Munchies!

I'm going so barmy that I've started talking to myself and therefore thought I'd rant out on the blog- that's what it's there for, right?

I'm munching wayyy too much these days. I don't know why and I need to stop! I've just been to the shop and bought goats' cheese, tomatoes, spinach and bread... Of that list, only bread was on my original list. I'm losing control over myself and although I am going to make something yummy with it shortly, I can only thank God for fasting! It's the only way I'll stop!

However, my culinary experiment shall be fun... since I am hoping to turn bread into toast without a toaster. The Google community really supported me and showed me that others are suffering the same fate; but we can make toast on a frying pan (with butter on either side apparently) or dry, or put the bread in the oven. I'm scared of using ovens that I don't 'know' so I'll avoid that option unless the frying pan option fails miserably. I think it's good for my sense of innovation in the kitchen, but not good for my soul.

Eating even when I'm not hungry is always dangerous. I keep munching on the bag of raisins in my room- the last 500g packet lasted me a month- this one will not make it to that noble standard. I bought dried figs too with the hope to keep my diet "healthy"- I even resisted the pains aux chocolats in the shop! My general moto in terms of 'healthy lifestyle' is to eat as much as you will use in physical activities. I do very little and therefore need to eat very little... This extra food literally has me wanting to go for a run (for which I am too unfit!).

Let tomorrow come and bring peace in fasting- and a stronger sense of discipline! I have a beautiful week ahead where I can try to focus!

Trip to town

Yes, I've visited the city centre before now but today I learnt a few new things. On the way there, on the bus, I saw an advert at a bus stop.

It made me think- nothing profound I'm afraid- but a thought nonetheless. It's roughly translates into 'For the (mid) afternoon hunger', basically the afternoon 'elevenses' / post-school munchies but what came to mind was- since when was a Kinder Bueno filling? Since when did it hit that spot of hunger? It tastes lovely, no doubt, but if I was peckish, I would much rather go for a Snickers bar or a Twix for they're relatively filling. I think they need to realise the Kinder Bueno is purely a pleasurable chocolate to eat- there's no other justification or excuse. For the record, in the white strip at the bottom there is the standard health advice to exercise regularly and maintain a healthy lifestyle etc. 

Alright, so I was in a bookshop and, by chance, I ended up in the religious books section. Taking a little browse around the bookshelves, 'La Bible' and Jewish texts were easily visible and after taking a closer look for something Islamic, I found that it was on the bottom shelf- quite hidden. Rather symbolic positioning if you ask me, since it is one of the largest religions in the world, it wasn't given near as much space or attention. Being a foreigner (I quite like the excuse) I sat myself on the floor before this small collection, looking at the French translations of the likes of Irshad Manji to Imam Al Ghazali and Rumi. One of the books I found was called something like 'These Great Minds against Islam'. A passage under the section of Charles de Gaulle seemed to ring true to what's still happening in France, regardless of the 'Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite':

Apologies for the blurriness of the photos. 

Very rough translation (i.e. please don't shoot me if I make a mistake/ it sounds off in English):

It's very good that there are yellow, black and brown French people. They show that France is open to all races and that she [France] has a universal calling. But, under the condition that they remain a small minority. If not, France would no longer be France. We are, before anything, a European people of a white race, of a Greek and Latin culture and Christian religion. [...] Are you going to see the Muslims? Have you seen them with their turbans and robes [abayas]? you can see clearly that they are not French. Those who advocate integration have an intellect of a hummingbird, even if they are very wise/ intelligent. Trying to mix oil and vinegar; shake the bottle; suddenly they'll separate once again. Arabs are Arabs, the French are French. Do you believe that the French body can absorb ten million Muslims, who tomorrow will be twenty million and thereafter forty? If we were to integrate, if all the Arabs and the Algerian Berbers/ Arabs were to be considered French, how will you stop them from coming to settle in the Metropole [France] while the standard of life there/ here is significantly higher. My village would no longer be called 'Colombey-The-Two-Churches' but 'Colombey-The-Two-Mosques'. 

Too tired to translate the second part, but nonetheless, we can get the idea that France loves being the 'pays d'acceuil' (welcoming country) but perhaps it doesn't make the best host. I was told by a lady that once, because she was fasting, her work colleague became rather hostile and aggressive. I feel like France is often either hypocritical in its values or simply a little schizophrenic. 

That book cost 18€ so it was a little dear for me... And I guess it means the wealthier of French society will have the benefit of engaging in this level of critical thinking. That is, if they can find the book hidden on the bottom shelf of the rather hidden religious books section. 

Good times

Long time no speak.
I've been not-that-busy but just not really felt like writing anything in some time.

I'll just give some short, interesting snippets of things I've come across.

Some weeks ago I was at a friend's place with an expectant couple and so, baby names came up in the conversation. While discussing this, and cultural factors (meanings, discrimination, pronunciation by the French, Africans, potential of it being used/ seeming like a swear/ pejorative term) it came about that someone had suggested that everyone in the country ought to choose their names by the calendar. I was going with the flow of the conversation until that point. I let it continue and then just asked, 'calendrier?" and of course I was met with.. "oui, a calendar" at which point I was like, 'what's the connection between names and a calendar?'. And then I was shown a French Calendar. Every day of the year has by its side a name, of a Catholic Saint, and although how it's used to name children has varied over time- people (can) use it- and you also have the day of the saint after whom you're named as a second birthday almost.
I was fascinated- so much so, my friend let me keep the calendar... :)

I was at another friend's house over the weekend for the afternoon and she was making a yoghurt cake. I feel rather out of touch with the culinary world because... I am and because I've never come across that in my life. So she went ahead and carried on making the cake, adding whatever she wanted to along the way. She planned to add some orange juice and remembered at the end that she hadn't. Opening the fridge she saw she didn't have any, and so, without a second thought, she took out the lemon Fanta and poured that generously into the mixture. Evidently, I was a little shocked and couldn't stop laughing. And then I reminded her she had oranges in her fruit bowl and could've squeezed one of them- so she took the advice on board and added that too... We had to add flour to balance the mixture again but with the cranberries, cinnamon, fanta, yoghurt and all.... I was a little worried about the end result.
Alhamdulillah it turned out to be a rather good, moist and well-risen cake. It had a nice taste, but I couldn't tell you what it tasted of. It was good and that's all that mattered.

French-wise... I feel like my brain is too tired to learn/ use more of the language. I need to wake-up again just to start being more in French mode. It's such a big push just to consistently speak in French without using English words. I've got a presentation this afternoon- in French- so I'll see how that goes!

Also, my internet at the flat is playing up again. I think it's my laptop because I've Googled the problem and it seems to be common amongst people of my "laptop community". Insha' Allah it'll be resolved soon.

Anyway, I'd better do some work...
A bientot!