Fun Facts

The long vacation has arrived in Nantes, hence the lack of activity in my blog. However, I will not use this excuse to not keep you informed about all that is Nantes! The Heures d'Ete festival continues and I recently enjoyed a modern klezmer concert along the banks of the Ehrde river, where there are also floating gardens drifting alongside an imitation of a laundry boat (bateau lavoir) that serves as a cafe and bar. I realize that this blog probably does not provide nearly enough images to give you an idea of what it's like (you're probably wondering, what does a laundry boat look like?), so check out my facebook album here if you're interested in seeing more.

A great way to learn about any place is through the local newspaper, so I suggest that those of you who would like to brush up on their French read Ouest-France. I'd love it if you my readers would use this post as a forum to leave comments on what you find interesting, what seems unfamiliar, what you would like my persepective on, etc. when you've read a bit.

For those who are not francophones, but would like to know more, I would recommend visiting the blog "Knowing Nantes."

Et pour mes collègues français!

Avec les grandes vacances arrivés, je n’ai pas grand chose à raconter sur mes projets ici à Nantes, mais je vais m’en profiter quand même pour vous parler un peu de ma ville. Malgré notre temps variable ici à Nantes, il fait assez chaud à Seattle depuis longtemps- en fait, il y a quelques semaines, ils ont dépassé le record quand il faisait à peu près de 40 degrés. Si vous aimerez en lire plus et pratiquer votre anglais, je vous suggère de lire cet article des NY Times ici.

J’aimerais bien aussi savoir ce que vous en pensez de cet article sur l’inauguration du système light rail à Seattle et ce qu’on appelle le « Seattle process. » Je trouve que c’est vrai qu’il fait longtemps depuis qu’on discutait le problème de notre système du transport public, mais qu’il y a aussi des avancements impressionnants, comme l’article en avait mentionné concernant le système recyclage et sur lequel j’avais écrit déjà dans mon premier message de ce blog. Est-ce qu’il y a des choses que vous aimerez voir s’avancer dans votre ville ? Pourquoi croyez-vous qu’il y a des obstacles, des raisons pour lesquels ces projets ne s’avancent pas ? Est-il la faute des réglementations, du système, des citoyens eux-mêmes ? (Seattle friends, your comments on this article and what you think about the « Seattle process, » or whether you think it exists at all, would be much appreciated too.)

Comme toujours, n'hesitez pas a corriger mes fautes d'orthographe ou de grammaire! :)

Moi et ma soeur au parc de Gasworks a Seattle:

La Fete Nationale et Independence Day, a la Francaise

What a beautiful coincidence it is that our nations celebrate their independence only ten days apart! History shows that we, the Americans, owe much to our French comrades not only for their military aid but also for their ideas. The more I have read, the more I am convinced that our philosophies on such things as essential as freedom and liberty share a common thread.

I had the honor of being invited to celebrate the Independence Day in Angers at the event hosted by the US Consul of Rennes, along with Mariette and association members Michelle and Jessica, who comes from Atlanta. There I also met Tara, an intern of the US State Department, who is working with the Consul in Rennes and helped organize this fantastic event. There, we heard from the Consul Edward O'Brian and and attache Eric Beaty, and listened to jazz by the "Tony Baker 3."


Back home in Nantes, the Nantes Seattle Jacksonville Sister City Association hosted an "Independence Day" potluck. About 40 members joined us to share a meal and stories of their adventures in America. I welcomed everyone and shared a book I have with photos of Whidbey Island, my home. It was great to get to know the other members and to hear about all the activities and exchanges they have been involved in- it shows that the sister city relationship is strong!


Unfortunately, the weather was less agreeable on the anniversary of the capture of the Bastille prison. Nevertheless, the night was perfect and Nantes put on a spectacular fireworks show along the Loire river. Meanwhile, nearby, the local summer international culture festival "Les Heures d'Ete" continued, this night featuring the music and dance of Turkey (the place of which in Europe is an interesting topic in current events, by the way). All in all, what a great place it is to be at this time of year! So much to learn, so much to enjoy, so much to share.


Et pour mes collègues français!

Merci de m’avoir si bien accueillie ici ! J’ai bien apprécié la fête de l’Independence de ma nation à Angers et au potluck de l’Association Seattle Nantes Jacksonville chez Michelle Leroy. Je trouve ça beau et juste que nos fêtes nationales ne sont séparées que par dix jours. Pour le 14 juillet je me suis bien amusée sur le Quai de la Fosse en regardant le spectacle des feux d’artifices et écoutant la musique turque aux Heures d’Été. Vivent nos nations, leurs citoyens, et tout ce qui nous rapproche !

Les Forums Quartiers du CNJ

First, apologies are in order for having not written in so long! I will do my best to touch a little a bit of everything but I'm afraid the next few will be a bit shorter so I can catch up.

Though the long vacation has arrived and everything has quieted down a bit, the end of the year was filled with activities for local youth. The Conseil Nantais de la Jeunesse hosted two special events in two of Nantes outer neighborhoods, Malakoff and Breil. These "Forums Quartiers" gave the chance for local youth to learn more about ways they can become involved in their community and gave me and others the chance to learn more about the issues that touch these parts of this city we all share.

In Malakoff, debates on the topics of boy-girl relationships, stereotypes, and discrimination were punctuated by excellent musical and dance performances by local groups. In Breil, local teens of the Cite du Monde project presented their own compositions, and several groups presented opportunities for the local youth to become involved in putting together their own short film, joining their neighborhood's rugby team, or decorating a bike and riding their bike for the benefit of the environment.

As always, I was impressed by how dynamic this city is and how much attention is given to what the youth have to say and what actions they are interested in taking. It was also interesting to see that no matter where you go, we are often all affected by the same issues, like discrimination. On the positive side, it is encouraging to see that there are others carrying on this struggle and suceeding in overcoming these issues.

Visite avec l'Association de la Memoire d'Outre-Mer au Musee de la Compagnie des Indes

When Mariette first invited me to join her on a visit to Port Louis, where the fortress houses the Museum of the French East India Trading Company, my first thoughts turned to the glamorous image of the Pirates of the Caribbean. As you can see from the photos, Port Louis does look a bit like a majestic movie scene, with old canons facing the ocean from either side of the port and ramparts extending the length of the beach. Inside, however, was a plethora of lessons on the history of the area, including Nantes, and how it has been experiencing the effects of globalization for centuries now.

The history of trade in western France is complex, dating back beyond the establishment of the first Compagnie des Indes under finance minister Colbert during the reign of Louis XIV. In the museum there are many oriental rugs and porcelain that show how this early trade system affected the aesthetics of both eastern and western cultures, as European clients' demands required new forms of decor, and the European's taste also developed to appreciate the original art form of the eastern cultures. Everything was interwoven early on- the discovery of tea and coffee lead to the discovery of the need for porcelain, since traditional European wooden and metal containers did not serve this purpose well. Economics, culture, and politics were all factors in this long period of trade; as the ban on eastern fabrics encouraged contraband, so too did the value of these rare fabrics rise, and the imitiation of them in the early mass-production factories influenced the form of the fabrics themselves. As much as early America was a part of this same trading system, I don't think we can truly appreciate how much this changed the world as Europe knew it. Despite the long voyages, the occasional shipwreck, and the restrictions on trade in Europe and abroad, the world was certainly becoming smaller- eastern delicacies became household objects in the upper class, tastes conformed to accept eastern and new world aesthetics, etc. And before the move of the Compagnie des Indes to Lorient, Nantes was at center stage in France, as the site where the majority of the merchandise was sold and then diffused into the rest of France.

Just as at home, however, this story of early global exchanges has its dark side, too. The association, being involved in reconstructing the history of the peoples abroad influenced by this era of early colonization, was especially interested in the exhibit on the involvement of the Compagnie des Indes in the slave trade. While most slaves were exported to the New World, it was sometimes French ships that carried them there and exchanged slaves for New World goods. France does not deny its part in this dark history, and it is the work of such associations as Memoire d'Outre-Mer to remind the public of how much Nantes and the rest of Europe owes to the hard labor of an oppressed people. A nation that is so conscientious of its heritage is also careful to reconstruct its ideas of the past truthfully.

A gauche/to the left: Memoire d'Outre-Mer


Et pour mes collègues francais!

J'ai eu la chance de rejoindre l'association Memoire d'Outre-Mer pour une visite au Musée de la Compagnie des Indes à Port-Louis. Là, j'ai appris beaucoup des choses sur l'histoire du commerce entre la France, l'Asie, et le Nouvel Monde autrefois. C'était intéressant de voir comment Nantes y était intégré aussi, étant le site du vente des merchandises pendant plusieurs années, avant que Lorient soit devenu le site principale des ventes plus tard. J'ai appris également énormement d'information sur la traite des nègres grâce à l'exposition du musée et les membres de Memoire d'Outre-Mer. C'est une association éxtrodinaire dont les membres viennent de tous les coins du monde; leurs expériences et origines diverses livrent une certaine dynamique à la groupe. C'était une plaisir de leur rencontrer, et j'espère continuer à m'informer sur l'histoire entre France et les territoires francophones grâce à leurs activités et leurs efforts.

Feeling Small, in a Good Way!/Un Weekend des Geantes

The Royal De Luxe is in town! Exactly what is the Royal De Luxe? It's certainly much more than puppet theatre, more than a concert, more than a street festival. This troupe, funded by the city of Nantes, travels the world to bring living Giants and their story to the streets. As you can see from this video, these larger-than-life marionettes are more human than I could imagine possible. They not only walk the streets with ease, they dance, they eat, they sleep, and they interact with each other. I was moved to watch la Pétite Geante (the little giant) awake in the arms of her uncle the Scéphandrier (the diver), who almost seemed to smile at her as she blinked her sleepy eyes. Nantes could not be more supportive of this unique art form that began here in - it seems the entire city was out to see them! I truly felt like a part of the fabric of this special place as we all ran together, following the giants wherever they went, right up until they debarked on the Loire to visit the rest of the area for the Estuaire festival, which is ongoing.

On a more somber note, this past saturday also marked the 65th anniversary of the D-Day disembarquements in Normandy. Mariette (president of the Nantes-Seattle-Jacksonville Sister City Association, my supervisor and constant companion), myself, and Pauline and Bob- two other members of the Sister-City Association- were invited to attend the ceremony at the American cemetary above Omaha beach in Colleville-sur-mer. While I have visited the military cemetaries of my grandfather and great-uncle in the States, it was truly moving to be at this site where men gave their lives only feet away from their final resting place. It was difficult to imagine that this site of peace and tranquility along the beautiful coastline was a battle scene, not too long ago. Local families in France adopt the graves of fallen soldiers whose family remain too far away to visit regularly (see photo). This day is remembered annually, and is continually a part of the memory of French society in many forms. Click here for remarks given by President Obama at this ceremony.

Et pour mes collègues francophones!

Je me trouvais très emue par le spectacle Royal De Luxe ce weekend passé. Il me semblait qu'en courant après les géantes parmi tous les Nantais que je faisait vraiment une partie de la tissue de votre ville magnifique. La qualité superieure de ce spectacle témoigne à la sensibilité nantaise sur la valeur de l'art dans la qualité de la vie. Je me trouve encerclée par la beauté naturelle et artistique partout à Nantes.

J'ai été également émue par la cérémonie de la 65ème Anniversaire du Jour J à la cimitière Américaine à Colleville. J'y était invitée par l'Ambassade des Etats-Unis à Paris, ainsi que la présidente de l'Association Nantes-Seattle-Jacksonville Mariette, et deux membres de la même association, Bob et Pauline. Les vétérans qui m'entouraient là étaient des vrais géants, des héros inconstatables de notre proche Histoire. Voir les fleurs et d'autres hommages des familles français posés sur les tombes des soldats américains m'a touché aussi. Nos histoires sont toujours liés grâce à ceux qui se souviennent toujours que les Américains et les Français ont lutté pour la même cause.

Cliquez ici pour les allocutions des chefs d'état qui assistaient à cette cérémonie.

A droite/Right: Myself, the honorable Consul Edward O'Brian of the American Consulate in Rennes, and the talented Bob Destiny, leader of a Gospel choir in Nantes and member of the AJSNJ

Bienvenue!/Welcome!

Bonjour from Nantes! Please allow me to introduce myself- I'm a senior at the University of Washington with a major in French Literature and a minor in Music. I am finishing my studies through my internship here in Nantes as the Seattle Young Ambassador. The two questions I most often get back home are, "Where is Nantes?" and "So exactly what does a young ambassador do?" (Here in Nantes, I get the same, except that they ask where Seattle is, hence my blog's title "You know Seattle too?") To answer your questions, Nantes is Seattle's sister city, and is located near the Atlantic just below the Brittany region. It's an absolutely stunning city, and I hope sharing my six months here will stir your interest in coming here yourself. As for my work, I work for both the Association Jumelage Nantes-Seattle-Jacksonville (the counterpart for the Seattle-Nantes Sister City Association) and the Conseil Nantais de la Jeunesse (the Nantes Youth Council). I will be assisting in projects that support the sister city relationship and inform the youth of it, such as the Quinzaine Americaine, a two-week festival taking place in early December that features lectures and concerts on everything that represents this unique connection. I'll also have the chance to propose some of my own projects, which I will keep you updated on as time goes on. Please feel free to leave your comments and questions here about absolutely anything!

Et pour mes collègues francophones !

Permettez-moi de me présenter- Je suis étudiante à l’Université de Washington à Seattle. Ma spécialisation est la littérature française et j’étudie également la musique. Je complète mes études en faisant un stage à Nantes comme la Jeune Ambassadeur de Seattle. Souvent on me demande, « Où se trouve Seattle ? » et « Que fais-tu comme Jeune Ambassadeur ? » En premier, Seattle est la ville jumelée de Nantes, et se trouve au Nord-Ouest des Etats-Unis. Je trouve ma ville très belle et intéressante, et j’espère que en la partageant avec vous que je vous pique la curiosité de la visiter. Quant à mon travail, je travaille en même temps pour l’Association Jumelage Nantes-Seattle-Jacksonville et le Conseil Nantais de la Jeunesse. J’assiste à des projets qui se concerne des rapports entre Nantes et sa ville jumelée, comme la Quinzaine Américaine, qui aura lieu au début de décembre. J’aurai aussi l’opportunité de proposer mes propres projets, dont je vous tiendrai au courant. Veuillez me poser des questions ou me laisser des commentaires sur n’importe quoi !

Nantes, un ville "green"

Before arriving in Nantes, I heard from others- study-abroad students, SNSCA members, Nantes Young Ambassador Anais- that Nantes is a good match for Seattle in so much as that it's very green. They weren't kidding! As much as there is of cultural interest here- the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany, the Lieu Unique (former LU cookie factory transformed in cultural center), the Court of 50 Hostages- I've found myself consistently attracted to the city's many green spaces. My first day in Nantes, my host sister Florianne went with me for a bike ride on the Ehrdes. Ever since, I keep returning to the river banks (there are three rivers here, and canals), the parks, the lawn on the moat, and soak in the sun for a little while. Just today I discovered the Jardin des Plantes, originally planted during the reign of Louis XIV, located just outside downtown, across from the train station. While it's about the same size of the arboretum in Madison Valley, and has many of the same vegetation- rhododendrons, foxglove, evergreens, and even an Iris that came from the UW arboretum itself- it's very "French" in the sense that there isn't a leaf out of place. Each view from each pathway is well-placed, every nook and cranny is designed, and workers abound putting in new plants for the change of season. It's very quaint in how perfect it seems with doves and waterfalls abounding, but my previous experience in Paris parks tell me that it's not just for me, the tourist- the park is a part of the city's heritage and is appreciated regularly by its inhabitants.

Nantes is surprisingly "green" in the other sense too. While much of France is conscientious on some green topics, such as GMO's, water quality, etc., others, like air pollution, alternative fuel sources, recycling, are still developing on the social and political scene. Here in Nantes, however, sustainable development is very present in the media, in the city's fabric, and in the conversations I've had with the locals. This past Thursday I had the opportunity to visit Valorena, the local waste treatment facility, with other members of the Conseil Nantais de la Jeunesse (Nantes Youth Council). There, I learned more about the local "Tri-Sac" system (tri comes the word "trier," which means "to sort") that my host family had demonstrated to me at the house. The system is very simple: recycling goes in yellow bags, waste goes in blue bags. The bags are provided to residents free of charge, and unlike the system in Seattle (unless of course, it has changed, which it does often), all bags go into the same bin, and are collected by the same trucks, making it not only more efficient but less costly. The bags are sorted by a machine that isolates the yellow bags on the conveyor belt and sweeps them away into a truck that delivers the bags to a recycling center in eastern France. All the other bags pass on to a carefully developed incinerator and filtering system. The heat generated by the incinerator is diverted through a unique system to the surrounding neighborhoods, extending right into downtown Nantes. As for the fumes, they are filtered through such an efficient process that the (very little) fumes passing through the chimney have fewer dioxyines than that produced by all the domestic fires (barbeques, chimneys, etc) in Nantes. Indeed, it was difficult to tell if the chimney was even in operation as we approached the facility from the road.

Yes, there have been some difficulties in setting up this process- there's the need to educate the public on what is recyclable and what is not, the system in distributing cards to the residents for picking up their bags is a bit complex, and in the separate facility treating waste from the hospitals, they have had to educate the hospitals to send all body parts to the crematorium and not place them in the waste (yes, when this system was set up in 1997, a worker spotted an arm hanging out of one of the waste bins). But overall, the improvements are immense! For example, previous to Valorena, local hospitals simply incinerated everything at the hospital, with little to no treatment of the fumes. Many French cities do not have recycling sorting systems or the means to reuse the energy produced in their incinerator, or may not have an incinerator at all. While Germany is the leader in recycling in Europe, France is not too far behind.

And there are improvements yet to come- Valorena anticipates adding a green sack to its system for composting. While there are several personal composters in the outlying neighborhoods where there are community gardens, downtown residents don't necessarily have their own gardens to make use of compost. With a green sack, again collected with the other sacks in the same truck, all residents will be able to seperate compost, which will then be collected and composted together, and then, I imagine, redistributed. Valorena will also be constructing a second site for this new system in a "green" building that uses a minimal amount of energy, collects rainwater for use on site, has vegetation growing on the facade, and more.

Et pour mes collègues francophones !

Je trouve vos initiatives et vos projets « green » à Nantes très impressionants ! J’aimerais partager avec vous le système de recyclage de Seattle. À Seattle, le recyclage, c’est la loi ! Depuis 2004, c’est interdit de mettre des objets recyclable dans la poubelle désigné pour les déchets aux maisons et également dans les entreprises. Si on ne respecte pas cette loi, on n’est plus servi et les poubelles restent plein jusqu’à que le propriétaire ressorte ses déchets. Cet an, on a ajouté une service pour les déchets agricoles recyclables. On n’est pas forcé à utiliser cette service si on déjà fait le compostage chez soi, mais les autres sont exigés de l’utiliser.