Tonight, Monsieur and Madame hosted myself and my roommate for dinner tonight.
Needless to say, tonight was one of my favorite nights I've had in Paris.
Madame cooked a wonderful dinner, and this time around, I spoke more French and asked more questions. It was fascinating to hear stories about both their families, their brothers and sisters, other relatives, their children, etc. They also got us a little Christmas gift, a little calendar of Paris photographs. So sweet!
They insisted on me playing some piano, so I played a little. Had a few mistakes, but oh well. It went well.
But I didn't realize how much I'm going to miss them until I started going upstairs to my room. I got this giant lump in my throat and could feel my post-meal smile turning into a frown. They are the sweetest people in the world who have been so hospitable and wonderful.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Now or Never
It's my last weekend in Paris.
Where did the time go? Now it's going to be a matter of finishing up my sightseeing, buying some last minute souvenirs and Christmas gifts, and trying soaking in this wonderful city before going back to the states.
These past two days I've been able to see some places which I'll write about later. Today is a Champs/Arc/Sorbonne/Walking day. Tomorrow is Madeleine/Grand Palais/Galeries Lafayettes day.
Oh good Lord. Today was so not the day of meeting objectives. The three of us (me, Kirstie and Mandi) were so tried. Plus, Sorbonne bookstore was closed. We just weren't feeling it. But I did get some more macaroons at Laduree; I shall return again. God help my waistline.
Oh, and packing? I've already accepted the fact that my luggage shall be overweight. I think my souvenirs way more than my clothes.
Where did the time go? Now it's going to be a matter of finishing up my sightseeing, buying some last minute souvenirs and Christmas gifts, and trying soaking in this wonderful city before going back to the states.
Oh good Lord. Today was so not the day of meeting objectives. The three of us (me, Kirstie and Mandi) were so tried. Plus, Sorbonne bookstore was closed. We just weren't feeling it. But I did get some more macaroons at Laduree; I shall return again. God help my waistline.
Oh, and packing? I've already accepted the fact that my luggage shall be overweight. I think my souvenirs way more than my clothes.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
La Neige!!
Mes amis! L'hiver est ici dans la ville de Paris!
I'm currently sitting in my room, watching the snow swirl around, sipping on my hot chocolate. And I have Christmas music playing in the background. It's like a dream!
But this morning was anything but. Our class had a walking tour... at 8:30 in the morning... for 3 hours... in the cold... and it was semi sleeting, then hailing.
MISERABLE.
But as soon as I got to cours pratiques, the snow started. That was probably between 12:30 and 1. It's 15 minutes until 4, and it's still snowing. It's keeps going in and out of heaviness, and I'm hoping it stops because tomorrow I want to take more pictures. I think we will definitely get a few inches. Isn't that insane? Sorry New England, but Paris wins so far with snow this season. We've had days of flurries and such, but today is a real snowstorm.
Suffice to say, I'm skipping phonetics class tonight. Because while the snow is lovely, walking through snow and slush... without my snow boats... is quite vexing.
But please enjoy the photos! The last one is the view from outside my window.
Monday, December 6, 2010
So it begins
The week before the final stretch, oh my. How am I supposed to leave a city where in some parts, I'm a local? Just today I gave a wave to the man who runs my favorite bakery. He waved back with a wink and a smile. How can I leave that? But I digress.
So this weekend Sarah and her friend came to visit! We were able to do a few things, but I'm disappointed in that we didn't see as much as we wanted. From trying to find each other to missing certain Metro stops, it was adventurous none the less.
Sunday after they left I ventured to Napoleon's tomb, which was quite a site! Even in death his ego reigns with high relief carvings of himself doing wonderful things for France. After a successful find at the gift shop, I went home to do some hw and some chats with the parents.
Today, for some reason, has been great. After class I went back to this church we visited in architecture, L'eglise de Saint-Germain 'Auxerrois. It was once the parish of the French kings, since it's right next to the Louvre which for centuries was the official royal residence. I loved it, a mix of different styles, a bit dark. Some parts looked unfinished or partly deconsecrated because of the Revolution. Basically, it had character. I have found this church and others to have character, unlike Notre-Dame.
Yes, Notre-Dame is greatly tied with the history of Paris, but I find now that sometimes, the holiness of the place is lessened by the insane amounts of tourists taking photos. I realize I have mentioned that in my opinion, churches are fine to take photos of. But when it's hundred of loud talking tourists interrupting people at prayer or during Mass, it's a different story. No photos should be allowed. And, so much of Notre-Dame is restored. It's an unauthentic authentic church. I also find that Notre-Dame tries to pry as much money out of tourists and the faithful as possible. I understand churches need money, no shit sherlock. But there are more respectable and honorable ways of getting that money.
Have a gift shop, but perhaps put it downstairs or something, because it really disrupts the doings of a church. A church or any place of worship, needs to have a level of sanctity and solitude. I think Notre-Dame has frankly lost it. It only happens during Mass or Veneration of the Relics of the Passion. Once that is over, Notre-Dame is just a noisy loud building with the sounds of camera's clicking away.
So this weekend Sarah and her friend came to visit! We were able to do a few things, but I'm disappointed in that we didn't see as much as we wanted. From trying to find each other to missing certain Metro stops, it was adventurous none the less.
Sunday after they left I ventured to Napoleon's tomb, which was quite a site! Even in death his ego reigns with high relief carvings of himself doing wonderful things for France. After a successful find at the gift shop, I went home to do some hw and some chats with the parents.
Today, for some reason, has been great. After class I went back to this church we visited in architecture, L'eglise de Saint-Germain 'Auxerrois. It was once the parish of the French kings, since it's right next to the Louvre which for centuries was the official royal residence. I loved it, a mix of different styles, a bit dark. Some parts looked unfinished or partly deconsecrated because of the Revolution. Basically, it had character. I have found this church and others to have character, unlike Notre-Dame.
Yes, Notre-Dame is greatly tied with the history of Paris, but I find now that sometimes, the holiness of the place is lessened by the insane amounts of tourists taking photos. I realize I have mentioned that in my opinion, churches are fine to take photos of. But when it's hundred of loud talking tourists interrupting people at prayer or during Mass, it's a different story. No photos should be allowed. And, so much of Notre-Dame is restored. It's an unauthentic authentic church. I also find that Notre-Dame tries to pry as much money out of tourists and the faithful as possible. I understand churches need money, no shit sherlock. But there are more respectable and honorable ways of getting that money.
Have a gift shop, but perhaps put it downstairs or something, because it really disrupts the doings of a church. A church or any place of worship, needs to have a level of sanctity and solitude. I think Notre-Dame has frankly lost it. It only happens during Mass or Veneration of the Relics of the Passion. Once that is over, Notre-Dame is just a noisy loud building with the sounds of camera's clicking away.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Magic in the Air & A Reflection on December
Imagine this:
Stepping outside after class, the iPod playing The Nutcracker, and a light snow is falling from the sky. You turn the corner and the street has Christmas lights hanging from the tops of buildings. And as you stand in line at the grocery store, you watch and listen as two women talk about the trials and tribulations of motherhood, as the woman in line looks at her rambunctious 3 year old.
How life can sometimes feel unreal! But it's been magical watching Paris welcome the Christmas season.
And as magical as it is, I find it to always have a tinge of sadness, but especially now with the economic crisis, seeing people sleeping on the street. I just read in the Globe about people who will be loosing unemployment benefits on Christmas.
It's absolutely tragic, and it's anathema to the pictures of people shopping on Black Friday, or seeing giant groups of people walking down the Champs-Elysees with shopping bags.
I think this is the drawback of living in a major city. You see extremes: from economic status to belief systems. Most of the time, it's exhilarating, eye opening and incredible. But other times, like now, it's incredibly sad, gut wrenching, and humbling.
Being here in Paris, just being here abroad, has been one of the best things I could ever do for myself. How lucky am I to be here. And it only gets better with Sarah coming this weekend, and some fun excursions for my last 2 weeks in Paris. Let's roll out of here with a bang!
Laissez les bon temps rouler!!
Stepping outside after class, the iPod playing The Nutcracker, and a light snow is falling from the sky. You turn the corner and the street has Christmas lights hanging from the tops of buildings. And as you stand in line at the grocery store, you watch and listen as two women talk about the trials and tribulations of motherhood, as the woman in line looks at her rambunctious 3 year old.
How life can sometimes feel unreal! But it's been magical watching Paris welcome the Christmas season.
And as magical as it is, I find it to always have a tinge of sadness, but especially now with the economic crisis, seeing people sleeping on the street. I just read in the Globe about people who will be loosing unemployment benefits on Christmas.
It's absolutely tragic, and it's anathema to the pictures of people shopping on Black Friday, or seeing giant groups of people walking down the Champs-Elysees with shopping bags.
I think this is the drawback of living in a major city. You see extremes: from economic status to belief systems. Most of the time, it's exhilarating, eye opening and incredible. But other times, like now, it's incredibly sad, gut wrenching, and humbling.
Being here in Paris, just being here abroad, has been one of the best things I could ever do for myself. How lucky am I to be here. And it only gets better with Sarah coming this weekend, and some fun excursions for my last 2 weeks in Paris. Let's roll out of here with a bang!
Laissez les bon temps rouler!!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
17 days left... I think I need to get dual citizenship.
Well, the title sums up my feelings on my departure in almost 2 weeks. Ugh, the thought kills me.
Anyway, since Thanksgiving, some wonderful events.
*H&M on the Champs, naturally.
*Went to the apartment of Irene Nemirovsky.
*Paris is decorated for Christmas!!
*Went on a wonderful tour of the Memorial de la Shoah.
*Went to a Bach concert at Notre-Dame!!!!
*I've seen Harry Potter... TWICE!
So things in Paris are wonderful. I've realized that my time here has become like the purchase of my chocolate chocolate chip brioche. Here's why:
Paris, like the brioche, is wonderful and when you take a bite out of it, you instantly feel wonderful. You then want more, and take more, until before you know it, it's all gone. This is a real story, as I bought said brioche on Monday. It's now Wednesday, and it's all gone.
Luckily, I still have many more chances of buying said brioche in the 17 days I have left. My last weeks here are going to be full of food shopping, shopping, and site seeing... plus shopping.
Oh, and a Salve friend is coming this weekend. YAY!!
Anyway, since Thanksgiving, some wonderful events.
*H&M on the Champs, naturally.
*Went to the apartment of Irene Nemirovsky.
*Paris is decorated for Christmas!!
*Went on a wonderful tour of the Memorial de la Shoah.
*Went to a Bach concert at Notre-Dame!!!!
*I've seen Harry Potter... TWICE!
So things in Paris are wonderful. I've realized that my time here has become like the purchase of my chocolate chocolate chip brioche. Here's why:
Paris, like the brioche, is wonderful and when you take a bite out of it, you instantly feel wonderful. You then want more, and take more, until before you know it, it's all gone. This is a real story, as I bought said brioche on Monday. It's now Wednesday, and it's all gone.
Luckily, I still have many more chances of buying said brioche in the 17 days I have left. My last weeks here are going to be full of food shopping, shopping, and site seeing... plus shopping.
Oh, and a Salve friend is coming this weekend. YAY!!
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