Musée des beaux arts

So I visited Lyon a couple of weeks ago and we briefly popped into the Musée des Beaux Arts. I didn't really get to see as many paintings as I would have liked because we were short for time, but there are some gems in there. I liked this one because it reminded me so much of what our states ought to be.

Sorry the quality isn't great (my phone's camera isn't amazing). I don't recall who painted this but it's on the second floor of the gallery in the 15th-19th century collection for the record and maybe if I get the chance to go again, I'll note it down.

Anyway, painters aside, I sat looking at the painting for some time, quite disturbed at first that there were angels under the feet of Mary- almost being treaded on- looking rather squashed. I also found it rather interesting that many paintings of Mary in this time period were without her head covered in the nun-like fashion we're used to seeing in churches. But back to the angels being stood on: I looked closely at the rest of the painting to see that the cloud-like composition was in fact many more angels surrounding Mary, so they were representing the celestial realms or at least the Omnipresence of the Divine for it then appeared more sensible that these angels were 'beneath' Mary when I looked more at her positioning- not in the Christian narrative as the mother of God but physically in the painting.

So Mary is evidently looking heavenwards, with the light behind her indicating the Divinity she is seeking and looking towards. Her arms are open, and most importantly, receptive. They are receptive to the Divine, to knowledge of Him and her bosom is open to receiving the Light of Faith. She is opening herself up like a vessel ready to contain the Divine Truths and Secrets. She is wrapped in the blue garment of Truth and of course with the red/ pink it de-genders her because she represents both man and woman. Now as a person who is open and receptive to God and His Truth, I realised why angels were surrounding her and especially beneath her. For when we open our hearts up to God and truly seek Him, God, in His Infinite Power, elevates our status, and our rank in this world to take us closer to Him in the spiritual realms. The whole of the universe, in His Power, comes together to elevate us and take us closer to Him (hence the angels taking Mary upwards), presuming we seek Him and want Him,  because by doing this we are finding our original states again, returning to Him.

And if you want to add another dimension to the human-angel positioning, we just need to recall the concept that humans, when they are purified and submit completely, transcend the level of the angels because humans have desires that the angels do not have to fight against.

But ultimately, we need to be Mary and God will take us to Him.

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!

First days at university

University has finally started this week and it all seems rather surreal. They make classes for international students slightly easier, so I'm glad about that. We've got a two-week trial period where we can swap modules/ classes; there's one that I will have to double-check whether I made the right choice or not. I found signing up for classes was a very traditional affair: there was a board with a list of the modules and times, and then behind us there were corresponding booklets to which you added your name (and then turned up to the relevant lecture). None of this online business.

   I'm meeting more international students, which is always nice because you've got people to talk to about all the strange French cultural things you've come across- or even learn about their cultural tendencies, but a shame because we often speak English amongst ourselves. I was hoping to find some Muslims to mingle with but there aren't that many on campus... and they're not all that open to new faces. I might get a salaam out of them at the most. I guess we're like that in the UK too. We just get on with our own thing and don't really acknowledge the others around us much. Maybe I need to make more effort? Probably... I obviously want to meet Muslims because then I might be able to get involved in some "ISoc"-related stuff- and that way won't feel like a loser rejecting all the trips to the local bars. I managed to go to a German girl's flat last weekend for dinner. It was really nice because there were a few of us girls and we cooked, ate and chatted away... The only shame was that I had to leave at about 8.30pm (ish) because it was a Sunday and my tram ends at about 9pm. It's strange getting used to the early transport hours and lack of taxis (there are taxis here but they're too expensive to use casually). Students being students have learnt to use the tram/ bus timings to their advantage. Instead, they choose to be out the house for 12am and they party all night until the trams start again in the morning (apparently at around 5am). Rather ingenious I thought...

   Ok, so it's Rabi-al-Awwal and in Grenoble the 12th is tomorrow (Thursday) insha' Allah. In celebration for the lovely occasion, I'm going to venture into the kitchen to make Gulab Jamun to share with my flatmates. I'll only offer them if they turn out ok though (because it's the first time I'm making them alone). On my shopping trip around my local area, I found that it's rather difficult to find self-raising flour here. They don't have flour with the raising agent already added, except for some bread flours, but that's not what I was looking for. Anyway I purchased my flour and raising agent separately and then had to hunt down some milk powder, or lait en poudre. I need to open the one I bought and check if it'll do the job. However, it is rather easy to find couscous here...

   And a little incident that happened yesterday... My first lecture was at 9.30am in Amphi 5 (lecture theatre 5) and the following one at 10.30am in Amphi 3. I waited outside the second lecture theatre amongst all the other students, trying to see if I recognise anyone from previous sessions but couldn't really find a familiar face. Once the lecturer arrived and we trooped in and got my stuff out. The lecturer then said something in French to do with theatre... and I was supposed to be in a translation class. Two girls walked out and I thought I'd wait it out a little before I did the same. He started handing out leaflets about performance arts and I'd seen a few others (including one 'international' face I'd recognised) walking in and out of the lecture theatre so it was time to grab all my luggage and get the people on my row to get up so I could leave while the lecturer continued his French mumbling. The rooms had been changed and the students weren't informed (lack of communication in admin) so all of us turned up a little late and lost. Slightly embarrassing! The real lecture was a lot more fun than what those theatre kids were going through.

Note to British students: Be glad to have a 9am start. Here, uni can start as early as 8.30am (my Wednesday timetable) and there's a possibility for lectures to last until 7.30pm. I would much prefer a 'full day' in Britain than in Grenoble! Thankfully my timetable is relatively empty.

Snow

 I woke up on Tuesday to this view. I poked my head out of the window to get a similar view to one of my earlier pictures. As you can tell, the mountains have disappeared behind the snow clouds. It was in fact still snowing when the picture was taken.

While waiting at the tram stop, I saw a yellow man. He was shovelling away the snow from selected pedestrian routes. A few moments later I saw another man with a bucket and a hand shovel spreading salt where necessary/ where the snow had been removed. Manual labour but the job was getting done. The snow wasn't even that deep. I think Britain needs to learn a little from these guys!

This picture was taken the day after the snow. It was on my way home from uni and obviously the two men couldn't clear ALL pedestrian routes so I had to tentatively walk down this and beyond to get back home. Alhamdulillah I managed safely. It was all rather slippery though. 

What Makes a Curry a Curry?

I didn't expect to write another post so soon because nothing spectacular has really happened; but then I was inspired- in the kitchen of all places. I have a big question, hence why it made it as my 'Post Title'. The question comes from my latest adventures in la cuisine, where of course- as many of you will already know- I'm not the happiest.

So I want some serious input (comments) on this one because I need to know whether I can still call my cooking a curry. I may be an outcast to the 'Indian Curry Purists' (if they exist) and I may be attacked vehemently by the Sabzi Bid'a (innovation) Police because I've been cooking up some not-so-conventional curries.

This is my second go in the kitchen (yes, my last dish lasted me 7 days thanks to eating out on Saturday) and both of my "curries" have been somewhat different. The last one, I started with the best of intentions. Onions, ginger, garlic, spices- all went in as did my vegetables. That's where the first innovation came in... I used potatoes, carrots and... a pepper (capsicum). After that, I got a little carried away with the tomato puree/ sauce and so it was a rather rich orangey-red colour. Orange of course because there was the haldi (turmeric) at play. It tasted alright, I didn't fall ill and I now think spices get stronger the longer you leave the food...

Today I nearly went shopping for groceries but then laziness got the better of me. So, because I have no food left over, I had to cook again. I opted for couscous so I thought I would make a simple vegetable curry sauce to go with it. Looking in my fridge I only had 1 pepper (but only half was useable) and some small carrots. I started with the oil, added some cumin and other random whole spices to 'season' the oil... and then the haldi, red chilli powder, water, and the carrots. As that was all simmering away, I realised I missed the onions. I was ready to find that I wouldn't have the best 'gravy' for my vegetables. Anyway, everything went in and was cooking away- added tomato puree/ sauce again to give my curry some depth and it smelt curry-like but probably wouldn't pass as a meal anywhere. I have ended up with a really watery, orangey substance with random carrots and peppers floating about. It tastes alright though. Insha' Allah this too will last a few days and I won't fall ill from it.

I don't think I can host any guests with curries of that standard though, nor can I be the exotic Indian in the kitchen for my flatmates- because to be fair, I'm probably not setting the best example. Perhaps I should stick to old school classics like potatoes and chick peas, or shall I carry on innovating and let my pantry tell me how to cook??