December 1, 1988: Here comes Santa Claus right down Santa Claus lane. Today, everyone was like, 'I can't believe it's already December,' and I was like, 'I don't know, it seems like I've been here an awful long time, although it hasn't been awful.' On the other hand, it doesn't seem like too long ago that I was standing in a phone booth at the bottom of Rue de Bellefond, desperately trying to get through to my parents who I had left years ago only five days before. I remember having the same sensation this summer on the boat. I was writing a letter as if I had been gone for years even though I had only been gone a few weeks. I would say that time accelerates as you stay in one place and slip into the daily pattern, as they say. I bet that there are people whose whole life would whip right by if they weren't careful. The moral? A change of scene every once in a while to slow down the old clockwork.
Have spent a lot of time this week working on my Latin American paper, I'm actually learning quite a lot. Last night, after watching 'Les Enfants de Stepford,' Guillaume told me that western culture is in trouble because we've surpassed all rules of imagination. I didn't know what to say, could I write a story that hasn't been told? I hope so.
I received a letter today from sweet Sarah Jane P___, who is breaking up with Larry. I miss the old boat, I have to say, but not you, Jim, you son-of-a-bitch stupid English/History teacher. I want to send postcards to everyone now, just for fun. I wonder what Mr. Jelliffe will think of that postcard that I sent him.
The goddam strike continues. I had to take another stupid cab tonight. I actually like riding in cabs though, it's kind of peaceful, too bad it's expensive. Yesterday was the worst because I just barely missed the bus (96) going in my direction, and I saw four going the other way. Then of course, the bus was totally crowded anyway and it really sucked. Today was much better -- I left here 20 minutes later and got to Pompidou 5 or 10 minutes earlier.
Tonight I saw my first French play at Theatre de la Ville, it was called 'Le Faiseur du Theatre.' The first half was kind of slow, but the second half picked up. A lot of the stupid people on my program left after the first half, but hey -- sucks for them. Sean told me tonight that Hamburger might cancel our third paper, which would be completely awesome.
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