Travail

I’m not sure why, but many stories of travel and cultural experience all seem to come round to the subject of laundry. I suspect it’s because there is a great shared human response to living three days past one’s last pair of clear underwear.
Last night, after work, I found a local laundromat; I went their assuming that it would have either a change machine or tokens. (Why would I assume that? What possible reason would I have?) Of course, there were neither of these things; the washing machines needed a pair of two Euro coins to operate and the dryers would only accept fifty cent pieces. With a ten Euro bill in hand, I stepped into a nearby convenience store thinking that, if I purchased something, they would give me my change back in coins. So, quite cleverly, I bought a small box of laundry soap (this would help in the case of language difficulty). The clerk spoke English though…however, his tray was out of two Euro coins. The next stop was a kebab shop (right next to the laundry). The fellow there spoke no English; but he took one look at the detergent under my arm, smiled and gave me change. I would imagine he has a steady stream of foreigners in this predicament (will have to make a note to go there for lunch someday).

After a bit of deciphering, I managed to get the washing machine running and, forty minutes later, I had clean clothing! However, as I began to put it in the dryer, the woman tending the place said, “no; sorry; no time; closing; down street is other wash.” So I walk down street to other wash—which was also closing.

Here in the Strasbourg office, Natural Power analyses wind flow over complex terrain with the aid of a little rack mounted supercomputer…which blows out a lot of heat…all day long. One of my main concerns with energy is the conservation and creative use of waste; so…I hung my wet laundry all over the server.

Then I got an e-mail about a potential flat and went to look (I’m going to take it; nice fellow and good space. It’s just a short term place but at least it will give me a place to be whilst I look further). When I came back to the office the outside doors were locked; I have the keycode, but the door was fully locked with a key (which I don’t have). Claude, a kind co-worker, took me in for the night. I’m sure the cleaning lady, when she came in this morning at six, was rather bemused to find socks and underwear hanging all over the server and break-room.

Overdue update

I’m in Strasbourg—in France—it’s truly lovely. I’ve been here since last Tuesday after obtaining my French visa in London (which was, strangely, a lot less trouble to get despite the French reputation for bureaucracy). Our office here is right off Place Kléber, the main square of the city. Most “nice” cities have a concentrated area of “niceness” where they show off; Strasbourg seems to have spread the “niceness” all around a wide swath of the city. It’s not a stereotypically touristy European city either (they haven’t dressed it up just to attract foreigners); it’s just a beautiful city because—that’s what it is. I’m greatly looking forward to roaming the streets and exploring further (must get a new digital camera to capture some scenes).
I still have not found a place to stay (it’s been hotels and hospitable colleagues so far). On one hand, I would like to be with French folk to work on language and cultural knowledge; however, on the other, I’m thirty-three, like quiet, go to bed at nine and wake at six, and am very orderly. So, maybe I should take care looking for shared space (for my own and my flatmate’s sanity). Hoping to check on some places very soon, but might be a challenge to find the right situation.

It’s great that the office is within walking or easy public transportation distance from anywhere in the city (no more 50 minute ride to work). One of the things that’s given me pause about working in rural Scotland was the fact that my work is rather out in the middle of nowhere. Plus, I’m very keen on good food selections and everything else in a seriously “nice” city (not that I can really afford much in the posh shops at the moment). I’m already afraid I’m really going to like it here and not want to go back (better start working on my French right away).

Work is enjoyable and challenging at the moment; we are preparing for the European Wind Energy Conference in Marseille next week. I’m making a video presentation that will be presented across three big plasma screens at our display booth there. The most challenging part of that is determining all the technical bits required to patch it all together sensibly. I won’t be able to actually test it out on the display till we set up the day before the conference; so—just a little pressure there.

Furnishing the landfill

My office is next to the main square in Strasbourg. There is a posh shop across the street that is either closing down or about to be renovated. All day I’ve watched workmen rip out the very nice cabinetry and displays and fill a large skip. This is stuff that most people would be glad to have as living room furniture—off to the dump (or, at least I’m assuming; they are breaking stuff up into pieces).
(Oh, by the way; I’m in France! Update coming shortly.)

Still existing

Sorry I’ve disappeared from here for a while. I’ve been in the Czech Republic waiting for my French visa to come through (which it has). I’ll be headed back up to England to pick it up shortly and on to France afterward.

Rhythms

Here are a selection of videos that have lodged themselves in my head over the past few days (for some unknown reason):
Alela Diane is an artist I’ve not heard of…but will certainly seek her out more:

This Kelly Osbourne video tries a little too hard to be serious, but I love the style of the era invoked:

And this Röyksopp video is one of my favourites (spooky, but one of my favourites):

What Else Is There? from Röyksopp on Vimeo.

Oh Bother

Because of a bureaucratic glitch, I’m going to have to leave the UK at the end of this month. One is required to have £800 in the bank at all times for the three months prior to making an application for a visa. That first month of working, when I was transitioning from “student” to “full-time worker, taxpayer, and general contributor to society”, I dipped slightly below that. I realised this three months ago (after if was already too late) and called the Home Office; they said the rule was absolute but, of course, someone sits down and reviews my specific situation (e.g. that I have a full-time permanent job and a regular income). However, I called the international student advisor at my school earlier this week to get the necessary documentation from him for my application—and he said not to even bother. Apparently the government is finding any excuse to deny visas (he just had 120 denied because there was a date presented incorrectly on the graduation letter from Strathclyde). He said that, a year ago, in my situation, they would not have even blinked. “Oh, this fellow already has a job…here is the visa”. Now they are absolutely hard-line, black and white.

We are looking into what my options are; my (terrifically supportive) company is keen on keeping me. The most sensible thing is going to be to end my contract here and send me to another one of the offices abroad (France seems the likely contender at the moment, we are checking on the procedure for a French visa [which, though the French have their own reputation for red tape, seems much more at ease than the British system. The Home Office has all these guidelines and forms regarding visas; the French Consulate General website basically says, “call us up for an appointment and we’ll talk about your needs”—perhaps with a glass of wine and some cheese]). The bizarre thing is that the government is shooting itself in the foot with stuff like this; my company is not going to hire someone else in my place, they will just send me to another country…and my tax and social revenue will go there with me. I want to be here! I have a good job, plus I do NGO work on the side and want to bring in folk from the organisations I work with do training and programs here. I’m not leaching off the government or just floundering about. Grrrrrr (to use an exact expression).

It’s a sudden upheaval; just as I am getting settled in, I must leave because of a relatively minor technicality. I will try to come back (as I have till next September to apply for a post-graduate study visa). However, once the visa I have expires (this month), I will have to apply from abroad; applicants from a third country must have £2800 in the bank at all times for the three months prior to application. So wherever I go, it will be for at least three months plus the processing time.

This is all a huge bother and I feel like I’m not dealing with people; just up before a big machine. It is an education though; as an American, it’s easy to fall into an slightly rosy understanding of what one’s rights are to travel and live abroad since my passport opens so many doors. However, my country is famous (now at least) for not reciprocating that openness (e.g. the citizens of many of the places I have been can not travel to the US as readily as I can to their countries). I understand the reasons for all these things on paper; but, when one is dealing with a system that defines people’s lives by an unwavering observation of a set of rules, it’s difficult to maintain an un-biased view.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you all; wherever my far-flung friends are and however you may celebrate (or not) the season. Though it seems that every comment on the word right now is dire, may the coming year be filled with peace and contentment for you all. No matter the turmoil, we have the un-perturbable nature of human hope in reserve; that is an economy we can draw on regardless.