La Une in English

Welcome to Toulouse ! Students on the Dickinson program in Toulouse, France started the 2006-2007 year off well. The month of September was full of changes for us as expatriates: we learned—and are continuing to learn—how to live with French families and find our way around the city communicating only in French. Although we are well situated in some of the aspects of our new life in Toulouse, every day presents us with new challengers, whether it is a political discussion, a grammar lesson, or a class in a French university. The goal of this issue of La Une is to welcome the students, to share reflections and initial reactions, and, of course, to share aspects of “la ville rose” that haven’t yet been discovered by the Dickinsonians. Special thanks to the writers and photographers that contributed to La Une and to Stephanie Roberts for providing the English translation. Good luck to everyone! --Anna Cumbie, editor Le Capitole Le Capitole is a majestic building dating back to the 19th century that stands at the base of the Place du Capitole. Today, it serves as the office of the mayor of Toulouse, and as a theatre. Le Capitole also hosts the “Salle des Illustres” which reunites a collection of paintings from the 19th century. The work of Henri Martin, an artist from Toulouse, fills the building with a magnificent array of colors. “La place du Capitole” is, without question, the real center of Toulouse. This large plaza is bordered by lively cafés and stores. On Tuesdays and Saturdays there is an organic market, and a bazaar on Wednesdays. These markets offer a variety of goods such as bags, clothes, bread, and fresh vegetables. “La Place du Capitole” is also a cultural center; it’s a place where the population of Toulouse can come together for free concerts and other cultural events. So, when you come to Toulouse, don’t miss the Capitole. --Meredith Ship Refections after the first month We have been living on Toulouse ground now for a month. We have realized that Toulouse is a beautiful city, lively, musical, cultural, and historical, with welcoming inhabitants. We have only one week left before the end of orientation. Some of us have just begun our university classes, mostly at IEP and UT1. So, how do we feel? At this point we’re all at different places, according to Beaudry’s cultural ladder. Some of us are perhaps still in a state of resistance, where we continue to hesitate when trying new things, while others are already at the point of engagement: the active participation in French culture. Of course intercultural exchange isn’t easy as a foreigner. This includes, without a doubt, the time to get used to the streets, the stores that close early, the dog feces, the incomprehensible restaurant menus (what are “lardons”?), and the greatly missed air conditioning at home. However, it is important to keep that certain spirit that we were all taught; in other words, our worries shouldn’t be kept in a bottle. Communicate, talk; don’t feel alone if you need the comfort of a friend or a cat, or want to eat like an American or speak with a stutter. The day will come when you will finally feel at ease in this new culture. To help you, I invite you to take my friendly advice. First, be happy you’re not in Paris! In other words, the French would respond in English, obviously pointing out that you’re American. Next, send a post-card to your family instead of calling them. It’s a nice change, and you’re parents will appreciate the gesture. Finally, for better French speaking skills, remember “da da da!” A year isn’t that long, and a semester is even shorter. So spend your time abroad in moderation and take advantage of it as much as possible. --Heidi Kim Birthdays in September 13 : Karen Birthdays in October 16 : Jane 27 : Kelly 31 : Yee

A weekend in Conques and Cordes-sur-Ciel Waking up at six-thirty on a Saturday morning is every student’s dream, right ? Actually, it’s what happened to us, the Dickinson students in France, on the weekend of the 9th of September, when we went to Conques and Cordes-sur-Ciel for a “discovery of the Midi-Pyrénées region and territory”. One of the most interesting things to note about Conques is that this little village takes the shape of a sea-shell; it is also at Conques where you can find l’Abbatiale Sainte-Foy, a pilgrimage center since the 8th century. After a nap on the bus, we arrived at Conques, where we began a “hike” to re-trace the steps taken by Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle around the village of Conques. It was at this point that I had to stop a few moments to remind myself exactly what a “hike” is. At home, a hike implies a short walk, but what we were doing at Conques was certainly not, by my standards, a hike. What we were doing was more like a walk along a significantly steep slope. Just imagine a slightly lazy American woman, that hasn’t had enough sleep because she went out the night before with her host mother, realizing that her idea of a hike is not like everyone else’s. I’m sure it was amusing for my friends, for those who weren’t trying hopelessly to catch their breath. Despite the strenuous hike, the view from the mountain looking over Conques was magnificent, and after finishing the hike I felt proud that I was able to accomplish what I did. Also, I took several photos from exactly the same view that I saw during the descent. At 5:00pm, we left Conques, weighing less, and carrying equally less money (thanks to the beautiful, expensive post cards). We arrived at Cordes-sur-Ciel at 7:30pm, immediately realizing why the name of the village ended in “on the sky” - it was yet another steep hill, the summit nearly reaching the top of the world. When you visit Cordes, you learn about the walls that were constructed at each incline towards the village (founded during the 13th century), in order to protect its inhabitants. Only five of the doorways of the walls remain. When walking up to the village (cars are illegal due to the steep incline), it’s tradition to count each of the doorways along the way; all of a sudden you find yourself in a nearly perfect town - the quintessence of French villages. Once settled in the hotel, we were treated to an extravagant dinner; but in my opinion the best aspect of the hotel was the view from our bedroom window that looked over the valley at the base of Cordes. It was as if we were living inside the image on a postcard. The next day we were able to sleep a little later than normal, and then ate breakfast all together before leaving for our guided tour of Cordes. The view of the valley from the la place de Bride was simply incredible, I couldn’t refrain from taking photos and buying more postcards that were pictures of exactly the same view. I found it difficult to leave this serene village for the life back at Toulouse, especially because we were able to relax for the first time since arriving in France. In the end, the excursion went very well, even though we were exhausted. A special thanks to Laura for all of her hard work putting the trip together. --Kitt Squire Printemps de Septembre For six years now, Toulouse has been the host for the contemporary art festival, Printemps de Septembre (“Springtime in September”). A place open to all sorts of art, where artists can defy traditional approaches. Marie-Thérèse Perrin, the president of the Printemps de Septembre association, says that the mission “can be summarized as imply the liberal creation of an original and coherent proposition.” The festival includes paintings, sculptures, and animated live shows. For about six years, 250 art projects have been presented at Toulouse. This year, the theme is “Lignes Brisées/Broken Lines”, which incorporates the relation between order and disorder; it is inspired by the theory that chaos liberates society through its instability and disorientation. “The motive of “la ligne brisée” corresponds to a strange or mysterious moment, where everything escapes the representations of the norm, of all anticipation of time and space”, explains the artistic director, Jean-Marc Bustamante. The artists and their pieces have been chosen according to the theme of the festival, and must correspond to its message. Printemps de Septembre is from September 22-October 15. The free “all-nighters” include live shows and lights, and are held on the night of the 22nd and the 29th, and last until 1:30am. You can find maps and locations of the expositions, as well as festival events at: www.printempsdeseptembre.com. -- Jamie Wolf Délices de Tunis From outside, passing by the shop window, you can simply fix your eyes on the incredible display of delicious desserts, all varied in color, and all arranged in organized piles. Upon opening the glass door to this small patisserie, Arabic love songs fill the atmosphere. You are surrounded by Middle-Eastern paintings that portray the 1001 Arabian Nights, and by beautiful brass and copper flasks. The assortment of copious desserts make the choice impossible. For example, there are almond Makrouads, spongy thick rolls coated in sugar and honey; there are small Istanbul cakes sprinkled lightly with cocoa and hazelnuts, there are Besboussas made in thin layers similar to Baklava with almonds and with cashew nuts. Hot mint tea is served in tea cups that resemble miniature genie lamps. If you have a sweet tooth, go visit this true diamond in the rough, either with a friend or alone. For something new, taste the gazelle horns with mint tea. You won’t regret it. Délices de Tunis is located at the Place Esquirol, just across the street from Midica next to the Brasserie. 22bis; rue des Tourneurs, Toulouse, 31000. --Heidi Kim Cliquez ici pour retourner à la version française.