This is a repost from my other blog from Oct 11:
It is just over three weeks that I have been living in Chatenay-Malabry. I have determined that if I leave my studio apartment by 7:39 on my alarm clock, I can get out the gate in time to see the bus when we are both 50 meters from the stop. I end up having to run half the distance, half of the days. I take the 195 six stops to the Robinson RER. The RER is an extension of the Paris Metro. At the Robinson I wait less than five minutes for the 294 which takes me another eight stops to Chatillon. In Chatillon I start work at 8:20 in an industrial park of sorts.
I have begun to recognize some of my fellow commuters. Today on the 195 I saw a young man of perhaps 17 or 18 years of age, potentially of Algerian decent. He always dresses professionally but he is not from an affluent family as I conclude from his attire. His attire has an air of being worn now by a second generation. His shoes are black leather. Pressed kaki pants, a white sweater and a brown suit coat that is a couple of sizes too large complete his outfit. He carries with him a leather briefcase with a flap closure. It sat between his legs as he held onto the pole. He disappeared as he exited at the Robinson.
On the 294 I sat across from a young woman about my age. Last time she was carrying a similar paper "etam" bag. "etam" is a designer label that has stores in every shopping center. Once the bus starts moving she pulls out a small circular mirror that she uses to check her lipstick and eye make up. She ruffles her long dark kinky hair. The ends of her hair is bleached as though from the sun. She puts away the mirror and ruffles her hair once more. Her nail polish is a dark red and always wears pointed toe leather heals with blue jeans. Unlike many of the young and fashionable, she does not have music wired to her ears. Today she stared at a spot in the air somewhere between us with her lips tight but one corner raised in an expression of, "I will determine the solution to the dilemma in my head." I always get off the bus before she does.
2.11.06
23.10.06
Of Money and Quality
I have a life of privilege. I have never been seriously concerned about having enough money. The closest I’ve come to that was as I was graduating from university I didn’t have enough money in my bank account to pay the rent that was due a few days later. In that instance though my grandmother came through with an amazing grad present that allowed me to pay the rent plus provide a bit of spending cash for a trip to cali I was going on a few days later. I have no credit card debt. I am in enough educational debt to perhaps pay for a brand new mid-level sports car, but at the same time SallieMae at least is putting off my payments while I am in “economic hardship” during this year.
On a side note, Andru Bemis (folky bluegrass) has a great song about making payments to SallieMae. I have been listening to a wide variety of music recently from the Notes Underground podcast. As a result making reference to musical artists feels natural.
The point of my commenting on my privilege though is to point out a dilemma that I have run into in relation to my lifestyle. In the majority of cases I am thrifty and can get by on a minimum, but this year I think I might be testing my ability a bit too much. I have about two grand from savings and my job from the last month of summer to get me through a year of living in Paris. The big problem is that I appreciate quality in the things that I buy. Quality costs money. I won’t by the $13 shoes over the $50 shoes because they aren’t made to last and it is fundamentally wrong to make a product with disregard for its longevity. This is a primary reason that I greatly dislike walmart. A $13 pair of shoes wastes those resources for every generation to come and yes, this planet is not one of infinite resources. Cell phones use a metal that the only known mines are in the DRC. These mines are an element of the conflict that persists in the center of Africa. A generic cell phone that I could use the year I am here costs $75, however a cell phone with a couple more features that would allow me to use it when I return to the US costs $135.
The issue that I am struggling with is how to be a good steward of the resources of the world while being thrifty at the same time. At the rate I’ve been spending money to this point I’ll need twice what I allotted. The reality check could be beautiful. I hope.
On a side note, Andru Bemis (folky bluegrass) has a great song about making payments to SallieMae. I have been listening to a wide variety of music recently from the Notes Underground podcast. As a result making reference to musical artists feels natural.
The point of my commenting on my privilege though is to point out a dilemma that I have run into in relation to my lifestyle. In the majority of cases I am thrifty and can get by on a minimum, but this year I think I might be testing my ability a bit too much. I have about two grand from savings and my job from the last month of summer to get me through a year of living in Paris. The big problem is that I appreciate quality in the things that I buy. Quality costs money. I won’t by the $13 shoes over the $50 shoes because they aren’t made to last and it is fundamentally wrong to make a product with disregard for its longevity. This is a primary reason that I greatly dislike walmart. A $13 pair of shoes wastes those resources for every generation to come and yes, this planet is not one of infinite resources. Cell phones use a metal that the only known mines are in the DRC. These mines are an element of the conflict that persists in the center of Africa. A generic cell phone that I could use the year I am here costs $75, however a cell phone with a couple more features that would allow me to use it when I return to the US costs $135.
The issue that I am struggling with is how to be a good steward of the resources of the world while being thrifty at the same time. At the rate I’ve been spending money to this point I’ll need twice what I allotted. The reality check could be beautiful. I hope.
15.1.06
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