driving miss daisy

I know I wrote about driving already but in the last few weeks I have experienced a handful of fantastic moments while in the car. These moments came after much worry on my part. You see, I have always considered myself good with directions which, knowing my mother and her ability to get lost in the same neighborhoods over and over again, is a miracle. Living in DC I rarely got lost and more than once my roommates relied on me for directions. The fact that I knew driving directions in DC is incredible seeing as how I didn't have my own car and only drove there a handful of times. Moving here I knew I was going to have to drive and I was going to have to find my way around. The worry of being in a new city was compacted with the foreign language problem as well. I was going to have to decipher street signs in both French and German.

Luckily for me the car I drive is equipped with a "sat-nav" or to the Americans out there, a GPS. I have never relied on a GPS and I was thankful that there was one available. One thing was important though, I did not want to rely solely on the sat-nav. I wanted to learn and become familiar with the roads and the different routes. I can proudly say that I am using the sat-nav less and less. In fact, just this last Sunday I went all the way to church without once turning it on. I was also able to get home without it as well. And so these moments continue, driving back from Basel after dropping Em off at work and being able to take a side trip to pick someone up all without using the sat-nav.

In reality, relying less and less on things like the sat-nav make me feel more and more at home and like I belong here. There is also a great sense of freedom that I feel, knowing that, when necessary, I can get in the car and get to where I need to be.

"Each sheet of paper has two sides" Japanese proverb

Since moving to France, and being the Anthropologist that I am, I often find myself in social situations where I can't help but people watch and find similarities and differences in the culture as it compares to America. I have a unique opportunity in that not only do I interact with the French I am also often in the company of British ex-pats. Before I go any further I must say that everyone I have met so far has been wonderful and I am very thankful for their friendship and patience.

A week and half ago the school put on a Fete de Mere program. Mother's Day here was the following Sunday. I have attended many school programs and I couldn't help but recognize the many similarities between this small French program to many of the school programs I attended as a participant and as a member of the audience. There were the same groups of people, the father that was so sure that any noise the young child behind him made was a direct insult to him and his child on stage. The ever proud mother that took pictures of her child both on stage and while waiting his turn. The children ever acted similarly, craning their necks, trying to catch a glimpse of their parents, chatting nervously to their friends.

There are many differences as well. Last Saturday the football club here in Hesingue (I've decided to use the European 'football' instead of the American 'soccer') put on a dinner at the soccer pitch. When we all arrived it was fantastic to see everyone either sitting around eating, drinking wine and talking or out on the pitch kicking the ball around. Em and I both observed that the atmosphere would never be felt in the UK and only ever so often in the states. Children of all ages were playing together or they were sitting with the adults, taking part of the conversation. Another difference I have seen are the eating habits. I absolutely love the way the Europeans eat. There is always a knife and fork and there is no limit to the mixing of foods. When my brother was younger he would throw a fit if his corn was mixed with his salad. Here, there is no regard. I think it is fantastic. People here love food, they love preparing it, eating it and even talking about it. In America I feel like people have the attitude that food is something you consume as quickly as possible so you can move on to something 'more important'.

So here comes the anthropologist in me. When a person travels to a foreign country they immediately see all the differences and retreat into anything that reminds them of where they come from. They don't allow themselves the joy of experiencing new places, people and food. The things is, if they looked around, they would be able to find similarities. There will always be that indignant father or the proud mother. Kids are kids, no matter what language they are speaking. While we all may have different ethnic memories and histories, I believe humanity, at its core is the same. We allow ourselves selective vision when it comes to different cultures, we only see the differences. People need to allow themselves the time to experience and enjoy all that is in this world. As we truely discover the new and unusual in this world we grow as a human being. If we let the new work in our lives, I believe we will better know oursleves.

Abi Covers the UK

For my first, proper weekend away I went to England to visit my brother, Mark, his wife, Kristiina, and their daughter Miia. They live in a small village in Wiltshire, just outside of Bath. I was so ridiculously excited all of last week. I have always wanted to go to England and Bath, thanks to Jane Austen, has always been high on my list of cities to see.


My trip started Friday morning when I flew out of Basel Airport. It was a direct flight to London. Once I landed in London I had to catch the DLR into London so I could then catch the tube to Paddington train station. I was a little worried about the trip but it was a really quite a simple trip to the train station. I had a bit of time so I walked around the area towards Hyde Park. It was fantastic. I could hardly keep the grin off my face as I walked down the street. It was fab, I probably looked the fool but I didn't care.


When I got to Bath Mark and Miia where there to meet me. We took a quick tour of Bath and then met Kristiina for lunch. I love Bath. The countryside is absolutely beautiful and in the town there is always something going on. Mark and Kristiina have a place in Winsley which is just outside of Bath about 20 minutes. While in Bath we saw the Abbey, the Roman Baths, the Royal Crescent and the Circus. The entire time we were walking around I was thinking about Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth from Persuasion. I really couldn't help myself. That is my favorite Jane Austen book and much of it takes place in Bath...ah Captain Wentworth...


Any who, Bath was a lot of fun. There are a lot of opportunities for shopping and sightseeing. We also went into Bradford-on-Avon. Avon is the river that runs through Bath and Bradford. It is the Bristol Avon, not to be confused with the other Avon...as in Stratford-on-Avon. Why there are two different rivers in the same country with the same name is beyond me. It was a beautiful bike ride through the countryside on a gorgeous day. We poked around Bradford and then had lunch at an Inn. I had fish and chips. They were good but I am sure I will probably have better next time I go.

Monday I spent the morning with Mark and Miia and then it was back to London for a few hours. I walked from Paddington station all the way to Bank via Parliament, the London Eye and Tate Modern. I can't believe I covered so much ground in just 4 hours. I know I am going to have to go back and take a bit more time at a few of the locations. I still need to see more neighborhoods like Notting Hill and Covent Garden. I want to be able to wander more without the pressing need to see everything. That is why I tried to see as much as possible on Monday. When I am there again in August I will be able to enjoy the city for what it is, not as a tourist looking for the next photo op.

get me to the church on time

I went to church for the second time yesterday. It was really great. I went for the first time two weeks ago and everyone was really friendly and nice. The entire meeting is, of course, in French. Yesterday I was sitting outside of the chapel before the meeting and the Bishop came up and started talking to me, seeing how I was doing and then he asked me if I would get up during the meeting and say a few words to introduce myself to help everyone in the ward get to know me. I'm sure there was a look of extreme fear on my face. He told me I didn't have to say a lot but just a bit. Of course I agreed. After he walked away a woman I had met last time I was there came up and asked me how I was doing. I told her what had just happened and she calmed me down a bit, gave me some ideas of what to say and was generally super nice about it. So I did it. I got up after the youth speaker and introduced myself. It was overly apparent that I don't know a lot of the French words used in a testimony but I think I did alright. I talked with the two American missionaries. They are both from the Denver, CO area and they gave me French Book of Mormon to study which will help my religious terminology.

I am hoping for a quick week this week. I am going to the UK on Friday to visit Mark and Kristiina. I am so flipping excited. I dreamed about negotiating London public transportation all night last night. I am going to have to make it from London City airport to Paddington Station during rush hour Friday morning. I just keep telling myself that it isn't going to be that hard and at least everything is going to be in English. :)