As I blog, I am listening to my new French music I have downloaded on Itunes. I wanted French music to play while I do my homework, drink wine, and nibble on a baguette. It's tres bon and relaxing!
Today was un autre jour magnifique! We went up to Montmarte, one of my favorite parts of Paris. It is home to my favorite church, Sacre Coeur. It is the breathtaking, white, dome-shaped church on the hill you see in pictures of Paris. It sits of top of this enormous hill, so when you climb the millions of stairs to get to the top, you can see the whole ville! It's also home to the Moulin Rogue, and several adorable petites rues for wandering, manger, and buying art! After admiring the gorgeous alter in the church, we headed to the place for la dejeuner! We shopped around all the artists, and mere et pere bought two petit painting for the house! They are so great because the little french women who painted it herself wraps it up for you! How bon of her!
The cuteness of the rues of Montmarte is out of control. I hope to spend many a Saturday afternoon there, admiring the artists and laying on the hill eating a crepe and looking on the city I am so in love with, and then going into Sacre Couer to thank God that I am here!
We also went to Places des Vosges today, where there are some seriously amazing art galleries, but they are seriously cher aussi! We walked up a rue of all the most wonderful shops du monde until we reached mon apartement, and went it to visit! I am moving in there tomorrow because I cannot stand to not be living there anymore! The cuteness and frenchness is calling to me!
I had saumon au tartare ce soir pour diner at Ma Bourgonne et oh la la - c'etait delicieux! Ma Bourgonne is known for their beouf tartare, but raw beef is not so much my things. Mais, the salmon version is quite enjoyable and this particular preparation, served with these frizzeled onion strings, was out of this monde! I got to parle en francais avec l'homme du restuarant for awhile about how awesome it was!
Orientation begins demain, so I need my rest! I need to arrive looking impossibly french and chouette so no one can tell I am americane!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
La Jour Magnifique des Velos!
Aujourd'hui, nous avons eu un jour magnifique des velos!
To steal a phrase from my mother, today "was my dream" in so many ways! The jour started with un petit dejeuner a l'hotel. In America a "continental breakfast" means assorted cereals and stale bagels in the lobby of your Holiday Inn. Mais, en France, it is the most beautiful and delicious assortment of crossiants, baguettes, pain au chocolats, muselix, fruites, jambon, fromage, jus d'orange, cafe! Everything fresh, amazing, and served in a delightful petite salle off the lobby! It is a wonderous way to start to your morning, and just another example of how much better life in France is than life in America.
Alors, today was la jour d'aller a Versailles! I went to Versailles with Tre on our Paris trip of fabulousness 2 years ago, and it was defintely one of my favorite things we did because it is so beautiful and so interesting! Le Palais is quite magnifique, mais it is outshined by the 250 acres of jardins et le canal that follow! I cannot think of a word strong enough to describe how gorgeous it is to stand on the stairs in front of le palais and look out over everything! We walked through les jardins and along the canal until we found le plus mignon cafe de manger! It looked over the canal where people were row boating around! The only bad thing about lunch was that for some reason, my mom was being swarmed by bees! No one else in the outdoor cafe was even being bothered by them, but my mother was seriously being attacked - and since she has this awful fear of being stung, she was causing en scene and we had to move inside to finish! My Mom admitted that she did not like Versailles, but I think that was largely due the attack of the bees.
After mom nearly escaped death by bee, we started to walk towards le grand et le petit trianon (les domaines de Marie Antionette) and realized you could rent les velos to ride around! So of course we did! We had these adorable bikes to ride around tous les jardins and to get from place to place! It was magnifique because my parents couldn't complain about walking too much for a bit! J'adore les domaines de Marie. I kind of want to go back in time and be Marie. Aside from having my head cut off...and having all of France hate me. For some reason I am kind of obbsessed with her.
After Versailles, we took le metro to St. Michel where there is a giant fountain and tons of the cutest rues in Paris! It was en peu sad to be there without Tre because those are les rues where we spent our favorite nights eating fondue, drinking wine, and buying lots of bon bons! But it was a new kind of fun because of les velibs! Velibs are these cute velos that are all over Paris that you rent for 1 euro and ride around all day wherever you want, and then drop it off at any Velib stand! It is the most convienent and most fun way to get around Paris! We rented les velibs near the Quatier Latin, ve
loed along the Seine all the way to La Louvre and all around les jardins de tuileries with the sun shining, wind blowing in our hair, and la tour towering above! It was a dream come vrai! We veloed back to Rue de l'Harpe for diner, et puis all the way up the Seine to la tour! Right when we got to the tour it started sparking! Imagine riding your velo along the Seine on a beautiful Parisien night, the city lights are shining everywhere, you see the tour is close but you can't see it clearly, and then volia! There is the tour, HUGE, and SPARKLING right above you! I think there were tears in my eyes....
We starred in awe for beaucoup des moments, and then veloed around under the tour, around the tour. I wish you could velo on the tour! Then we got glace and stood under the tour eating our glace and being in love with Paris. We veloed back to l'hotel et le jour magnifique des velos etait fini!
I am never leaving Paris.
To steal a phrase from my mother, today "was my dream" in so many ways! The jour started with un petit dejeuner a l'hotel. In America a "continental breakfast" means assorted cereals and stale bagels in the lobby of your Holiday Inn. Mais, en France, it is the most beautiful and delicious assortment of crossiants, baguettes, pain au chocolats, muselix, fruites, jambon, fromage, jus d'orange, cafe! Everything fresh, amazing, and served in a delightful petite salle off the lobby! It is a wonderous way to start to your morning, and just another example of how much better life in France is than life in America.
Alors, today was la jour d'aller a Versailles! I went to Versailles with Tre on our Paris trip of fabulousness 2 years ago, and it was defintely one of my favorite things we did because it is so beautiful and so interesting! Le Palais is quite magnifique, mais it is outshined by the 250 acres of jardins et le canal that follow! I cannot think of a word strong enough to describe how gorgeous it is to stand on the stairs in front of le palais and look out over everything! We walked through les jardins and along the canal until we found le plus mignon cafe de manger! It looked over the canal where people were row boating around! The only bad thing about lunch was that for some reason, my mom was being swarmed by bees! No one else in the outdoor cafe was even being bothered by them, but my mother was seriously being attacked - and since she has this awful fear of being stung, she was causing en scene and we had to move inside to finish! My Mom admitted that she did not like Versailles, but I think that was largely due the attack of the bees.
After mom nearly escaped death by bee, we started to walk towards le grand et le petit trianon (les domaines de Marie Antionette) and realized you could rent les velos to ride around! So of course we did! We had these adorable bikes to ride around tous les jardins and to get from place to place! It was magnifique because my parents couldn't complain about walking too much for a bit! J'adore les domaines de Marie. I kind of want to go back in time and be Marie. Aside from having my head cut off...and having all of France hate me. For some reason I am kind of obbsessed with her.
After Versailles, we took le metro to St. Michel where there is a giant fountain and tons of the cutest rues in Paris! It was en peu sad to be there without Tre because those are les rues where we spent our favorite nights eating fondue, drinking wine, and buying lots of bon bons! But it was a new kind of fun because of les velibs! Velibs are these cute velos that are all over Paris that you rent for 1 euro and ride around all day wherever you want, and then drop it off at any Velib stand! It is the most convienent and most fun way to get around Paris! We rented les velibs near the Quatier Latin, ve
loed along the Seine all the way to La Louvre and all around les jardins de tuileries with the sun shining, wind blowing in our hair, and la tour towering above! It was a dream come vrai! We veloed back to Rue de l'Harpe for diner, et puis all the way up the Seine to la tour! Right when we got to the tour it started sparking! Imagine riding your velo along the Seine on a beautiful Parisien night, the city lights are shining everywhere, you see the tour is close but you can't see it clearly, and then volia! There is the tour, HUGE, and SPARKLING right above you! I think there were tears in my eyes....We starred in awe for beaucoup des moments, and then veloed around under the tour, around the tour. I wish you could velo on the tour! Then we got glace and stood under the tour eating our glace and being in love with Paris. We veloed back to l'hotel et le jour magnifique des velos etait fini!
I am never leaving Paris.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Paris, je t'aime
Mon obsession avec Paris continues avec jour deux!
Due to jet lag (Paris is 6 hours ahead) we slept in late! It is tres depressing to wake up at noon in Paris and realize that you have wasted hours of being in Paris asleep! It is trop mal that you have to sleep at all when you are here! It is such a waste of time to be asleep when you could be walking les rues!
Mais, we made the most of our afternoon by going to la tour, et nous avons mange un petit dejeuner des crepes! Dad actually got un gauffre chantilly that was delicieux! But right now I am addicted to crepe mixte (jambon et fromage). Mmmm. Eating crepes, at la tour, realizing this is my life now.... I wanted to dance around. I have to continually remind myself that I am staying here, and then I get this enormous grin and feel like shouting...."Paris! Je t'aime!" I really do aime it beaucoup!
We spent a lot of the day on les iles! Ile de la cite, where we went to Notre Dame et Saint Chappelle (which is better) and then had lunch at a cute little cafe overlooking le pont! I had ice cream for lunch! Noix de coco et caramel! La glace de Berthillion, the famous french ice cream! Je compris pourqoui a cause de c'etait delicieux! Also had a few of moms frites because they were magnifique! We walked by a lot of places that reminded me of my adventures with mon amie parisienne, Tre! It made me triste because I would love to promenne les rue avec Tre encore! But she has chosen having a baby over visiting Paris. Only time will tell if that decision was bon. I am kidding of course. Mostly.
We then walked along the Seine until we came upon les bateux mouches! We got on just in time for all lights of the city to go on, and it was la plus belle boat ride down the Seine ever! Just as we took off, the tour was sparkling! And just as we came back, it was sparking encore! We got to see 2 sparkles! And the city just looks absolutely beautiful lit up at night. Along the Seine, everyone is having baguette, cheese, and wine picnics and dancing! I was definitely meant to live here!
After les bateaux mouches we went to un cafe that was right by la tour for vin et croque monsieurs and got to see it sparkle again! That made 3 sparkles in un jour! Quelle chance! We walked back to l'hotel on la rue de montaigne and looked in the windows of all the masters. Chanel, Chloe, Dior. Mes favoris! What a magnifique fin to a magnifique jour!
Due to jet lag (Paris is 6 hours ahead) we slept in late! It is tres depressing to wake up at noon in Paris and realize that you have wasted hours of being in Paris asleep! It is trop mal that you have to sleep at all when you are here! It is such a waste of time to be asleep when you could be walking les rues!
Mais, we made the most of our afternoon by going to la tour, et nous avons mange un petit dejeuner des crepes! Dad actually got un gauffre chantilly that was delicieux! But right now I am addicted to crepe mixte (jambon et fromage). Mmmm. Eating crepes, at la tour, realizing this is my life now.... I wanted to dance around. I have to continually remind myself that I am staying here, and then I get this enormous grin and feel like shouting...."Paris! Je t'aime!" I really do aime it beaucoup!
We spent a lot of the day on les iles! Ile de la cite, where we went to Notre Dame et Saint Chappelle (which is better) and then had lunch at a cute little cafe overlooking le pont! I had ice cream for lunch! Noix de coco et caramel! La glace de Berthillion, the famous french ice cream! Je compris pourqoui a cause de c'etait delicieux! Also had a few of moms frites because they were magnifique! We walked by a lot of places that reminded me of my adventures with mon amie parisienne, Tre! It made me triste because I would love to promenne les rue avec Tre encore! But she has chosen having a baby over visiting Paris. Only time will tell if that decision was bon. I am kidding of course. Mostly.
We then walked along the Seine until we came upon les bateux mouches! We got on just in time for all lights of the city to go on, and it was la plus belle boat ride down the Seine ever! Just as we took off, the tour was sparkling! And just as we came back, it was sparking encore! We got to see 2 sparkles! And the city just looks absolutely beautiful lit up at night. Along the Seine, everyone is having baguette, cheese, and wine picnics and dancing! I was definitely meant to live here!
After les bateaux mouches we went to un cafe that was right by la tour for vin et croque monsieurs and got to see it sparkle again! That made 3 sparkles in un jour! Quelle chance! We walked back to l'hotel on la rue de montaigne and looked in the windows of all the masters. Chanel, Chloe, Dior. Mes favoris! What a magnifique fin to a magnifique jour!
Le Premier Jour a Paris!
There is simply no way to describe ma joie de vivre maintenant! Paris est vraiment la plus belle ville du monde. I am in constant awe of how breath-taking every rue every musee even every patisserie! I will try to summarize the wonderful evetns since je suis arrive.
Before I begin, un moment to dit how much I love AirFrance! If only every airlines was as magnifique as AirFrance, le monde would be a better place! What other airline gives free wine et champagne, pain au chocolat, et mini baguettes!
We arrived at went to the hotel, The West End Hotel, which is located right off the Champs Elysee and right near the George V! Which makes it easy to drop in for afternoon tea with mom this week! Also close to Louis Vuitton. Mais - if you know me, you know I am not vraiment a fan of LV. Mais the Paris magasin is quite amazing so it is bon. Apres checking in, we took a long walk to apartement! Down the Champs, through la place de la concorde, down the rue de rivoli, and all the way to le marais where we stopped at mon rue! The apartement is everything I dreamed and more! Imagine the most adorable, quaint, French apartement you can....that is mon apartement! The stairs up are these black marble-ish escaliers (one of my favorite french words) and they are all windy! They lead to a little courtyard full of red flowers, where you walk through to get to the other stairs, that lead you to la porte! Caroline was there, so she showed me around! The petit salon when you enter was a table and these cute chairs where we will sit in the morning and eat our croissants et cafe! The kitchen has this adorable blue tile and is so petit and parfait! The two bedrooms follow, with the bathroom at the end! All the rooms have french windows that look out over the cute courtyard of fleurs! I was going un peu insane over how adorable it is! I cannot believe I get to live there! I will prends les photos bentoit! Caroline gave me the key - which is this giant ancient looking gold key! It is so french and perfect! I bought a gold eiffel tower key chain today to match it! Ohhhh j'adore Paris!
Apres, we went back to the Champs pour crepes, bien sur, and then did some sightseeing for mere et pere who have never been here before! Mom made us get on the les cars rouges, the big buses that take you around. It is the least-french thing you could ever do in Paris. But my mom is obsessed with them, so we had to go because she kept complaining until we did. I thought it would be complete doom, but actually it was not that terrible. Not as bad as the buses in New York! It was a great way to see all the beautiful views and architecture of Paris, and you get to ride right up to la Tour which is magnifique if you are obsessed with it like moi.
I do not know what it is exactly about la tour eiffel, but I can honestly say it is the most breath taking and beautiful thing I have ever seen. I am completely obsessed with the tour. During the day, the background of the blue sky and clouds on a clear day leaves you breathless. At night, when the lights are glowing, it outshines any star in the sky. And when it sparkles....oh la la, je n'ai pas les mots! It makes my heart stop! Seriously! It is so architecturally different from any other thing and it is just so amazing. I could spend an entire day just sitting in front of the tour, with a baguette and a bottle of wine and it would probably be my favorite day of ma vie. If for some reason you have not seen la tour you need to get your priorities in order and get to Paris because it will give your life new meaning!
After obsessing about la tour we got off the bus and popped into a couple places magnifique! Les galleries lafayette (la plus belle magasin du monde) et the Ritz Paris (to show pere the bar Hemingway) were the highlights for moi! After a short cab to Saint Germain, we had a 10pm diner with Caroline at les deux magots! How much more francais can you get? We walked Caroline home past Notre Dame at night and around the Seine home! Un premier jour magnifique!
Before I begin, un moment to dit how much I love AirFrance! If only every airlines was as magnifique as AirFrance, le monde would be a better place! What other airline gives free wine et champagne, pain au chocolat, et mini baguettes!
We arrived at went to the hotel, The West End Hotel, which is located right off the Champs Elysee and right near the George V! Which makes it easy to drop in for afternoon tea with mom this week! Also close to Louis Vuitton. Mais - if you know me, you know I am not vraiment a fan of LV. Mais the Paris magasin is quite amazing so it is bon. Apres checking in, we took a long walk to apartement! Down the Champs, through la place de la concorde, down the rue de rivoli, and all the way to le marais where we stopped at mon rue! The apartement is everything I dreamed and more! Imagine the most adorable, quaint, French apartement you can....that is mon apartement! The stairs up are these black marble-ish escaliers (one of my favorite french words) and they are all windy! They lead to a little courtyard full of red flowers, where you walk through to get to the other stairs, that lead you to la porte! Caroline was there, so she showed me around! The petit salon when you enter was a table and these cute chairs where we will sit in the morning and eat our croissants et cafe! The kitchen has this adorable blue tile and is so petit and parfait! The two bedrooms follow, with the bathroom at the end! All the rooms have french windows that look out over the cute courtyard of fleurs! I was going un peu insane over how adorable it is! I cannot believe I get to live there! I will prends les photos bentoit! Caroline gave me the key - which is this giant ancient looking gold key! It is so french and perfect! I bought a gold eiffel tower key chain today to match it! Ohhhh j'adore Paris!
Apres, we went back to the Champs pour crepes, bien sur, and then did some sightseeing for mere et pere who have never been here before! Mom made us get on the les cars rouges, the big buses that take you around. It is the least-french thing you could ever do in Paris. But my mom is obsessed with them, so we had to go because she kept complaining until we did. I thought it would be complete doom, but actually it was not that terrible. Not as bad as the buses in New York! It was a great way to see all the beautiful views and architecture of Paris, and you get to ride right up to la Tour which is magnifique if you are obsessed with it like moi.
I do not know what it is exactly about la tour eiffel, but I can honestly say it is the most breath taking and beautiful thing I have ever seen. I am completely obsessed with the tour. During the day, the background of the blue sky and clouds on a clear day leaves you breathless. At night, when the lights are glowing, it outshines any star in the sky. And when it sparkles....oh la la, je n'ai pas les mots! It makes my heart stop! Seriously! It is so architecturally different from any other thing and it is just so amazing. I could spend an entire day just sitting in front of the tour, with a baguette and a bottle of wine and it would probably be my favorite day of ma vie. If for some reason you have not seen la tour you need to get your priorities in order and get to Paris because it will give your life new meaning!
After obsessing about la tour we got off the bus and popped into a couple places magnifique! Les galleries lafayette (la plus belle magasin du monde) et the Ritz Paris (to show pere the bar Hemingway) were the highlights for moi! After a short cab to Saint Germain, we had a 10pm diner with Caroline at les deux magots! How much more francais can you get? We walked Caroline home past Notre Dame at night and around the Seine home! Un premier jour magnifique!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Mon top dix
1o jours!
In honor of being 10 days away from my departure, I am going to make a list of the top ten things I cannot wait to do in Paris. This is going to be hard because I cannot wait to do everything in Paris. But I will try to select my most anticipated activities.
10. Go to class! I know this statement may make you think that I am actually not writing this, because if you know me, you know I usually hate going to class! Mais the fact that I will be attending the University of Paris makes going a class a whole different ballgame. You can see the Eiffel Tower from the classrooms! And attending school there will make me feel like I really live there, instead of just feeling like I am on an extended vacation. I can't wait to take my homework to the lawn in front of the tour or a musee. And I cannot wait to take French classes again because I desperately want to leave France fluent en francais.
9. Move into l'apartement! I cannot wait to live in le Marais in a cute little French apartment! I will feel so French! I am hoping that we can befriend our neighbors and M. Durand, the little old French man that lives below us and watches the apartment for the owners. I think it will be so fun and amusant when something goes wrong- like the sink exploding, and Caroline and I do not know enough French to desrcibe our problem! And we will run around our apartement panicing and laughing. Yes, I am looking forward to the prospect of diaster! Only because it is French diaster!
8. Spend time in Montmatre. I did not get enough time in Montmatre the last time I was in Paris! Tre and I decided to hike up there on one of our last days when it was lethally hot and we were already exuasted. We had to stop for a baguette on the way up the enormous hill we were so tired! Sadly, when we arrived we only had a few momments before it started raining chats et chiens! Our parapluie blew inside out, so we were getting soaked. For the record - I wanted to stay! Tre, however, got very grumpy and insisted we return to the the hotel to nap. But the little of Montmatre I saw was adorable! The street artists, the open markets, and the Sacre Couer! If you love Amelie as much as I do, you want to spend time at the Sacre Couer. I plan to spend many a Saturday's there, and purchase some art for my Paris-themed room in Ohio!
7. Get immersed in the Culture. I do not want to simply study in France, I want to become French. (Even though I secretly believe I kind of already am.) I want to go to le cinema and see French films, I want to go to the Opera, and be in awe of the beauty of Paris ballet! I want to go hear concerts, read French books au jardin or au cafe while I people watch. I want to shop in petit boutiques and of course les gallaries lafayette! This also means speaking French all day everyday when I can! If I don't know the French word, I will pantomime what I mean! The only exception will be mon amie Caroline who speaks no French. I will have to converse with her en englais. But, I am going to try to abandon all my American mannerisms and truly become la blonde parisenne.
6. Hear Dad attempting to speak French. My dad took French in high school, 40 some years ago, and swears he has retained it! He knows three words/phases. They are, votre (your) comment t'allez-vous? (how are you?) and je parle francais (I speak French - though he should not use this phrase because he clearly does not). Everything aside from that, he just puts a French accent on the english word. Ex: go-er, eat-er, see-er. It is quite comical, and I am looking forward to hearing it. Though I will not be able to let it go on for too long because the French people he attempts to talk to will hate us for destroying their language!
5. Have a crepe on the Champs Elysee with mom and dad. There are several reasons why I cannot wait to do this. The obvious ones are of course - crepes and the Champs! But the not obvious part is the "with mom and dad" This will be so fun because my mom LOVES activity and people watching, which are the two words I would use to desribe the Champs. My dad will be fun because I will make him order the crepes! My first time ordering crepes, the crepe man looked at me and said "Mademoiselle, tu parle bien!" I was sublimely happy! I don't think the crepe man will say this to my Dad! I think instead he will say "Monsieur, tu ne peux parle Francais, pas de tout."
4. Visit Museums! I have to group them because there are too many that I want to visit again, it would take all my list up! I cannot wait to go to some I missed on my last visit. The Rodin Musuem, Picasso Musuem, Musee de la Mode, Centre Pompidou! And returning to the Musee D'Orsay is on the top of my list! I LOVE musuems. I could go to one a day and not get sick of it. So to have so many amazing musuems within a ten minute walk is magnifique!
3. Manger et promener! I say both of these together because if I manger without promener after, diaster will ensue! But seriously, a moment of silence for French food...... fresh, crispy baguettes; crayola-colored macaroons, savory duck confit, buttery escargot, amazing fromage of every type, flaky croissants et confiture, chessy croque monsieurs, and warm, melty, nutella crepes! All I can say is oh la laaa et Bon appetite!
2. Explore et Voyager! One of my favorite things to do in any city is simply go to an area I am not familiar with, and start walking! I usually bring a petit journale so that when I pass cute restaurants and shops that I want to go back to, I can write down the name and location. This has lead me to so many wonderful finds in nyc, and I know it will be just as fun in Paris! And I want to find "my" cafe, patisserie, and boulangerie. They will know me and my order after a month or so because I will be a regular! How amusant will that be!? I also cannot wait to voyage to the other parts of France! La Loire, Reims, Nice, Brittany, I want to see it all!
1. See the sparking Tour. (Especially with Joshua when he visits) Every night before the Eiffel Tower lights go off, they SPARKLE for a few minutes, and it is the most beautiful and amazing thing to
see the Tour sparkling above Paris! The night Tre and I discovered this, we were walking down the Rue de Montaigne, I was wooing over the Chloe store windows, and then we turned the corner and Volia! The tour was straight ahead and SPARKLING! We, of course, started running towards it and screaming "the tour is sparkling!!" It is one of my fondest memories of Paris with Tre, and I cannot wait see it again.
And if I can add an honorary number that goes along with every one of my top dix, it is to have my friends and family for visits so I can share all the je sais qoui of Paris with them! I know the phrase is je ne sais qoui but that means "I don't know what" and I think it is totally wrong! It should be "je sais qoui - I know what"! Because saying that you don't know what is so fabulous about Paris is ridiclous! I do what is fabulous...Everything is fabulous! Alors my phrase makes much more sense!
But, to have family and friends visit in Paris would be so magnifique that I hope everyone will seriously consider visiting! And please don't use work or school as an excuse to not come because honestly - what is more important than visiting one of the most beautiful cities in the world....Carpe Diem!
In honor of being 10 days away from my departure, I am going to make a list of the top ten things I cannot wait to do in Paris. This is going to be hard because I cannot wait to do everything in Paris. But I will try to select my most anticipated activities.
10. Go to class! I know this statement may make you think that I am actually not writing this, because if you know me, you know I usually hate going to class! Mais the fact that I will be attending the University of Paris makes going a class a whole different ballgame. You can see the Eiffel Tower from the classrooms! And attending school there will make me feel like I really live there, instead of just feeling like I am on an extended vacation. I can't wait to take my homework to the lawn in front of the tour or a musee. And I cannot wait to take French classes again because I desperately want to leave France fluent en francais.
9. Move into l'apartement! I cannot wait to live in le Marais in a cute little French apartment! I will feel so French! I am hoping that we can befriend our neighbors and M. Durand, the little old French man that lives below us and watches the apartment for the owners. I think it will be so fun and amusant when something goes wrong- like the sink exploding, and Caroline and I do not know enough French to desrcibe our problem! And we will run around our apartement panicing and laughing. Yes, I am looking forward to the prospect of diaster! Only because it is French diaster!
8. Spend time in Montmatre. I did not get enough time in Montmatre the last time I was in Paris! Tre and I decided to hike up there on one of our last days when it was lethally hot and we were already exuasted. We had to stop for a baguette on the way up the enormous hill we were so tired! Sadly, when we arrived we only had a few momments before it started raining chats et chiens! Our parapluie blew inside out, so we were getting soaked. For the record - I wanted to stay! Tre, however, got very grumpy and insisted we return to the the hotel to nap. But the little of Montmatre I saw was adorable! The street artists, the open markets, and the Sacre Couer! If you love Amelie as much as I do, you want to spend time at the Sacre Couer. I plan to spend many a Saturday's there, and purchase some art for my Paris-themed room in Ohio!
7. Get immersed in the Culture. I do not want to simply study in France, I want to become French. (Even though I secretly believe I kind of already am.) I want to go to le cinema and see French films, I want to go to the Opera, and be in awe of the beauty of Paris ballet! I want to go hear concerts, read French books au jardin or au cafe while I people watch. I want to shop in petit boutiques and of course les gallaries lafayette! This also means speaking French all day everyday when I can! If I don't know the French word, I will pantomime what I mean! The only exception will be mon amie Caroline who speaks no French. I will have to converse with her en englais. But, I am going to try to abandon all my American mannerisms and truly become la blonde parisenne.
6. Hear Dad attempting to speak French. My dad took French in high school, 40 some years ago, and swears he has retained it! He knows three words/phases. They are, votre (your) comment t'allez-vous? (how are you?) and je parle francais (I speak French - though he should not use this phrase because he clearly does not). Everything aside from that, he just puts a French accent on the english word. Ex: go-er, eat-er, see-er. It is quite comical, and I am looking forward to hearing it. Though I will not be able to let it go on for too long because the French people he attempts to talk to will hate us for destroying their language!
5. Have a crepe on the Champs Elysee with mom and dad. There are several reasons why I cannot wait to do this. The obvious ones are of course - crepes and the Champs! But the not obvious part is the "with mom and dad" This will be so fun because my mom LOVES activity and people watching, which are the two words I would use to desribe the Champs. My dad will be fun because I will make him order the crepes! My first time ordering crepes, the crepe man looked at me and said "Mademoiselle, tu parle bien!" I was sublimely happy! I don't think the crepe man will say this to my Dad! I think instead he will say "Monsieur, tu ne peux parle Francais, pas de tout."
4. Visit Museums! I have to group them because there are too many that I want to visit again, it would take all my list up! I cannot wait to go to some I missed on my last visit. The Rodin Musuem, Picasso Musuem, Musee de la Mode, Centre Pompidou! And returning to the Musee D'Orsay is on the top of my list! I LOVE musuems. I could go to one a day and not get sick of it. So to have so many amazing musuems within a ten minute walk is magnifique!
3. Manger et promener! I say both of these together because if I manger without promener after, diaster will ensue! But seriously, a moment of silence for French food...... fresh, crispy baguettes; crayola-colored macaroons, savory duck confit, buttery escargot, amazing fromage of every type, flaky croissants et confiture, chessy croque monsieurs, and warm, melty, nutella crepes! All I can say is oh la laaa et Bon appetite!
2. Explore et Voyager! One of my favorite things to do in any city is simply go to an area I am not familiar with, and start walking! I usually bring a petit journale so that when I pass cute restaurants and shops that I want to go back to, I can write down the name and location. This has lead me to so many wonderful finds in nyc, and I know it will be just as fun in Paris! And I want to find "my" cafe, patisserie, and boulangerie. They will know me and my order after a month or so because I will be a regular! How amusant will that be!? I also cannot wait to voyage to the other parts of France! La Loire, Reims, Nice, Brittany, I want to see it all!
1. See the sparking Tour. (Especially with Joshua when he visits) Every night before the Eiffel Tower lights go off, they SPARKLE for a few minutes, and it is the most beautiful and amazing thing to
see the Tour sparkling above Paris! The night Tre and I discovered this, we were walking down the Rue de Montaigne, I was wooing over the Chloe store windows, and then we turned the corner and Volia! The tour was straight ahead and SPARKLING! We, of course, started running towards it and screaming "the tour is sparkling!!" It is one of my fondest memories of Paris with Tre, and I cannot wait see it again. And if I can add an honorary number that goes along with every one of my top dix, it is to have my friends and family for visits so I can share all the je sais qoui of Paris with them! I know the phrase is je ne sais qoui but that means "I don't know what" and I think it is totally wrong! It should be "je sais qoui - I know what"! Because saying that you don't know what is so fabulous about Paris is ridiclous! I do what is fabulous...Everything is fabulous! Alors my phrase makes much more sense!
But, to have family and friends visit in Paris would be so magnifique that I hope everyone will seriously consider visiting! And please don't use work or school as an excuse to not come because honestly - what is more important than visiting one of the most beautiful cities in the world....Carpe Diem!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Nous Avons Un Apartement!
Bonnes Nouvelles!! Nous avons un apartement a Paris!Thanks to mon amie magnifique and her mere, we are the proud renters of un apartement in Le Marais! Close to Le Place des Vosges, Musee Picasso, et Maison de Victor Hugo! Home to one of the most interesting streets, the famous rue des Francs-Bourgeois, one of the rare streets of Paris completely open on Sunday, and know for fabulous boutiques! Oh la la!
Caroline and her mother were kind enough to go to Paris last weekend, and spend the day looking at apartments after learning the school accomodations were less than promising. A few apartments into the search, they stumbeled upon l'apartement parfait and volia!
2 bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom, fully furnished! And, apparently the style of the molding inside is called "patisserie" because that is what all the patisseries have! It will be like LIVING in a patisserie! What more could a blonde parisienne want! All my parisienne dreams are coming true and I am not even there yet!
2 weeks from today I will wake up in Paris! I will have already had un crossiant et cafe and will be strolling les rues, or perhaps at the Paris Plague! It seems quite surreal still at this point. I have been dreaming of studying in Paris since I was 10. There are simply not words to describe my excitement and how completely lucky and blessed I feel that my dream will soon be a reality.
I cannot wait to see les photos of the place! Caroline says she has taken about one hundred, so I am anxiously awaiting them! The only triste thing is that there is no oven in our apartement. Finding a cheap apartement with an oven is next to impossible, so I will not be able to bake while I am in France. But I do not think I will be at a loss for delicious treats. The awful "grocery store cakes" and "boxed cakes" which people in America feel are acceptable desserts, do not exist in Paris. The idea is really absurd and should be done away with completely. If you do not have the desire or skill to make a cake from scratch and relish in it's moist delight, or at least seek someone who can bake to provide it for you, then you have no business eating cake. The same goes for frosting. But my point was, I am more than confident that French desserts will suffice while I cannot bake for myself.
Friday, August 7, 2009
NYC v. Paris
Initially I felt that having to return to NYC for a day was the worst thing that could have happened maintenant. But, upon further thought I have come to realize it is actually quite magnifique! Having to go to the Consulate again is NOT magnifique, but getting to return to my favorite U.S. city and spend a day of fun with my sisters is tres magnifique!
It got me to thinking about my life in New York...
Walking the streets of streets of the city, admiring the French Bulldogs and keeping an eye out for new restaurants to try. Walking around the village and stopping in Yougrtland for a creamy creation
! Saturdays in Madison Sq. Park, beating Josh at various card games. Heading the Met to check out the new exhibits. Running around the Jackie O'Nasis track in the park and admiring the skyline. Sunday Brunch at Esperanto and shopping in Soho. Roof dinners with my sisters! I realized all my familiars in my life will not exist in Paris! I will be replacing them with French versions! I have hypothesized the following exchanges for ma vie a Paris.
- morning bagel and shmear becomes morning croissant et confiture
- class at FIT with a view of the empire becomes class at AUP with a view of the Tour
- walking along 5th Avenue becomes walking along the Champs
- going to the Met becomes going to the Musee d'Orsay
- living near the Square becomes living near Place de la Concorde
- browsing street art in Soho becomes browsing street art in Montmarte
- continously smelling Halal food becomes continously smelling crepes
- reading in central park becomes reading in le jardin de luxembourg
- easy access to cupcakes becomes easy access to macaroons
- babysitting on weekends becomes traveling the french countryside on weekends
- saying "OMG" becomes saying "Oh la la!"
I must say, I am very excited for all of my exchanges because they sound fabulous! But there are a few aspects of my New York life that are simply irreplaceable.
-Fun activites with my sisters! I will not have sisters in Paris. Unless I elope with some garcon because I have had too much vin and he happens to have a sister. I hope this does not happen.
-Kristin Paige Folck for a roomie. I will miss her daily company and our daily antics more than words can say.
- Living 20 blocks from Joshua Jay, who has brightened everyday of my life since we met. No John-Paul or John-Claude could replace him.
- PB&Co. Who knew such a little place could bring such enormous joy. I will miss their creative sandwhiches on giant bread, the amazing PB flavors, and the ridiculous PB brownie sundae. PB is a rare find in France, I will have to bring some jars along for personal enjoyment. As far as I know, there is no Nutella & Co in Paris, so this joyous place will be missed!
I realize that I have said that the only thing I will miss about New York is family, friends, and peanut butter. But that is precisely why I am, in every way, the Blonde Parisienne.
It got me to thinking about my life in New York...
Walking the streets of streets of the city, admiring the French Bulldogs and keeping an eye out for new restaurants to try. Walking around the village and stopping in Yougrtland for a creamy creation
! Saturdays in Madison Sq. Park, beating Josh at various card games. Heading the Met to check out the new exhibits. Running around the Jackie O'Nasis track in the park and admiring the skyline. Sunday Brunch at Esperanto and shopping in Soho. Roof dinners with my sisters! I realized all my familiars in my life will not exist in Paris! I will be replacing them with French versions! I have hypothesized the following exchanges for ma vie a Paris.- morning bagel and shmear becomes morning croissant et confiture
- class at FIT with a view of the empire becomes class at AUP with a view of the Tour
- walking along 5th Avenue becomes walking along the Champs
- going to the Met becomes going to the Musee d'Orsay
- living near the Square becomes living near Place de la Concorde
- browsing street art in Soho becomes browsing street art in Montmarte
- continously smelling Halal food becomes continously smelling crepes
- reading in central park becomes reading in le jardin de luxembourg
- easy access to cupcakes becomes easy access to macaroons
- babysitting on weekends becomes traveling the french countryside on weekends
- saying "OMG" becomes saying "Oh la la!"
I must say, I am very excited for all of my exchanges because they sound fabulous! But there are a few aspects of my New York life that are simply irreplaceable.
-Fun activites with my sisters! I will not have sisters in Paris. Unless I elope with some garcon because I have had too much vin and he happens to have a sister. I hope this does not happen.
-Kristin Paige Folck for a roomie. I will miss her daily company and our daily antics more than words can say.
- Living 20 blocks from Joshua Jay, who has brightened everyday of my life since we met. No John-Paul or John-Claude could replace him.
- PB&Co. Who knew such a little place could bring such enormous joy. I will miss their creative sandwhiches on giant bread, the amazing PB flavors, and the ridiculous PB brownie sundae. PB is a rare find in France, I will have to bring some jars along for personal enjoyment. As far as I know, there is no Nutella & Co in Paris, so this joyous place will be missed!
I realize that I have said that the only thing I will miss about New York is family, friends, and peanut butter. But that is precisely why I am, in every way, the Blonde Parisienne.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Still Without Mon VISA
As I feared, Amanda arrived today at the French Consulate Office in New York to pick up my student VISA for me, and was denied. "Pourqoui?" You ask? Because the French Consulate Office is most inefficently run agency I have ever encountered. To make my point clear I must describe the history of my encounters with them.
April 2009
Upon my acceptance in AUP, it was made clear I would need a student VISA to stay in Paris for 4 months. How bon and amusant I thought! A French VISA for my passport! I thought wrong.
May 2009
Before you can apply for your student VISA, you must register with an organiziation called CampusFrance. FIT, my school, knows NOTHING about the abroad program at AUP, instructed me that after registering, Campus France would set the appointment at the Consulate for me! Again, I thought how bon and nice of them! Again, I thought wrong.
June 2009
I register with CampusFrance, and await the apparent confirmation email with my VISA appointment date, supposed to be within 2 weeks. In the meantime, I go to visit my new nephew Oliver in California, who is adorable. I return to New York City on the 15th, and have not yet recieved an appointment date! I am offically worried. I attempt to email Campus France. No response! I question FIT, quel surprise they know nothing! I attempt to call the Consulate Office, mais YOU CAN'T CALL THERE! Alas, after sending them continuous emails, I finally get a response.
"Madame,
Campus France does not make the appointment. You must do it online.
No appointments will be made in person."
Fuming, I log onto the Consulate Website and find that the earliest appointment I can obtain is July 13th! Being that it is the middle of June, and I have no purpose to be in New York for another month, I decide to fly home until my appointment.
July 13, 2009
I arrive at the consulate at 9:30 for my appointment at 10am. I wait outside until 11am, when the rudest, most unfrench security guard opens the door and allows the crowd waiting outside to come in. After the most extensive security check of my life, I am permitted to walk up to the office, which is a hallway and three windows with attendents.
Now, this may seem foolish, but I had imagined my appointment for my VISA would be me and a lovely French woman or perhaps older gentlemen in a petit office. They would ask me what my plans are, we would talk about why we love France, they would tell me which patisseries have the best macaroons, there would be complimentary croissants and cafe, they would take my papers, stamp my passport and I would leave with a smile and a VISA.
What actually happened was I waited in a 3 hour line of doom in a hallway that was packed with others as angry as I was. No one there was French, and everyone was mean! After fingerprints, paperwork, and questioning, I finally got to the window to turn in my papers, I was told that same-day VISAS are no longer issused, I have to come back in ten days. I remained calm enough to explain I was leaving New York, and the attendent said a family member could pick it up for me as long as they had all my papers and passport. So, I leave the Consulate and New York without my VISA, without my passport, and having to give the responsibility of getting it to my sister, Amanda.
August 6, 2009
Amanda goes to the Consulate to pick up my VISA and is denied! Pourqoui? They failed to scan my fingerprints correctly while I was there! They will not give a VISA without fingerprints, so I have to go BACK to new york AGAIN a mere 2 days before I leave for France to get my VISA!
August 19th, 2009 (4 days before my Paris departure)
I will be flying to New York and can only hope that things go smoothly at the Consulate and I leave this time with my VISA! Because I am an eternal optimist, I see that there is good coming out of all this. I get to spend one more day in nyc, and have a last 'hurrah!" with my sisters! So at least there is a petit bit of bon.
April 2009
Upon my acceptance in AUP, it was made clear I would need a student VISA to stay in Paris for 4 months. How bon and amusant I thought! A French VISA for my passport! I thought wrong.
May 2009
Before you can apply for your student VISA, you must register with an organiziation called CampusFrance. FIT, my school, knows NOTHING about the abroad program at AUP, instructed me that after registering, Campus France would set the appointment at the Consulate for me! Again, I thought how bon and nice of them! Again, I thought wrong.
June 2009
I register with CampusFrance, and await the apparent confirmation email with my VISA appointment date, supposed to be within 2 weeks. In the meantime, I go to visit my new nephew Oliver in California, who is adorable. I return to New York City on the 15th, and have not yet recieved an appointment date! I am offically worried. I attempt to email Campus France. No response! I question FIT, quel surprise they know nothing! I attempt to call the Consulate Office, mais YOU CAN'T CALL THERE! Alas, after sending them continuous emails, I finally get a response.
"Madame,
Campus France does not make the appointment. You must do it online.
No appointments will be made in person."
Fuming, I log onto the Consulate Website and find that the earliest appointment I can obtain is July 13th! Being that it is the middle of June, and I have no purpose to be in New York for another month, I decide to fly home until my appointment.
July 13, 2009
I arrive at the consulate at 9:30 for my appointment at 10am. I wait outside until 11am, when the rudest, most unfrench security guard opens the door and allows the crowd waiting outside to come in. After the most extensive security check of my life, I am permitted to walk up to the office, which is a hallway and three windows with attendents.
Now, this may seem foolish, but I had imagined my appointment for my VISA would be me and a lovely French woman or perhaps older gentlemen in a petit office. They would ask me what my plans are, we would talk about why we love France, they would tell me which patisseries have the best macaroons, there would be complimentary croissants and cafe, they would take my papers, stamp my passport and I would leave with a smile and a VISA.
What actually happened was I waited in a 3 hour line of doom in a hallway that was packed with others as angry as I was. No one there was French, and everyone was mean! After fingerprints, paperwork, and questioning, I finally got to the window to turn in my papers, I was told that same-day VISAS are no longer issused, I have to come back in ten days. I remained calm enough to explain I was leaving New York, and the attendent said a family member could pick it up for me as long as they had all my papers and passport. So, I leave the Consulate and New York without my VISA, without my passport, and having to give the responsibility of getting it to my sister, Amanda.
August 6, 2009
Amanda goes to the Consulate to pick up my VISA and is denied! Pourqoui? They failed to scan my fingerprints correctly while I was there! They will not give a VISA without fingerprints, so I have to go BACK to new york AGAIN a mere 2 days before I leave for France to get my VISA!
August 19th, 2009 (4 days before my Paris departure)
I will be flying to New York and can only hope that things go smoothly at the Consulate and I leave this time with my VISA! Because I am an eternal optimist, I see that there is good coming out of all this. I get to spend one more day in nyc, and have a last 'hurrah!" with my sisters! So at least there is a petit bit of bon.
Spreading the Love for Nutella
Today I got a text message magnifique from my sister Alison. It read "Finally had Nutella and omg!!"Honestly, this message made my day. Knowing that someone I care so much about had experienced the insane deliciousness of Nutella for the very first time was a joy unlike any other. The wonderful creamy texture. The rich chocolate delight. The subtle hazelnut undertones! "omg" is right! It got me to wondering how many other people in America make it to adulthood before discovering this magical spread? How triste!
To my extreme luck, my first French teacher, Madame Fillez, made me my first crepe with Nutella at age 11 and it was love at first bite! Of course during my week in Paris in 2007, I ate an obscene amount of Nutella between all my crepes, baguettes, and other treats. But it was earlier this year that Nutella came back into my life.
One night after taking Homo Hip Hop class at the New York Sports Club, mon petit ami suggested going on a walk to get crepes in the west village. Quelle une bonne idee! As I took my first bite and the warm Nutella flooded my taste buds, I nearly went mad from delight. How had I forgotten about Nutella? Why was a jar not in my pantry for daily enjoyment?
So upon my return to Paris, I plan to get my weekly fill. But for those who are not going to be living in a city where Nutella flows like water, I urge you not to forget about our wonderful French friend.
http://www.nutellausa.com/
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Dix-huit jours jusqu'a Paris!
Dix-Huit jours jusqu'a Paris! Oh la la !
As the days until my departure get less and less my excitement grows and grows! My life as a Parisienne is long overdue, mais non?
Sadly, my time until mon voyage is being spent working for mon pere . My afternoons, which should be spent sunbathing to have the ultimate bronze glow upon my arrival in Paris, are instead spent trapped inside Leonard Insurance Services answering the phones and scanning files. Perhaps to prepare for parle-ing en Francais everyday I should start to answer, "Bonjour c'est Leonard Insurance. Comment peux j'aidez-vous?" I do not see any reason why this is not completely appropriate. Not only would I be preparing myself, but I would be enriching the cultural knowledge of those merely calling to report a claim. Volia!
Now I fully believe that my life in Paris is going to be les mois d'heureuse, manger des macaroons, et danser dans les rues. But as I prepare to live abroad, there are a few looming questions on my mind that I would appreciate advice or input from mes amis on.
Probleme 1. Comment am I supposed to pack for 4 months/3 seasons of life in the most fashionable city in la monde! Who knows what kind of vetements I may need! I know that my accomodations in Paris will be no larger than 10m2. Which means unless I would like to sleep on a bed of sweaters and jeans, I must downsize from my normal packing routine. Aidez-moi!
Probleme 2. Pas de cel phone! Since I will (sadly) only be in France for 4 months, I cannot purchase a French cel phone plan. I have heard people dicuss SIM cards, mais je ne compris pas what that is! Quelle dommage....
It appears as though I wil skyping - assuming I can figure out how to attach a webcam to my labtop, and do not lose and or break the webcam.
Probleme 3. Je n'ai pas un visa! Ma souer - Amanda, was supposed to pick up my student long stay Visa a week ago. However due to her very busy schedule of dessert eating, it has not yet happened. Based on my experience with the French Consulate of New York when applying for la visa, I would not be surprised if they dit "NON" when she tries to get it, claiming she is trop tard.
Aside from mes petites problemes I am tres pret de departir pour Paris! J'espere que la France est pret pour la blonde Parisienne!
As the days until my departure get less and less my excitement grows and grows! My life as a Parisienne is long overdue, mais non?
Sadly, my time until mon voyage is being spent working for mon pere . My afternoons, which should be spent sunbathing to have the ultimate bronze glow upon my arrival in Paris, are instead spent trapped inside Leonard Insurance Services answering the phones and scanning files. Perhaps to prepare for parle-ing en Francais everyday I should start to answer, "Bonjour c'est Leonard Insurance. Comment peux j'aidez-vous?" I do not see any reason why this is not completely appropriate. Not only would I be preparing myself, but I would be enriching the cultural knowledge of those merely calling to report a claim. Volia!
Now I fully believe that my life in Paris is going to be les mois d'heureuse, manger des macaroons, et danser dans les rues. But as I prepare to live abroad, there are a few looming questions on my mind that I would appreciate advice or input from mes amis on.
Probleme 1. Comment am I supposed to pack for 4 months/3 seasons of life in the most fashionable city in la monde! Who knows what kind of vetements I may need! I know that my accomodations in Paris will be no larger than 10m2. Which means unless I would like to sleep on a bed of sweaters and jeans, I must downsize from my normal packing routine. Aidez-moi!
Probleme 2. Pas de cel phone! Since I will (sadly) only be in France for 4 months, I cannot purchase a French cel phone plan. I have heard people dicuss SIM cards, mais je ne compris pas what that is! Quelle dommage....
It appears as though I wil skyping - assuming I can figure out how to attach a webcam to my labtop, and do not lose and or break the webcam.
Probleme 3. Je n'ai pas un visa! Ma souer - Amanda, was supposed to pick up my student long stay Visa a week ago. However due to her very busy schedule of dessert eating, it has not yet happened. Based on my experience with the French Consulate of New York when applying for la visa, I would not be surprised if they dit "NON" when she tries to get it, claiming she is trop tard.
Aside from mes petites problemes I am tres pret de departir pour Paris! J'espere que la France est pret pour la blonde Parisienne!
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