Perks of Versailles, IDF

I've had a lot of what you might consider great opportunities lately being in Versailles. Two weeks ago I went to the Paris sewer museum, and last week I stayed in the Small town of Bayeux in the Normandy region of France. BUT IF I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS ID JUST LINK A WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE. INSTEAD ILL TELL YOU WHAT LIVING IN VERSAILLES IS REALLY ABOUT.

While I am technically a member of the Versailles study abroad program, and I do technically go to school in Versailles, I don't actually live there. I live in what has been called the "off brand" Versailles, in the town of Buc, across a major highway, a major rail line, past a cemetery, past a prosthetic dental lab, up in the mountains and through a forest. One of the advantages of this "opportunity" is that i get to see some of the perks of Versailles, and the whole IDF Region for that matter.

One of the things about living in Buc, is the "shortcut though the woods" Not really a shortcut this path goes through the woods and could potentially save 5 minutes from the 40ish minute walk to school, although there is a daytime, weekday bus. Strangely, these woods contain a number of these apparent temporary lodgings, although I have never seen people in them, and cant fathom a reason why there ever would be. My best guess is some type of highschool survival program.






Then there are these awesome water towers. Looking from a distance there is nothing special about them, so I will discuss them in brief. In some ways these water towers embody many of the biggest differences between American and French Culture. These things could have maybe cost a million dollars to design and construct, they are made entirely from completely non prefab mortar and placed stones. These stones have been chipped and filed to have a uniform edge. There is even a french style window on the side of the base, and the tanks are fitted to stylishly transition from stone to metal. Note also all this work and consider that these tanks are hidden in the woods and shrouded by trees. The community has clearly done everything in its power to minimize the visual effect of these towers. Now think of American water towers. Maybe Americans are insensitive, maybe the French are too judgmental, in any case here is a Perk of Versailles.

Here is Another



For whatever reason there are Tons and Tons of homeless people in Versailles. Hanging out in train station coverings, telephone booths, and outside grocery stores where people buy them things. Often times they are even social with one another. and form friendships with one another.