I am writing right now from Bell-ile-en-Mer (Most beautiful island in the sea) off the coast of France. It is breathtaking here but so strange to be an American. This trip is an amazing gift. My roommate brought me with him here to France to visit his family and I am really getting a feel for the culture but I am a voyeur in this world. This is an island like Nantucket but not with the class difference. The rich next to the French hippies – you would not find that in the US. I feel like there are all kinds of French visiting this island but NO Americans and those who do understand English only know from British accents and I sound very American and hard to understand. So I am having this great experience but can’t talk to anyone but Julian. He has a lot of family things to do and I have dinners listening to conversations and I can only say “hello”, “thank you” and “goodbye”. I feel very lost but am really thinking a lot about life and what is important. The culture here just feels so right and I love the laid back nature of the passionate people.
Here on the island, I have no cell and the only computer access I have is at a bar by the flat I am sting in which I am glad I found. There is no time here, the meals go on forever and everyone feels like family. I am driving a little red European car through the countryside and I am very proud. I like being away from the capitalist world in an environment friendly land that values family. Don’t get me wrong, I love my country and look forward to life back in the States and NYC. But I do love France and Paris blew me away.
So I am forced to do a lot of reflecting right now and that is good I am learning to let go of a lot, like the locals here.
I will be back with more interesting perspectives but right now I feel like I am in a movie!!!!!!
The French Prez is meeting with W I believe today – I am trying to get a feel for what the people think here.
