La Une in English: October 2006

Americans in Toulouse Throughout the last few weeks, Dickinson students in France have made both pleasant and unpleasant discoveries. Each one of us has found our individual preferred place to drink a coffee, write a postcard, or do some window shopping. But at the same time, we have found–at times in certain unpleasant situations–that we are, in fact, foreigners, that certain stereotypes are true, and that it is certainly difficult to be a fully-functioning human being in a country where the language isn’t our own. Despite these obstacles, or perhaps due to these obstacles, we are learning and we are becoming intelligent, interesting people, and considerably better prepared for a successful life. Whether it is a small incident or a serious problem, everything that happens to us brings us closer to a stronger sense of an intercultural mentality–a tool that is extremely valuable in this world. With that said, let’s amuse ourselves, and continue energetically to surround ourselves with this culture that simultaneously amazes and frustrates us. It is now our attitude that will determine if this year is an experience we’ll savor or simply survive. –Anna Cumbie, editor Exposition at the Château d'Eau As we all learned from our orientation program with Madame Beauville, le Château d’Eau is a location for modern photograph expositions, and serves as an interesting example for recycled architecture. The current exposition at the Château d’Eau is a photography collection by Dominique Delpoux called “Double je”. Certain series of this exposition are Les mineurs de Carmaux (Minors of Carmaux), Les jumeaux (Twins), Les hommes du chantier (Men at a construction site), Uniformes (Uniforms), and Double je (Double I). Each series is a commentary on identity and the employment of juxtaposition through portraits. My personal favorite is Les jumeaux, as Delpoux demonstrates pairs of twins with each individual at his respective home. Twins that live separately are presented as diptych; those who live together are photographed together. It is quite interesting to compare the two twins portrayed in the context of their home. Le Château d’Eau is located on the banks of the Garonne at the Pont Neuf. This exposition will be presented until December 10, 2006. –Anna Cumbie, editor

Restaurant to Discover: Au Coin de la Rue Bistrot e Brasserie This quaint little restaurant located at Place St. Pierre is an enjoyable place for students who are searching for a cheap meal a bit more extravagant than the crêperie that we all know too well. Upon entering Au Coin de la Rue, you sense a relaxed yet fancy ambiance, manifested by the exposed brick walls and the crystal chandeliers. The menu is comprehensive, with a considerable selection of wine by the bottle or glass; large salads; tapas and “trays” of meat, fish, or vegetables that highlight French, Italian and Spanish specialties; as well as coffee and desserts, with the most notable being pear and Nutella tiramisu. Au Coin de la Rue offers a breakfast formula at five euros, and a general formula at seven euros (until 6:00pm), which includes a boiled egg, bread, Serrano ham, and a glass of wine. For dinner, you can order only à la carte. Tapas and desserts cost about five euros, trays and salads around ten euros, and wine by the glass is about three euros. Yet another charming aspect of this bistrot is the dog that greets you and rests his head on your knee throughout the meal. Au Coin de la Rue is open Monday through Sunday from ? To ?, except for Saturday at lunchtime, and is located at the corner of rue Pargaminières and Valade at Place St. Pierre. The telephone number is 05.61.21.99.45. --Anna Cumbie Cliquez ici pour retourner à la version française.