Comment for CT in Paris

[Eagle]

I couldn't post this on your other "Paris Questions" Board, as it's now "read only".

Just curious if there's any talk in the Paris media about the Hermes Department Store (think that's the name?) and the recent "faux pas" they committed in denying entry to Oprah. She was reportedly VERY humiliated by the experience, and suggested that "racial" issues caused this.

Whether they were having a "private showing" at the time or not, I have a feeling they will be regretting their decision in this case. Oprah is planning to do a show on the topic next season. Insulting someone who's worth over a billion dollars seems a bit stupid, even for such an exclusive store.

Cheers!!!

[LHR02]

Really? Were you trying to post to the 'updates' board where I am putting her blogs? THAT one has always been read only. The questions for CT board is 'read only'? It's not supposed to be.

HEY KIM! Can you check this out??

[LHR02]

Never mind.....the Questions for CT is still fine...it's just the updates where her blogs are going that is read only. Am moving this to her thread now.

;D

[CuriousToronto]

There has been nary a peep about the Oprah situation. At least not that I have seen in the newspapers or the news. To be perfectly honest it does not surprise me. We, of course know who she is and the power she yields. But over in Europe they only know her name and that she was a popular show. I'd be willing to bet that most people wouldn't recognize her if they saw her on the street -- that's probably what happened at Hermes.

This is going to hurt Hermes but only with North American customers. People in Canada and the U.S might think twice about going there if they think it's racist. But the average person wouldn't be able to buy anything there anywayz (except maybe for a scarf and that's expensive too).

I don't think the story registered . . .


Lates,

CT

[Eagle]

CT, thanks for the reply! Hope you've recovered from jet lag. You must feel like you're "home". Any problems switching back to mostly using French?

Regarding the department store, they probably don't care as I'm sure they won't be going bankrupt because of this episode. Still, I'm sure that insulting someone like Oprah will have some consequences.

Have fun in Paris! We'll look forward (with envy, I might add) to hearing about your trip.

Cheers!!!

[CuriousToronto]

Eagle:

Thanks for the good wishes!

As for the jet lag -- it's kind of been bad this time. Two nights in a row I have completely managed to stay awake through the evening. First night I knew I was doing it but last night it came as a complete surprise.

I had been reading my guidebook (thinking it was maybe 2am at most) when I started to hear birds singing. Then I looked out the window and saw the first signs of daybreak. It was 5am!! Of course after that I forced myself to sleep.

Hopefully it will get better. Particularly since class stuff starts soon.

I half suspect though that my funny sleeping situation might have something to do with the heat. It's quite opressive and I'll admit to being somewhat sensitive to hot weather.

It's all good though! Today I think I will go exploring a bit. Don't know where yet. Maybe here or maybe the Opera Garnier (I've never been inside).

As for the use of French -- for the most part it's been all good. The only thing is since I never get to use it my confidence has gone down a bit. Not my vocabulary. Just my sense of being totally comfortable. It will come back though -- soon enough!

Will blog soon.


Cheers!

CT

[LHR02]

It's all good though! Today I think I will go exploring a bit. Don't know where yet. Maybe here or maybe the Opera Garnier (I've never been inside).

Really?! Then you are indeed in for a treat. Maybe because I am such an opera fan, but the Garnier remains one of my favorite Paris spots. Take your camera, it is a sight indeed. Be sure to go downstairs to the restrooms too. Fabulous!

ging

[Eagle]

CT, thanks for the reply. Hopefully you're over the jet lag by now.

Opera Garnier - that's not on my list for Paris at the moment. With the enthusiastic recommendation from Ging, perhaps I should have a look at it. Let me know what your impressions are.

A few points regarding the French language situation. I can certainly relate to what you're saying about "confidence", as I'm very nervous about actually using the language with a "native" Italian speaker. I have nowhere near the level of fluency that you have with French, but hopefully this will get better.

Also, I've spoken with high school students that have been in the French Immersion program, and some of them say that if they're not using the language on a regular basis they forget most of it and lose much of their skill a couple of years after they graduate. From what I remember, you've been at U-Vic for the last year so you might not have had many opportunities to use French? I was wondering if you've partially forgotten any of your language training?

I'm interested as I want to know what situation I'll be facing with Italian. I try to study a bit every day, and also watch at least an hour or two of Italian TV every day, so try to keep my mind working on it. Hopefully that will keep my skills up to speed. I've just started a new course (Pimsleur) which is focused more on conversational skills, rather than learning the grammar, etc. So far I'm quite impressed with this teaching method, but I'm just in the "basic" level right now. I'll reserve judgment until I've finished the "advanced" level.

Have fun in Paris and good luck with your studies!

[CuriousToronto]

Ging: I didn't know you were an opera fan. Me too!!

Eagle: On the language thing -- I think it's all about keeping that portion of your brain working. Watching TV in the foreign language (or listening to music) can help in that regard. I find that since I speak several languages and usually go back and forth between them (at least Spanish and English) then I don't have much of a problem in terms of having lost my ability. Not at all actually! It's not about a decrease in language level at all for me. Instead, it is solely about getting back my bearings.

Just as an anecdote: When my sister was 15 she went to live in Japan for a year. She didn't speak Japanese and her Spanish sucked at that point! When she used to talk to my grandmother all she could say was "Si . . . si . . ." Anywayz, she went away for a year and didn't speak or hear a single word of Spanish. When she came back though we were all amazed 'cause her Spanish was great!!! I really think it has to do with activating that part of your brain.

Now in terms of the Opera . . .

I went there and didn't go into the tour part. Why you ask? Well I really wanted the whole shebang and the hall was closed for rehersals. I've been told to come back on Friday.

For other goings on . . . I'll go update my blog now!

Cheers,

CT

[LHR02]

Oh do go back! I have the most memorable picture of me sitting in one of the 'exclusive' boxes with stage in the background....funny, the same thing happened to me. It took three seperate visits before I first got to go inside...always rehearsals. The actual theater itself is rather small, only 2000 or so seats, but oh so grand. It is the salons and lounges and bars and hallways that are a sight to behold. It's wonderful, all different color marbles, gilt and fabulous ceilings. Heck, even the lampposts surrounding it left me awestruck.

For opera WT holds the grand prize...she got a seat to La Fenice in it's opening season. I will be envious till I die! Three trips to Venice and never was it open while I was there. Sigh....guess I'll just have to go back to Italy.

[CuriousToronto]

My dream is definitely to do it big in "La Scala!" Last time I was here I wanted to go but it was under renovations.

I did go to the Opera here in paris though. It was at Bastille so definitely not as pretty. I saw Tosca. Really though I felt like the Canadian Opera Company was just as good and probably better.

Too bad I'm not into ballet. That's the only real chance to see something in the Garnier opera house. At least nowadays.

I am thinking of going to the Comedie Francaise though. That should be good!

[CuriousToronto]

dustoffmom said:

Sigh....guess I'll just have to go back to Italy.

LOL -- Always looking for an excuse, eh!?

[Eagle]

CT & DOM, interesting comments regarding the Opera! Opera Garnier sounds like a building that is steeped in "old world elegance". I can't say that I'm a really big Opera fan, but I don't mind it once in a while for a change, and I usually quite enjoy it.

That brings us to the question of which Opera is the favourite here? I think the last live performance I saw was "La Boheme" (which as I recall, is set in Paris?). I have "Turandot" on video, mostly because Nessun Dorma is one of my favourites (NO ONE can do justice to that song except Pavarotti!). After watching the Andre Rieu Cortona concert on PBS recently, I'm also interested in knowing a bit more about the Opera "Gianni Schicci" as O Mio Babbino Caro is another of my fav's. (surprisingly, I think I prefer the Carmen Monarcha version to that of Sarah Brightman).

Thanks for the feedback on the language situation. I'm a bit confused though, why did your sister's Spanish skills improve after living in Japan for a year??? I can understand her Japanese skills improving, which I suppose would also "activate" that part of her brain. Was she also studying Spanish at the time, or did her previous training in Spanish simply start working again once she started with Japanese?

My Italian Instructior assured me that I CAN learn Italian at my age, however she said "it will take you longer". Oh, to have the learning skills of the young again! I failed miserably at high school French, so I wasn't sure how this would work out? However at that time in my life, I wasn't too receptive to or interested in other languages, so I kind of "dug my heels in" and didn't work at it too hard. At this time however, I really want to learn another language, and I'm willing to put the time and effort in. Hopefully my abilities will allow that to happen?

I recently discovered that an Italian language immersion program is being offered at U.B.C. It consists of five modules plus a variable "Culture & Business module" which can be taken either here or in several locatons in Italy. With the C & B module, one can select Cooking, Tourism, Business or several other "specialties". I'm going to investigate that a bit further and see whether it might be an option for me, given the restrictions on both my time and money right now. Just the thought of spending any time in the Vancouver "rat race" sends shivers up my spine, but now that U.B.C. is going to have an Okanagan Campus in Kelowna starting this September, perhaps they'll offer the course here as well?

Have fun in Paris and good luck with your studies. Cheers!!!

[CuriousToronto]

On the sister --

She really didn't have any language training. It's her native language but we did leave when she was 7. It was simply being in country and learning a new language that activated that part of her brain and her Spanish came back to her. Crazy -- my parents were so impressed they threatened to send her back. Hee, hee! ;D

On the Opera Garnier --

Last time I was here it was looking rather white due to it's millenium power washing. This time I was horrified and shocked to see it looking brown again. Makes you wonder.

On my favourite opera. I like big Italian operas and of all the ones I have seen (in person or on TV) my favourite was Cavalleria Rusticana. It's your typical BIG Italian Opera full of love, hate, cheating, death, and arias that are heart breakingly beautiful. In particular I saw it performed by Alina Gurina. An East European mezzo soprano (I think) with a voice that was nothing short of incredible. There's a part where the crowd sings an Easter chorus ( "Innegiamo, il Signor") and she too is singing along but her voice just floated over everyone else. I am not exaggerating when I say it brought me to tears. I have heard she performs a lot in Prague (apparently her type of voice is what East Europeans love) and I would LOVE to see her again. When she came to Toronto a well-known reviewer said of her: "Now I know how people felt the first time they heard Maria Callas sing."

Stunning.

[LHR02]

oohhhh....opera topic! Love it Eagle! Thanks for a fun chat opportunity.

My favorite? If I had to chose just one I suppose I would say Aida off the top of my head. I am a sucker for Verdi at any time and this one remains my favorite for the arias it includes. Well, and I have seen it the most often so most familiar with it as well. It has such pageantry, great three voice melodies, rousing chorus numbers....to me it offers among the best there is for a night's entertainments.

But...oh....Puccini....La Boheme, Madam Butterfly, Tosca.....how to compare Verdi to these? Wonderful melodies, terrific chorus numbers, easy to follow plots...tears, fears, cheers. Who can not adore a Puccini? He breathes such life into his characters, yet the 'critics' will say they are often shallow. Not to me though. Even the shortest little interludes have melodies of such magic!

Bizet's Carmen still stands alone...and likely always will. It is one I will take my non-opera friends to see...they are more often than not won over.

Which leads to Wagner. Be still my heart. Much as I adore the Italians, Mozart, Bizet, my soul turns over on the dark, heavy, uber drama of Wagner! None of the 'light' happy chorus and arias, none of the frolicking and gayiety...at least not for the most part. But oh my! Lohengrin......I take it back...this is my favorite. It simply mesmerizes me, as does nearly all of his work. It's an individual thing I know, but when that soprano finally opens her mouth in anything by him...normally quite late in the story...and lets loose the chills just won't stop. And don't forget the heavy 'Holy Grail' tie in as well. 3 1/2 hours of utter joy for me.

Tannhauser.....man's redemtpion through woman's sacrifice....pure Wagner to the max and not to be missed if he appeals at all.

But no dark Wagner offering can top Mozart's Don Giovanni! But at the same time it is witty, comical and often down right funny. But...the main character does get consigned to hell, on stage, so how happy can it be overall?



Sorry.....just don't get me started!

ging