Written - October 1, 2012
With no Internet, no 3G, and a pay-as-you-go phone that has
.08 euro of credit, I have survived my first few days in Thouars. Frankly, I
don’t feel alone amongst the people here. The natives are entirely concerned
with their selection of wine and cheese, the upcoming performances at the local
theatre and not much else.
Since arriving, I have experienced a very warm welcoming
from the school where I will be teaching. All of the English teachers are very
excited that I’m here and assure me that I will be the first American that
their students have ever met. It seems like every lunch and dinner here is a
preplanned, extravagant 5-course feast. Perhaps this is in celebration of my
arrival but I’m beginning to think that this is just the French way: 3 brilliant
meals a day, no snacks in between.
Thouars is a quintessential French town, just south of the
Loire. The city plays host to several ancient landmarks, from 10th
century churches to medieval chateaus, one of which serves as a local middle
school and thus, my office. There is a great market in the center of the city
on Friday mornings from 7 to around noon where you can purchase excellent fresh
product (fruit, vegetables, cheese, meat) as well as seafood from the coast.
The market is very well known, and people come from all over the region to
catch and sell the latest and greatest in local produce.
The heart of wine country is not far from here, as from
anywhere in France. But the locals rave that the wine in this area in
particular may be lesser known than Bordeaux and Bourgogne but boasts equally as
high of the quality. Whether this is true, I’m comfortable knowing that great
wine here is basically free: 4 euros for something average, 7 euros if you want
to truly impress.
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