Skip to main content

Pollution Day

Today was Pollution Day, and I'm not quite sure how to celebrate. Or maybe it's not a celebration at all. Let me explain. There was a lot of pollution, so the metro decided to make entry free the entire weekend. Free. That means the air quality is terrible, but you get to ride the Metro for free.

Now does one celebrate the situation or does one mourn it? I can see Hallmark getting involved in the near future, but it hasn't happen yet. So, is it "Happy Pollution Day," or is it "I feel terrible, it's Pollution Day..."

I wonder how often this happens. And who decides this? Is it the President? Other governing bodies? Does the Metro system use this to hurt or embarrass another department? How often does this happen? I have so many questions.

In any case, Happy Pollution Day.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Chronomically challenged

Parisians are ALWAYS late. I think New Yorkers run the gamut, but Parisians are late. They always have a good reason: traffic, the weather, kept at work, the Métro, the dog, the kids, garbage truck. But late. I am in a period of adjusting to this. My tendency is to be on-time. I call it the German in me. Helmut, who was born in Germany, is Parisian now and so I am alone in this bit of frustration. For the most part, people are 15 to 30 minutes late but for some it can be a bit extreme. For instance, meeting my friend Laure means scheduling a 1/2 hour (at least) for this arrival time. I want to emphasize, this is my issue, not Paris'. BUT There are extreme cases. One time Helmut and I were supposed to meet someone for dinner at (let's say) 8 (16h). She called and was going to be late. About an hour and a half after our original meeting time, we left for dinner. She knew where we would be, so she could meet us. At this point I had my doubts if she was going to come at all....
3 comments
Read more

A Toast

Wine is very important in France and, from what I have witnessed, a part of Paris social life. New Yorkers share a bottle of wine or have a glass together, or even a cocktail, but there is something a bit more about sharing wine in Paris. It is first of all, much more prevalent. In NYC, I will sometimes have one glass of wine. If two others at the table want wine, we may discuss getting a bottle. Rarely have I gone through more than a bottle. In Paris, if two people want wine, it is almost automatic that you get a bottle. If more than two people are at the table, there is a strong likelihood you will be getting more than one bottle. It is less of a special occasion in Paris. Not that it is not special, but it is more part of the meal than something "special." Never ordinary. When the wine is poured, there is a special moment where we all toast. This is like in NYC, but not. In NYC, when you are all served, we hold up the glasses and everyone moves them to the center, mak...
Post a Comment
Read more

Disillusionment

Today, hopes and dreams died. I think many of you are thinking that a few months in a country, like France, where they speak another language and you would be conversing like a native. Maybe with an accent that everyone in that country finds charming, but have total command. Even people I know who should know better have said to me, "well, by summer you should be pretty fluent." Humph. So, today, I am talking to Helmut and he is trying to write a texto (that is an IM on his phone) and he says, "Oh, where is my French. You know, sometimes my brain just doesn't want to speak French." He continues, to tell me that since it is not his mother-tongue, sometimes the brain just doesn't function and you can't communicate. This is coming from someone who has been here for 25-30 years. Oh, no. I know at this point, speaking French is sometimes easy and sometimes it is just hard work and sometimes you feel like a complete idiot. " Je ...(just want to speak...
Post a Comment
Read more