Friday, June 25, 2010

Overnight Bag Singapore

We came, we saw, we lost!

I never much liked the World Cup, and yet, given the international disgrace that has become caught in the face, there would be enough to hide in a closet and never emerge again until I left for the airport. Because I can tell you, the foreigners LIKE France and has for some strange reason, they believe that our football team is composed of gods, we can not lose etc.. While you and I know well we are going to collapse into insolvency since 1998 and that even the presence of the final four years ago tasted like arrogant, very bitter (even before our national icon is carried away as a small boss ... go fast in the cupboard.). We know we're going to pubs in pubs, we know that it goes into scheming scheming by cons we still do not know what our coach is there, and we would be unaware of the sex scandals that make the glaucous Sports headlines for several weeks ...



Brrref, knowing all that, I'm always surprised when people glorify the French football before me. But while there, since our defeat (announced, but here on the island, everyone was surprised) (they were unaware of the case Zaia, phew) (at the same time because they are not aware that it does not happen so it's a half-relief), I feel it's someone in my family that brought the opprobrium on all my country as I get dismayed by remarks of Japanese who I have NEVER spoken but who learn in the aftermath that I'm French.

Even three days later.

"A ~ Furansu No Machiruda-san! His ka-ha ~ hontou Zannen deshita do not do Taihen deshita ~" ...
Interpretation: "Ah, the French Mathilde! About football, it's too bad eh ... yes, it really was not pretty eh" (try translate "hontou no Taihen deshita do" in this context, I find that "cétait not pretty")

It was the polite version of my old teacher stories and stories (along with THREE DAYS AFTER then she has never talked about football in class, I find it annoying, I can not help me if they play like feet, I'm not leading them)

... it's going to type until Taiwan's who I've never spoken, and who begins to laugh when I told him I'm from France. "Oulala, football, it's very wrong here." Ha good? no kidding? But as I am honest, I told him that all world had supported South Africa that night (true, my Facebook page was hilarious), it was even more laughter, it is already that our reputation is definitely rotten but at least we amuse the gallery .

I still took off on my base ... So I appreciate this World Cup because:

1) Watch an international competition in an international context, it's still funny. My Italian friend, who cries wolf at the slightest gnat, turns out to be completely crazy as soon as his team plays macho, and all he found to explain it "I'm a boy, 100% Boys play football in Italy, you have no choice, it's even worse than the catechism, and those who fear are arbitrators. I was a referee for fifteen years, I am unbeatable.

My Canadian friend spends his time will agree with me when I say that my only wish is that the U.S. lost because thin, they are already super strong in all sports, FIFA and it can be won by South America, Asia, Africa, Europe, the States but is banned. And all our conversations punctuated by football "in Hockey ... when I went to this hockey game with my father ... when we won the cup of hockey ... "... with a so naturally I do not even fun to tease him about Canadian stereotypes, I just smile stupidly.

2) matches, so you look in our kitchen, with cakes, having done our homework, our three chairs lined up like little old Marseille sitting on their bench and watching the alley, and it's really nice .

Last night match vs. Japan. Danmark at 3 am in Tokyo (sorry, I preferred to sleep) ... Result this morning: not a cat in college! and merchants bentos (lunch boxes) have not been as successful as usual Friday, it was really weird ...



And today in Shinjuku Station:



I'm really happy for them, I love when the Japanese are proud of them soundly. Let's hope it lasts!
Japan or South Korea in the finals! Go go go!


PS: Italian project with my friend, change of nationality. And frankly, a country where we turn Didier Porte de France Inter ... I think this is a sufficient reason for refusing to return, nah!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

What Kind Of Weave To Wear To The Beach

Big Blue

my back was still hurt while running, my gym sessions have been completely changed and so I went to the pool for the first time since my arrival. There's one in fifteen minutes walk from my house, lost in a sort of mid undergrowth midterm health that turned into a mini-city ... a micro-society s shelter years-has settled slowly, like Japanese, disciplined, organized. Large blue tarps are the walls and roofs, there is a laundry room, one sees, tidy, well-stacked crates of fruit, newspapers, candy, clothes ready to be sold. Men tatty but clean, surrounded by their luggage and their bags should contain all that remains of their past life, take a nap, talk, read, brush their teeth, sometimes look straight ahead, determined yet idle, turning in circles. It always reminds me of Tokyo Godfathers and I can not help but look fondly his blue tarps that symbolize the dignity of those who have become marginalized within a society Polished.

This micro-society there seems to have settled for good, as long as it lasts, they will not bother anyone in this park depopulated ... I will not take pictures because I'm not a photographer and in my case, it would feel disrespectful to these people rather than giving them any nobility through an artistic gesture ... but it's pretty impressive, they are very numerous and the blue tarps still seem a very long perimeter.

But I was telling my futile trip to the pool ... it was not a pool especially Tokyo: it resembled my suburban swimming pools, and more clean (pretty obvious) ... the difference, again, is the service and the organization - even in the smallest establishment. Every hour, ten minutes ago break tank, everyone must come out (I think that is the relay on the lifeguard highchair is done smoothly, but ... hm ... actually I have no idea of the reason which they break ...). When (as Bibi), you enter the pool without a swim cap, a lifeguard will stop you very politely, will pick you up himself to avoid a hat that you're traveling to home. People swim calmly, with good sense. Swimming sessions for children are held in the joy and good humor: while the lifeguards are doing exercises and educational fun with brats, all Japanese moms watching their offspring frolic in the fleet for a huge picture window ... and the funny thing is that it looks just to chat! raise your head, you'll see dozens of mothers sitting in front of the window, look in the vague, sometimes with a baby in her arms. (I am withholding their way to wave "hi mom" but it was hard).

I bubbled in the water like a very happy for an hour and a quarter, then enjoy my beautiful swimsuit I've only worn once in Okinawa, but nan anything. Taking advantage of the complete absence of pain. Enjoying the sound so much more relaxed atmosphere than the gym ...

In short, new challenge (but not right away, oulala, it is quiet): finally learn the front crawl. My challenges and me. For example, this year I "do sports every day" taking bets (who said "until you're messing up the back"? Was mean!), Last year 's was finally time to learn to skate, "but then there hahaha, bitter failure (I do not despair, however, to one day improvise a dance on wheels so Sorry by Madonna, or pretend to become a waitress in a room at the American dinner )
(one day a jouuur).
Next year, the rink (in fact, for that one, I expect someone who has the patience to teach me, because I think an afternoon is not enough)

So perhaps soon the crawl. Maybe. For the moment this is not essential and I think I had enough challenges this year so we'll calm down ...