Allez les Bleus! Go Blue!

This week totally flew by. My second class started on Monday, and I think that now being in class for much longer every day is making the time go by much faster.

As I mentioned in one of my previous blogs, this new class is Sport and Culture in Contemporary France. It meets four times a week for 2.5 hours a day. That is a very long time for a class, but we certainly get through it. We spent this week covering the development of organized sports in France, tracing both its growth from a need for better trained soldiers, and the federations that arose around already-existing sports. We saw how they got implemented in French colonies and debated whether sport is an effective method for running a colony. Some arguments for sport being effective are that it distracts the population from the horrors of colonialization, it’s a fun and easy way to assimilate colonized people into the colonizer’s culture, and a healthy and happy population is easier to control. On the other side, one could argue that you are essentially training soldiers to rise up against you, and you are giving the colonized population something to rally united under.

As for what I did this week, here’s a list of all the exciting things!

Monday Night: I went to the Philharmonie de Paris, playing three works by Richard Strauss! This was one of the first things I lined up as soon as I found out I was coming to Paris, and I was psyched to finally go. I went with a friend of mine, and we sat behind the orchestra. The concert hall was so beautiful in a modern way, not like AA’s Hill Auditorium. Though it doesn’t fit with the Paris architecture, it’s set at the edge of the city in a space where I think it really works. The orchestra played brilliantly, and I was sitting practically staring at the conductor from the front. The organ was also right behind us, so we were blown away by the booming, near surround sound feeling that we got.

Left: Grande Salle Pierre Boulez, the concert hall. Right: my seat behind the orchestra!

Tuesday, we had my Sports and Culture class by the Eiffel Tower, as this was the locale for many of the 1900 Olympic Games’ events, which we were discussing that day. I also went to the mall with my friends, and we found Paris Metro themed souvenirs.

Souvenir magnets of our favorite metro station…

Wednesday night was spent by the Eiffel Tower under the beautiful sunset, enjoying some French bread and cheese.

Beautiful sunset by the Tour Eiffel

Thursday after class, we went on a street art tour in the Marais—the vibrant neighborhood that the study abroad center is in. We saw, of course, Space Invaders, but also plenty of other very cool sights. Our tour guide was super funny, knowledgeable, and overall great. he was your classic French artist, wearing a beret and an artsy scarf for our tour, and he knew the artist and the story behind nearly everything you see on the streets. I certainly increased my appreciation for the art that I walk by every day.

Some street art we encountered on our tour

CEA students were able to sign up for tickets to one of two Nations League soccer games. Unknowingly, I missed the sign up for both games, and was very bummed that I couldn’t go. I went to the activities office a week ago asking if I could still get a ticket though sign up was closed, and they told me that both games were completely full. But just before my 5:30 class was about to start on Friday, I received an email saying that tickets are now available, and they would be given to those who responded the quickest. I had an email sent within seconds, and soon received a confirmation that I’d be going that night at 7 to the France vs Denmark game! I’m so glad I went; the game was a blast even though the French lost with a last-minute goal from the Danish.

Stade de France before the game, people were drawing French flags on peoples faces before the game!

The stadium, at least last night, was not as exuberant or energetic as the Big House on the day of a big game. And, I imagine the stadium does get very rowdy, especially after the chaos of the Champions League final last week. Security was certainly tight last night—I saw dozens and dozens of heavily armed officers, and got the most thorough pat-down of my life before entering. It was still incredibly lively and patriotic. They actually had French flags on every seat, so you had tens of thousands of French flags waving at the same time. An absolutely beautiful sight. At first, I was laughing that I didn’t know the chants, but most of the chants just were forms of “Allez!” (go!) and the rhyming “Français” (French), “Chanter!” (sing!), and “Gagner” (win) being called with different rhythms. I certainly had it all figured out by the end. What also was great was that “Go Blue!” actually works in Stade de France as well! “Allez les Bleus!” means literally Go Blue, and is what the French say to support their national team as well! I Felt right at home…

Allez les Bleus!