La Rentrée
This is the first week of school here in France - an event known as “La Rentrée.” This means three things. First the everyday world has returned to Bordeaux. Bordeaux is marvelous in the summer - it feels like a city all to oneself - (oneself and about a million summer tourists excitedly passing through). In September, the streets are busy again with people going about the demands of daily life.
I will miss this. When all the world is out together and enjoying the holiday.
Secondly, it means that everyone is stressed this first week in September as families adapt to the return to school. Because returning to school is no joke (French school generally is no joke) -and the requirements of school supplies can be very exact and exacting. Don’t believe me? Parents freaking out of the specificity of the “liste fourniture scolaires” (back to school supply list) is a TikTok trend. (see exhibits A and B - in French).
The first video is my favorite as it parodies both the maddening exactitude of the mandatory list AND the careless, indifferent, incompetence of the school administrators where spelling errors and typos send a frustrated mother searching for woodland fairies as opposed to the (presumably) intended folder. This list includes:
1 white lab coat with the name of the child clearly marked on the back
1 elf (a play on words “lutin” (elf/gnome) and a brand of popular folders).
1 size 17x22 large notebook with 96 pages, no spiral, and clear plastic pallet (!?)
The mother, creator @drole_de_peruvienne, signs off, as she has to go find two elves - because G-d save us all if a child does not show up on the list with every item as listed.
Public Service Announcement:
N.B. My friend Emilie has just informed me that the list provided above by the TikToker is in no way imaginary (excepting the mistake over the elf) - yes 11 year olds need lab coats, and apparently all notebooks do need to be the same size - and often of a designated color or noncolor. We are not in Lisa Frank territory here.
The local supermarkets, always attentive to the changing seasons and consumer needs, has adapted their aisles and selections to accommodate the demands of return to school. It feels like the changing of the leaves - at my Carrefour shelf space slowly shifts from summer Rosé to Rentrée necessities. Ah! So is life, Summer slips to Autumn and Autumn to Winter. In all this there is one constant (philosophically - but also practically as it relates to shelf space): red wine.
Thirdly, where the academic calander goes - all of society follows. The spirit of the Rentrée is not restricted to scholastic circles. It isn’t just grade school students who need the motivation and inspiration that comes with new school supplies and a clean new slate. Rather, the whole world is returning to its regularly scheduled programming. This was illustrates last weekend in downtown Bordeaux at the street fair hosted by the city of Bordeaux on behalf of the various associations. It was an overcast, grey September Saturday and the Mairie and Pey Berland was crammed with stalls of the various clubs and associations sponsored throughout the city. Everything from choral singers and history tours to animal rescue and swing dancing. Even when returning to the workaday world there is a slightly carnival festive air!
Until next time!
-Tina
