FIELD NOTE 1.2 – When in doubt, pretend to know what you’re doing.

When it was my turn to load into Coach 12 there were no spaces left on the luggage rack for my luggage. The man in front of me, who also found himself lacking a place for his luggage, looked at me and shrugged before leaving his own suitcase in front of the others in a way that could possibly pose a hazard during a curvy train ride. I decide to follow the “when in Rome” mantra and leave my own suitcase beside his and also take the shrug – it seemed the most important thing.
The three-hour ride to Nantes passed in a blur of sporadic napping that was occasionally interrupted by a comment from the woman sitting across from me. All in French, all replied to with what I can only hope was something reminiscent of correct grammar. I assume I accomplished that much since she kept talking.