Sunday, January 25, 2009

GHS (Philadelphia High School for Girls) 212

212 - the class of 1968, the 212th graduating class of the Philadelphia High School for Girls. Who knew so many of us were on Facebook? Not everyone, of course, but still, a lot.

Barbara found me. She just joined and looked for friends. Then, I guess, through her, Beth found me. Now Barbara and I have been in touch frequently over the years, so we didn't discover one another miraculously just now. I got in touch with Beth a little over a year ago through Jay, not through Facebook. So, it's quite normal that we are now connected on FB. A small bunch of us got together during the summer: blog post

Looking through Barbara's friends, I found Emily. And Emily has directed me to Sylvia to get back into the class directory. Emily has a ton of photos from the 40th reunion, and there, I found a whole bunch of old friends. Some close friends, some not so close. So some do not readily recognize my name and look me up in the yearbook. And with my name they see someone else. It's Elaine. She and I did not share many activities -- I was in band and orchestra. don't have my own yearbook handy, but I think I remember she had more sports. We were in the same homeroom and did have some classes together. Anyway, back when our yearbooks were delivered and we discovered the mistaken identity, we protested to the yearbook group and they kindly gave us an extra yearbook -- I guess so we could paste the right picture with our names. But that didn't correct anything for the others and 40 years later, they can be excused for not know who is who! Now, she's someone I'd love to find on Facebook, but there are too many who share her name and she might not even be there.
This is fun. A bit invasive, perhaps, but fun. I've found that after the euphoria of reconnecting, I settle into just reading status updates and perhaps responding to them. It's the same with family members. I feel closer to Eric just because I know when he's just been flying or gouching about his chemistry homework.
The only problem I have with social media is that there is too much of it. I have a gmail account and you can send instant messages from there. I'm on Skype. And I keep forgetting to open up MSN. I gave up on Yahoo Messenger. I'm on Facebook. I'm still on Plaxo and LinkedIn, but should probably let them go as I'm feeling less and less professional.
So now, back to searching for old high school buddies.

Friday, January 23, 2009

American Abroad

There is a change in the air. It started after the election. I've lived in France since 1972. During the Nixon years, when you said you were American, people expected you to explain American involvement in Vietnam. They weren't concerned whether you were pro or anti; being an American meant you represented the country.
Ford? Well, his presidency didn't seem to affect us. You could say you were American and people didn't seem to judge you. They were, of course, curious about how the Watergate scandal could have gone so far as to make a president go away. They were amused by Ford's bumbles.
I don't remember any negative effects from the Carter years. I don't think the French remember Carter at all. When talking about Obama's family, they keep saying it's the first time there are young children in the White House since Kennedy. Amy Carter went totally unnoticed. And I guess they don't think Chelsea Clinton was "young" enough.
When Reagan became president, you got all kinds of looks. How could Americans vote for an actor? So, whether you were for Reagan or not, you found yourself explaining that he had also been governor and so on. There was a kind of anti-American sentiment in the air. As the US had a conservative government, the French voted in Mitterand.
Then Bush Sr. came along, but that was just a continuation of the Reagan years. The Gulf War more or less united everyone, but there was a feeling that the only coalition country that was going to get any business after the war was the US so you felt a little resentment when you said you were American.
Clinton years were pretty friendly. You'd say you were American and people would ask how we could be so naïve and be so upset about a little lie. It was like explaining Watergate. You had to explain how the government worked. It doesn't matter -- no one ever asks you -- what you think of the situation. People just assume that you are either the average American they see in the news and don't undeerstand or that you have adopted their views. They don't ask you.. This can be troublesome.
Most people I dealt with disliked Bush Jr., even before his first term. They felt he had no culture and no knowledge of the world beyond the US borders. It so happens, that's how I felt. But no one asked me. I received all the anti-Bush jokes in my e-mail and critical comments during lunch. By the time re-election came around in 2004, and the boss sent an anti-Bush joke to everyone in the office, I reminded him that he did not know my political opinion, nor the opinions of our colleagues in the US office, and that he shouldn't be sending that kind of stuff to everyone. He gave me a really strange look until I let him know that I happened to agree with him, but did not think it was good etiquette.
During the campaign, I think most of the people I dealt with could not imagine anyone being pro-Republican. Once McCain was the sure candidate, no one said anything against him except that he was too old. However, once Palin was selected, they were incredulous. So was I. They became pro-Obama fairly early in the campaign, but didn't think he'd ever be the candidate. The big change, though, is that when you say you are American, they look at you and smile and congratulate you for electing Obama. Again, it doesn't matter if you did or didn't. They just assume you did. No problem for me, but I imagine Republicans who voted for McCain, here, feel funny.
Paul and I went to the joint AAWE/AARO inauguration party on Tuesday. I don't remember being excited about an inauguration before, to the point of wanting to share the moment. Anyway, we went to this thing and Paul was not the only Frenchman. I observed them watching the procedings. In France the separation of church and state means that church (God) has no place at all in state events -- no invocation, no swearing on a bible, no "God bless France". So that religeous aspect never ceases to amaze them. The whole inauguration celebration is confusing. In France, the new president takes office a few days after the election. There is no prolonged transition period. So, here we Americans are again -- explaining.
I don't know if the French are especially curious. I wonder if Americans who have foreign neighbors are so curious about their elections or their government processes. I think that this curiosity is good. Right now, the people I am in contact with are very happy with the US. There's a kind of euphoria about Obama. That's nice. They smile when you say you're American.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR - BONNE ANNEE


Bien dans la tradition française, c'est en début d'année que nous vous souhaitons nos meilleurs voeux !
In the French tradition, we send you our New Year's greetings at the beginning of the new year rather than at the end of the old!
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2008 has gotten some really rotten headlines, but it hasn't all been that bad!

We went to Australia. That was a wonderful trip.

Ellen went to Northampton to visit Claire and Geoff a couple of times -- in June, alone, and even saw a bit of the Pickar clan -- and with Paul, Louis, Gwen and Anne in September. Between the two trips, Claire and Geoff decided to get married. The date is set for August. And they have just formally announced the arrival of a baby immediately after the wedding.

Paul is on vacation -- a gentle entry into retirement. No exciting projects undertaken, yet. Early in September, the Pickars came to visit us. And, in October, Ellen went to Pau to visit the Lebelles, there, and to go to our friend, Jean-Yve's birthday party.

Louis and Gwen have moved to a bigger apartment in the 14th and Anne has moved to a nice little apartment near the Gare de Lyon. That leaves our big house to us -- at least until Emma comes back in the Spring.

Emma and Laurent have left Australia and are traveling around Asia. Expected arrival back in France sometime in the spring.

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L'année 2008 a eu une mauvaise presse, mais ce n'était pas si mauvais que ça!

Nous sommes allés en Australie. C'était un voyage magnifique.

Ellen est allée deux fois à Northampton pour rendre visite à Claire et Geoff -- en juin, seule, et il y avait même les cousins Pickars -- et encore avec Paul, Louis, Gwen, et Anne, en septembre. Entre ces deux voyages, Claire et Geoff ont décidé de se marier. Le mariage est prévue le 8 août avec l'arrivée d'un bébé immédiatement après !

Paul est en vacances avant de prendre sa retraite. Il n'a pas encore de grands projets. En septembre, les Pickars sont venus chez nous. Et en octobre, Ellen est allée à Pau rendre visite aux Lebelles de Pau et aussi à la fête d'anniversaire de notre ami, Jean-Yves.

Louis et Gwen ont déménagé dans un appartement plus grand, toujours dans le 14è et Anne à pris un petit appartement près de la Gare de Lyon. Il ne reste plus que nous deux dans la maison jusqu'au retour de Emma au printemps.

Emma et Laurent ont quitté l'Australie et voyagent à travers l'Asie avec un retour en France prévu au début du printemps.