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Although the fashion looked back on American history, European history was slowly taking a new turn...

Strasburg 1980

Gaby
2004-01-25 13:12:23

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THE FASHION COLOURS THAT YEAR WHERE GREY AND BURGUNDY. If you really wanted to be with it, you had at least one item in your wardrobe that made you look like an Indian squaw. My most prized possession that year were a burgundy Indian dress and a pair of white beaded Indian boots.

Although the fashion looked back on American history, European history was slowly taking a new turn. The Patchwork of nations and cultures had already taken its first steps towards becoming a Union, for better and for worse. And so it was decided that we should all go and visit the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

The visit to the European Parliament left me with one question: if I would indeed study to become an interpreter or a translator and I would end up in a place like this, would I ever be able to stay awake on the job?

I was too much in love with the Patchwork to be very interested in the Union; hearing French spoken in a place that looked so German, that feeling of being on the border. One foot at sea and one on the shore. All to be turned into Einheitswurst.

It rained most of the time. We spent all our pocket money in a disco-boat and went for walks in the city.

One day as we crossed a narrow bridge, a car followed us closely. It would seem that the group didn't walk very fast. With typical French patience the driver behind us hit the gas pedal. I felt the tyre grip my foot, and the heel of my new Indian boot landed three meters away at the side of the street.

My beautiful white boots. I could have scalped the grinning idiot behind the steering wheel. He gave his card to one of our teachers, in case I would have some lasting effects of the accident. It probably wasn't even his own card...

That evening Lydia, Anne, myself and some other friends attempted to drown our anger in large amounts of white wine. It worked very well.

Eventually my boots were fixed. And no, I was never tempted to start a job that I knew would send me to sleep.