Got a brand new bag...

Every now and then I decide to run by Monoprix on my way home to pick up a few things. Since they no longer give out bags for carrying your purchases (no paper, no plastic) you either bring your own bags or buy them there. If I'm coming from work, I don't usually have a bag with me, so I limit what I buy to what I can carry in my hands. But today I decided to splurge.



I plopped down 90 centimes (about $1.20) and bought a bag to accomodate today's groceries. But this wasn't just any bag. No, no. This bag has Magic Powers. Well, maybe not 'magic' but it definitely has something special:



Plastic handle grips.

That means I can fill it up with all kinds of heavy stuff (flour, UHT milk in a box, sweet potatoes, kidney bean dumbbells...) and survive the walk home without ripping the skin off my hands.

Magic powers are in the bag.

Get your posters here!

First, thank you to all those who left us encouraging comments on our going blog-public post. As I said, we have yet to find a good reason not to move forward and your words of support proved that again. Now the tough part is waiting patiently for the pieces to come together and continuing on with life as usual here in Lyon...

Yesterday I kept an eye on my favorite news source. All day long I got the play-by-play that schools were closing and people were getting the day off work because of tremendous ice and snow storms across the US.

No ice or snow here in Lyon, but a lot of schools are closing and people getting the day off today. Why you ask? Well, I'd tell you but I'm thinking of going on strike too.


Map showing locations of organized demonstrations on January 29th. I just had an email from the US Embassy in Paris warning that police expect 40,000 to 50,000 participants at the main demonstration.

Today, January 29th, has been named Black Thursday and is the kick off The Strikes of 2009. It is expected to be the worst strikes since 1995, which were the worst since the famous strikes of 1968, and counted 6 million strikes days. People started hitch-hiking to work. Hitch-hiking!

The strike will unite private and public sector workers from schools, hospitals national TV and radio to postal services, bank clerks and supermarket employees. Even helicopter pilots and staff from the company that operates the French stock exchange are taking part. High school pupils, university lecturers, lawyers and magistrates will also protest a raft of Sarkozy's reforms and planned job cuts.
From The Guardian

I got this today in the Fluent French newsletter

The strike's website (did you know strikes have websites?) had these handy posters all made up and print-ready.



According to a recent survey, more than 70% of the French population approves of thes strikes and thinks they are justified. It's truly a different world over here.

I can't even imagine what it would take for 70% of Americans to approve of strikes that are expected to "paralyse" the country. But if that day comes, remember that you can download posters here.

Going blog-public...

Jonathan is sitting next to me on the couch, pencil in hand, drawing out plans for our next move after France. It’s exciting and scary at the same time. We haven’t gone blog-public yet because… well, there’s not a good reason. As silly as it sounds, I think part of me felt like it was a birthday wish – if we said it out loud, it wouldn’t come true.



But this dream we’ve shared is turning into a plan. It seems as if our every action, our every motivation, is driven by this dream. So we’ve decided it’s time to put it out there. Today we’re going blog-public.

Things we do know:
- Since leaving Senegal in 2004, we’ve wanted to go back.
- Jonathan is scheduled to finish his degree in 2010.
- Kari’s job is portable.
- We are planning to move to Senegal in 2011.

Typing that last one and seeing the words appear on the screen makes me feel absolutely crazy, yet sure.

Things we don’t know:
- Where Jonathan will work
- Where we will live
- How to apply for a visa and Senegalese residency
- What to pack and how to get it there
- How to rent a house in Senegal
- How to get internet/phone/water/electricity/mailing address set up
- What the start-up costs for moving and setting up will be
- How we will pay them
- How to start a clinic
- What country/-ies we'll pay taxes in
- How we will cope with moving even further from our families

As you can see, the list of ‘don’t knows’ is much longer than the ‘do knows’. But since day one of this dream we have been continually encouraged in its pursuit and have yet to come across any good reason not to move forward on it. So we are – trusting that God will show us one step at a time what we need to know and do.



What does Jonathan want to do?
- Start or partner with an existing clinic where he can practice osteopathy
- Work three to four days a week with the Dakarois and members of the expat community (NGO workers, missionaries, Embassy workers, Peace Corps volunteers…)
- Work one or to days a week with people who can’t afford healthcare, in both Dakar and nearby villages
- Improve his Wolof so that he can practice osteopathy competently in all three languages
- Get his scuba diving certification

As I said, right now he’s sitting next to me drawing out the design for his dream clinic. I love that I married a dreamer. Not in the sense that he’s unrealistic and has his head in the clouds (ha - that is sooo not Jonathan), but he’s a dreamer in that he doesn’t allow fears or others’ expectations to limit his passions. He is 100% open to whatever God has – even though it may sound crazy sometimes – and cannonballs in.



What does Kari want to do?
- Continue her current job as a media consultant à distance
- Start a non-profit organization to provide jobs for women who are either former sex workers, HIV widows and/or have HIV.
- Plant a big ol’ garden with lots of fruits and vegetables
- Recruit teams and individuals coming out to do work with us (this could include everything from doctors to small business consultants, art teachers to nutritionalists…)
- Provide hospitality for other Americans in Senegal who need a break or an escape so that they can continue their work refreshed
- Blog

What can you do?
- Keep us posted. My email address is linked to the right. We’d love to have your input, advice, recommendations, suggestions… For example, if you come across an article on starting a non-profit organization or learn of a company that ships luggage overseas inexpensively – let us know!

- Connect us. Do you know someone who is doing similar work? Do you know of an organization that provides health insurance for people living abroad? Get us connected with them, please.

- Join us. A big part of our dream is to bring in others to work with us. That could be spending 10 days teaching women a craft that they can sell to support their families, two weeks playing soccer with Talibes (child beggars) and treating their scabies infections, helping us find grants to fund community garden projects, or mailing a package of American foods for us to make ‘encouragement baskets’ for other Americans working in Senegal.

- Pray for us. We don’t know how to do any of this. We just know that right now, it’s all we want to do.

Exclusive interview IV...

An exclusive interview with Jonathan Masson, American osteopathy student in France. Jonathan started working in the clinic this past week and we’re going to get the scoop on how it went. (Read previous interviews here, here and here.)

Bonjour, Jonathan.
So now you decide to speak French?

I thought it might get me on your good side and convince you to give me an exclusive interview for the blog.
Sure.

Oh good. You're in a chatty mood.
Is that your first question? I’ll give you five.

Got it. Question one: How did your first day back in the clinic go?
It went pretty well. I had a patient with chronic pain on her right side.

How did you treat her?
That’s question two. I did T.G.O., which is I guess G.O.T. in English – it stands for general osteopathic treatment. It’s a way of testing and treating at the same time. I adapted it for this particular patient to alleviate tension in articulations and also improve circulation.

Is T.G.O. the one I like when you practice on me? Kind of a rhythmic rotations thing?
Yeah, same one. I also did a fasciae treatment for her liver. And then muscle-energy techniques for specific muscles in her neck and shoulders.

Did she seem to respond well?
I think so. She made an appointment to come back in a month, so the treatment must have helped. Actually it can take up to 48 hours for the body to adjust to the changes, so it’s not uncommon for the relief not to come immediately. But she was feeling good enough to go ahead and ask for another appointment.

So will you be the one treating her?
Yes. She asked for an appointment when I’d be working in the clinic.

That’s great! What a compliment.
Yeah, I guess it is. I think you’re probably down to one question. Make it a good one.

What are you thinking as a new patient walks in?
(Pause) I pray for wisdom, discernment and ability. I look for visual clues that may be indicators of why they’re coming to the clinic. I hope it’s not going to be a difficult case and that I’ll be able to help the person.

Last year I treated about 25 patients in the clinic. I have to treat a minimum of 70 patients before finishing the program in 2010, so I still have a lot of patients to see – and hopefully I can help them all.

Remember folks, you heard it here first. We’re your number one source for interviews with Jonathan!

Step 1, step 2...

Pictured above is one of my Christmas gifts from Jonathan. (No, it's not still wrapped.)

I mentioned a while back how much I wished I had one of those platforms for step aerobics. In the winter it's often too cold or wet for me to want to go outside to exercise, and our 43 square meters aren't suited for jumping rope. So I started thinking that if only I had steps...

And for one of my gifts, Jonathan made me steps. He taped together phone books and a few large textbooks to make two heavy, stable steps. Side by side - just like a step platform. Perfect.



Lest anyone worry, I took this gift for what it was: a kind, thoughtful present. (Not a hint.)



To start the Masson Plan for Ultimate Buffness, you will need:

4 phone books, or other large books
Packing tape
2 cans beans (any variety)


And for an added challenge - hand weights!


In no time at all, you too could be ripped like me!

Watching live, à distance...

My fear for today was that I wouldn't be able to watch Barack Obama's inauguration live. I know, I know. It's THE inauguration. But you'd be surprised how many THE events we haven't been able to see live. on the internet. We get these pesky 'not available in your area' messages instead.

But my fear has been relieved! I'm tuned in to CNN Live right now, enjoying the Facebook perk, and living the experience with all of you in real time.

(And, in almost the same breath, I am reminded of the American way of drawing out and fluffing up the pre-game show! Not complaining here. I'm gonna' get my live inauguration footage and that is all I care about. Just commenting on an aspect of American life I'd fogotten about.)

Jonathan, unfortunately, will be in class all evening and will miss the live version. Double unfortunately, he's having to listen to the aforementioned pre-game show with me because I'm afraid of losing the connection if I close it out.

It is our privilege and responsiblity to pray for President Barack Obama. We are praying for wisdom, strength, compassion and courage.

We invite you to pray with us, and also to join International Justice Mission in asking the President to fight human trafficking. Add your name to a letter here.

The ABCs...

Let me tell you - Jonathan was thrilled when I suggested he contribute to this post. Talk about giddy! Okay, maybe not quite... But he persevered and plowed through my request to come up with his ABCs of our life here in Lyon. Mine. His.


Affranchir tariff en vigeur
I get such a kick out of this phrase that is printed on envelopes to remind you to slap on a stamp. 'Vigorously affix enough postage' is what it looks like (and why I find it so funny).


Ancient architecture
Lyon was founded in 43 BC. We've got the walls and aqueducts to prove it.



Boulangerie
Get your baguettes here!

Ben oui!
a French expression meaning something between "Of course!" and "Duh!"


Café-café-café-café

Cold
as in the weather and our apartment.


Dolce Vita
And the winner for most telemarketing calls and junkmail is...Dolce Vita! It's a plan (frequently) offered by GDF. Keep reading.


EDF/GDF
Électricité de France (EDF) is the main electric company in France. GDF is Gaz de France, which recently merged with Suez. But for us 'EDF/GDF' means 'the bills'.

étudiant
means student



Friday night pizza
A Masson tradition. If for some reason we can't make pizza on Friday, we usually console ourselves by having it both Thursday and Saturday.

France/French
Pretty self-explanatory. We live here. We speak it.



Go English magazine
What do you mean you've never read it? You simply must get a copy! :)

Growth
as a person, as a husband, in relationship w/ God



Interdiction de fumer
On January 1, 2007, France banned smoking in public places such as schools, train stations, airports, shops, offices and other public buildings. On January 1, 2008, the ban extended to bars, restaurants and cafés. I'm wondering if all those Interdiction de fumer signs will become collector's items...


“Jonathan” is born.
See number 13.



Kenwood, the coffee maker
The little guy is doing great!

Kari



La Poste
If you've ever received mail from us, it was sent by La Poste. And I vigorously affixed postage.

Learning
ostéopathie, French language, French culture and way of doing things… always learning.



Monoprix
Think small Target.


Murals
More than 100 murals in the city of Lyon


Non-véhiculé
The French term for someone who doesn't have a car. Yes, we are non-vehicled.



Ostéopathie
More on that here, here and here.

Ostéopathie
…and the difference between an ostéopathe and an osteopathic physician



Pink toilet paper
Still holding out for the Neopolitan series.

Prejudices
It's difficult when you see your own.


Quart d’heure lyonnais
The accepted habit of being about 15 minutes late to everything. Literally the 'lyonnais quarter hour'.



Reusable grocery bags
So much more than a practical way to reduce waste - it's a way to blend in.


Recycling
paper, cardboard, aluminum, plastic, glass - no problem


Strikes
It's its own season in France.


Skype
Internet telephony is our friend.



TCL
Public transportation system in Lyon. Our wheels.

Transition
from one culture to another



UHT milk in boxes
Gotta' love milk that keeps for months outside the fridge



Vieux Lyon
The old city - definitely my favorite part of Lyon

Visas
The formalities for legal residency, renewed annually


Waiting for summer


Walking/ Wearing through shoes
It's what we do.


X-it plan developing for 2010
Slowly seeing what the next step may look like...


Yahoo.fr
Just trying to be local with French email accounts



Zoo at Parc de la Tête d’Or

Zut alors!

A self-proclaimed elite...

I came across this in a French women's magazine. (I think it was before the article on the importance of yogurt in your diet and after the winter mini-skirts photo shoot.)



Blogeoisie
A term that combines 'blog' and 'bourgeoisie', an ironic term used to describe the best-known bloggers - often a self-proclaimed elite.

That made me laugh...and also want to take my blog and run in the opposite direction.

So what's happening in the world of this non-Blogeoisie couple? Jonathan has been studying for and taking end-of-semester exams. I'm currently wrapping up two magazine issues and working on a translation project. We're drinking lots of coffee and punctuating our days with walks in the freezing cold to be sure we don't leave permanent tush marks on the couch.

I think proclaiming any elitism would be a serious stretch for us.

The newest member of our family...

After two weekends of not being able to coax enough elixir out of our beloved little coffeemaker (which led to this), we decided it was time to bring home a new baby. Welcome to the family, Kenwood.



Name: Kenwood CM70

Born: January 13th, 2009

Size: 0.5 litre, 4 to 6 cups

We really like its removable filter basket - no more paper filters! And Jonathan likes the thermostat-controled warmer that keeps his second cup of coffee hot for the two minutes it takes him to drink the first.

We are so happy you're finally here, Kenwood!

Extra, extra! Read all about it!

Actually, if you read this blog... you've already read it!

Today the January issue of Lyon Capitale hit news stands and on page 123 is an article by Gaetan Mathieu on Lyon as seen through the eyes of expat bloggers (Lyon vu des blogs étrangers). The writer contacted me a while back and, as an expat writing a blog about Lyon, I was happy to give him my two centimes.

Jonathan and I went to the corner kiosque this morning to pick up a copy - hot off the press and freezing cold from having just been delivered about an hour earlier.








Click on the photo to see full-size.


Included in the article, Kari Masson's tips for acting Lyonnais at the bus stop


January 2009 issue of Lyon Capitale

How to kiss a total stranger...

When we moved to France one of the hardest challenges was mastering the art of the bisous, the cheek kisses. I watched other people and tried to understand out the rules, but just could not figure out who to kiss, when to kiss, which cheek to kiss first, whether it was one, two, three or four kisses...

After four years, it's actually become second nature and it feels odd when we see other Americans and don't give bisous. I never would have thought we'd get to that point!

Here are some guidelines for the art that is the bisous.

1. Who?
Girls give bisous to both girls and guys.
Guys give bisous to girls, but generally only to very close guy friends or family members.

2. When?
When you meet someone and say hello in a social context and then again when you say goodbye. Make the rounds, giving bisous to everyone, rather than giving a big American "see y'all later" wave to the whole room as you go.

Tip: If you wear glasses, it's polite to take them off with one hand and hold them out to the side while giving bisous, especially if the person you're about to kiss is wearing them too!

3. How many?
This is really the only tricky part because it varies depending on where you are in France. But if you've got the mental capacity to remember where you are, you've got the capacity to remember how many.


(c) Strange Maps

In Lyon, you give one on each cheek. In the Paris area, four is the lucky number. (That's two on each cheek, not back-forth-back-forth-back-forth-back-forth. Don't be silly)

4. Which cheek first?
After much observing, I could NOT figure out the rule determining whether you start left or right. And then someone told me there is no rule. You just go with what feels most natural, like when you give a hug. You don't plan a side - you just do it. And yes, even French people occasionally have an awkward oops-we-both-went-the-same-direction moments.

Tip: When giving someone's cheek a kiss, you can place a hand lightly on their shoulder if you know them well. Think of it as a hug-kiss combo package.

5. Bonus
The word bisous is pronounced bee-zooh. If you are giving someone cheek kisses, it's called se faire la bise.

There. Now you're all set to go practice in the mirror.

Adios - but we'll come back!

Masson ladies waiting for the bus


The glass house at Retiro park


Street in Madrid


A synchronized swimmer...or Renae?


Archway in Madrid


The Almudena Cathedral


Julie and Renae on the steps of the Cathedral


The Palacio real de Madrid


Waiting for the metro - which was so clean and inexpensive!


I love this one.


Tapas! And they were goo-ood.


Queso!


Riding the bus, looking at the lights in downtown Madrid


Playing dress-up with Aunt Kari. (She's Super Purse Girl.)


"Back away, Jonathan. She's mine for a few minutes!"


"Back away, Aunt Kari. He's mine for five minutes!"


Please, can I carry her on?