One of aspects of the Watson that I’ve probably most been dreading is the fact that I am literally all alone for a year. I’m very much a people person, as you probably know, so this situation is most likely going to take some getting used to on my part. I was going through my pictures the other day, though, and found a something that i had cut out from a magazine: a picture of a painting by Edouard Munch entitled, “Loneliness” that I fell in love with a few years ago. It depicts two people standing in a room. A woman with a long white robe and long blonde hair is standing facing the back left corner of the room, and behind her along the diagnol of the room, a man in a black suit is standing facing her back. These two individuals are in the same room and yet are lonely despite it…there is a lot more to the painting, but this is kind of the most obvious and relevant part. This idea of that even if I had people around, I might be lonely is actually kind of comforting because it makes me realize how lucky I am to have all of you guys here…. and the reason that I’m bringing this up is because, to me, my Watson will truly begin today as I return to Geneva and, this time, won’t have any friends in the city (my Bryn Mawr alum friend is on vacation), nor does the apartment I’m staying at have phone or internet (though I can use payphones/phonecards and internet cafes).
These past few days in Avignon has shown me how much having even one friend in a city can change how you feel about being there, and approach living there, especially when the friend is someone as always fun and calming to be with as Shana. I am excited to take three days worth of exploring a new city with a friend and practicing my French and apply it to Geneva…
On that note, let me tell you a little about my trip to Avignon, just because I think it’s been incredibly fun. Monday was Bastille Day, as I mentioned before, so we watched the most beautiful display of fireworks I’ve ever seen from the roof of the foyer terasse (foyer is a type of boarding house). After that, in true European style, the holiday is celebrated outside with concerts and people partying in the streets, ending with dancing until you’re too tired to keep going! It was a wonderful night. The next day, Shana and I caught a train to Marseilles, where we stood in the intense heat for 2 hours watching the parade and Tour de France go by. We cheered for Lance Armstrong (though I messed up the video clip I tried to take of him going by) and all of the other bikers. It was one of those experiences I would never most likely have had if the Tour de France hadn’t been occurring so close to where I was staying, but I am glad I went! The energy of the crowd was astounding, and I am completely floored by how the bikers can ride in that heat…I almost passed out just standing still! In any case, here is a picture from the Tour:
Last night, I went to see a show that’s part of the Festival d’Avignon. There are two parts to the festival: the “on” and the “off.” Due to strikes by stage workers, the “on” was cancelled (that’s the more formal, professional part…the “off” is more indie/amateur, so in the end most likely more interesting to me, anyway). This was a huge issue politically, but I’ll discuss that in another entry. We saw a BeatBoxing show, which I have never seen before, and then ended up hanging out with the incredibly talented and nice guys from that group for a while after the concert. I must admire both their skill and their commitment to their art. I’ve always been impressed by how much people can give up for their dreams, and these guys are representative of a level of commitment I fear I’ll never have. I got some beatboxing lessons and was told I’d do better at rap (oops) because I talk so fast and have “flow”- i guess i’m glad i have one potential future in case medicine fails…
…ok, that’s all for now! talk to you all soon!
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