Italian Fair, American Brunch

Et hop, deux évènements en un sinon je ne rattraperai jamais mon retard (et vous n'avez pas idée d'à quel point c'est long de charger ces photos sur le wifi de l'hôtel). 

Avec un petit groupe d'exchange students, nous sommes allé célébrer la Saint Antoine de Padoue dans le North End, le quartier italien de boston (minute éducative : c'est le troisième plus grand quartier italien des USA). Cela ressemblait vraiment à une foire, avec les rues extrêmement bondées où l'on pouvait acheter moult versions américanisées de nourriture italienne. J'ai testé une "boule de riz" et un peu de pizza. L'ambiance était sympathique, et c'était amusant d'entendre des gens parler italien autour de nous après une demi semaine d'anglais exclusif. Pas très authentique, d'après les italiens de notre groupe, mais définitivement festif !

So this was the weirdest, showiest worship set up ever. People were litterally pining strings after strings of bills to Saint Anthony's statue. There was no sign about what all the money would become, and no one seemed to care. Although I am not a practicing catholic, I have been raised in such background, and worked in a catholic bookshop. I discussed it with other Europeans, but none of us could really make sense of it.

The streets were heavily decorated, which was very pretty. Me and my newfound German friends agreed it reminded us a little of Christmas markets, in a more commercial maner.

A funny way to ask for tips, at a lemonade stand. As non Americans, we're all working hard to master the tipping policy here. I come from a country where waiters and taxi drivers and such do not need tips to have a decent salary, and where the tax is always included, not added afterwards. It makes deviding bills at the restaurant quite an adventure, but we're all already getting the hang of it!

Proud Italian sausages proudly made in the USA, or the 'Murica paradox. (Also, I'm pretty sure chicken teriaki, hot dogs, and soda aren't so Italian ;) )

I knew bacon was legendary here. I didn't expect to find it covered in chocolate. It might be good, but I didn't dare to try.

However, our group was brave enough to try the very intriguing concep of deep-fried food (here Oreo cookies). We bought one portion and shared it among about 8 people. Pictured are Tobias from Denmark, Sebastian from Germany and Andrea from Italy, before they dare trying theirs (we jokingly refered to it as "the last picture of them alive"). I had a bit too: it wasn't bad, but it sure was greasy, and that comes from a person who as "graillon"  (dirty grease/greasy scent) among her favourite French words.

Et puis, j'ai aussi participé à un brunch gentiment organisé par les Exchange Student Ambassadors, un groupe d'étudiants américains qui sont ou vont partir eux-même en échange à l'étranger et organisent des activités pour nous intégrer à Boston et à la vie sur le campus. Si mon premier brunch américain n'a pas pu légalement être accompagné des trop célèbres mimosas (m'enfin, la légitimité de couper du champagne avec du jus d'orange reste à discuter), c'était quand même un moment très convivial qui m'a permis de discuter avec d'autres étudiants en échange et des américains, et d'avoir l'impression de vivre encore quelque chose de typique et de cocher encore un item sur ma liste.

604. Bruncher [30 aout 2014, avec des pancakes]

My giant "cinnamon roll" pancakes. It was amazing, although I still don't understand why it was served with whipped salted butter in a cup. Needless to say, while this was litterally my breakfast and lunch combined, I couldn't finish. But it was delicious!

Squirrels are my favourite animals (with cats, but that's another story) - they were the topic of my first ever English presentation, when I was 11. I saw this one 50cm away from me on the Marsh Chapel Plaza. It's the second one I've spotted. Sadly, American squirrels are not red, but this one was still really cute. Also, 8 years after this presentation, I've finally learn to pronounce the word "squirrel" properly. For any other French person out there who is as lost as I was, it should rhyme with "swirl". So, you learn evey day.

If you had asked me two monthes ago, I would have said tall buildings stuck to one another must be ugly. But this skyline view taken from the heart of Boston really is lovely, so I officially change my mind. My advisor would probably call it the "honeymoon phase" of cultural adjustment.