Once again, I chaperone kids up to the mairie (mayoral building) of the 5th arrondissement. This time, it is to bring Gigi's class to a celebration for finishing elementary school, a rite of passage in which they follow the time-honored French tradition of receiving a giant Le Robert book, which is mostly dictionary with elements of an encyclopedia and atlas as well. This is something nearly every French person has owned and used at some point.
Once again, the arrondissement puts out a spread (this time, the mayor informs us that everything is organic. Times, they are a changin', even in Paris). Since it is the children's goûter (snack), it is composed of sugary breads and chocolates. Woe to the gluten-intolerant Frenchman.
Besides mentioning the organic origins of the snack, the other nod to modern life is that the mayor acknowledges the internet is a decent source for information; still, he is emphatic that there's nothing that can replace a reference book. And, truly, one of the nicest things about it is that it's something tangible they can take with them in the following steps. I have to admit I am finding it one of the coolest souvenirs of our time here. I can imagine Gigi with it on her shelves in college, or as a young adult. And while she may never need it, and it's impractically heavy, I bet she'll look up at least one word in there anyway and remember her elementary school in Paris.
Once again, the arrondissement puts out a spread (this time, the mayor informs us that everything is organic. Times, they are a changin', even in Paris). Since it is the children's goûter (snack), it is composed of sugary breads and chocolates. Woe to the gluten-intolerant Frenchman.
Once again, they are received in a grand hall but, unlike at Christmas or Mother's Day, this is the first time I have ever been here and heard absolutely no reference to anything Walt Disney. The mayor (not of Paris, but of the 5th, and none of the kids knows his name, mind you) is treated like a rock star and asked to sign many autographs.
Besides mentioning the organic origins of the snack, the other nod to modern life is that the mayor acknowledges the internet is a decent source for information; still, he is emphatic that there's nothing that can replace a reference book. And, truly, one of the nicest things about it is that it's something tangible they can take with them in the following steps. I have to admit I am finding it one of the coolest souvenirs of our time here. I can imagine Gigi with it on her shelves in college, or as a young adult. And while she may never need it, and it's impractically heavy, I bet she'll look up at least one word in there anyway and remember her elementary school in Paris.
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