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| chazumaru 1542th Post
  
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|  "Re(1):Visiting France, Paris, Marseille" , posted Thu 13 Aug 19:59:  
Iggy knows that area much better than I do but I can tell that you already understood 90% of all the French culture you need to know when you separated <Paris>, <Marseille> and <France> as completely different places that have very little in common with each other. You should have no problem fitting in.
I am not sure how much there is to do in December in Marseille besides { fill-in a racist stereotype from a Parisian perspective } but it's probably a good idea to visit the Velodrome right in the middle of the season and get to learn the players' names (and have an opinion about the latest drama). It's irrelevant whether you might already like or get to like soccer; it will simply become an essential survival trick to fake your way out of a discussion about OM. Think of it as being constantly surrounded by lunatic Eagles fans in Philadelphia. I was told the Legion Etrangere is actually quite boring 99% of the time so it might be a good idea to rely on sports as a distraction anyway.
Also, I am not sure how busy you'll be in Aubagne but, if those early weeks are your last chance to have a bit of free time, you should definitely check out Corsica. Possibly the most beautiful place in Europe.
French people are typically aloof and don't trust strangers, which is frequently associated with being rude and impolite (and this is a fair assessment when we apply this attitude to the service of customers, compared to other cultures). But once you get friends, even among civilians, those ties should remain strong. As in: they'll be there to help you bury the bodies when you call them. Which, statistically, is an experience you will definitely go through at least once if you live near Marseille.
Même Narumi est épatée !
[this message was edited by chazumaru on Thu 13 Aug 20:04] |
| oroch 1146th Post
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| "Re(5):Visiting France, Paris, Marseille" , posted Fri 14 Aug 03:57
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I most likely won't be in Paris this Winter but a friend of mine living in Paris actually prepared for the Legion Etrangere a couple of years ago and gave up just before entering, although he (claims he) was ready for the physical test, because he found out that the Legion was far less interesting than he expected.
I think he had a very "romantic" idea of the corps, though, so probably he was looking for something more than an extreme physical challenge (which seems to be your main motivation if I understand correctly).
If it interests you to get his opinion before you fly down to Aubagne for good, I can put you guys in contact. He works in the trendy restaurant business so at least you should get a good meal out of it.
I would whole hardheartedly appreciate that contact.
I don't expect anything romantic, beau geste it is not. And I know I won't be the typical candidate either(read poor and starving and thus 5 year service is the way to a better life and french citizenship). I expect to be beaten down, to do brain dead work, and to be shot at while climbing a hill in [insert country here] 40degree sunshine.
But I've got to do it, before I get out of their recruiting age range(and get married and have kids).
Plus if I survive, and I don't like France, I can come back to the states and restart my practice, or I can get a dual citizenship and work as a SniperDoctor in France(my m.d. is EU valid).
Or maybe I'll stay in the Zanzibar LandCongo and become Big Boss? Who knows, the possibilities are endless.
“No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.” -Socrates
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| Iggy 9962th Post
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| "Re(6):Visiting France, Paris, Marseille" , posted Fri 14 Aug 05:51
OK, this is totally insane. Please provide your exact date of birth, along with the hour and the place of said birth, for further analysis of our services.
I believe you would have less chances with your Bigbossization in Congo/Zanzibar and more with Mali and Ivory Coast. West Africa is where we still have our good "friends".
As for the rest... I have no idea what kind of people you'll find there, but you probably can't go wrong with Chaz's advices. Football (since it is the only true name of the discipline) is paramount. Performative masculinity at its most brash is the only way to be, and I know several less than manly guys (and I don't only mean "gay") that found it easier to simply move to a different region than cope with the obligatory alpha male mentality that is expected from all.
One more thing: when in doubt, utmost contempt for Paris (compared to Marseille/Provence in general) should be demonstrated as vividly as possible. Example:
- Good day, sir!
- Ha! It's not in Paris you'll find some good weather like that! Pity them!
- Oh no! I stepped in dog shit!
- Only a Parisian son of a bitch could let his dog shit on our great Massilia! We'll make them pay next time OM plays them!
Etc.
So, when does your adventure start? What will you do in Paris before that?
Warning: don't mention you arrived in Paris before landing to Marseille. If you have to, insist on how miserable the experience was and how happy you are it's over. With some luck knowing Paris, you won't even have to lie about it.
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| Oroch 1148th Post
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| "Re(8):Visiting France, Paris, Marseille" , posted Fri 14 Aug 11:28:
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I'm a psychiatrist, I can't be crazy!
I'm now imagining Geese Howard being a psychiatrist.
I'm curious why you chose the French Foreign Legion as opposed to any other military force, especially given that you are sensible enough to not have any romantic ideas about what service with them will entail.
A few personal reasons involving a particularly enchanting french woman
A few public reasons,
1) if I'm putting in the time, I need something to show for it(besides the eye patch and stories), I'll get French Citizenship, to me that's a nice plus.
2) after med school I actually wanted to stay and work in either France or England, but I came back home to the states for the money. Now I can go back and eat baguettes like God intended.
3) I'm guaranteed an adventure(with periods of lull inbetween), probably not so much if I joined a us branch. I'll probably be sent somewhere to a VA hospital and prescribe antidepressants all day. I do that already with 3x the pay.
[this message was edited by Oroch on Fri 14 Aug 11:30] |
| Oroch 1148th Post
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| "Re(8):Visiting France, Paris, Marseille" , posted Fri 14 Aug 11:49
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Back in the day we had this kid who went to the soccer camp and never returned, and now we have Oroch who is gonna enlist himself on the French Foreign Legion. The Cafe has just leveled up.
Anyway, I wish you the best of lucks, good sir! Do you have any idea about which corps would you want to enlist? If you would accept suggestions, Pioneers look manly beyond words with those 19th century beards.
I thought it was football camp. Oh I'll be back, provided I'm not dead, I still need to send dirty pictures to kikkoken somehow, and since he refuses to give me his mailing address this is the only way I can keep doing that.
I can grow a wicked beard, but if I had my choice, I'd go with 2e REI or 13e DBLE
from my understanding where you get sent is based on how well you pass the exams and what they need.
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| Maou 2865th Post
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| "Re(9):Visiting France, Paris, Marseille" , posted Fri 14 Aug 13:10:
Oh man, this is my new favorite thread of all time. Maese read my mind: just as Hazzan went off to football camp, Oroch is going to the Legion (tip: make sure it is not the Legion from Dracula's castle unless you are also Alucard), and I think he's not joking! But like Hazzan and ONSY, I know our prayers to the moon will bring him back periodically.
quote:
Bigbossization in Mali and Ivory Coast
Pah, Central African Republic is the true destination if you want to get into mercenarydom in collapsed post-French states. Please consider a Foxhound dogtag or Squall's SeeD uniform once you're in.
quote:
One more thing: when in doubt, utmost contempt for Paris
Iggy and Chaz made me laugh here, but it's true! I'm not even French, and I've confirmed this in multiple contexts. It's not remotely the same level as outsiders finding Tokyoites "cold" or New Yorkers "unfriendly." Get into it!
人間はいつも私を驚かせてくれる。不思議なものだな、人間という存在は．．．
[this message was edited by Maou on Fri 14 Aug 13:16] |
| karasu 1549th Post
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| "Re(9):Visiting France, Paris, Marseille" , posted Sat 15 Aug 01:20
I don't have much to contribute to the conversation, but I'll just make a pair of comments: First, that I find this thread to be fascinating! Oroch, I'm hoping you'll continue to drop by as you can to talk about your experience! And second, that while I've never bought into the American stereotype of Parisians (since many of the American who I've heard bitch about the snooty coldness of the city's inhabitants, it's not like half of those people weren't walking around with Harley Davidson bandanas, white tube socks and sandals, and "AMERICA FUCK YEAH" t-shirts while complaining loudly about how rude everyone is), I can say that as someone who's traveled quite a bit to all kinds of places, Paris is the only place where I have a few stories about being treated horribly by the locals.
You have to carefully reproduce the world of "Castlevania" in the solemn atmosphere.
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"Re(6):Visiting France, Paris, Marseille" , posted Fri 14 Aug 05:04
