Caroline and I decided to have an exploration day because it was sunny and warm, so we started walking from our apartment and ended up at le Bastille eventually. We passed a very petit little grocery store along the way, called "Thanksgiving". It was full of peanut butter, Betty crocker mixes, chocolate chips, easy mac, candy bars, bisquick, and other American goodies. However, it was super overpriced! The oatmeal I wanted to get was 10 euros, which is about $15.00! I think I'll stick with crossiants, merci! We wandered for about 2 hours, and kept peeking into various patasseries looking for a treat, and then something awful happened....
We had a totally American moment, and went into McDonalds to get McFlurrys! I know, I knowww it's bad, but at the time - it sounded so good! And I must admit I was curio
us to try one because I have seen several people eating them and looked different here! The flavor options are much different, and the size is much smaller! I choose "crumble" flavor, which turned out to be chunks of shortbread in my vanilla glace! Yum! Caroline got the French version of a Heath bar, that's called "Daim". As embarassed as I was to be an American eating McDonald's in Paris - it was delicious! I am trying my hardest to only be french when i'm here, but when it comes to ice cream - the rules change! McDonalds is much better, cleaner, and chicer in Paris, and everyone we meet thinks we are either Swedish or Scandanavian, not American. So hopefully people thought "oh look at those swedish girls eating Mcdonalds", not "those sad americans are actually eating mcdonalds in Paris?"
us to try one because I have seen several people eating them and looked different here! The flavor options are much different, and the size is much smaller! I choose "crumble" flavor, which turned out to be chunks of shortbread in my vanilla glace! Yum! Caroline got the French version of a Heath bar, that's called "Daim". As embarassed as I was to be an American eating McDonald's in Paris - it was delicious! I am trying my hardest to only be french when i'm here, but when it comes to ice cream - the rules change! McDonalds is much better, cleaner, and chicer in Paris, and everyone we meet thinks we are either Swedish or Scandanavian, not American. So hopefully people thought "oh look at those swedish girls eating Mcdonalds", not "those sad americans are actually eating mcdonalds in Paris?"After our exploration afternoon, I jumped on a Velib and biked over to Le Bon Marche to go to Le Grand Epicerie and get some groceries and dinner! It is a really quick and pleasant bike ride up the Seine and one rue over to it! The problem was when I got there! Le Grand Epicerie is this ginormous, beautiful, grocery store of delight. They have the most wonderful quality of breads, cheeses, meats, treats, fruits - you name it, they have it, and it is bon! But again, I had the same problem I had last time - I don't know what to buy because I don't really know what anything is! Fruits and veggies are easy, but you get to the boulangerie and there are about 100 kinds of pain you can chose, and I don't know what they mean! Then I move onto jambon and have the same problem! And I also don't know the metic conversions for pounds so I don't know how much to ask for! The low moment was standing in front of the dairy section for at least 30 minutes analyzing different yogurt products. Fromage blanc, yaogurt, creme, it's so confusing! Then there are hundreds of brands and flavors to choose from once you've decided what thing you should get! And since the labels are all in french, you really have no idea what anything means! I never thought of how hard grocery shopping in another country is! I can only imagine what Europeans think when they come into a Giant Eagle! So after about 2 hours in Le Grand Epicerie I left with peaches, fromage blanc, carrots, a baguette, wheat bread, and a roasted chicken for dinner. I need a grocery shopping assistant for next time.
Caroline cooked us up a wonderful dinner! She made some scalloped potatoes and cooked carrots that we had with salad and the chicken! It was like home-on-the-french-farm yumminess! Sometimes there is nothing like a home-cooked meal!
We went out and about after dinner! We were invited to a house-warming party for some friends of Caroline's friend, Jacob, who goes to Parsons here. It was themed "dress as your idol". I have actually never been to a theme party, becaue of not attending a proper college with weekly frat parties (t
hankfully). So, it was a first! Since we really did not pack along our costumes from home, we made to make due with our wardrobes. A black dress, flats, and a french twist later - I was Audrey Hepburn. Caroline put together the most perfect Hannah Montana outfit ever, and off we went to the 17th! We got some beyond strange looks on our street, due to Caroline looking like the most ridiculous American tourist ever to those who didn't recognize she was dressed as Hannah for a costume party...which was everyone. We were by no means the most creative people there. We partied among Lady Gaga, Mic Jagger, Twiggy, Velma Kelly, and (female) John Lennon, to name a few. But we came home kind of early so we could wake up for church, and watch a crappy movie before bed! I have a weakness for really ridiculous, cheesy movies. (Think High School Musical)
hankfully). So, it was a first! Since we really did not pack along our costumes from home, we made to make due with our wardrobes. A black dress, flats, and a french twist later - I was Audrey Hepburn. Caroline put together the most perfect Hannah Montana outfit ever, and off we went to the 17th! We got some beyond strange looks on our street, due to Caroline looking like the most ridiculous American tourist ever to those who didn't recognize she was dressed as Hannah for a costume party...which was everyone. We were by no means the most creative people there. We partied among Lady Gaga, Mic Jagger, Twiggy, Velma Kelly, and (female) John Lennon, to name a few. But we came home kind of early so we could wake up for church, and watch a crappy movie before bed! I have a weakness for really ridiculous, cheesy movies. (Think High School Musical)We found a great church today! We went to the American Church of Paris, which is beautiful! It's a cathedrale, all white inside with beautiful stained-glass windows in blue! The pastor was great, and it was a big congregation (ltos of opportunities to make friends). We're going to start going to the Young Adult Bible Study on Tuesdays, and make that our church while we're here! Caroline may help with the cheerleading team they have, so she cannot make fun of me anymore for wanting to join AUP's theatre club.
I have to spend the rest of the afternoon attempting to teach myself direct and indirect object pronouns in French. I have a quiz tomorrow, and my teacher did the review completely in French - so I was lost. My other assignment was to memorize the lyrics to la vie en rose, but luckily, I already know them, as any good parisienne should!
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