Rue Mesnil

It is lonely to be away from everyone you know. The technical convenience of webcams nor instant communication cannot take away that fact. It is only the beauty of the city that eases it somewhat. It is natural to seek the familiar, to give the foreign city the semblance of home.

I looked for the Filipino store today at Rue Mesnil in the 16th arrondissement to try and see how the community here is like. In Belfast, there is this lovely family that makes newcomers feel welcome and helps them find their way. As to us Filipinos, food is an unequivocal binding force, Pinoy restaurants in other countries double as information centers for services and events.

I was walking the length of Rue Mesnil, trying to look for the store sign of Marche Manille (Manila Market). Being blind as a bat, I missed it on my first pass. While I was looking around, a Jehova’s Witness evangelist, Ate Nida, approached me. It doesn’t matter which city you’re in: they will find you.

For those who have encountered this group, you know that most of them can be a bit pushy. Even if you say you are in a hurry, they will insist that it will only take a minute… and it never takes a minute. It’s unfair. I think they’re exploiting the fact that most pinoys are exceptionally polite. I thought I’d entertain her for a few minutes.

I apologize for any offense, if you are part of this group, but really, I had a traumatic experience when I was a twelve year old. This lady tried to recruit our little group and she talked to us for hours (literally), interrupting our summer games, boring us to death, and making us extremely wary of ‘It will only take a minute’.

I find that saying yes to whatever they’re inviting you to will generally make them leave you alone. I did just that and said I’ll be there on Easter Sunday. She then proceeded to sell me some magazines with captions saying that the ‘Internet is evil’. This is when I made my exit.

On my second pass of the street, a big tin can of Nido caught my eye and voila – there it is! There were two stores on the street and a small shop for takeaway food. The first store I found was the ‘Pinoy Store’ (very imaginative). The grocery section had almost everything you can see in a sari-sari store, including Lucky Me Pancit Canton (my favorite). In the takeaway shop next door, there was crispy pata, menudo, sisig, puto, turon, kutsinta – you name it. I got myself some menudo and rice, and bought some chichiria: a big bag each of cheeze curls and clover chips.

Time for lunch!

comfort food

I've been on the prowl for some chinese takeaway since I got here. For the past week, I've seen nothing but sandwiches, croissants and other different types of bread.

Thank goodness I went to level 0 of the Quatre Temps, where there's this turo-turo of chinese food for quite cheap prices. I've forgotten the name because I devoured the meal completely. I think it was Vang Hour or something. There will be no malls in Paris, so if you do need a mall, go to La Defense in Zone 3 which is at the end of Line 1.

Aaah…one craving sated. Now only if I could find the Filipino store….