La Culture Française

This past week was particularly charged with cultural events organized by our one and only Malou. Last Friday we managed, despite the rain and the godforsaken tram accidents that delay the entire system, to go to the Mussee Alsacien. The building itself is far more beautiful than anything inside it, but just going these reminded me of what a truly special city I am living in. When you go the museum and you see the typical Alsatian furniture, dresses and way of life, you really cannot say whether they are German or French. In fact they are both, and I find that truly fascinating. The many cooking instruments for bread were very French, but the heating seats were identical to those I saw in one of Kaiser Wilhelm II’s many castles. Alsace is really a ‘melange’ of both worlds. What I found most interesting is how, despite the change of nationality and language, Catholicism, Protestantism and Judaism have coexisted together for centuries all through Alsace. Except of course when certain kings decided to prohibit certain religions. But regardless, religions here just are, no fuss at all.

This Wednesday we went to what I think is the most unique visit one can make in France: la Cave des Hospices. Allow me to translate: the hospital cellar. Yes, in France, since only 10% of the population was able to pay for medical care in medieval times, people used to pay the hospital with wines that they non-chalantly cultivated in their background. And so we, that is HC students and those from several other American schools, were privileged enough to visit this cave that is hundreds of years old and managed to actually smell the oldest wine in the world ever held in a wine barrel. Oh yes, the oldest. It has only been drunk on three occasions, the end of WWII being the last one. And the of course came my favorite part: the wine tasting. Three glasses of Alsatian wine will make you feel just right 😛 What I love about Alsatian wine is that its clear, because white grapes grow best here, and its bubbly and light. It’s nice and smooth. Something creepy: next to the cellar they had a dissection room, where doctors would have prisoners quietly sneaked out of their cells, drowned in the bridge right next to the hospital, and then used the corps to learn about the human body “because back then we did not have x-ray machines,” as the guide kindly explained. I found it funny because I thought the Nazi’s were pioneers in prisoner experiments that have advanced science beyond believe. Silly me.

Culture aside, I want to share that this week I managed a miracle! I went to office hours in France! I stand firm on my preference for HC education over French education. It took me a week to find the emails of my law professors since the secretary did not have that or their office number.  But I was successful with my theater professor and it almost felt like I was back at HC annoying my poli sci professors for long hours with hundreds of questions. But this lasted about 15 minutes and most of it was about him asking me what Latin country I was from because he could tell from my French accent. Regardless, I succeeded. AND that’s not all. He has a writing workshop once a week! So I am planning on taking his assignment there to get it checked and feel a bit less clueless about the grading system in France. It’s almost like HC….But let’s face it, I am not here for the excellence, organization or dedication of the educational system. I can get my last dose of that next year.

À la semaine prochaine!