the entrance exam for this school.

If she passes this (40 ppl per year in France), she may then spend 2 years at Le NA in Strasbourg, and hopefully graduate from there.

 

Note - many people fail interviews and exams along the way, and happily resit or spend additional years studying in hope of passing.

 

Obviously this is pushing the envelope, relating only to the upper echelons of Politics, yet Lea tells me in order to reach the top of your chosen field, this is common...full on.

Thus, i cannot feel anything but slightly inferior to all these smarty pants europeans....