Le Temps Fou!

In every conversation I've had with a French person, we've turned to "the weather," or le temps. This could be a) because it is the polite topic of discussion that has nothing to do with politics or occupation, or b) because it is the easiest way to converse when I feel like my French has gone out the window.

And every French person I've talked to has mentioned the "Giboulées de mars." Now, I didn't quite understand this phrase's connotations, even though it was explained to me. It is literally "showers of March." In English, we say that "April showers bring May flowers," but after having experienced the concept in French culture that anything French is much more thouroughly and thoughtfully expressed than by anyone else on the planet, I laugh in the face of our phrase. "Giboulées de mars" is a phenomenon that is neurotic, quixotic, and fugitive, and that is the essence of the month of March's weather.

Now you are probably waiting for me to explain this "Giboulées" to you. Well, let me give you a brief weather report for Paris, March 28, 2009 so far:

8:30 am -- Sun brilliantly shining, not a cloud in the sky

9:30 am -- Sun still shining, bright, puffy, rainless clouds dotting the sky

12:00 pm -- Foreboding rain clouds gathering, wind increasing, temperature dropping

1:00 pm -- A slight drizzle, with light shining through the clouds

1:30 pm -- A heavy downpour, darkness has fallen

2:00 pm -- Brilliant sunlight, the sky has opened, spring is here once more!

2:30 pm -- A heavy downpour, the skies are gray

3:00 pm -- The puffy clouds have returned and the birds are singing, basking in golden light

3:30 pm -- Drizzle, steadily turning into rain, oh wait, now it's a downpour

4:30 pm -- Oh hello Mr. Sun!

5:00 pm -- Is that....hail?!?!

5:30 pm -- Well right now as I look outside, there are patches of blue determinedly forcing their way through the clouds, which are a scattering of dense gray and light fluffy white. I think it's going to rain soon.

In other words, don't leave the house without your umbrella!