By Erik Skye

7 Jul 2011

Words du jour: pates (pasta); cheveux (hair); belle (beautiful)

Ceren presented Iris with a flower as we concluded our lunch. ‘For friendship?’ I asked. Ceren nodded. Iris looks good holding a flower.  She also looks good wearing my sweater!

We took a stroll through the affluent neighborhood of Montmarte and found a heap of books that someone had dumped on the sidewalk, apparently to be claimed by strangers instead of thrown in the trash. Ceren and I curiously sifted through the pile and selected a few to take with us. Ceren held one up so I could read the title and then told me what it meant. Translated it read ‘F’ing Americans’. A man walked by, and I asked “Est-ce que vous parlez anglais?” (Do you speak English?) “A little” he replied. I took the book from Ceren and held it up. “What does this say?” I continued. He quietly replied ‘It says F’ing Americans’. “I’m an American” I said. “I know” he followed.

The man was coming back from lunch to re-open his photo gallery door a few meters away. Ceren asked if I wanted to go in, and I replied affirmatively. There were about 20 photos on the otherwise bare walls surrounding an empty room the size of a small apartment.  We began to leave feeling empty handed when suddenly a piano began to play.  For a few minutes, we were mesmerized.  Here’s the video clip:

Piano of Montmarte video clip

I took a TGV (speed train) to Stuttgart in the evening.  Sitting opposite me was a confident young woman from Switzerland named Naget.  (Her name is Arabic in origin.)  She was returning from an audition in Paris where they needed a French woman to fill the roll.  I got the sense that Naget is one of those people who can do absolutely anything she sets her mind upon in life.  I also got the sense she might be hard on herself.  I hope to hear from her someday.

I finally got so see Sabine Hugger, who picked me up at the Stuttgart train station.  We did a little gocery shopping and then headed to her place as she pointed out a castle along the way.  She asked if I could give a presentation to here 12th grade students in her English class tomorrow.  I said "you bet!"

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