WHOOOO alright here's the news: my host dad just left, which means I officially have the house to myself until Sunday night!!!!!! HUZZAHH!!!!!!
As any normal 20-year old in a foreign land with an apartment to herself, I have decided to throw a party. There's 10 of us in all, all Smithies (including one from Geneva that I haven't seen since last year, who decided to visit Paris! Yay!), and I've got the menu all set. You ready for it?
Apératif:
- white wine
- apple juice
- guacamole (I'M MAKING IT) and chips
- tomato and mozzarella
Diner:
- The Christines are making some sort of Halloween punch
- salade with tomates, concombres, and mozzarella
- rice
- ratatouille
- lemon chicken (I just woke up from a dream in which I made this. It tasted delicious.)
Dessert:
- Mom's recipe for chocolate toffee crunch bars (I'm substituting re-baked Madeleine cookies for Nilla wafers, since there's no way that they exist here. Though I just got A BRILLIANT IDEA to use Oreos. So good or no good?)
- Pears and hot chocolate sauce
- Apple clafoutis (like a pie, but BETTER. More custard-y)
HOW GOOD? SO GOOD.
I need to find a cowboy hat, though. I'm also going to start making some decorations to hang, but not many, since I don't want to take over the house. I thought maybe balloons? That might make it just Halloweeny enough without having to put things on the walls, but I don't know how I'd pop them afterward. I guess I could just do it during the day, but I'm sure they have noise ordinances in Paris.
ANYWAY. It's going to be awesome. We're doing it tomorrow. My plan is to make the desserts today, and maybe the guacamole. Also, I have to call Restos du Coeur back for real today. It's good that I'm in Just Do It mode, or I might not have even called them back today. It's been awhile. I really do not speaking French on the phone.
Alright, I'm on it! Can do it! WHOO!
OH and the international frisbee championship, hosted by PARIS of all places, is THIS WEEKEND. Therefore, another Halloween party on Saturday! Ahhh best weekend EVERRR.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
It's been awhile
I had a crazy weekend. We went to Normandie for the weekend, and it was pretty hectic.
Some highlights:
- Seeing the American Cemetary
- Playing with François, our assistant director's 9 year old son
- The 360 screen encircling movie about D Day (like the Canada movie in Disney World!)
- Drinking so much cider
- Walking up to the beaches
- Wearing my white coat
- Playing on the bus and re-enacting movies
- SO MANY AMERICANS
- Halloween decorations at the cider/crêpe restaurant we went to
- Finding my future home in a cozy shack by the sea
- Talking to Abby
- Learning that Best Westerns in France are the classiest thing ever. No joke.
- Eating dinner at the hotel (duck, mashed potatoes, soup, and chocolate mousse)
- After a little too much cider, hearing Alix say aloud, "Comment dit-on 'worst case scenario', Peebs?"
- Dinner when I got home to my host family, to curry chicken, rice, cheese, and pineapple from Nigeria!
In other news, I had a test today, and I may not have failed. I forget that my ADD kicks in during tests in general, but even worse when I haven't slept long enough.
Speaking of which, I think I'm about to get on that now. I'll post pictures soon, seeing as I took approximately 500.
Oh, also we changed our clocks! 3 days ago at this time, it would've been 12:20 a.m. *is tired*
Some highlights:
- Seeing the American Cemetary
- Playing with François, our assistant director's 9 year old son
- The 360 screen encircling movie about D Day (like the Canada movie in Disney World!)
- Drinking so much cider
- Walking up to the beaches
- Wearing my white coat
- Playing on the bus and re-enacting movies
- SO MANY AMERICANS
- Halloween decorations at the cider/crêpe restaurant we went to
- Finding my future home in a cozy shack by the sea
- Talking to Abby
- Learning that Best Westerns in France are the classiest thing ever. No joke.
- Eating dinner at the hotel (duck, mashed potatoes, soup, and chocolate mousse)
- After a little too much cider, hearing Alix say aloud, "Comment dit-on 'worst case scenario', Peebs?"
- Dinner when I got home to my host family, to curry chicken, rice, cheese, and pineapple from Nigeria!
In other news, I had a test today, and I may not have failed. I forget that my ADD kicks in during tests in general, but even worse when I haven't slept long enough.
Speaking of which, I think I'm about to get on that now. I'll post pictures soon, seeing as I took approximately 500.
Oh, also we changed our clocks! 3 days ago at this time, it would've been 12:20 a.m. *is tired*
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
QUICK UPDATE
Right so today was the day of my presentation. I wound up pulling my first real all-nighter EVER. I wound up preparing a pretty damn good 20 minute presentation for my Art History class. My teacher actually seemed pretty nice about it! He did seem anxious when he accidentally volunteered me to go this week, so all he said after I was done was that I should've focused more on the painting and could've delved further to find out that it was about the 100 year war. And he corrected my grammar. But with all luck, I didn't fail! Yay!
Also, I have the best friends EVER. I walked with Alix out of the class, and I was still super-loopy from not having slept. She said something about cookies, and I said that I really just wanted to sleep. Then, she said something about how Rachel and she had made them last night! They had stayed up till 1 trying to figure out how to make cookies in Rachel's apartment, since her host family was gone. They concocted a mixture of peanut M&M's, walnuts, peanuts, flour, brown sugar, and vanilla sugar. It was crazy. They actually reminded me of my grandma's cookies, since they were flat and chewy.
Before cookies, Alix and I went out for sushi, which was really nice and just what I needed.
AND THEN Rachel comes out with this box of eclairs and a napoleon! AHhhh it was too good.
Anyway, the moral is I'm going to sleep RIGHT NOW and not waking up until 10:15 a.m. Good night, world!!!
Oh, and I have ice cream. Can't get much better, considering the downfall of misery that was Monday and Tuesday! Wahoo, karma!
Also, I have the best friends EVER. I walked with Alix out of the class, and I was still super-loopy from not having slept. She said something about cookies, and I said that I really just wanted to sleep. Then, she said something about how Rachel and she had made them last night! They had stayed up till 1 trying to figure out how to make cookies in Rachel's apartment, since her host family was gone. They concocted a mixture of peanut M&M's, walnuts, peanuts, flour, brown sugar, and vanilla sugar. It was crazy. They actually reminded me of my grandma's cookies, since they were flat and chewy.
Before cookies, Alix and I went out for sushi, which was really nice and just what I needed.
AND THEN Rachel comes out with this box of eclairs and a napoleon! AHhhh it was too good.
Anyway, the moral is I'm going to sleep RIGHT NOW and not waking up until 10:15 a.m. Good night, world!!!
Oh, and I have ice cream. Can't get much better, considering the downfall of misery that was Monday and Tuesday! Wahoo, karma!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Dear world,
Things that are new in my life:
As of Friday:
- I got to see Sarah, a student from Smith who lived with my host family two years ago. She came over for dinner.
- We had a raclette!
- I tried to work on my research on this guy. No one knows who he is. Proving to be a difficult guy to track down. (Just trying to prove a point. The French know who he is, at least.)
As of Saturday:
- I learned how to make a chocolate cake with Elise and my host mom! We made it together, and Elise reminded me of me when I was little. And now. My mom still needs to get those last few stirs in, just to make sure everything's mixed. Hehe.
- I went to another dinner party! I love France.
- I met new people from Sciences Po.
- I came back home and left a note that said "Fur Elise" with a left over piece of cake.
- I did more research.
As of today:
- Went to the Louvre. Want to go back again all the time just to study. It was wonderful.
- Did more researching. Finally got a general "plan" together. Will finish tomorrow.
PLAN FOR MONDAY:
9:20: Leave for Spanish class
10:00 - 3:30: Class
4:00: Talk to Peebs
4:15: Lunch with Alix
5:00: Hit up La Bibliothèque Michelet to find that book
8:20: Leave for frisbee practice
10:45: Finish writing up presentation
PLAN FOR TUESDAY:
12:00: Go to Bibliotheque François Mitterand, if needed (if not, analyze painting. I'm pretty sure I have enough resources)
3:00: Practice like I've never practiced a presentation before
10:00: Do homework for Methodology
12:00: Practice one last time. Go to sleep
As of Friday:
- I got to see Sarah, a student from Smith who lived with my host family two years ago. She came over for dinner.
- We had a raclette!
- I tried to work on my research on this guy. No one knows who he is. Proving to be a difficult guy to track down. (Just trying to prove a point. The French know who he is, at least.)
As of Saturday:
- I learned how to make a chocolate cake with Elise and my host mom! We made it together, and Elise reminded me of me when I was little. And now. My mom still needs to get those last few stirs in, just to make sure everything's mixed. Hehe.
- I went to another dinner party! I love France.
- I met new people from Sciences Po.
- I came back home and left a note that said "Fur Elise" with a left over piece of cake.
- I did more research.
As of today:
- Went to the Louvre. Want to go back again all the time just to study. It was wonderful.
- Did more researching. Finally got a general "plan" together. Will finish tomorrow.
PLAN FOR MONDAY:
9:20: Leave for Spanish class
10:00 - 3:30: Class
4:00: Talk to Peebs
4:15: Lunch with Alix
5:00: Hit up La Bibliothèque Michelet to find that book
8:20: Leave for frisbee practice
10:45: Finish writing up presentation
PLAN FOR TUESDAY:
12:00: Go to Bibliotheque François Mitterand, if needed (if not, analyze painting. I'm pretty sure I have enough resources)
3:00: Practice like I've never practiced a presentation before
10:00: Do homework for Methodology
12:00: Practice one last time. Go to sleep
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Do you know what they call a "Big Mac" in France?
A Royal Cheese. That's right! Not even "Royal with Cheese". Dirty lies, Tarantino.
So I finally got my McFlurry ("Mack-fleur-rie", which I had guessed right!)
I am a little more content.
Things about my presentation on Wednesday I am freaking out about, so that I can get them out of my system and put them in the Box of Uncontrollables:
- I've never taken an Art History class before
- I don't know any of the vocabulary in English, let alone in French
- The painting I have to talk about on Wednesday is not in Paris, so I can't even see it
- I've never seen how an oral presentation works in French
- I have to present on the first day of presentations
- I really only have this weekend and Tuesday to work on it
Things that won't be so bad:
- That means I have about a collective 40 hours to work with
- I can see another work of Révoil's at the Louvre and talk about it
- I saw the look of terror on my teacher's face when he volunteered me to go first since there were no other options, and he heard my accent and realized I wasn't French
- I'll get it over with so I don't have to worry about it later
Famous list of things I need to do and when to do them:
Friday:
11:00: Leave to meet up with Rachel for Trevor's sound test
2:00: Spanish class forever and ever
5:00: Go to Bibli Nationale if it's still open. Otherwise, do more internet research
Saturday:
- Outline presentation
- Go to Louvre
4:00: Make chocolate tarte for party
5:30: Leave for party
- Finish outlining presentation
Sunday:
- Don't dare go out, except to research
CAN DO IT. NEED TO GET THINGS TOGETHER.
Also, have other homework. Should do that sometime.
So I finally got my McFlurry ("Mack-fleur-rie", which I had guessed right!)
I am a little more content.
Things about my presentation on Wednesday I am freaking out about, so that I can get them out of my system and put them in the Box of Uncontrollables:
- I've never taken an Art History class before
- I don't know any of the vocabulary in English, let alone in French
- The painting I have to talk about on Wednesday is not in Paris, so I can't even see it
- I've never seen how an oral presentation works in French
- I have to present on the first day of presentations
- I really only have this weekend and Tuesday to work on it
Things that won't be so bad:
- That means I have about a collective 40 hours to work with
- I can see another work of Révoil's at the Louvre and talk about it
- I saw the look of terror on my teacher's face when he volunteered me to go first since there were no other options, and he heard my accent and realized I wasn't French
- I'll get it over with so I don't have to worry about it later
Famous list of things I need to do and when to do them:
Friday:
11:00: Leave to meet up with Rachel for Trevor's sound test
2:00: Spanish class forever and ever
5:00: Go to Bibli Nationale if it's still open. Otherwise, do more internet research
Saturday:
- Outline presentation
- Go to Louvre
4:00: Make chocolate tarte for party
5:30: Leave for party
- Finish outlining presentation
Sunday:
- Don't dare go out, except to research
CAN DO IT. NEED TO GET THINGS TOGETHER.
Also, have other homework. Should do that sometime.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
So cranky.
I woke up today, earlier than I would've liked. I was sort of planning to sleep until around 1 p.m., since I've been lacking on the sleep lately and have been more than a little exhausted. Also, I'm afraid of getting sick (knock on wood) since I haven't gotten sick yet, and I'm taking little precautions where I can.
I had my first real live French phone call. I wound up crying afterward. It's also been that time where I get mopey and anything can set me off, so it's not really that surprising. I called Restos du Coeur because they had left a message for me saying that they wanted to schedule an informational meeting. I called them up, and the woman said the next one would be Monday at 2:00 p.m. She asked me if that was already, and I said not really and asked when the next one would be. She said she'd just put me down for that one, and I was too flustered to say anything back. My lack of firmness and purpose in my voice plus the fact that I back down when confronted with anything that doesn't flow...
Anyway, I think I'm going to call back tomorrow in between my million classes. It's pretty non-stop from 9:30 to 20:30 tomorrow. I've got classes and some time between them, but not enough to really stop home. I may do it anyway, since I really haven't seen my host family in awhile.
After my phone call fiasco, I met up with this girl who graduated from Smith this past year. She was abroad in Paris two years ago, and she lived with my host family! We got together for coffee to discuss Paris life and our host family. She told me a bunch of fun embarassing stories, including the one about how I got the bed that I have now. She told me about how it was December and she was really stressed out. She threw herself onto the bed, and the wooden frame on the bottom cracked. So now I have a newish bed!
She seemed like a really cool person, and I'm glad we got together. She had tons of fun stories, including re-settling into Paris life. After hearing about all the paperwork she had to do, I feel a little more grateful for the steps Smith has taken to make things easier for us (though I'm still pissed at Peebster for choosing not to help me with my Spanish class situation).
After that, I rushed home, got my stuff together, and headed out for frisbee. I hadn't eaten much all day. Before I went to practice, I figured out how I could get to McDonald's. I am CRAVING comfort food, and all I wanted was a McFlurry. The whole practice, I pushed myself, knowing that the end of practice would mean a tasty, creamy, icy treat.
I was on the metro, dreaming of my ice cream, looking out the window. I looked down to the sidewalk below and, written in chalk below someone special's window, there were the words "JE T'AIME!". It made me smile out loud. Yes, yes it did.
I got off the metro and was walking to McDo, when I saw those little plastic yellow yield signs that people buy for their cars. It said "Bébé à bord!" and it made me laugh that "Baby on board" really translates.
However, after the 15 minute walk to McDo at quarter to midnight, I asked for my "MacFleurrie", and the woman replied, in English, "I am sorry, no ice!" ("glace" in French means both "ice" and "ice cream")
I could've cried right then, saying my, "C'est pas grave". It really was grave!
Anyway, it kept me going through frisbee practice, and I guess that's all that matters. Now, time for shower, cheese and bread, homework, and SLEEP before I have the longest day of my life.
Good night!
I had my first real live French phone call. I wound up crying afterward. It's also been that time where I get mopey and anything can set me off, so it's not really that surprising. I called Restos du Coeur because they had left a message for me saying that they wanted to schedule an informational meeting. I called them up, and the woman said the next one would be Monday at 2:00 p.m. She asked me if that was already, and I said not really and asked when the next one would be. She said she'd just put me down for that one, and I was too flustered to say anything back. My lack of firmness and purpose in my voice plus the fact that I back down when confronted with anything that doesn't flow...
Anyway, I think I'm going to call back tomorrow in between my million classes. It's pretty non-stop from 9:30 to 20:30 tomorrow. I've got classes and some time between them, but not enough to really stop home. I may do it anyway, since I really haven't seen my host family in awhile.
After my phone call fiasco, I met up with this girl who graduated from Smith this past year. She was abroad in Paris two years ago, and she lived with my host family! We got together for coffee to discuss Paris life and our host family. She told me a bunch of fun embarassing stories, including the one about how I got the bed that I have now. She told me about how it was December and she was really stressed out. She threw herself onto the bed, and the wooden frame on the bottom cracked. So now I have a newish bed!
She seemed like a really cool person, and I'm glad we got together. She had tons of fun stories, including re-settling into Paris life. After hearing about all the paperwork she had to do, I feel a little more grateful for the steps Smith has taken to make things easier for us (though I'm still pissed at Peebster for choosing not to help me with my Spanish class situation).
After that, I rushed home, got my stuff together, and headed out for frisbee. I hadn't eaten much all day. Before I went to practice, I figured out how I could get to McDonald's. I am CRAVING comfort food, and all I wanted was a McFlurry. The whole practice, I pushed myself, knowing that the end of practice would mean a tasty, creamy, icy treat.
I was on the metro, dreaming of my ice cream, looking out the window. I looked down to the sidewalk below and, written in chalk below someone special's window, there were the words "JE T'AIME!". It made me smile out loud. Yes, yes it did.
I got off the metro and was walking to McDo, when I saw those little plastic yellow yield signs that people buy for their cars. It said "Bébé à bord!" and it made me laugh that "Baby on board" really translates.
However, after the 15 minute walk to McDo at quarter to midnight, I asked for my "MacFleurrie", and the woman replied, in English, "I am sorry, no ice!" ("glace" in French means both "ice" and "ice cream")
I could've cried right then, saying my, "C'est pas grave". It really was grave!
Anyway, it kept me going through frisbee practice, and I guess that's all that matters. Now, time for shower, cheese and bread, homework, and SLEEP before I have the longest day of my life.
Good night!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Chère la Sorbonne,
I do not like doing homework. You give me too much. I have class from 10:00 until 3:30. No stops. Plus, I have to run from one class to another (RUN) to make it to class on time. This is not a good thing.
Also, I just got back from a party that YOU hosted for your international students. WTF, Sorbonne? I have two of your classes tomorrow AND I have to find the time to register for another one that I don't have on my schedule yet.
PLUS I have to find time to sleep and have so much fun in the city of lights! This is too hard! Something's gotta give. And I think it's you.
We had an okay first week. I think I'm done, though. No more classes for me. I'm ready to throw in the towel and just live as a street performer. Just me and my guitare.
I hope you understand. It's not you; it's me.
Love,
Jamie
Also, I just got back from a party that YOU hosted for your international students. WTF, Sorbonne? I have two of your classes tomorrow AND I have to find the time to register for another one that I don't have on my schedule yet.
PLUS I have to find time to sleep and have so much fun in the city of lights! This is too hard! Something's gotta give. And I think it's you.
We had an okay first week. I think I'm done, though. No more classes for me. I'm ready to throw in the towel and just live as a street performer. Just me and my guitare.
I hope you understand. It's not you; it's me.
Love,
Jamie
Friday, October 10, 2008
Minou!
I'm watching Monsters and Co. in French on a Friday night.
I passed on salsa night in favor of staying in and watching Disney movies with Alix. It was a good choice, since my body was BEAT. I still hate having classes on Friday, but I'm sure I'll get by. Also, I've planned on not taking any Spanish classes next semester and just chilling out. I can take my last Spanish class my senior year at Smith.
I'm not sure what's on the menu for this weekend. I think tomorrow is going to be Thanksgiving (a store with American specialties!), maybe some makeover time for me (we'll see.. I think the main thing that I've got planned is to dye my hair, since my personal shopping assistant doesn't seem up for the shopping portion tomorrow), and my Spanish homework.
Sunday involves a Sorbonne party and Elise's Ratatouille "Anyone Can Cook" cookbook for hamburgers. Monday is Catherine's party for her birthday.
I'm glad that things have been a bit more laid-back. I'm not always ready for Paris: Guerilla Style. I was just thinking about how I really haven't had a day for myself in awhile. I liked just having one day where I stayed home all day and wrote postcards. I need that sometimes.
It's 3 a.m. in Paris, so I should probably hit the hay. Bonne nuit!
I passed on salsa night in favor of staying in and watching Disney movies with Alix. It was a good choice, since my body was BEAT. I still hate having classes on Friday, but I'm sure I'll get by. Also, I've planned on not taking any Spanish classes next semester and just chilling out. I can take my last Spanish class my senior year at Smith.
I'm not sure what's on the menu for this weekend. I think tomorrow is going to be Thanksgiving (a store with American specialties!), maybe some makeover time for me (we'll see.. I think the main thing that I've got planned is to dye my hair, since my personal shopping assistant doesn't seem up for the shopping portion tomorrow), and my Spanish homework.
Sunday involves a Sorbonne party and Elise's Ratatouille "Anyone Can Cook" cookbook for hamburgers. Monday is Catherine's party for her birthday.
I'm glad that things have been a bit more laid-back. I'm not always ready for Paris: Guerilla Style. I was just thinking about how I really haven't had a day for myself in awhile. I liked just having one day where I stayed home all day and wrote postcards. I need that sometimes.
It's 3 a.m. in Paris, so I should probably hit the hay. Bonne nuit!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
I'm posting my schedule, as much for your information as for mine
It's been friggin insane around here lately. My classes are all up and running, which makes me realize just how many things I wanted to take. I didn't realize that they would all clash with each other, and it seems that Smith isn't as willing to help with things as I had originally thought. I've been basically on my own as the only other person in the program taking a living Romance language, and I've been shit out of luck so far in trying to sort out my Spanish classes.
In any case, my fat lip has stopped swelling, the weather was gorgeous today, and I got to go to my teacher's apartment today by the enormous Bibliothèque Nationale (National Library, the huge François Mitterrand one). We discussed my interest in "Restos du Coeur", and she talked me through the process of applying. Also, she has a cute dog named "Eclipse". She took to me right away and even layed on me for most of the time. I'm glad I wound up going to my teacher's apartment instead of meeting at Reid Hall. I really liked getting to play with her dog, and I even found some really good pizza around the corner. The guy behind the counter playfully made fun of my accent, and when he was filling my bag with the pizza and apple juice I had ordered, he reached behind the counter and pulled out a pink straw for me. It was kind of adorable.
I also just love looking at the Bibliothèque Nationale. It's stunning! On the way back home, I took the RER, which is kind of like Metro North. It's the commuter rail, and the trains have two levels. I love sitting upstairs. I wound up taking the RER, since I knew I wouldn't have to transfer. I had never taken it alone before, and it was quite relaxing. I ate my pizza and people-watched. I got excited when we went above ground, and we even saw a Statue of Liberty that I didn't know about just along the Seine! It took probably 15-20 minutes longer than it would have if I had just taken the metro with the transfers, but it felt good to sit and look around for awhile.
Without further ado, my schedule!
Monday:
10:00 - 11:30: Spanish (Theme class) at Clignancourt
11:30 - 12:30: Spanish (Modern Version) at Clignancourt
13:00 - 15:30: La France et l'Europe (at Middlebury Center, which takes exactly a half hour to get to. Also, I got lost trying to get there the first time, so I've already missed 1.5 classes. It's going to be a pain in the ass to get from Clignancourt to Madeleine in exactly a half hour. I also have to remember to buy lunch beforehand!)
21:00 - 22:15: Indoor Frisbee Practice! (takes about an hour to get there and back though)
Tuesday:
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. YES YOU HEARD RIGHT. I'm about to fill out my application for Restos du Coeur, and hopefully I'll be volunteering on Tuesdays and Thursdays, since I don't have anything else. Except...
20:30 - 23:00: Outdoor Frisbee Practice! Less fun! Especially in the rain! (an hour there and back)
Wednesday:
9:30 - 11:30: Methodology at Reid Hall
12:00 - 13:00: Art History TD
14:00 - 16:00: Art History extra help course (every other week)
18:30 - 20:30: Art History lecture
Thursday:
Nothing! For real! No frisbee practice or anything! We might make it our salsa night, once people start getting their business together.
Friday:
14:00 - 15:00: Spanish lecture at Clignancourt
15:00 - 16:30: Spanish (Classic Version) at Clignancourt
So not too bad. It just sucks that my Mondays and Wednesdays are death. It meant that this week went by pretty quickly, which is nice. I hope that it keeps up, and I don't start stressing too much. Right now, I've just cleaned my room, I'm about to settle down to get all of my homework done that I have so far, and I have water with sirop de citron. Mmm.
Also, it's 7:00, which means dinner in an hour with all luck. I just heard my host mom come home, I think, so that's all you get for now! Bisous!
In any case, my fat lip has stopped swelling, the weather was gorgeous today, and I got to go to my teacher's apartment today by the enormous Bibliothèque Nationale (National Library, the huge François Mitterrand one). We discussed my interest in "Restos du Coeur", and she talked me through the process of applying. Also, she has a cute dog named "Eclipse". She took to me right away and even layed on me for most of the time. I'm glad I wound up going to my teacher's apartment instead of meeting at Reid Hall. I really liked getting to play with her dog, and I even found some really good pizza around the corner. The guy behind the counter playfully made fun of my accent, and when he was filling my bag with the pizza and apple juice I had ordered, he reached behind the counter and pulled out a pink straw for me. It was kind of adorable.
I also just love looking at the Bibliothèque Nationale. It's stunning! On the way back home, I took the RER, which is kind of like Metro North. It's the commuter rail, and the trains have two levels. I love sitting upstairs. I wound up taking the RER, since I knew I wouldn't have to transfer. I had never taken it alone before, and it was quite relaxing. I ate my pizza and people-watched. I got excited when we went above ground, and we even saw a Statue of Liberty that I didn't know about just along the Seine! It took probably 15-20 minutes longer than it would have if I had just taken the metro with the transfers, but it felt good to sit and look around for awhile.
Without further ado, my schedule!
Monday:
10:00 - 11:30: Spanish (Theme class) at Clignancourt
11:30 - 12:30: Spanish (Modern Version) at Clignancourt
13:00 - 15:30: La France et l'Europe (at Middlebury Center, which takes exactly a half hour to get to. Also, I got lost trying to get there the first time, so I've already missed 1.5 classes. It's going to be a pain in the ass to get from Clignancourt to Madeleine in exactly a half hour. I also have to remember to buy lunch beforehand!)
21:00 - 22:15: Indoor Frisbee Practice! (takes about an hour to get there and back though)
Tuesday:
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. YES YOU HEARD RIGHT. I'm about to fill out my application for Restos du Coeur, and hopefully I'll be volunteering on Tuesdays and Thursdays, since I don't have anything else. Except...
20:30 - 23:00: Outdoor Frisbee Practice! Less fun! Especially in the rain! (an hour there and back)
Wednesday:
9:30 - 11:30: Methodology at Reid Hall
12:00 - 13:00: Art History TD
14:00 - 16:00: Art History extra help course (every other week)
18:30 - 20:30: Art History lecture
Thursday:
Nothing! For real! No frisbee practice or anything! We might make it our salsa night, once people start getting their business together.
Friday:
14:00 - 15:00: Spanish lecture at Clignancourt
15:00 - 16:30: Spanish (Classic Version) at Clignancourt
So not too bad. It just sucks that my Mondays and Wednesdays are death. It meant that this week went by pretty quickly, which is nice. I hope that it keeps up, and I don't start stressing too much. Right now, I've just cleaned my room, I'm about to settle down to get all of my homework done that I have so far, and I have water with sirop de citron. Mmm.
Also, it's 7:00, which means dinner in an hour with all luck. I just heard my host mom come home, I think, so that's all you get for now! Bisous!
Monday, October 6, 2008
Frisbupdate:
So there's this girl Giovane, right? And she looks exactly like what Ruth would look like, if she were 100% Italian. She even started stalling me in Italian today! (uno... due... tre. I thought of you, Chris, if you read this!)
BUT THEN. We were both going for the disc, and now I have a fat lip where she smacked me in the face. I'm going to fetch something cold and take some Tylenol to help the swelling. Maybe.
Barghhh I don't want to look like Melanie Griffith!!!!!
Also, I had Spanish today, and I had 5 hours of class IN A ROW and I don't know if I'll survive Mondays. I'll tell you later, though.
BUT THEN. We were both going for the disc, and now I have a fat lip where she smacked me in the face. I'm going to fetch something cold and take some Tylenol to help the swelling. Maybe.
Barghhh I don't want to look like Melanie Griffith!!!!!
Also, I had Spanish today, and I had 5 hours of class IN A ROW and I don't know if I'll survive Mondays. I'll tell you later, though.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
*ahem*
Dear Paris,
Nuit Blanche was a bust and a half. We tried the Musee d'Orsay, the Louvre, and a train station where there was supposed to be a Bollywood show. We waited until midnight. No fun.
Instead we wound up splitting off (after seeing boys from Reid at the train station!), going to Montparnasse for 1 a.m. pizza and waffles, sitting and talking for a half hour, and going home.
Not the night I expected, nor the night I wanted. It was okay nonetheless, and I'm as always thankful for the friends that I have here. It's hard to think of what it would've been like if I didn't have anyone with whom to laugh at the situation.
It was a nice night anyway, with the weird gay boys in that metro, and the Penn guys that we met, and the street food, and the waiting in Reid Hall for like 3 hours, and tomatoes and prosciutto for dinner in the jardin du Luxembourg.
Maybe next time, we'll read the website more closely. Thanks for harvesting a little bit of amusing times, anyway.
Love,
Jamie
P.S. ABBY MCINTYRE, WHERE WERE YOU? And did you have more fun than me? You should tell me about it.
Nuit Blanche was a bust and a half. We tried the Musee d'Orsay, the Louvre, and a train station where there was supposed to be a Bollywood show. We waited until midnight. No fun.
Instead we wound up splitting off (after seeing boys from Reid at the train station!), going to Montparnasse for 1 a.m. pizza and waffles, sitting and talking for a half hour, and going home.
Not the night I expected, nor the night I wanted. It was okay nonetheless, and I'm as always thankful for the friends that I have here. It's hard to think of what it would've been like if I didn't have anyone with whom to laugh at the situation.
It was a nice night anyway, with the weird gay boys in that metro, and the Penn guys that we met, and the street food, and the waiting in Reid Hall for like 3 hours, and tomatoes and prosciutto for dinner in the jardin du Luxembourg.
Maybe next time, we'll read the website more closely. Thanks for harvesting a little bit of amusing times, anyway.
Love,
Jamie
P.S. ABBY MCINTYRE, WHERE WERE YOU? And did you have more fun than me? You should tell me about it.
Chocolate truffles from Monoprix might be just as good as those from a chocolatier.
Even though they're not covered in cocoa. So good.
I'm in Reid Hall with Alix and her friend from Oberlin. We're getting ready for les Nuits Blanche. Basically, every neat museum/exhibition is open ALL NIGHT LONG. We're starting at Musée d'Orsay, and then making our way around Paris. The metro closes at 2, but one line is staying open all night. It is sure to be goodtimes.
I had my first Spanish class on Friday. First off, Friday classes are no fun. Second, I've just discovered that I'm taking 19 credits, plus the volunteering class, plus actually volunteering with Restos du Coeur ("restaurants for the heart"). Plus, I was hoping to become a waitress. We'll see.
In any case, Spanish class was kind of neat. I didn't like that it was conducted in French, and it seems like it's more of a linguistics class than anything. I sat next to a girl, who I talked to for a little bit. However, I didn't catch her name or where she was from, because she had a heavy accent. She may have been from Spain? She's on the Erasmus program, which I don't know about.
Anyway, about to get ready for Nuit Blanche! Have a good evening, world!
I'm in Reid Hall with Alix and her friend from Oberlin. We're getting ready for les Nuits Blanche. Basically, every neat museum/exhibition is open ALL NIGHT LONG. We're starting at Musée d'Orsay, and then making our way around Paris. The metro closes at 2, but one line is staying open all night. It is sure to be goodtimes.
I had my first Spanish class on Friday. First off, Friday classes are no fun. Second, I've just discovered that I'm taking 19 credits, plus the volunteering class, plus actually volunteering with Restos du Coeur ("restaurants for the heart"). Plus, I was hoping to become a waitress. We'll see.
In any case, Spanish class was kind of neat. I didn't like that it was conducted in French, and it seems like it's more of a linguistics class than anything. I sat next to a girl, who I talked to for a little bit. However, I didn't catch her name or where she was from, because she had a heavy accent. She may have been from Spain? She's on the Erasmus program, which I don't know about.
Anyway, about to get ready for Nuit Blanche! Have a good evening, world!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Owwww heels are always a bad idea!
I hope that I'm wearing them in, though. Maybe they'll get better?
I'm kind of doubting it. I even stealthily wore socks under my stockings, since I knew I was going to be dying. It hurt anyway.
Today, my Phonetics class was cancelled. I found this out when I woke up, turned on my computer, checked my e-mail, and promptly pondered whether or not I should go back to sleep. I did not, but I spent about 5 hours doing the following:
- shower
- www.mixwit.com/jmeliado (I'm kind of in love with making mixed tapes now)
- breakfast of Corn Flakes
- writing out lots of letters and postcards!
I got an e-mail from our associate director saying that I had to give her more identification photos for my carte de séjour, so I finally got my butt in gear and left for Reid Hall. I gave in my photos and a receipt from the Louvre (so I could be reimbursed for the ticket to get in), printed out the forms that I need to register for the frisbee team, and finished up my letters so I could send them off.
For some reason, my legs felt like they were seizing today. I tried to walk it out, but it was really annoying. I hope that my endurance for the crazy running we do at frisbee practice starts improving so I'm not dying after every practice.
Anyway, I walked around for a really long while, hoping it would help my legs. I got back home, and our maid was doing the ironing. She is really sweet. Later, we had a dinner of penne (with parmesan, onions, and cream), bread and cheese (Camembert, Conté, and Chèvre), and grapes and apples for dessert. So good!
Afterward, I got a random Skype message from Alix, asking if I wanted to go to Bar Dix. I thought that there would be more of us coming, but it turned out that it was just the two of us, and we both wound up showing up at the same time, twenty minutes after we said we'd meet up. After an evening of hilarity, including never finding Bar Dix, getting not-so-hopelessly lost, pretending we were deaf, getting hit on anyway, meeting up with Rachel, me calling the wrong Rachel 6 times, getting up to Gare de Nord to meet up with Alix's friend, checking him into his hostel, giving up on finding street waffles...
Anyway, here I am, with sore feet, wide eyes, and complete unwillingness to wake up in 8 hours to get to class for 9:30. Boo. We'll see. I also might take a quick nap and wake up to see the Vice Presidential Debate. Whoo!
Also, you need to watch this:
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1832128
I'm kind of doubting it. I even stealthily wore socks under my stockings, since I knew I was going to be dying. It hurt anyway.
Today, my Phonetics class was cancelled. I found this out when I woke up, turned on my computer, checked my e-mail, and promptly pondered whether or not I should go back to sleep. I did not, but I spent about 5 hours doing the following:
- shower
- www.mixwit.com/jmeliado (I'm kind of in love with making mixed tapes now)
- breakfast of Corn Flakes
- writing out lots of letters and postcards!
I got an e-mail from our associate director saying that I had to give her more identification photos for my carte de séjour, so I finally got my butt in gear and left for Reid Hall. I gave in my photos and a receipt from the Louvre (so I could be reimbursed for the ticket to get in), printed out the forms that I need to register for the frisbee team, and finished up my letters so I could send them off.
For some reason, my legs felt like they were seizing today. I tried to walk it out, but it was really annoying. I hope that my endurance for the crazy running we do at frisbee practice starts improving so I'm not dying after every practice.
Anyway, I walked around for a really long while, hoping it would help my legs. I got back home, and our maid was doing the ironing. She is really sweet. Later, we had a dinner of penne (with parmesan, onions, and cream), bread and cheese (Camembert, Conté, and Chèvre), and grapes and apples for dessert. So good!
Afterward, I got a random Skype message from Alix, asking if I wanted to go to Bar Dix. I thought that there would be more of us coming, but it turned out that it was just the two of us, and we both wound up showing up at the same time, twenty minutes after we said we'd meet up. After an evening of hilarity, including never finding Bar Dix, getting not-so-hopelessly lost, pretending we were deaf, getting hit on anyway, meeting up with Rachel, me calling the wrong Rachel 6 times, getting up to Gare de Nord to meet up with Alix's friend, checking him into his hostel, giving up on finding street waffles...
Anyway, here I am, with sore feet, wide eyes, and complete unwillingness to wake up in 8 hours to get to class for 9:30. Boo. We'll see. I also might take a quick nap and wake up to see the Vice Presidential Debate. Whoo!
Also, you need to watch this:
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1832128
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Guess what?
I bought a guitar! It is this one:
http://www.music123.com/Yamaha-JR1-Mini-Folk-Guitar-510692-i1146546.Music123
I love it muchly. I brought it to the Louvre today, which was a little bit of bad planning on my part. I had to check it with the coat guys, who were majorly hitting on us while we went to get our stuff afterward.
As neat as it was going to the Louvre for an art history lesson, it was kind of lame. Our professor was pretty condescending in a faux-sweet way. I'm glad I only have to see her once every two weeks.
Everything's going really well so far. The only thing that's bugging me is that I keep over-planning my days. I think that this has had a major impact on my sleeping schedules. Each night for the past 3 nights, I've dreamt about what I was going to do the next day, completely. Monday night, though, I remember dreaming that I went home for a day but I was trying to run around, get to frisbee practice on time, find the things in my room that I wanted to bring back to France, see everyone at Smith, and hang with the family. Somehow, my mom wound up at frisbee practice. It was really weird.
I think it might also have something to do with the fact that I've been using my computer in my bed. I think I should reserve my bed for only sleeptimes.
But it's hard! My desk is right by the window, and it gets so cold!
I'm going to try to go to sleep soon so I'm well rested for tomorrow. A bientot, tout le monde!
http://www.music123.com/Yamaha-JR1-Mini-Folk-Guitar-510692-i1146546.Music123
I love it muchly. I brought it to the Louvre today, which was a little bit of bad planning on my part. I had to check it with the coat guys, who were majorly hitting on us while we went to get our stuff afterward.
As neat as it was going to the Louvre for an art history lesson, it was kind of lame. Our professor was pretty condescending in a faux-sweet way. I'm glad I only have to see her once every two weeks.
Everything's going really well so far. The only thing that's bugging me is that I keep over-planning my days. I think that this has had a major impact on my sleeping schedules. Each night for the past 3 nights, I've dreamt about what I was going to do the next day, completely. Monday night, though, I remember dreaming that I went home for a day but I was trying to run around, get to frisbee practice on time, find the things in my room that I wanted to bring back to France, see everyone at Smith, and hang with the family. Somehow, my mom wound up at frisbee practice. It was really weird.
I think it might also have something to do with the fact that I've been using my computer in my bed. I think I should reserve my bed for only sleeptimes.
But it's hard! My desk is right by the window, and it gets so cold!
I'm going to try to go to sleep soon so I'm well rested for tomorrow. A bientot, tout le monde!
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