First week in Toulouse

So to start off the week one thing was apparant and that was French people love food, and good food at that. The first day our group spent the day going to different farmers markets where there was so much fresh food. Colorful fruits and vegetables lined the stands along with the smell of fresh bread, different types of cheeses, and meat. The streets were filled with people coming to shop for fresh food where shouting could be heard and no lines were ever found. If you wanted something you were going to have to push through the crowd and speak up. Even going to the Casino down the streeet, that is the local HEB I guess you could say, had more fresh products than processed food like in the U.S.. After visiting different farms and the Chambre d'agriculture one thing was apparent GMO's were not liked at all in France. Most farmers had organic farms and had to fight so many battles over different things on their farms. Permission was constatnly having to be received for each little change wanting to be made.

Later during the week we enjoyed a tour of downtown Toulouse near the capitole and toured different museums and churches;  personally this was one of my favorite parts. I loved seeing the churches and all their grandeur. I loved seeing the stained glass windows and massive organs that hung from the wall. It definitely wasn't something you would see in a small town in Texas. We were also able to make it to the opera on Sunday afternoon after we were first supposed to see it on Tuesday but a riot in the the opera house prevented us from seeing it. Seeing the riot was definitely interesting because in the U.S. they (the protesters) never would have gotten as far as they did. The police simply stood and watched them where as in the U.S. well the second they started making noise it would have been shut down. Needless to say the first week was a success in learning the culture and the people, but I have to say my absolute favorite moment from the week was on the weekend two of the girls and I stayed in Toulouse and walked around on the streets where we came across a little store and the lady who ran it was so sweet to us and helped us practice our french so we would be able to speak it "flawlessly" when we went to Paris.

First week in France

My first week in Toulouse, France was very ensightful, and eyeopening. As a class we visited various markets, farms, The Chamber of Agriculture, and an opera. 
  In France there is a growing concern among farmers, and agriculturalist in the Chambre D' Agriculture about France's increasing population, and future  methods to continue to feed the population. This is  a question asked in the United States, and most  American agriculturalist will answer that Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO's) is the solution. The use of GMO's is not an option for France, because they are outlawed and believed to be harmful. In the markets here in Toulouse the demand for fresh fruit, meat, and vegetables is very prominent. The farmers market is a mass setup of tents with farmers selling vegetables, fruits, meat, eggs, and bread, there are even salesman selling cooked items such as sausage. It was interesting to see how  unprocessed the meat was here. Being that I am used to seeing prepackaged meat sold in the store it was very suprising to see a dead chicken for sale behind the counter with its feathers intact. 
 During this week I was also able to get a glimps of french government. Before the opera scheduled for Wednesday a group of protesters went inside the Opera House, held banners over the railing, and chanted in french. I was told that they were upset about the managers role in the  employment system. The newscast filmed the protesters as the police stood by, and did nothing to counteract the angry protesters behavior.The event was handled very differentially compared to back home in Texas.  In the United States the protestors behavior would not be tolerated, and the police would have taken control of the protest, and ended it.   Eventhough the opera was cancelled on Wednesday we were able to attend the show on Sunday afternoon. I was glad that we were able to attend the opera, because I had never been to an opera before. I really liked the show, because the  music being played by the orchestra flowed, and insinuated the actors movements in each act. 
  Overall my first week in Toulouse was amazing, and I learned new things about French culture, agriculture, and government.

Week 1 in France

My first week in Toulouse, France was very ensightful, and eyeopening. As a class we visited various markets, farms, The Chamber of Agriculture, and an opera. 
  In France there is a growing concern Among farmers, and agriculturalist in the Room From Agriculture about France's Increasing population, and future methods to continue to feed the population. This is a matter Asked in the United States, and MOST American agriculturalist will answer That Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO's) is the solution. The use of GMO's is not an option for France, Because They Are and outlawed Believed to be harmful. In the markets here in Toulouse the demand for fresh fruit, meat, and vegetables is very prominent. The farmers market is a mass of tents setup with farmers selling vegetables, fruits, meat, eggs, and bread, there are-even salesman selling cooked items Such As sausage. It was interesting to see how the unprocessed meat was here. Being That I am used to seeing prepackaged meat sold in the store it was very suprising to see a dead chicken for sale behind the counter with icts feathers intact. 
 During this week I Was aussi ble to get a glimps of french government. Before the opera scheduled for Wednesday has group of protesters Went inside the Opera House or held-banners over the railing, and chanted in french. I Was Told That They Were upset about the managers role in the employment system. The newscast filmed the protesters as the Police Stood by, And Did nothing to COUNTERACT the angry protesters behavior.The event Was handled very differentially Compared to back home in Texas. In the United States the protestors behavior Would not be tolerated, and the Police Would Have taken control of the protest, and ended it. Eventhough the opera was canceled on Wednesday We Were ble to expect the show on Sunday afternoon. I was glad That We Were reliable expects to the opera, Because I Had never-been to an opera before. I really liked the show, Because The music played by the orchestra Being flowed, and insinuated the actors movements in Each act.  
  Overall my first week in Toulouse was amazing, and I Learned new things about French culture, agriculture, and government.

Power to the People

The start of the week was extremely rough due to the language barrier and me not having any luggage. Communicating with individuals was a full body activity that I was an unwilling participant in. After receiving luggage, I dove right into communicating in French with a open mind and clean clothes.

The smell of cheese, meat, and fresh vegetables filled the air on my first day in Toulouse. Every step I took lead me deeper into fresh food coma. All the produce was strategically placed in boxes laid out for all eyes to see. Pointing, yelling, and the exchange of cash for produce was being played in a continous loop as we ventured further into the farmers market. We were not in Texas anymore. Customer service was not priority, lines were none existing, and every man for him or herself was in play. If you saw what you wanted you had to take it or better luck next time. The further we got, the larger the crowd and the more hectic it seemed. After a while I noticed that farmers market was like organized chaos. Everyone knew were to go for what they wanted but had to push through others to get there. By the end of the day, I tasted the best strawberry I have ever had and was exhausted from only being out for less then 4 hours. Unlike in Texas, going to the market in Toulouse seemed like a full day activity.

By day two, I managed to pick up a few sayings and learn a lot about the differences in French agriculture compared to Texas'. The Chambre D'Agriculturemail Haute-Garonne taught me a lot about French agriculture, such as, the fact they are creating a agricultural system similar to Americas' with one big difference, no use of GMOs. According to Dictionary.com, a GMO is an organism whose genome has been altered by the techniques of genetic egineering so that the DNA contains one or more genes not normally found there.  GMOs have many benefits but the main one is that it allows farmers to produce more nutrious food. Genetically modified organisms are the basis of American agriculture but in France their are large groups of individuals who protest the usage of such things because they believe it is harmful to the human body. Without the use of GMOs many people can ask the question, "How can we feed the masses in France without any enhancement devices?". The answer to that question is "we can't" or at least that was the answer given.

On day three, I realized why the produced I had seen early in the week seemed so fresh because it was. People literally grew produce without using and pesticides or insecticides, just soil and water. They then sold a batch of fully grown produce to individuals each day.  The vegetable farm we visited informed us that they are sold out of produce within the first few hours of being open. Unlike in Texas, were food is not as fresh and is more than likely artifically grown thousands of miles away from were it is being sold at, in Toulouse produce is being grown right in its back yard and is hand picked. By the end of the produce farm visit, I came to the conclusion that the reason the strawberry I consumed earlier tasted so good was because it was grown without chemicals, additives, and in close proximity to were it was being sold, unlike in Texas. Food is great in Toulouse.

Throughout the week I learned that agriculture experts, such as the industry professionals we spoke with at the INRA Ag Research Center, agreed with the usage of GMOs but some of the people in Toulouse believe otherwise. In the Texas, opposing views would be settled by the law and all parties had to abide by it. In Toulouse that didn't seem to be the case. GMOS are forbidden from being used on produce that will be sold but not necessarily in research. Individuals didn't like that so they burned down a lab in the IRNA facility that was used for observing some GMO plants. The individuals who committed this act were not reprimanded. French Government seemed to give a literal meaning to the statement power to the people.

I experienced this first hand. Recently a law was passed, that the communist part of the population didn't like, from what I was told. These individuals thought it was a good idea to protest the opera causing it to be canceled. A public event hosted in a beautiful opera house was canceled because people disagreed with the law and law enforcement did nothing to stop it.  In the states, that wouldn't have happened. In the land that is known for giving individuals freedom of speech and press that wouldn't have happened but when in France power to the people.

Overall my first week in Toulouse, France was amazing and filled with life changing activities and experiences that I feel blessed to take back with me to the states.

Tour de France

Unlike the others I flew into Paris a day early. I caught a train to Lyon and toured the city for two days. Right of the bat I noticed quite a few differences in culture from their greetings to graffiti in the street. I did not speak a lick of French, however, I found more people than not could speak a little English. Almost all were kind and willing to help a lost and sometimes confused traveler. 

The first day in Toulouse we toured a farmers market and a meat market. The variety of fruit and vegetables was impressive. Some of which we cannot buy in the US. The desire for fresh and local is clearly evident and people go out of their way to have it. In the meat market they had everything from cow tongue to cow brains. Our professor and guide claimed it was tastey but that may be a matter of opinion. The following day we explored the city visiting many churches and a museum. I have noticed they respect the history but mostly the traditions of their culture more than Americans. The next day, we met with the chamber of agriculture for the Toulouse region. We discussed everything from difficulties of growing transgenics to subsidies and support for start up farmers. There were pros and cons of their system, which is much more socialized compared to our. The one aspect I believe they have it figured out the greatest is farmers are elected for positions within the chamber of Ag rather than politicians. I'm sure it does get a little political but at least the person representing you is one of your own. On Wednesday we travled to the INRA, the French equivalent to a USDA research center. We toured the facility and discuss many of the latest discoveries in Ag and genetics. I found the research in the bacteria Xanthomonas the most intriguing. They have found that some plants are able to "degrade" the bacteria with enzymes when it recognizes it is attacked. It is a constant battle of evolution to survive. Our last trip before the weekend off we toured a local organic vegetable farm. Personally my favorite day because it is something I would want to pursue when I graduate. The owner was very anti GMO and conventional Ag. He believed many of problems environmentally and with our health stem from those two. He believed an agriculture revolution will happen which will see local produce being grown in urban areas due to the cost of petroleum. I enjoyed his ideas however farmers would only be able to feed 2/3 of our population if everything was grown organically. It's every humans moral right to have food security and the way I see it, organic produce is just a money maker for farmers and only for the rich that can afford it. That being said, I do believe we need to reduce pesticides and fertilizers entering our envirmnet with smarter practices like IPM and percision Ag.

With the weekend off I took a trip to Luchon, a small town in the Pyrenees mountains. There I completed one of the hardest hikes in my life- a 4,000 ft rise in elevation over 40 kilometers. The view was worth it though. Snow packed peaks in every direction you looked. Nothing more can make one feel at peace than such a trek. Back in the town I explored the shops and admired the architecture.  The next day was filled with more hiking to an old mid evil castle but more like watch tower. Later that evening I caught the bus back to Toulouse. This concluded my first week in France.