#12: Angers

Scene
It's Angers, France...not a lot of anger angers. After a 6 hour train trip from London to Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare du Montparnasse to Le Mans to Angers, it's safe to say that I arrived at Angers quite exhausted. However, my cousin to the rescue! I haven't seen her in about 17 years. She welcomed me with a thorough walk through Angers...as I had a ~30-40lbs backpack still strapped on. After a half hour walk, we got picked up by her husband. How wonderful it was to let go of the backpack!

In no time, like every other Vietnamese hosts, her husband and she stuffed me with french food: bread, cured meat, pate, and cheese. Like, stuffed me. Plus a bowl of good ole Vietnamese pho. Man, it was refreshing to slow down a bit after a mad dash through London that left my feet aching in satisfying pain. They continued to feed and feed and feed me the next two days. Different kinds of french cheese including Roquefort, pate including one made from pig's head meat, and canard au confit. It was literally a crash course through rustic french food. It was a culinary pleasure.

And did I mention the wines? Had my first Bordeaux and a semi-sweet Coteaux du Layon. The supermarket wine aisle beats the corner wine store in the States. Better and more variety with tremendously better prices. There were some wines that were cheaper than bottled water. I could have just been drunk on wine the whole time. But, I behaved.

All in all, there isn't much in Angers, just a huge old castle in the smack middle of downtown. The castle had a ridiculously amusing ancient tapestry of the Apocalypse that included the portrayal of a prostitute and Saint Jean eating a book. Important matters to cover in the Apocalypse. You never know when you just have to resort to eating books.

The most important reason why I came to Angers was to visit my cousin. She took care of me when I was young back in 'Nam. She embarrassed me with a lot of stories when I was young. Apparently, I had spiky short hair that never stayed down. It was just great to see how despite a 17 year gap, we still bonded so tight being family. It was just good on this long trip to meet someone who knew me. Although it was liberating and free to meander around new places basically as a stranger, I really could have used a companion to just talk and slow down a bit.

What struck me the most was how much more revered I was because she knew I got into med school. It was "being a doctor is important," "being a doctor is special in the family," "you're the first doctor we'll have." It was a big deal to her...and to the whole family, apparently. A good number of family members have tried to study medicine back in the days in 'Nam, but didn't succeed because of one reason or another. I really didn't know that becoming a doctor was that important to the family. It's not like I need more pressure...sometimes I just wish my family would treat me as an ordinary, regular person. No doctor this, med school that, or med student anything. I don't like it when I'm reminded being in med school, especially when I'm on break.

To my sister: that chateau is my house!

Paris next!

Oh, I got my first ever pair of jeans about a month ago. It's growing on me despite never owning one. But, the pockets are pretty much useless.

Question
Who helps you slow down when your life is going way too fast?