Greetings from Bordeaux
(Note: This date will contain all my posts while at Plum Village, since there's no other way to get them onto the blog in chronological order, since I didn'thave access to the internet while I was there.)
Thursday, August 17, 2006 8:26pm
Bordeaux, France
Hotel Bristol
This is my first journal entry for this trip to France. I didn’t sleep much on the plane last night, so now my eyes are wanting to close and I’ll have to write fast before I conk out. Next thing I’ll know, I’ll be writing in my sleep. At the airport gate in Paris, I saw a woman with a Laurel Birch tote, and asked if she were from the U.S. Not only were she and her friend from Pennsylvania, but they were going to Plum Village for the same seminar. Sharon Solloway and Dorothy Ashman are their names. Dorothy is a psychologist in private in practice in Bloomberg. So, we rode the shuttle bus together, and made plans to meet for dinner and to plan a tour for tomorrow. Since my eyes are closing, and I’m frustrated with this keyboard, making a lot of typos, I’ll quit now while I’m ahead.
Next Day
I,m in a cybercafe and the keyboard is a European one, so if my spelling is off, blame it on thqt. I' fix it later. This is going to take way too long, hunt and peck. I met two women from PA qt the airport yesterday, and we've been hanging out together. Today we went on an all-day Art and Wine tour from the tourism office. It was fun and interesting. Lunch was included, and elegant. I had an appetizer of aubergine and coquilles (eggplant and little clams). The main course was kidney over white rice. Then the cheese and fruit course--the fruit was two grapes. Dessert was a black forest mousse. Our meal was accompanied by a bottle of red wine shared by the four of us, the fourth one being Steve from Boston, who is an ex-marine studying to be an anesthesiologist and who had taken a course in European public health systems in Ger,any. Dorothy Ashman is a psychologist in Bloomsburg, PA and Sharon Solloway is in the school of Education at Bloomsberg College. They're both going to Plum Village with me tommorrow morning on the 8am train. By the way, a cup of expresso was served after the dessert.
Dorothy
Sharon
My hotel is a one-star, but right on the corner of Place Gambetta, which is to say Centre Ville. Yesterday we went window shopping, altho Sharon was looking for a sheet to take wiith her to Plum Village. I brought one from home, along with a microfleece blanket and two towels, medium and large, that I bought at REI. My suitcase was so full that I had to open the extender zipper, so I may not be able to buy any gifts. However, I did buy a 1/2 bottle of wine from the first vineyard we visited.
Plum Village, Saturday, August 19, 2006
I tried to write on the laptop that I shlepped from Albuquerque, but the battery went down and when I plugged it in, I couldn't get it to work, nor could I turn it off without pulling out the battery. It may be time for me to get a new one, but that wont be until I get home in a month. This is what I got before it ran out:
Saturday, August 19, 2006
4:35 pm
PlumVillage
We arrived here this morning. I’m trying to write on this laptop, but it slows me down because of the touch a well as the fact that the space bar is funny. I may not be able to keep this up. I got up at 6:15 in order to not miss the train and the cab came at 7:15. the train was scheduled for 8:01. I met Sharon and Dorothy at the station, had a cup of café au lait with a croissant. The luggage is a joke, getting it on the train, etc. I couldn’t keep my eyes open on the train even though I wanted to watch the scenery and also had a book to read. Then when we got to Ste. Foy La Grande, Dorothy and Sharon went off in another car, as they were assigned to Lower Village and I to New Village. I had to wait, as another train was expected, and had another café au lait at the café across from the station, thinking I didn’t have enough time to walk to the main street . Took a picture. Then we found out that the expected train had been cancelled, which is really why I had taken the earlier one. A nun was the driver. Her name is something like Tu Nima, and she’s originally from New York.
And then here is what I wrote laterin my journal:
I arrived here with Dorothy and Sharon, but they went off to Lower Village. I'm in New Village at Hillside House (AKA Maison des Collines), in Oak Tree (Chene) room. I was here alone at first, and rested until lunch time. Food was okay but not exciting. Responsibility of Hill House is to wash pots after lunch and dinner. Then I came back here for the afternoon. I thought I'd read, then write, but my eyes began to close and I slept for probably two hours. Must be jet lag. When I woke, some of my neighbors had arrived, including several with kids, and eventually my roommate, Genevieve, who speaks French with little English. A challenge for me. The others seem to be from Sweden, but I thought I just heard someone speaking Spanish.
There's a cool wind blowing, and the shutter on my window is creaking. Outside, the bleat of goats can be heard.
View from my room at Maison des Collines
Later: Dinner was spaghetti with tomato sauce, with protein chunks in it. (The diet for the week will be totally vegetarian). Also lettuce for salad and two kinds of quiche—one of them had pease in it. It's adequate but unexciting food. I could lose interest over time. Each of us washes our own dishes after each meal.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
We had an orientation meeting last night and I goung out that my "family" is called "Transformation at the Base." I thought it had some deep philosophical or political meaning, but it actually refers to the pots we clean.
Up at 5a.m., a quick jump in the shower, then to meditation upstairs for about a ½ hour, guided with sentences from Thay (a.k.a. Thich Nhat Hanh) about breathing in and breathing out. A few minutes for exercise or reading the Sutra—everything in both English and French. I chose exercise so I could do some of my back stretches. I keep forgetting to take off my shoes when entering the house, as my room, Oak Tree, is near the door and I go straight ahead. Then breakfast: oatmeal, raisins, brown bread and cheese, fruit, e.g. apples, oranges, bananas. No real coffee so I drank instant. Later I thought I should have mixed it in a bowl of hot milk for café au lait. The hot milk is actually soy milk.
Got our potwashing orientation. Now we're gathering in the meditation room for the talk by Thay. I tood a seat in the front row of chairs, behind the floor mats and cushions, but I'm near the translator mikes for Vietnamese and German, so I hope that won't interfere with my hearing and recording. Couldn't get the computer to turn off last night so it hummed allnite long. It wasn't until almost morning that it occurred to me to do control-alt-delete. Even then it didn't completely shut off, so Ihad to pull out the battery.
This is an oversize crowd. I think they said that 900 were here for the seminar, with 400 at New Village (found out later that the total was over 1000, with 227 at New Village). So, they have amplification for English speakers set up outside with chairs because Lower Village is coming here for this talk. According to the diagram on the wall, there are also Dutch and Spanish and Italian translators. I'm glad I got here early. Lots of people ore being sent outside.
I'm glad I didn't choose to camp out, as it's cool here in the early A.M. and in the evening.
I'm the only American in my "family," except for the two nuns who are originally from New York and California. Thanh Y is from San Francisco and Vietnam.
Later, after Thay's talk—This is the time for walking meditation, after a break, but my lower back started hurting again, as well as my ankle, so I'm just sitting uner one of the outdoor canopies. I couldn't stay attentive and focused during Thay's talk. I was warm and sweating; it would have been better if I had been sitting outside where there is a fresh breeze. The weather is overcast, but with the sun breaking through from time to time, and occasional short sprinkles. But it seemed to me that whenever I'd close my eyes, I'd start dreaming. I think that's because I'm still jet-lagged and my brain is confused. It's almost as if I'm hovering between two realities and my brain doesn't have an anchor. It's a strange sensation. I slept last night, although I woke up several times, and was able to go back to sleep. I couldn't really make sense out of what Thay was saying. Maybe when I listen to my recording, if it cam out. Battery was exhausted mid-talk, so I'll have to charge it later. Glad I brought too.
After dinner—this afternoon at Hillside House we had a discussion of this morning's Dharma talk. I had taken a nap before. Even though I had slept, during the discussion I was still sleepy and fought not to doze off and dream. It's a feeling of being on the cusp of two realities, two worlds, waking and dreaming. For dinner I had no trouble staying awake and enjoyed the vegetable soup with couscous, the green beans, the herbed potatoes, lettuce and some crispy fried something that was delicious. The sweet black beans for dessert was delicious. Imissed out on the corn kernels and the blackberries. Now that I'm done eating I'm yawning again and want to go to sleep. Maybe I can snag one of the hammocks.
Monday, August 21, 2006
After breakfast, 7:07 a.m.
This morning is overcast and foggy. Yesterday the rain alternated with the sun. I was glad I brought my red jacket because it's cool in the mornings and evenings and even sometimes during the day if it rains. It was a "just in case" thing.
This is supposed to be working meditation time, but I don't know what that is, so I'm writing. Thay starts to speak at 8:30, a half hour later than yesterday. I'm mostly writing by hand because my computer is back at Hillside House, no use to me here. I'm thinking that if I continue to take one with me when I travel, I might want to get a newer, lighter one and once that can burn CDS as well as read them. Maybe even a DVD player, although the movies one the flight over were adequate. I saw a French Film called "Four Stars", and right now I can't even remember what it was about. Also, an English one called "Keeping Mum," with Maggie Smith as a crazy lady who kills people who annoy her, starting when she was young killing her husband and his mistress when they were going to run away together. Turns out that the vicar's wife is the daughter she had in prison, who was sent to an orphanage to be raised by the nuns.
Breakfast today and yesterday was oatmeal, hot soy milk, homemade yogurt, brown bread. Toppings could be raisins, peanuts, jam, honey. Only coffee is instant. Today I tried café au lait with soy milk, but it wasn't hot enough and the coffee didn't all dissolve. Slices of fruit—orange, apple, and banana, but there was no banana left when I went thru the line today. Last night there was a towel over the bowls of fruit and a sign saying please leave it till morning for breakfast.
Sitting in the large meditation hall as peple settle in to hear Thay give the Dharma talk. I would sit outside but it's a bit cool today, at least for now. The hall is divided up into language groups so that the audience can plug in their ecouteurs (earphones), for simultaneous translation. I think I'm repeating myself from yesterday. There are a lot of people squeezed in to the hall. Luckily, as the home team, we get to come a little early and choose our places. Tomorrow we go toanother hamlet, but the hall there seats 1000. So far, I'm awake but I fear that I've been conditioned to be sleepy in this room.
Thay started his talk with a story from The World of Winnie the Pooh, and has a toy pooh to illustrate the story. On the wall is a sign: "Ecoute bien pour mieux comprendre, regarde bien pour mieux aimer." (listen well to better understand, look well to better love.) The children are invited to leave after the Winnie the Pooh story and a short commentary on it. Thay reads Winnie the Pooh like the Sutra.
Last night we had the Touch the Earth deep relaxation, in the meditation hall, and listened to a nun singing. Of course, I fell asleep, but not the only one. In fact, I heard snores long before I was out. Then she did a guided meditation about appreciating the part of our parents and other family members that is in each one of us, standing for the good things and lying on our stomachs to let the earth absorb the bad things. This went on for quite a while and it was at least 10p.m. before it was finished. So, late to bed and early to rise again at 5 a.m. Didn't take a shower before meditation this morning. Didn't feel like rushing and it was cold. Maybe during free time this afternoon, or nap, or laundry.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006 7:10 a.m.
Feeling to tired to write this morning, but I'm waiting for the bus to take us to Lower Hamlet and I've finished breakfast. This getting up at 5 a.m. is starting to get to me. Today, the buses leave at 7:30 for Lower Hamlet. Dharma talk by Thay at 8:00, preceded by chorus chanting. At 10:30 there is scheduled a panel of scientists. We'll have lunch ("picnic") at Upper Hamlet, then come back to do pots here, and then a free afternoon (after 3 or 3:30).
The bus had just arrived and people were boarding. Now I'm in the meditation hall of Lower Hamlet and my good pen just ran out. Children are gathering in front. They're showing pictures of what they need to be happy. Includes ice cream and candy, money, house, water, a toilet, a book, and friend, love, food, sun, animals, family, clothes, school, hospital. They made money from selling cookies, 117.06 euros. The second day they made 327.27 euros. The money is for poor children in Vietnam. The cookies were quite good, too.
Thursday, August 17, 2006 8:26pm
Bordeaux, France
Hotel Bristol
This is my first journal entry for this trip to France. I didn’t sleep much on the plane last night, so now my eyes are wanting to close and I’ll have to write fast before I conk out. Next thing I’ll know, I’ll be writing in my sleep. At the airport gate in Paris, I saw a woman with a Laurel Birch tote, and asked if she were from the U.S. Not only were she and her friend from Pennsylvania, but they were going to Plum Village for the same seminar. Sharon Solloway and Dorothy Ashman are their names. Dorothy is a psychologist in private in practice in Bloomberg. So, we rode the shuttle bus together, and made plans to meet for dinner and to plan a tour for tomorrow. Since my eyes are closing, and I’m frustrated with this keyboard, making a lot of typos, I’ll quit now while I’m ahead.
Next Day
I,m in a cybercafe and the keyboard is a European one, so if my spelling is off, blame it on thqt. I' fix it later. This is going to take way too long, hunt and peck. I met two women from PA qt the airport yesterday, and we've been hanging out together. Today we went on an all-day Art and Wine tour from the tourism office. It was fun and interesting. Lunch was included, and elegant. I had an appetizer of aubergine and coquilles (eggplant and little clams). The main course was kidney over white rice. Then the cheese and fruit course--the fruit was two grapes. Dessert was a black forest mousse. Our meal was accompanied by a bottle of red wine shared by the four of us, the fourth one being Steve from Boston, who is an ex-marine studying to be an anesthesiologist and who had taken a course in European public health systems in Ger,any. Dorothy Ashman is a psychologist in Bloomsburg, PA and Sharon Solloway is in the school of Education at Bloomsberg College. They're both going to Plum Village with me tommorrow morning on the 8am train. By the way, a cup of expresso was served after the dessert.
Dorothy
Sharon
My hotel is a one-star, but right on the corner of Place Gambetta, which is to say Centre Ville. Yesterday we went window shopping, altho Sharon was looking for a sheet to take wiith her to Plum Village. I brought one from home, along with a microfleece blanket and two towels, medium and large, that I bought at REI. My suitcase was so full that I had to open the extender zipper, so I may not be able to buy any gifts. However, I did buy a 1/2 bottle of wine from the first vineyard we visited.
Plum Village, Saturday, August 19, 2006
I tried to write on the laptop that I shlepped from Albuquerque, but the battery went down and when I plugged it in, I couldn't get it to work, nor could I turn it off without pulling out the battery. It may be time for me to get a new one, but that wont be until I get home in a month. This is what I got before it ran out:
Saturday, August 19, 2006
4:35 pm
PlumVillage
We arrived here this morning. I’m trying to write on this laptop, but it slows me down because of the touch a well as the fact that the space bar is funny. I may not be able to keep this up. I got up at 6:15 in order to not miss the train and the cab came at 7:15. the train was scheduled for 8:01. I met Sharon and Dorothy at the station, had a cup of café au lait with a croissant. The luggage is a joke, getting it on the train, etc. I couldn’t keep my eyes open on the train even though I wanted to watch the scenery and also had a book to read. Then when we got to Ste. Foy La Grande, Dorothy and Sharon went off in another car, as they were assigned to Lower Village and I to New Village. I had to wait, as another train was expected, and had another café au lait at the café across from the station, thinking I didn’t have enough time to walk to the main street . Took a picture. Then we found out that the expected train had been cancelled, which is really why I had taken the earlier one. A nun was the driver. Her name is something like Tu Nima, and she’s originally from New York.
And then here is what I wrote laterin my journal:
I arrived here with Dorothy and Sharon, but they went off to Lower Village. I'm in New Village at Hillside House (AKA Maison des Collines), in Oak Tree (Chene) room. I was here alone at first, and rested until lunch time. Food was okay but not exciting. Responsibility of Hill House is to wash pots after lunch and dinner. Then I came back here for the afternoon. I thought I'd read, then write, but my eyes began to close and I slept for probably two hours. Must be jet lag. When I woke, some of my neighbors had arrived, including several with kids, and eventually my roommate, Genevieve, who speaks French with little English. A challenge for me. The others seem to be from Sweden, but I thought I just heard someone speaking Spanish.
There's a cool wind blowing, and the shutter on my window is creaking. Outside, the bleat of goats can be heard.
View from my room at Maison des Collines
Later: Dinner was spaghetti with tomato sauce, with protein chunks in it. (The diet for the week will be totally vegetarian). Also lettuce for salad and two kinds of quiche—one of them had pease in it. It's adequate but unexciting food. I could lose interest over time. Each of us washes our own dishes after each meal.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
We had an orientation meeting last night and I goung out that my "family" is called "Transformation at the Base." I thought it had some deep philosophical or political meaning, but it actually refers to the pots we clean.
Up at 5a.m., a quick jump in the shower, then to meditation upstairs for about a ½ hour, guided with sentences from Thay (a.k.a. Thich Nhat Hanh) about breathing in and breathing out. A few minutes for exercise or reading the Sutra—everything in both English and French. I chose exercise so I could do some of my back stretches. I keep forgetting to take off my shoes when entering the house, as my room, Oak Tree, is near the door and I go straight ahead. Then breakfast: oatmeal, raisins, brown bread and cheese, fruit, e.g. apples, oranges, bananas. No real coffee so I drank instant. Later I thought I should have mixed it in a bowl of hot milk for café au lait. The hot milk is actually soy milk.
Got our potwashing orientation. Now we're gathering in the meditation room for the talk by Thay. I tood a seat in the front row of chairs, behind the floor mats and cushions, but I'm near the translator mikes for Vietnamese and German, so I hope that won't interfere with my hearing and recording. Couldn't get the computer to turn off last night so it hummed allnite long. It wasn't until almost morning that it occurred to me to do control-alt-delete. Even then it didn't completely shut off, so Ihad to pull out the battery.
This is an oversize crowd. I think they said that 900 were here for the seminar, with 400 at New Village (found out later that the total was over 1000, with 227 at New Village). So, they have amplification for English speakers set up outside with chairs because Lower Village is coming here for this talk. According to the diagram on the wall, there are also Dutch and Spanish and Italian translators. I'm glad I got here early. Lots of people ore being sent outside.
I'm glad I didn't choose to camp out, as it's cool here in the early A.M. and in the evening.
I'm the only American in my "family," except for the two nuns who are originally from New York and California. Thanh Y is from San Francisco and Vietnam.
Later, after Thay's talk—This is the time for walking meditation, after a break, but my lower back started hurting again, as well as my ankle, so I'm just sitting uner one of the outdoor canopies. I couldn't stay attentive and focused during Thay's talk. I was warm and sweating; it would have been better if I had been sitting outside where there is a fresh breeze. The weather is overcast, but with the sun breaking through from time to time, and occasional short sprinkles. But it seemed to me that whenever I'd close my eyes, I'd start dreaming. I think that's because I'm still jet-lagged and my brain is confused. It's almost as if I'm hovering between two realities and my brain doesn't have an anchor. It's a strange sensation. I slept last night, although I woke up several times, and was able to go back to sleep. I couldn't really make sense out of what Thay was saying. Maybe when I listen to my recording, if it cam out. Battery was exhausted mid-talk, so I'll have to charge it later. Glad I brought too.
After dinner—this afternoon at Hillside House we had a discussion of this morning's Dharma talk. I had taken a nap before. Even though I had slept, during the discussion I was still sleepy and fought not to doze off and dream. It's a feeling of being on the cusp of two realities, two worlds, waking and dreaming. For dinner I had no trouble staying awake and enjoyed the vegetable soup with couscous, the green beans, the herbed potatoes, lettuce and some crispy fried something that was delicious. The sweet black beans for dessert was delicious. Imissed out on the corn kernels and the blackberries. Now that I'm done eating I'm yawning again and want to go to sleep. Maybe I can snag one of the hammocks.
Monday, August 21, 2006
After breakfast, 7:07 a.m.
This morning is overcast and foggy. Yesterday the rain alternated with the sun. I was glad I brought my red jacket because it's cool in the mornings and evenings and even sometimes during the day if it rains. It was a "just in case" thing.
This is supposed to be working meditation time, but I don't know what that is, so I'm writing. Thay starts to speak at 8:30, a half hour later than yesterday. I'm mostly writing by hand because my computer is back at Hillside House, no use to me here. I'm thinking that if I continue to take one with me when I travel, I might want to get a newer, lighter one and once that can burn CDS as well as read them. Maybe even a DVD player, although the movies one the flight over were adequate. I saw a French Film called "Four Stars", and right now I can't even remember what it was about. Also, an English one called "Keeping Mum," with Maggie Smith as a crazy lady who kills people who annoy her, starting when she was young killing her husband and his mistress when they were going to run away together. Turns out that the vicar's wife is the daughter she had in prison, who was sent to an orphanage to be raised by the nuns.
Breakfast today and yesterday was oatmeal, hot soy milk, homemade yogurt, brown bread. Toppings could be raisins, peanuts, jam, honey. Only coffee is instant. Today I tried café au lait with soy milk, but it wasn't hot enough and the coffee didn't all dissolve. Slices of fruit—orange, apple, and banana, but there was no banana left when I went thru the line today. Last night there was a towel over the bowls of fruit and a sign saying please leave it till morning for breakfast.
Sitting in the large meditation hall as peple settle in to hear Thay give the Dharma talk. I would sit outside but it's a bit cool today, at least for now. The hall is divided up into language groups so that the audience can plug in their ecouteurs (earphones), for simultaneous translation. I think I'm repeating myself from yesterday. There are a lot of people squeezed in to the hall. Luckily, as the home team, we get to come a little early and choose our places. Tomorrow we go toanother hamlet, but the hall there seats 1000. So far, I'm awake but I fear that I've been conditioned to be sleepy in this room.
Thay started his talk with a story from The World of Winnie the Pooh, and has a toy pooh to illustrate the story. On the wall is a sign: "Ecoute bien pour mieux comprendre, regarde bien pour mieux aimer." (listen well to better understand, look well to better love.) The children are invited to leave after the Winnie the Pooh story and a short commentary on it. Thay reads Winnie the Pooh like the Sutra.
Last night we had the Touch the Earth deep relaxation, in the meditation hall, and listened to a nun singing. Of course, I fell asleep, but not the only one. In fact, I heard snores long before I was out. Then she did a guided meditation about appreciating the part of our parents and other family members that is in each one of us, standing for the good things and lying on our stomachs to let the earth absorb the bad things. This went on for quite a while and it was at least 10p.m. before it was finished. So, late to bed and early to rise again at 5 a.m. Didn't take a shower before meditation this morning. Didn't feel like rushing and it was cold. Maybe during free time this afternoon, or nap, or laundry.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006 7:10 a.m.
Feeling to tired to write this morning, but I'm waiting for the bus to take us to Lower Hamlet and I've finished breakfast. This getting up at 5 a.m. is starting to get to me. Today, the buses leave at 7:30 for Lower Hamlet. Dharma talk by Thay at 8:00, preceded by chorus chanting. At 10:30 there is scheduled a panel of scientists. We'll have lunch ("picnic") at Upper Hamlet, then come back to do pots here, and then a free afternoon (after 3 or 3:30).
The bus had just arrived and people were boarding. Now I'm in the meditation hall of Lower Hamlet and my good pen just ran out. Children are gathering in front. They're showing pictures of what they need to be happy. Includes ice cream and candy, money, house, water, a toilet, a book, and friend, love, food, sun, animals, family, clothes, school, hospital. They made money from selling cookies, 117.06 euros. The second day they made 327.27 euros. The money is for poor children in Vietnam. The cookies were quite good, too.
posted by Joan Saks Berman | 11:23 AM
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