Jonas, John, and Fed go to Stade de France

So we might have pulled off the most cliché manly thing last night. The three of us had been planning on going to this International Friendly game between Morocco and France. But of course none of us could make up our minds because of not wanting to put three tickets on one credit card or we all had doubts with the strike. But we finally decided to just try and see if we could pull it off the day of. So we met at Pizza Hut for our dinner and finished with 2 hours to spare before our match. We had no tickets, no map, and no idea what trains or buses were running to still get us the rest of the way up north. That’s when you have to tap into the male GPS to get you where you want to go. We first hopped on the metro to find out that Chatelet had so many people they were being herded into the tunnels and pushed into the trains. So we decided to take a small line perpendicular to where we were supposed to go in order to see if there were more possibilities. We ended up at Saint –Lazare where we took a line that was less crowded as far north as we could. By this point we had about an hour left and still had a while north to go. We followed the masses of Moroccans onto a bus that took us half the distance before it got caught in traffic. We jumped ship and had to run the rest of the way because we only had about 30 minutes to still find tickets.

Our first stop was the information desks that told us that the place was sold out. I didn’t think they were telling the truth because this game was only an international friendly. Although it had many parallels with Gold Cup games in Chicago with Mexican green filling the entire stadium. Here is was Moroccan red. Once we heard it was sold out, we immediately started to fun around the stadium trying to attract people scalping tickets. Nobody had three tickets so the first guy we found had 2 which I told Jonas and Fed to take because I would find another one. I found out later that the guy had more but whatever they got two for 50 euros and went inside. I walked around the stadium about ten times before finding this one guy who wanted 50 euros for a 10 Euro ticket. For some reason in France when it gets closer to game time, the prices go up…I said no and walked away, using some of the tactics I learned in Turkey. He came up to me and said 40, now as I was walking around I put thirty in my pocket as to say that was all I had when asked. At first he didn’t want to take it until another guy came up and said it was ok. I mean I still paid three times the price, but it paid off in the end. My ticket put me in the nose bleeder seats that were right in little Morocco. People were dancing to drums and screaming profusely. I closed up my jacket not only because it was freezing cold but because of my French jersey. Morocco scored in the first ten minutes of the game which saw the entire stadium erupt considering there were very few French fans. But then again everyone in the stadium were French, so it was a pretty friendly match with people clapping for both teams when they played well. It didn’t take long France to equalize with their second team before half time.

Now Fed and Jonas were sitting 4 rows from the pitch, which for some reason there were a lot of empty seats. I guess that’s always the case with the more expensive tickets and the crowd this game is trying to draw. Jonas met me outside the concession stand to give me Fed’s ticket s that I could go sit with them. We all ended up moving higher in the section so that we could see more of the game. Now we had to move several times because people came back from getting drinks but we eventually settled in very good seats. We ended up seeing a lot of action up close including Morocco’s equalizer because France when up earlier 2-1. When France scored to take the lead, the number of security guards suddenly tripled because of what had happened when France played its last international friendly with a former African colony. The game with Algeria I think in the 90s was stopped by a riot, so the French officials waned to be adequately prepared. It was funny because when more brutes started to line up people were shouting, “We are not Algerians!!!” And it was for these reasons that I was glad that the friendly ended up in a tie and nobody got injured for the upcoming crucial match against the Ukraine. Unfortunately for England, they lost their best striker in a friendly against one of the worst teams in Europe, Austria. Now my soccer game total in Europe is currently at 5, but if you like the sport and hate watching it on TV, then I guess it’s the time to go to games. I wasn’t planning on this one with Morocco because I knew the stars wouldn’t play, but I wanted to experience Stade de France. Also I ended up seeing three Arsenal players play: Diarra, Gallas, and Flamini. So yeah all of this toil and trouble made a hell of a story and good memory beating the strike. (Pictures courtesy: Federico Munoz)

Stike in France: part deux

So it’s the second day of the strike and people back home probably want to know my reaction to it and how’s its affecting people in Paris. I actually wrote a very sarcastic commentary for BBC.com and I don’t think it was published due to the content for it goes through review and that’s what they need another stupid American trying to say that he’s better than everyone else. Well all that I said was true but also with some conservative views I will admit. I will provide a watered down version of what I said with more facts and less sass.

So the new President Sarkozy was elected saying that he was going to be bring reforms to France and help further break up the power of the state in order for market forces to promote further growth. This is obviously hard to do because no matter where you take money from the state, it will result in people losing jobs or benefits. Unlike their comrades in the states, its written and accepted that you strike and have the power to shut down the country if you feel that the government is treating you badly. Now after striking a few weeks ago, the transit and railway workers are at it again because one of the reforms looks at cutting the pension system in that it will move back the age of retirement. Now for being able to push the button to make the train move, you are able to retire at age 50 with a reasonable pension bigger than most in the US. Other reforms Sarkozy is planning is the reinstatement of the 40 hr work week and downsizing of the public sector in order to balance the budget and release the government’s hold on everyday life. These are all things that will hopefully provide and free up more money so that the government will not run such a high deficit that is being ridiculed by the EU and be able to increase competitiveness, which ultimately inspires economic growth. Now anyone who studies the French nation knows that the state has always been the center of the republic and that even now it’s strong compared to the rest of the world even with the constant privatization since the 80s. Railway and transit workers are not the only ones who be mad at the President in the coming years as he tries to put his plans in motion and it’s really all about how he handles this current strike in determining his credibility as President. Sarkozy has said it himself that if these reforms fail then so will his career and reputation.

I can relate with people about their benefits and wealth being compromised by these reforms, but one has to look at his policies in the bigger picture. If he in fact goes through with these reforms, then France will rise up from being only the 7th strongest economy in the world and pass the UK and Germany. I mean obviously people cannot really be expected to look to the future and must focus on the now, but come on I like being ridden to school and not having to walk. Although the walks to school these last two days haven’t been so bad considering my lack of soccer playing lately. But its causing problems for other people because there are tons of cars, bicycles, and pedestrians taking to the streets especially during rush hour. Its sad how many people are going to be hit by cars and have accidents etc because these wankers are striking. In the metro, it is near anarchy during rush hour where people are being shoved into cars by people and police. Our French teacher was telling us how this one lady was being shoved into a car and she was crying because she was actually leaving and it was her stop. Another anecdote involves a friend from SMU who was saw a fight break out and was about to take out his camera until he was apprehended by a police officer. He tells me that he almost “broke my hand off.” So yeah they wouldn’t want a picture of this mayhem leaking to the press. I just sent him a text saying that he should report to the US embassy about Police brutality in whatever station he was at. Don’t think it would go anywhere, but still its too bad he didn’t get a picture…

The papers say that the trade unions are in negotiations with the Sarkozy government, but who knows how long it is going to last. In 1995, the challenge to the new government lasted 3 weeks. And plus next week more unions are planning to strike including utility workers, teachers, nurses, and even students. How could moral people like nurses go on strike when their absence will lead to the deaths of people? I know that they leave just the bare minimum to take care of patients, but I mean are there ever enough medical workers? I mean all of those cliché saying of how the French are lazy and don’t like to work, I mean two major strikes in less than a month, enough is said make your own judgments. The one thing I do like about this strike what I said in my last commentary is that it’s good that the people have this much power in the state, where they can shut it down and really pressure the government. I mean I don’t think that could really ever happen in the United States, unless somebody per say took over the US military. So yeah I have no idea how long this current strike is going to last but judging that I have papers to write, I will be staying in for the next few days anyway. I am hoping that Sarkozy can bring a swift end to this last ditch attempt at hindering reform in a nation that has so much potential. Pictures are thanks to BBC.COM

French Current Events and Strasbourg Trip: Council of Europe and the European Parliament

First I want to talk about what is going on France and then I will talk about my one day trip to Strasbourg. So as hopefully many people back home know, French President Sarkozy traveled to the US in an effort to boost relations between the two countries. He was given a warm reception (standing ovation) when he gave a speech to the US Congress. You don’t even know how much that makes me happy. He was able with President Bush to set aside their countries’ differences on Iraq and be able to reaffirm their agreements with regards Afghanistan and Iran. As it seems now, France doesn’t want Iran to get nukes just as much as the US. President Bush also met with Chancellor Merkel from Germany showing that he is in fact on a mission to rebuild our country’s image in the last years of his presidency. I can’t tell if he’s trying to desperate get out of the abyss he dug himself or trying to at least give the next batch of Republicans a chance at beating the Democrats. Second, I have to restrain myself when I say this but the #$@#in French transport workers are striking AGAIN tomorrow and this one which is a direct challenge to President Sarkozy’s reforms, might last for a longer time period. Now it is not only including the transport workers but also later, electric workers, teachers, students, and even opera students. The worst part is that Sciences Po is not participating in the strike, so I still have to go to class including to tomorrow’s French Test. Thirdly, soccer in Europe is insane as shown through the riots that are going in Italy due to the one soccer fan being shot in his car from across the highway by a trigger-happy policeman. And now the Italian superstars are threatening the public that they will leave Italy because in the past years it has been one thing after another that has caused problems and tainted the sport that brought Italy World Cup glory in 2006. How is this relevant to me, I went to another PSG game on Saturday and it was relatively safe, but some of the supporters are very hard-core. I never felt scared there or even in Istanbul for that matter, I guess it’s just really bad in Italy. Oh and I lost my ticket as I was outside the stadium, don’t know if I dropped it or somebody stole it out of my pocket. Luckily our names were on the tickets because we bought them from the PSG store on the Champs Ellysees and was able to get it reprinted. Best game I have seen so far in France in that it the home team got one point instead of losing.

Now on the train to Strasbourg. Had to get up really early for what would be a very long day. The train ride was only 2.5 hours long which was nice and short compared to what it used to be of 4 hours. When we arrived in the morning, we had a few hours to walk around before we had to go to our first stop, the Council of Europe. A group of us just headed off into the old town in search of things to see. Luckily the weather was different in Strasburg than it was in Paris in that it was sunny and beautiful although it shared the cold temperature. Regardless it really brought out the ambience on architecture of the region (Alsace Lorraine). Now with that Strasburg has been under the German flag many times before hence the city looks kind of like Belgian cities where you have two languages (French and German). They had beer halls and other buildings that looked like the German cliché Americans know from movies. Our main point of interest after stopping a local bakery for some Quiche Lorraine was the principle cathedral of Strasbourg called Strasbourg Cathedral. We didn’t actually get to go inside but it seemed larger and more magnificent than Notre Dame in Paris. Its rustic color and dominating stature among the other buildings built not in the 21 or 20th centuries gave an ambience that I really appreciated needing a break from Parisian life. After walking around and seeing more of the city. I started complaining that I was hungry and wanted to try some local dishes. I was very happy when I found Choucrout or Sauerkraut on most of the menus, well that’s because its actually a dish of the region. What makes it even more special for me is that I haven’t eaten it since I left and we won’t be able to have it for Thanksgiving because my host mother vomits every time she smells it. So when we sat down I order that dish along with a local beer of Alsace to really immerse myself in the region. I wanted to try the beer with its proximity to Germany because it always seems to get better as you travel East in Europe, well at least from France. My dish also came with different sausages and meets so let’s just say I had one of my favorite meals in Europe because it reminded me of Czech and Polish American food that I have back home. We had to hurry back to the station after the meal in order to make it on time for the Council of Europe that has no time to spare if we were late…

Now for people who don’t know what the Council of Europe is (I didn’t really know until I came here), I am going to explain. It is an organization compromised of 47 nations of Europe and yes that includes all of the bad ones that are not in the European Union and all of the small city-states. Now when I say bad ones I am including Russia and most of its former colonies in Eastern Europe where clearly there are still vast problems with Democracy. It was founded in 1949 after World War II to be another body to promote democracy and help end wars in Europe. What it has developed into now is a body that mainly deals wit human rights issues. It has an international human rights court that anyone living in the jurisdiction of the organization can appeal to. This also refers to me a non-European citizen if I was say arrested by the French police for no reason. We saw and took pictures of the parliamentary branch of it as walked by the court that looks like a launch pad for spaceships. Nevertheless the council building looks like something out of the 1950s and its budget difference with the European Parliament across the channel clearly shows. One of the students asked what did our lecturer think will happen to the council in the future. And he said as long as they have the human rights under their responsibility then it will stay alive. You could clearly see that he is being optimistic. Most people both European citizens and even politicians don’t even know what the Council of Europe is, which to me is really sad. What is more sad is that Russia is welcomed into a democratic organization that looks after the basic needs and rights of human beings. I mean when you have elections with two candidates: Putin and Putin, is it really a democracy that promotes liberty? Most people exercising or who wanted to exercise their liberties are doing so in Siberia…

Our second stop was the European Parliament, which I have to say was one of the most beautiful and modern buildings I have ever seen in my life. Just look at the pictures above and you can see the difference between the budgetary constraints of the Council of Europe and the European Union yourself. What’s also ironic is that there are 27 members in the latter and 47 in the former. Anyway you walk into the EP and like my friend says it looked like the Roman Coliseum. After checking our coats and going through another metal detector, which by the way considering we were all Americans they didn’t care when we beeped, we went straight into the beehive to view an opening session of parliament. What surprised me was the lack of parliamentarians for maybe 20% were actually there.
A few observations on the session: 1) you sit down and immediately told to be quiet and listen to the speaker who is usually speaking in their native language. What you must do is pick up your headphone and flip to the channel of English which is terribly translated for you throughout the session. Unlike in the Council of Europe there are no official languages (English and French) and every single language of the EU must be represented. What a miracle. 2) For the majority of our stay we listened to one-minute speeches about issues the members were bringing up in their respective countries. Poland was bitching that a few polish names were left off a monument for the train bombing in Spain. Italy was being criticized with its harsh policies of deporting Romanians for the suspicion of being criminal and for having harsh conditions for the ROMA or gypsies. Italy later defended itself in a grandeur tirade by stating that the criticisms were hypocrisy due to the treatment of gypsies around the rest of Europe and even in Romania where I am sure the conditions are worse than Italy. Britain kept saying that the EU was nailing more pegs into the coffin of British sovereignty, which I was delighted to hear when you learn about that so much in school. There were other speeches and tirades, but those were the most interesting to me. It got to a point where my professor who is Italian showed me the list of parliamentarians and one of them having a last name of Mussolini. He explained to me that she was the grand-daughter of the dictator and had actually been a soft core porn star under a different name before her political career. I can’t even imagine the implications of that if she was an American politician. Oh wait…maybe Hillary has another life that we don’t know about…you know to kind of get back at Billy Boy…haha I am trying to decide who is the better woman…Where is Condy when you need her?

Our session was followed up by a Slovenian lecturer who gave us more regurgitation of what we have been learning in our classes but was surprisingly interesting. Two things that struck me about him was his comment on the conflict of American aggression (Iraq) and that he wished weapons would just go away. Now I agree that there needs to be peace in the world, but human nature always gives weapons defensive utility. After his arousing speech, we hurried back to the train for Paris. Too bad we couldn’t stay longer because apparently President Sarkozy was giving a speech before the Parliament. We actually saw them preparing for his reception and press conference blasting the French national anthem. Too bad, I would have really liked his hard-line approach and get the European Union moving away from its current stagnant nature.