Are You Ready For Some Football?

European football, that is.

My husband and I recently went to the Stade de France to have a truly European experience - to watch the US play France in "real" football - aka soccer.  First of all, the Stade de France is huge!  As we walked to the stadium, we could feel the energy of fans of both teams.  French and Americans alike were draped with flags.  French had red, white and blue roosters on their heads, and Americans had Uncle Sam hats. 

Inside is huge too!  The US fans were placed in a separate section with a metal gate between us and the French fans so we wouldn't tear each other to pieces.   Probably a good thing, because otherwise, the night might have been a bit more colorful.

Note the gate.  After France scored, it was covered with screaming French fans.

Before the game, the players practice, and spectators practice their flag technique.

 

Before the game rituals - bringing out the flags of both countries.

 

Both teams on the field before the game begins.

 

France even gives us (the spectators cheering for the US) a little something.

 

Right before the game starts, the flag-people go crazy.  I've never seen so many flags before.

 

Cheering for the USA.

Some great field action.

The final score was 1-0, France, but it was a good game nonetheless.   It was fun to cheer with some nationalistic people, and to see some impressive footwork.

People

While learning French, everyone is always taking the time to correct my grammar.  But I had a chance to give back yesterday.

Three of my friends, (one German, one Syrian, and one French), all of whom I would call fluent in English, recently asked me if people is plural or singular, as in:
- There is people
or
- There are people
I said it was the latter and that it's plural.  They then asked me what the singular of people is, and I said person.

And it blew their minds!  They were almost bowled over in shock that two words that don't even share the same root can mean essentially the same thing.

It feels good to give back.

Falling

Fall is here in France - and that means fall leaves everywhere.  It's always fun (for me) to see the various colors.

Not much explanation needed.  

Lots of red leaves on the street.

 A splash of gold.

Bright trees on the riverside.

Muskrat in the river.  It makes my second wild animal I've seen in France (besides birds and insects).  The first was a hedgehog in my neighborhood.

My good-looking husband and the fall leaves.

Cat in the window.  

Not happy to be photographed.

I found this old sign on the side of a restaurant - where you could get a good meal for only 45 francs.