Friday was another wonderful day in the sequence of the best weekend ever. After sleeping in late, I met up with Sarah, Hillary, and Margaret (poor Laura has Friday Class) and we attempted to go to a fashion museum which actually turned out to be the Baccarat Museum. If you thought you've seen nice crystal you haven't until you have been to this museum. If is in an old mansion by Trocadero and is all about reviving the spirit of being super duper rich and having ginormous crystal things that dont really do anything. So basically it was amazing!!!!!! The snooty hostess person said we couldn't take pictures but we did anyways!!!!!!!
Then we went on an epic quest to Thanksgiving, an American grocery store here in Paris. While I could not afford to pay four euro for a box of kraft macaroni, or a whopping nine euro for a box of oreos, it was nice to see. Amid the boxes of pancake mixes and children's cereal, I felt a little less nervous about the rest of my eight months here in Paris. In the end, I opted for a an of Dr Pepper (which soooooooo sadly does not exist here). For 1.5 euro, it was most certainly the best Dr Pepper I have ever had! (We all got Dr Peppers and savored them)
We then wandered around in the Marais, a very cute neighborhood in Paris, and found THE BEST street in the entire world. It is the paper street and it has every little fancy overpriced correspondance card you ever fell in love with. There were the most beautiful leather journals and fancy pens. Pretty much I just wanted to learn calligraphy and go to the countryside to write letters and feel accomplished. Margaret bought a beautiful journal at this store that was going out of bussiness. Good thing I didn't have any cash with me, but I am seriously contemplating a return in favor of some of their fancy little pen ink sets!
Eventually we all went our seperate ways, only to meet up again later to go out! We started out at the Frog and Princess, an Australian bar on a street actually called Princess. It is actually a microbrewery which was pretty cool, especially since Paris is not really a big beer place. It was super hot because the power went out and the air-conditioner died. We were also stalking this one table for almost two hours because these two men who were ALMOST DONE THE ENTIRE TIME were being table hogs. I gave them my evil eye but I don't think they cared at all.
This place ended up being a ton of fun though because Aaron Moy, one of my friends from high school, came out because he is studying in France too, so it was great to see him. Eventually we metro-ed it over to oberkampf to go meet Margaret's conversation partner. After some weird wanderings, we finally found where we were going. Unfortunately there was a long line to get in and Laura and I had to go to the bathroom like there was no tomorrow, so we ran off down the street to this empty little corner bar where we got a beer just so we could pee. To the bartender, this was pretty much the weirdest thing that ever happened.
When we ran back up the street to everyone else we found out we had to pay a 5 euro cover to get in. Realizing that we could get 2 euro beers back at crazyman's bar down the street, Laura and I ran back, with Aaron in tow, to go hang out at ye olde corner bar. Actually it was a lot of fun and the bartender was telling us all about his travels in america.
After leaving we were in serious need of some McDo so we wandered for about 45 minutes looking for one (I discovered yesterday that there was literally one around the corner but we sure didn't see that one now did we?) and got the best mcdo milkshake ever.
However of course, thanks to my photo taking, Aaron and I missed the last metro connection! Disaster! So we decided to walk to Chatelet where we could get the night bus.
On our mile long hike, who did we run into but Sarah, Michelle, and Kelly? What a weird world! When you only know about 100 people in Paris, running into three of them at two in the morning is pretty random. While Michelle walked home and Kelly took a cab, Sarah joined us in pursuit of the night bus.
On the way we ran into a bunch of crazy people (is that a suprise or what) and also took pictures wearing bunny ears to be a part of some girls art project. Finally we found the night bus, which didn't really drop me off all that close to home, and finally, at 330, I fell asleep the second my head touched the pillow.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Craziest Weekend Every Part One- Thursday
So tonight Margaret, Sarah, Laura, Hillary and I went out to meet some of our French friends near Bastille. We went to this crazy Irish pub where all the bartenders wear backpacks (but there is nothing inside of them...) and they play lots of 90s rock. Since we knew the words to a lot of Greenday songs, we were pretty much the coolest people who had ever been there (apparen
Margaret and I made a friend who wanted to show us how hip he was with his music on his I-touch. Needless to say, he was another one of those people who goes crazy when I saw I am from Chicago because thats where ER takes place (or took place like ten years ago). The French are a little behind. It was a lot of fun to see Alex and Mika our French buds and it was a nice way to end the school week!
Margaret and I made a friend who wanted to show us how hip he was with his music on his I-touch. Needless to say, he was another one of those people who goes crazy when I saw I am from Chicago because thats where ER takes place (or took place like ten years ago). The French are a little behind. It was a lot of fun to see Alex and Mika our French buds and it was a nice way to end the school week!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Trip Planning!!!
Right now some of my friends and I are planning on taking some trips!
The first weekend in October, CIEE is taking us all on a trip to Strasbourg for the weekend! I am very excited because 1. It is free and 2. Strasbourg is supposed to be beautiful!
The weekend after that trip, my friends and I are planning a short trip to the Loire Valley to see some of the castles out there! I am soo excited to do that!
Then for our fall break in November, we are planning a trip to spain for the week, going to Madrid and Barcelona. I am really hoping to get to see the Barcelona Pavillion too. We will see, but I am hoping to book soon!
The first weekend in October, CIEE is taking us all on a trip to Strasbourg for the weekend! I am very excited because 1. It is free and 2. Strasbourg is supposed to be beautiful!
The weekend after that trip, my friends and I are planning a short trip to the Loire Valley to see some of the castles out there! I am soo excited to do that!
Then for our fall break in November, we are planning a trip to spain for the week, going to Madrid and Barcelona. I am really hoping to get to see the Barcelona Pavillion too. We will see, but I am hoping to book soon!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Things I Miss About America!
France might be the center of food, fashion, museums, blah, blah, blah and all that stuff, but there is some stuff about America I really miss!
1. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese- As the primary staple of my diet, its a little dissappointing not to eat this four times a week. Word has it that there is an American grocery store named "Thanksgiving" (hahahahaha) that might have it. Scooby-Doo macaroni, here I come!
2. Captain Crunch- Cereal is not really a big deal here, or at least every box just has a lady's midriff with a measuring tape around it and somewhere has the word bikini on it. Or the cereal is more or less pure chocolate and made for 3 year olds. Even I can't stoop low enough for some of the french cereal.
3. Bottomless Sodas- Even though soda rots your teeth and everything, nothing here in France is bottomless. I think its just not very french to sit down and drink 2 liters of Coke. Not that I would sit down and drink 2 litres, but I just wish I could if I wanted to without paying a 20 Euro tab at the Cafe.
4. Milkshakes- Really not many milkshakes here...might have to go to good old McDo (as the french say) to enjoy a slice of America.
5. Cookies- I saw a pack of like 16 Oreos for 4 Euro. Thats like $5.50 for SIXTEEN cookies. Give me a break. For $5.50 I can get like two big things of cookies, a gallon of milk, and sit in the backseat of my car and feast!
6. Jimmy Johns and Noodles- I don't eat out that much, but I would give anything for a #6 no tomato right now. Like anything. Clean my room even. Maybe unload a dishwasher even (ok thats sort of extreme...). ANYTHING!
Maybe all of the things I miss are "bad" for me, especially since a Katharine sized serving of any one of these things probably is going to be at least 1200 calories, but I miss them so much! If you are reading this right now, please go eat something very unhealthy and think of me!!!
P.S. 7. I also miss Jamba Juice and smoothies of all shapes and sizes.
1. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese- As the primary staple of my diet, its a little dissappointing not to eat this four times a week. Word has it that there is an American grocery store named "Thanksgiving" (hahahahaha) that might have it. Scooby-Doo macaroni, here I come!
2. Captain Crunch- Cereal is not really a big deal here, or at least every box just has a lady's midriff with a measuring tape around it and somewhere has the word bikini on it. Or the cereal is more or less pure chocolate and made for 3 year olds. Even I can't stoop low enough for some of the french cereal.
3. Bottomless Sodas- Even though soda rots your teeth and everything, nothing here in France is bottomless. I think its just not very french to sit down and drink 2 liters of Coke. Not that I would sit down and drink 2 litres, but I just wish I could if I wanted to without paying a 20 Euro tab at the Cafe.
4. Milkshakes- Really not many milkshakes here...might have to go to good old McDo (as the french say) to enjoy a slice of America.
5. Cookies- I saw a pack of like 16 Oreos for 4 Euro. Thats like $5.50 for SIXTEEN cookies. Give me a break. For $5.50 I can get like two big things of cookies, a gallon of milk, and sit in the backseat of my car and feast!
6. Jimmy Johns and Noodles- I don't eat out that much, but I would give anything for a #6 no tomato right now. Like anything. Clean my room even. Maybe unload a dishwasher even (ok thats sort of extreme...). ANYTHING!
Maybe all of the things I miss are "bad" for me, especially since a Katharine sized serving of any one of these things probably is going to be at least 1200 calories, but I miss them so much! If you are reading this right now, please go eat something very unhealthy and think of me!!!
P.S. 7. I also miss Jamba Juice and smoothies of all shapes and sizes.
A Night at the Florimond
Last night, I went out to dinner at Le Florimond with my mom's old boss from GAO and we had a blast. The resturant is just around the corner from my apartment and is a local favorite. When I told my host mom I was going there, she pretty much went crazy with excitement, she since and some friends go regularly a few times a year. After raving about the host Laurent (who wears crazy ties) she assured me I would have a great time.
Leslie and I met for a dinner reservation at 7, which is still early by Paris time. In the end it worked out perfect though because we stayed for three and a half hours! We ate some delicious food (I can't lie, dessert is always my favorite) and I loved the chocolate mousse and some tasty monkfish. Leslie and I talked all about the different places she is volunteering now that she is retired and we talked all about visiting and living in Paris. It was the perfect night out on the town.
Today I had Phonetics in the new class, since I am switching times. I still have the same teacher, but there are different kids. For whatever reason, I like the new class way better. I think it is a combination of them being a little more ahead, having a generally higher level of french student, and also just having a small group of calm and collected people. I am going to try to keep my chin up and get this phonetics stuff down, but I can lie-- its difficult!
I also finally picked my universirty class! I am going to take twentieth century history at Paris Diderot. We will see how it goes! I am a little nervous, but I am sure that everything will work out fine!
Leslie and I met for a dinner reservation at 7, which is still early by Paris time. In the end it worked out perfect though because we stayed for three and a half hours! We ate some delicious food (I can't lie, dessert is always my favorite) and I loved the chocolate mousse and some tasty monkfish. Leslie and I talked all about the different places she is volunteering now that she is retired and we talked all about visiting and living in Paris. It was the perfect night out on the town.
Today I had Phonetics in the new class, since I am switching times. I still have the same teacher, but there are different kids. For whatever reason, I like the new class way better. I think it is a combination of them being a little more ahead, having a generally higher level of french student, and also just having a small group of calm and collected people. I am going to try to keep my chin up and get this phonetics stuff down, but I can lie-- its difficult!
I also finally picked my universirty class! I am going to take twentieth century history at Paris Diderot. We will see how it goes! I am a little nervous, but I am sure that everything will work out fine!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Italian to French to English
Today I woke up at 1pm on account of my nasty cold. After some lounging in bed and gobbling of spaghetti, I went out with Margaret and Sarah to see a movie. We were trying to go see this Truffaut movie at the good old filmotheque, except so were about 34598734230975 other people, so we didn't get in.
Luckily, there are a lot of other cinemas in the neighborhood, so we popped into one down the road. One of my secret movie fantasies is to just go to a movie knowing nothing about it. Not who is in it, what it is about, anything. When we walked into the Champ0 (quite a deal might I add, only 3.5 Euro), Parfum de Femme was starting and that was that.
The movie started, and there were subtitles and the charachters were speaking in Italian. After about ten minutes we realized that this was not going to be a temporary thing, but rather that the entire movie was definitely going to be in Italian. Of course, we pick the only movie not in french so we can hear the italian, read the french, and pray for our english to translate. Suprisingly, it was actually very easy, but still laughable.
We also realized about ten minutes in that this is the original Italian version of scent of a woman. I had only vaguely heard of the American re-make and I don't know much about Italian film, but this movie was phenomenally amazing. Basically it is about a man who was injured in the war who is on a journey to meet his friend in Naples and carry out a pact. At time it is heartbreaking, at others hilarious, but it has quickly escalated to one of my favorite movies of all time. I reccommend it for anyone!
Anyways, its now a relaxing Sunday night and I am about to take care of some last minute homework and tidy up my room.
Goodnight!
Luckily, there are a lot of other cinemas in the neighborhood, so we popped into one down the road. One of my secret movie fantasies is to just go to a movie knowing nothing about it. Not who is in it, what it is about, anything. When we walked into the Champ0 (quite a deal might I add, only 3.5 Euro), Parfum de Femme was starting and that was that.
The movie started, and there were subtitles and the charachters were speaking in Italian. After about ten minutes we realized that this was not going to be a temporary thing, but rather that the entire movie was definitely going to be in Italian. Of course, we pick the only movie not in french so we can hear the italian, read the french, and pray for our english to translate. Suprisingly, it was actually very easy, but still laughable.
We also realized about ten minutes in that this is the original Italian version of scent of a woman. I had only vaguely heard of the American re-make and I don't know much about Italian film, but this movie was phenomenally amazing. Basically it is about a man who was injured in the war who is on a journey to meet his friend in Naples and carry out a pact. At time it is heartbreaking, at others hilarious, but it has quickly escalated to one of my favorite movies of all time. I reccommend it for anyone!
Anyways, its now a relaxing Sunday night and I am about to take care of some last minute homework and tidy up my room.
Goodnight!
Not a Cold!
Oh No!
So I think I have officially moved into the territory of having a cold. I am not sick (that would be one thing), but I do seem to be a ball of sneezy congested mess.
I am definitely not happy about this, especially because I never catch colds. Somehow a lot of people got sick when they came here and I think I have caught the second wave of things. Drat. I have sort of just been going about life as normal going out and doing things, but I think I need to take it at least a little bit easy this week to make my cold go away! I did sleep for almost eleven hours last night, which will probably help, but we shall see!
So I think I have officially moved into the territory of having a cold. I am not sick (that would be one thing), but I do seem to be a ball of sneezy congested mess.
I am definitely not happy about this, especially because I never catch colds. Somehow a lot of people got sick when they came here and I think I have caught the second wave of things. Drat. I have sort of just been going about life as normal going out and doing things, but I think I need to take it at least a little bit easy this week to make my cold go away! I did sleep for almost eleven hours last night, which will probably help, but we shall see!
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