Vous Comprenez Le Système?

Yesterday, I decided it was time to do something about the fact that I've gotten sorely behind on current events since coming to France, so I stopped by the newstand near my residence to buy a copy of "Le Monde."

The guy working there told me that he was out of Le Mondes, and I was wondering what would be a good alternative when suddenly he asked the dreaded question vous-êtes americain? Obviously I don't sound like a native when I open my mouth, but on a good day, people will ask me if I'm from England. But this man seemed very pleased when I said oui. He explained to me that he had been trying to learn English for three years. Then he pulled out an English textbook from below the counter and started showing me the exercises. He started talking about his "devoirs" (homework) and through some miscommunication, I thought he was asking me to do his homework in exchange for a free newspaper. That seemed pretty sketchy, and a lot of work for a newspaper so I started thinking of a polite way to get out of it. Finally, I said:

Oui Monsieur, mais, si je fais tes devoirs, tu n'apprends jamais anglais! (Yes sir, but if I do you're homework, you'll never learn English!)

But apparently that was not what he wanted. Apparently, he wasn't taking classes anymore, and was looking for ways to keep practicing his English. The deal, essentially, was that if I spoke English with him for five minutes or so, I could get a free newspaper. Vous comprenez le système? he asked.

Though I have a sneaking suspicion that Mahoumad is more interested in speaking with jeune filles than learning English, the whole thing seemed innocent enough. And it was good practice for me, too, since I had to explain a lot of things to him in French. We talked mostly about where I was from and the geography of Les Etats-Unis. When I told him I was from Colorado he said "I went a film" and so I taught him the verb "to see" and thought about how cracked-out it is that our past tense for it is "saw." He saw an old film about Colorado. Yes, I said, we have a word for that --Western-- avec les cowboys. Then he asked me if there was still gold in the mountains and I said I didn't think so, but peut-être. It was fun, and I got a free copy of Libération.

I thought it might be a good idea to put some pictures up:



Here's a nice view of the city- a picture I took from the terrace of my youth hostel in Vieux Lyon. Unfortunately, it was dark so you can't see the city very well.









The Sâone.













A fountain in Place de Terraux .

Puppet theater is apparently quite popular in Lyon.













Saw this written on the wall of a public restroom. How true!

The banks of the Sâone.





























The Rhône.