Acide

               

Since I am in a bit of a sour mood I decided to pick up a box of frÜ Sicilian Lemon cheesecake dessert. It's good if a bit expensive, and their GÜ range of chocolate desserts is not too bad either.

Why am I in a sour mood though? One, all the China-bashing in the press has been dragging me down. The protests against the Beijing Olympics and its associated hypocrisy, overbearing presumptiousness, smugness and bare-faced opportunism have been so unrelenting it's effects have instead waken some latent Nationalist sentiments in myself. My father would be proud of me I think.

Two, the métro station closest to my school is closed until mid-June so I am not liking this inconvenience.

Three, I just spent a whole morning reading this rubbish book called Doggy Bag by a French writer Philippe Djian. He tries to write in a chick flick meets American prime-time series format and fails abjectly: the plot never moves along, earthquakes mix uneasily with alcoholism and preoccupation with sex, one third of the way through and I still couldn't tell the characters apart. I should have saved my 8 euros for an Asterix comic or settle for yet another translated P.G Wodehouse caper. 

Four, I was walking along the streets and at the corner of Ave George V and Ave Pierre Charron I spied from the corner of my eye a tall suited Caucasian man walking at cross angles and mentally calculated that at the speeds we were both walking along we would definitely bump into each other. In the past I would have stopped, or veered to the side but I was in a mutinous mood. Why should it be me who gives way? The French would never do such a thing, if they bump into you they pretend it didn't happen, if I bumped into them first I would be "tsked tsked" at. Husband says only the Chinese and Japanese do the zig zag walk, and bearing his words in mind I walked straight ahead and hoped for the best. The tall white man in the suit stopped, if he was a cartoon car he would have slammed onto the brakes and screeched to a halt. Whew, I quickly walked away, but not before hearing him say "Pardon" in an English accent. I felt a little bad, but also pleased. Which also explains why when I was perusing the dessert shelf in Carrefour I shunned all the French brands and went English instead!

Comments

[Expat]

Hello - I've been a reader of your blog since last autumn and I very much enjoy your musings on food and restaurants. I became particularly interested in todays post, as you mention the Olympics. I'm very curious as to how you feel about the whole situation, not only about the way the media is treating it, but about the political conflict itself. What do the Chinese know and think about the conflict? I realise there are probably as many answers to that as there are Chinese, and I apologise for my ignorance.

[belle]

Hi! Just want to say that I visited your site from Sui Mai (who mentions you all the time). I too am fascinated by life in France and look forward to reading your musings. I liked your anecdote on the walking englishman - would the truly French even have noticed him first?

[Sui Mai]

FINALLY!!!

Man, the boy and I have been raging about this "Olympics" scandal every night. I don't know if its nationalism but if one more freak'n judgemental person looks at me knowingly, trying to make me feel guilty when asking me what *I* think because I'm Chinese, I swear I will take the nearest baguette and bash their heads in and walk away, while shoulder checking them.

So glad you're a kindred spirit.

[Expat]

I don't mean to be judgemental, I'm simply curious and I want to hear a different side of the story, because - as you know all too well- the media arent't doing a very good job at it.

[East Meets West]

Umami, hope your sour mood will improve soon :-). Spring certainly is not as warm as it should be, but still at least winter's behind us for now.

Personally though I'm Chinese (d'origine), I'm all for the liberation of Tibet. And I wouldn't mind a better Human Rights and Intellectual Property record in the PRC. Also the right to blog and read blogs freely.

Having said that, I do not think that the Olympics should be taken hostage for all of the above. It's a sporting event and should be excluded from politics. And ditto where being Chinese and being judged or made to feel guilty for being Chinese during the Olympics. I am very proud to be Chinese and nobody should question my heritage or culture for whatever reason.

Finally, you should stick to Wodehouse. Then you wouldn't be in a sour mood. I've been reading him like mad recently ever since I fould that I could easily buy his books from a website.

Cheers.

[umami]

Expat: thank you for your comments. There's no need to apologise, nor is there any need from my part to justify my beliefs and opinions. Right now, I sympathise with Beijing, and I agree with their stand on Tibet, Taiwan and other non-Han states. It is very easy for Westerners to pass judgement according to their so-called standards, yet I respect the Chinese for maintaining their dignity and not abasing themselves to that level. Since we've started this, let's continue: pot calling kettle black, two wrongs does not make a right, politics and sports are separate. Also, as you are aware the media is biased and if you would like to know more, you can research the history and sociology books. History is after all the best testament and validation.

Sui Mai, I experienced the same thing in UK during the June 4 incident. At that time I couldn't reconcile with my feelings and actions, this time round I hope to redress the balance in its small way.

Beaulotus, thanks, and hello to a fellow Wodehouse admirer.

[umami]

belle, your comment amused me, definitely the Frenchman would have been completely oblivious.

[Yummy dummy]

I always wanted to do that; walking straight at a person and not have to give way and kudos to you who have the courage to do it! I know we're smaller sized than caucasians, doesn't mean we have to give way all the time!!!

[w]

I am with you on the JO and Beijing issue - and heh, my parents would be SO PROUD too. And I have the added 'complication' of being an ex-Taiwanese! I've avoided following the news of the protests, fortunately it isn't a topic of discussion here or at work so I don't have to put up with the hypocrisy. As it is I'm taking a break from US election news too because it's gotten ridiculous and inane.

btw - need to catch up with you for a good day to meet up for lunch when I'm there in 2 weeks. will drop you an email!

[umami]

Yummy dummy, first time is probably the hardest, it then gets easier and your skin thicker ;)

w, so soon! let me know ok?

[Asian Maman in Paris]

Hi Umami ! Omg, I recently went to Istanbul too 2wks ago and yes i was ADDICTED to the simits! hehehee I loved every minute of Istanbul minus the messy state of buildings and POLLUTION ! Other than that, I miss d food a lot and the HISTORY! I brought back so much stuff to Paris like you wouldnt believe it! Anyway its nice to read your blog as an asian perspective of life in Paris. keep it up!

[umami]

Asian Maman, thank you and it's lovely to hear from you too.