Most Random Train Trip Ever

On the Saturday before Christmas, I took a train from Rennes to Bordeaux with the Chilean and Russian assistants, to spend Christmas with a group of Chileans who live in Bordeaux. We got to the train station in Rennes plenty of time before our train left, only to find that there were about 100 people too-many to fit in the train! I understand that it’s the holiday season, and everything is busy … but what I don’t understand is how SNCF sells 100+ too many reservations for the size of a train. Everyone was trying to cram on, but it was impossible, so they actually had to add 3 cars to the back of the train to fit us all in. Then the second leg was just as packed and we were luckily able to find seats in first class. We ended up sitting next to an 8 year old French kid and his mom, and this kid was probably the craziest little 8 year old I’ve ever met. His mom had absolutely no control over him, and he performed several ghetto French rap songs in the middle of the aisle for everyone. Then he asked me to marry him by offering me a wedge of a Clementine as a ring … yes, it sounds cute, but he had so much attitude that it really wasn’t charming. Once as he was hugging his mother to “apologize” for his behavior, he looked at me behind her back, made a vulgar kissing motion, and mouthed “Je t’aime.” Seriously … an 8 year old. Then he heard my accent and decided to share an American joke with me; it didn’t make sense, but I’ll tell you anyway. In a hot air balloon there are an Italian, a Chinese, a French, and an American; the Italian balanced a pizza, the Chinese balanced chopsticks, and the French balanced a baguette. Ok, so what did the American balance? “Everybody!” Yeah, so it doesn’t make sense to me either, and I asked him why … “Because you are zeeeee bessst in zee world.” Yep, the little brat yelled that in front of the whole train … suuuper, it’s pretty fun being mocked by an 8 year old! Then his mom started yelling at him for being so obnoxious, and he pointed at me and yelled that it was my fault for “having excited him.” Ok, so it was a little entertaining for a long train ride, but I couldn’t wait to get off at the end.