The new list must be made up a la method sandwich - homme/femme/homme/femme . Lovely way to describe equal ops. :) Difficult to find women, though he didn't say so - they are child rearing or generally busy -
The Mayor made much of the attacks one can expect as a councilor. He said that most people have one project and aren't interested in the larger picture. If the one project is stymied you can expect trouble. The hardest thing is hearing what people say, shaking your head hard and letting it out of the other ear.
Getting anything done is long winded. He and the other elected councilors told many stories of frustration - working with the river authorities, the road authorities, the electric/gas/phone companies - they had tales of months and years spent trying to get simple things arranged. Ha! I thought. This is just like the English trying to get a house renovated - we know all about this -
The election isn't till March 2014. Time is short though - we need this May and June for reflection, for thinking about what our town needs. In July nothing happens. September is when the kids go back to school and the universities throw open their hallowed portals, causing chaos throughout France. In October we can start to plan.November its finished, December is no use, January and February we start the campaign. Take vitamins, we were told, there will be no time to have La Grippe.
It was all very interesting and good humoured. Probably a trap but I'm so nosy, can't resist getting involved.
Got ideas about the area?
Here's the idiot blackbird who has build a new nest by the back door, under the little balcony, thus getting maximum human traffic disruption.
Suggestions from having grown up in and later lived in a small town in rural California (which is much like the area you're in: Same trees, fish, fungi, shrubs and such.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I was active in community affairs during second stint (before moving away to support myself in large city):
Find things in your area that are already doing well (cultural, etc) and be in support of it.
Have a list of non-confrontations subjects and demonstrate your awareness of them. Build on things you've already done.. Find something so completely French that there is NO English counterpart. Learn about it and embrace its Frenchness. It embodies what you value about living where you are...the chance that at whatever one's age, one can learn and grow. Is there a petanque group? Try learning it.
Fail. Admire those who do it so well and encourage others to pursue the sport. Find a particular quirk (which you're comfortable with and which really is you) and let it be a point of identification. A hat collection? A scarf collection? Give people something impersonal to attach to you to make it easier to idenitfy you...without having to think about who you really are. On French ebay one of the highest praises is to say 'tres serieux'...so praising people (if French) should always include something about their serious approach to something...gravitas! And to be able to percieve their seriousness, you must yourself be capable of great depth and peception...your own gravitas...but only alluded to, no overt displays.
And above all, have fun.
this is very useful indeed, thank you:) Never occurred to me to embrace Petanque - Ive never seen a woman play here. But your other pointers a definite direction to think in, time to start making lists and considering what the place can use. There is of course no money and precious little power so thinking about how to get anything done within these constraints is a challenge. And considering volunteers threatens jobs... of course the best thing s to attract employers but with no cheap work force and roads that aint brill, this is also a challenge. Sigh. Time for a little rest now.
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