This weekend has been lovely.

Saturday I hung out with Becca in the morning and watched project runway...but mostly just listened to her sing and play guitar. I appreciate musically inclined people so much. She's just too cool.
In the afternoon I went to Le Marais again to browse some vintage shops. I got a dress and a skirt for quite a bargain. I've been to all the vintage stores in Le Marais that the Cherry Blossom Girl recomended. Partly because it's really unique and cheap shopping, and partly because I want to meet run into her at her favorite stores and become her best friend and muse...If you're reading this, Alix...I'll meet you at Mamz’Elle Swing tomorrow at 12.

Saturday night we all went to L'Antidote at Place Monge again. It's always fun there and we always end up meeting cool people. We made friends with the bouncer and his posse so...that's good, right?

Yesterday was a lovely Sunday...we all went to the Eiffel Tower in the morning and I chose to walk up the stairs rather than take the elevator. Such a good choice. There are about 660 stairs to the second level, and it was tiring and I was sweating as usual, but it was so beautiful to be feeling the fresh air and really getting to take my time to enjoy the view of the city. We got to the top and took pictures til my face hurt from smiling.

In the late afternoon we hd a picnic in the park across the street, and then we went to a pub right by Notre Dame called The Great Canadian to watch AMERICAN football HOORAH. I actually got to watch a bit of the Sox game too. I was so happy to be just surrounded by AMERICA for a few hours. The pub was just filled with American ex-pats and students who wanted to see a game.

We chatted with 3 groups of people who were in the early 30's and had moved to Paris for work. They all we saying how studying abroad while in college was the best decision of their lives and they were really pushing us to live it up everyday.

That was my weekend. I post pictures soon.
Gotta go write a paper. Woof.

Love,

Erica

Les trucs qui me manques

3 hole punches. They don't sell them here, because all the binders here have either 4 rings or 2 rings...and all the paper has 4 holes or 2 holes. I have a useless 3 ring binder right now, and I bought a 2 hole punch because I was desperate...it isn't any use.

Iced coffee. I know I know, lame...I still haven't been desperate enough to go sell out and go to Starbucks for a 5 euro iced coffee, which would actually be about $7.50. I guess I don't miss iced coffee as much as trips to get iced coffee with frans.

Peanut butter. Oh lordie. The staple of my diet is missing. I found peanut butter here...but it is like a rare as gold, and it costs 7 euro. I'm trying to assimilate and not buy it.

Pandora. It doesn't work here. I've been using grooveshark to listen to music.

Drugstores. CVS, Rite Aide, Brooks whatever. France has "pharmacies" everywhere, but they only sell top of the line products, like the best of the best shampoo and face wash. You can find what I would consider "drugstore brands" at grocery stores, but they have a tiny selection. Also, you can't buy any over the counter medicine at a grocery store or convenient store--it's not allowed, OTC just doesn't exist here. You have to go to a pharmacie to buy ANY medicine, and you have to ask the pharmacist for it. It took me forever to figure that out when I was looking for Tylenol in the grocery stores and couldn't find it anywhere.

My flippin dog. So many people own Westies here, they roam the streets like squirrels.

My Gay-dar. My gay-dar just doesn't work here. A lot of guys here dress in a way that if they were in the States, everyone's gay-dar would ring the ALARM. Guys are just more into fashion, tight clothing and ascots here. And it's OK for guys to kiss on the cheek when they meet and say good-bye. Like. YA GAY.


Vegetarian things. Being vegetarian here isn't so easy. I've been strugglin. Everyone LOVES meat here. I wouldn't say that vegetarianism is more common in the states, but restaurants are more willing to have a vegetarian option on their menu to be accommodating and get vegetarian business. I think that here, the taste of food isn't to be meddled with by leaving out meat.

That's it...everything else I need is here.
I found new friends...and I mean, I'm having thanksgiving dinner here with everyone, so that's like family.

NAH. Can't even joke. I would rather never have any of the aforementioned things ever again (except my dog. duh.) than ditch my friends and fam. Miss you!

Now off to enjoy a beaut Saturday afternoon.

Red Sox

No one here knows about baseball...and if they do, they only know the word "Yankees". Not anything about them, just the word.
Me "What sports are popular in the US?"
Students "Football?"
Me "Yes, but not soccer, American football. What else?"
Students "Yankees?"

Last night on the Metro, a guy got on my car with a Red Sox hat on! I rejoiced.
I pointed to his hat and asked in French, "You come from Boston?" He looked at me with a blank stare and said "Where?" and I pointed to his hat again and said "Red Sox...the team is from Boston" and he just shrugged and said "Sorry, I just bought it because I liked the colors"...

Awk.


BUT speaking of MA. A girl from Stonehill is HERE. She just arrived yesterday. I was really happy to see a familiar face.

This has nothing to do with Paris. Nothing.

The Highest of Pot Psychology from Pot Psychology on Vimeo.

Last night I was in my bed trying to fall asleep, and I was looking out of my window. You can see the spot light from the Tour Eiffel pass through the sky every so often. I was looking out from my bed, waiting to see pass by every time, and then I had this jolting realization that I'm in Paris.
It's not like this was the first time I understood that I wasn't in MA or at Stonehill, even though that would be funnier--it was the first time I'd actually completely relaxed here, enough to just lose myself for a second and then comeback and think "How did I end up here?"
I thought about that last night, and I decided it all began with 7th grade...maybe even 6th grade when I was...eleven or so? Everyone from good old Norwell remembers picking out what language we wanted to study in middle school. Well, I chose French, not because I had big dreams of moving to Paris and teaching English, but because everyone said it was easiest and I was terrified of even speaking English in class. French, being "easy" seemed like the best route for my self conscious, preteen self.
What makes my day is that what started as my being self conscious and terrified of learning another language has turned into something completely different. I'd like to think that if my 6th grade self hadn't been shy, I never would have ended up being brave enough to just take off to Paris.
I think that everything happens for a reason, but that's just being optimistic most of the time, except for right now. No matter what stage you're in in your life, that's the way it should be...being shy will teach you to appreciate confidence. Being afraid will make you even more proud of yourself when you are brave...maybe it will take 8 or so years so really work out, but it happens.
So I'm here, living in Paris, and already trying to make plans to come back. Thank you, little Erica.

Food Porn.

J'ai mal au ventre.

I feel sick, so I'm skipping phonetics so I'll feel up to going to my 2 hour class at 5. Makes sense, right? Ugh I hate missin class. I'm going to go nap, and feel better by 4:30.
Grr...alright.
I'm going to class.

"...and don't be sorry"

Condensing.

I have about 44 things to write about, but I'll just pick a few good ones.


Germany!

I'm trying very hard to get over to Germany next weekend. I'd go by myself to visit Annika. Right now though, my visa has some restriction on it that won't be sorted out for a while. If I'm lucky, it will be all set this week, but as of right now, France won't let me back in the country if I leave...

Ireland!

I'm planning a trip to Ireland with Walsh and possibly some other pals. I just have the greatest desire to visit. Right now the plan is to leave Friday Oct 16th and return Monday the 19th. Good plan? Yeah. Ryan Air is absurdly cheap. I would take the train and use my Eurail pass...but it only costs 4-15 euro to fly there, and it would take hours and hours off the trip.
Right now, my plan is to couch surf...not sure if this is a good idea or a bad idea. Right now, I'm really excited to try it out. Hostels around Dublin seem fine and plentiful, but expensive.

Mail!

I got a package from my family yesterday! I was so happy. SO. HAPPY.
I forgot so many things at home, and they shipped them all to me. My boots that I've been dying without, my French grammar book, scarves, belts and a few other things. Everyone in the fam write little notes on the inside of the box. Megan informed me that the "Real World is CRAZY". My dad told me "Carpe DIEM! I know you will."

Tour Eiffel!

We had a Mexican themed fiesta b-day party for Ashley last night. T'was a good time. I wanted to give like...a lesson to everyone there about fiesta people...but I refrained. I'm trying to make friends, not lose them just yet.
We went to the Eiffel Tower and hung out together on the lawn. Everyone is going to cry when I say this...but the Eiffel Tower is just OK....I mean IT'S BEAUTIFUL, but the area around it is so-so. It's not my favorite place to be in Paris. I had fun last night though. I feel like a downer now...

Hm well today has been good so far! I slept in, went for a run, did some reading...the best part is that I should be at my lecture today, but Katie, Jenn and I decided that we'll each go to one lecture a week, and take notes for each other beacause it's pointless for all of us to go. So Jenn is at today's lecture, and we're going to keep switching off. I am very happy about this.

Wish I had some good pictures to post, but I do not. Lots of pictures were taken last night...but not by me. Honestly, I just always forget to charge my camera. I'll do that now.

Bisous!
Bonne journée!

Erica

Braggin'

Real fast.

Phonetics is the most challenging class I've ever taken in my college career. I's an intensive class, so I have it every mutha uckin day until Oct 6th.
Yesterday was especially frustrating and I wanted to run away from class after trying to distinguish between the /u/ sound and the /y/ sound. If those phonetic letters don't mean anything to you, GOOD.

Today though, I was practicing and practicing away, and then out of the blue, our normally fast talking get down to bussiness we're running behind schedule no no no like THIS professor told me my pronunciation was "excellent"! and said "tres bien" after I practiced one on one with her. May not seem like a lot, but it make my day.

I've been up since 5am...time to sleep and dream about the approval of my French professors.

Mon stage!

I began my internship this morning!
Sabina and I left at 7 to get to the school at 8. On the way, we passed vom, homeless drunks sleeping and still drunk on the metro, and the smell of the metro before it has been cleaned in the AM...it was a foreboding journey.

We got to the school, and the teacher I am with was late...so, I hung around the teachers room for a while until she showed up, completely flustered. She's the sweetest woman, but very flighty. I went into class with her, she introduced me and I said a few words about myself, then she told me I'd be in the class next door and she'd come by to switch students in a half hour. Sur.prise.
I didn't expect that at all...I thought, from what she'd said, I would just be helping out in her class.
I actually teach a class, by myself, in my own classroom.
Since it was the first day, I just went around the room, had everyone say the typical "name, age, family, hobbies, what you want to learn about the US/English speakers etc". I talked about myself, why I'm here, what I'm studying and such. Then I told them about MA and Boston and drew lame maps on the board. Most of them had so many questions to ask me. They wanted to know what high school in American is REALLY like, if I liked Obama, what I want to be "when I grow up", what college is like etc. I did that with six groups of students from 8 to 11:20.

The students I was with were 12-15 years old. They were all great. Some are better English speakers than others, so I'm happy I know enough French to translate and explain English phrases, idioms etc in French when necessary.

The girls are so fashionable at the school. Some of them are your average 8th grade type girls, others are so put together its almost intimidating!

Next week, I'm going to actually have a lesson planned about NY, so I'm looking forward to that. Considering I loved it and it went pretty smoothly with my improv teaching, I think an actual lesson with be great.

The one with the video montage.

I thought I posted this last night, but I'm glad I didn't. I made a 20 or so minute video post...I watched some of it this morning and died a little. I got rid of about 15 minutes of my rambling, and did some kickass editing for your viewing pleasure. The result is a montage review of my Monday night...which wasn't even that exciting...at all.

King of Frip

I'm going for a run in the park across the way!
If you look at that map, Boulevard Jourdan is my street.
Now you know.

I got my shopping done yesterday. I got a 10 euro vintage dress and a clutch for 5 euro at King of Frip in le Marais.
But I negated that bargain with a 30 euro t shirt dress at American Apparel.
BUT then I got a belt and a dark purple shirt (as usual) at H&M for 17 euro.


Last night I had the most delicious dinner. I was so.so. happy. It only cost 11 euro for a pasta dish and a glass of wine at this classy restaurant by the Bastille...because the waitress gave us the wrong bill and we were at a moral crossroad...but our college student side beat out our do-gooder side.

I used the money I saved to buy a couple drinks at the bar we ended up at. It was a good time, but I'm not much of a crowded, loud bar type, unless drinks are cheap and everyone is jolly. I can't really complain...because drinks are almost always cheaper for gals.
We met two guys from Ireland last night too. Evie and I were looking at the rugby game on the tv and we were laughing and shaking our heads because we didn't know what was going on. So they came up to us and called us out right away for being American and clueless about rugby. Irish guys are the best. MK, I see why you want to marry one.

Time to RUN.

Peace frans.

Ye Olde Irish Cave

I'll post this but I shouldn't

New classes, making din and swine flu with traces of hypochondria

Oh noe

I overestimated how long it would take me to do my reading for class tonight by about 2 hours, so I have some time on my hands before class at 12.

I was going to do the reading last night, but I thought I was entering the early stages of swine flu, so I went to bed. I had nightmares about how I had to read what I thought was a full novel, and when I woke up this morning, I looked in the book and saw it was just a short poem...

So I finished that up and now I'm bloggin/online window shopping.

I've done a bit of shopping already...I want to buy almost every outfit I see in store windows, but I've refrained.

but I did buy...

Gray ankle boots with a heel that go *clack* when I walk
A gray vest from Zara- my favorite store here, it's like if H&M, Forever21 and Urban Outfitters impregnated Ann Taylor.
2 dresses, a pair of skinny jeans and a pair of leggings from H&M.

What's really popular here now are are these baggy trouser-like pants that are cinch around the ankles. I know, it sounds terrible, and I've been looking for a picture to show you, but no luck. I'm sure you can use your imagination. I've seen women wearing them back home, but they are EVERYWHERE here.

Women love vests, too. I mostly see them worn over an oversized chemise with leggings or skinny jeans. It's my favorite and I've already imitated it.

Hm what else what else. OH.

Leather jackets! Cropped and feminine looking--they're the friggin coolest. I want
one...says the former vegan...

The big thing though, is Converse. All ages, men and women, lovelovelove Converse high-tops, low-tops, accessories, clothing...Chuck Taylor All Stars are every.where.

I'm still looking for scarves, Miss Dior Cherie perfume, flats and one big splurge at Les Galeries Layfayette.

Mon stage, ma deuxieme class et St Michael.

Click play even though that is the most HEINOUS image of me...
...please?

I thought I'd video blog to save time...but it ended up being a feature length film. SO...
BYE.

Update

Class was great.
Not even playing with you.
The sweetest professor with the most diverse students in the least intimidating atmosphere ever. There was a girl from Columbia, one from Germany, Mexico City, Britain lalala and so many more. There are only 14 people in the class too.

I'll have my 3 lectures in the same building starting on Wednesday. Which makes me very happy I chose to live where I do because my classes are only 10 minutes away. The building is right flipping next to the Panthéon of the Sorbonne. Take a moment to admire it courtesy of Wikimedia. In the voice of Chandler Bing, Could I BE any happier?

So that's that. Tomorrow will be a busy day. I have a little meeting at the school I'll be interning at. I'm really looking forward to it...it's just that, well frankly, it sucks that the school is almost all the way across Paris. They call this a little city, but that's a big lie when you're just a petite fille riding the metro for an hour.

My schedule

le mecredi/w
+8h15-11h20, le stage a Saint Germain/internship (3 credits for showing up for all 30 hours, keeping a journal and writing a paper)

le lundi, jeudi et vendredi/m,th,f
+12h-13h, conferences de civilisation francaise/lectures (these only have a final exam and are 1 credit each)

lundi a vendredi/M-F
+15h30-16h30, phonetique (6 credits and it ends Oct 3rd, thank the lord)
+17h-19, classe de langue francaise (3 credits)

So if all goes as planned, I can get 15 credits this semester, for 18 euro worth of books might I add. I'm going to go to the lectures,...but I don't want to...especially because I have extra credits from AP tests I could use and still get by with only 12 credits here. There is an art history lecture that would be kick ass...
Hm, well now I'm just being lazy in Paris.

Bonne nuit mes amis!

Le premier jour de classe

Bonjour!

I went to get my schedule this morning with all the gals going to the Sorbonne...and I found out I placed in Advanced. Surprise!
I was shocked considering how, as I wrote before, my placement exam was ridiculous. Maybe I got some bonus points for bashing right-wing America?

Classes here are so different from back home. I got my little handwritten schedule, they GAVE me one of my books and I had to buy one more for 18 euro.

SO I have class from 5-7 M-F for a few weeks and then my other classes will start up soon, but I don't know the schedule for those yet.
The French just wing it, so I'm trying to get used to that.

Au revoir. I'll report back on how class goes...

Le Marais

Yesterday about 10 of us went to Chateau Chantilly. I thought it would have been owned by the inventors of whipped cream- which is chantilly in French, but I was wrong...I think. Our tour guide was very difficult to listen to.

Last night was a great time. Walsh, Liz and I went to the 5th to find a cool restaurant and cooler people. We did.
The 5th is made up of the Latin Quarter, so it's a young crowd, mostly students. We got delicious, expensive French food and pricey wine. The night was definitely a splurge but it was worth it.
We met up with the 4 other girls to go to an French/Irish pub down the street called L'Antidote. It was a really awesome crowd, really laid back and fun. We sat with a group of French students our age and told them we wanted to practice our French. Most of us ended up talking with them for the whole night. They really were the nicest and we might see them again. It felt great to hold a bit of a conversation with a real LIVE Frenchie in a bar in Paris. Finally.

We toured the Marais neighborhood today. T'was nice. It's actually the type of neighborhood I've been looking for since it's full of second hand and vintage shops.



Well, Becca, Kate and I just returned from the park across the street to make dinner here- So I'm off!

Bye for now : )

Oh la la la la

I am PRETTY sure I bombed the placement exam that puts me in a certain level for my classes.
For example. There was a short essay, "What television show do you never watch?"
First of all, I couldn't tell if this question was a joke.
Secondly, after deciding it was no joke, my answer became a joke.
My translated and abbreviated response.

In the United States, I rarely watch television. (My first mistake because this is irrelevant and I should have lied and said I fucking love TV).The main reason I do watch television however, is to see the news. I watch the news almost every morning. My favorite news show is the Today Show (my second mistake and my first lie). The news show I never watch is Fox News, in particular, the O'Reilly Factor on the same channel (my third mistake- getting political). I never watch this news show because I have different opinions than those of the show. I prefer more unbiased news. Although I respect the opinions of others(my fourth mistake, trying to make up for my previous indiscretion), I will change the channel right away if I see Bill O'Reilly (my fifth mistake- using the name Bill O'Reilly in a French essay).

My sixth mistake-not running away after I handed in my test.

After the test, I spent the afternoon at the musee d'orsay and it made me the happiest little thing in Paris. (Read this beaut) So fuck that test! If I am placed in elementary French classes, I will thoroughly enjoy them and the extra time I will have on my hands to explore Paris.





I got my internship placement today too! I'll be traveling across Paris on Wednesday mornings at 8 for 3 hours of interning at Saint Germain de Charonne. I'm really excited. I meet with the directrice on Tuesday with Sabina. I'll be working with 8th and 9th graders, but apparently, since it's a wee little private Catholic school, they're gems. And that's my second lie.

Going out for drinks in a bit! Peace my friends. Love and miss you.

PS: I bought my first baguette today : )

Le Cafe!

Today I woke up, went to the little Patisserie by Port d'Orleans for pain au chocolat and then went to buy a coffee maker, or une cafetière. I found one for 10 euro at Carrefour, a cheap supermarket chain.
I also got sugar cubes that came in cute shapes, milk that doesn't need to be refrigerated (which will never cease to concern me). But LOOK I photographed my little coffee station. So don't use your imagination, cause here you go :

Le Petit Voleur de Mots

I ventured to the Musée d’Orsay this morning at 10.
I was kicking myself from drinking/actin' a fool the night before, because I was a little tired and decaffeinated. However, I survived.

I got an annual pass to the museum and bought a book all about it because I plan on visiting many more times. There is so much to see and I fall in love with each painting and I just have to see them again. It's an easy Metro ride anyways. So I have a map of the museum on my wall and I'm checking off each section as I go. I got a good dent in it this morning. Plus I found a Christmas gift/souvenir for Mish there. Killin' two birds with one stone?

I went to a bookstore around the area afterward and found a little something for Jimmy too. The store was filled with awesome French literature, but I spent most of my time in the children's section. I found the most amazing book called Le Petit Voleur de Mots. The illustrations are so whimsical and perfect, I don't think kids would appreciate them enough anyways.


I had ratatouille for lunch and got a few things done before going to the center for galletes and crepes with everyone in the program. NOM.
As much as I miss being vegan, I had a delicious crepe for dinner with cheese, and a banana and nuttella crepe for dessert.

A few of us stuck around the center and watched L'Auberge Espagnole together. It's a feel good movie for sure. If you haven't seen it, please do. I can't imagine disliking it.

After that, Becca Kate and I went to a little cafe right next to the center for drinks. This place has happy hour from 3 to 11, so it's clearly our "new place" now. For Lucy, where ever you are roaming, I had the most delicious gin drinks, and I wished you were there to enjoy them with me : ) Gin fizz and some mix of gin, lime, grapefruit and salt called a Salty Dog. I love ordering things with English names here. You have to give it a French accent or else no one understands what you're trying to say. Un Solty Doug, s'il vous pliâtes.

Well I just hung up the phone from chatting with my dad and sister. I got to talk to Jimmy, Tim and Mish too. The best. Molly and I had a phone date, but I was stood up. So that's the deal-breaker for our friendship.

PLACEMENT EXAM tomorrow afternoon! Time for bed.
Bonne nuit :)

3x5

Le musée Rodin

This morning I woke up early early to get coffee in Becca's room before her Kate and I went to le musée Rodin . It was probably the best morning I've had here. I've missed home brewed, "American" coffee. It was actually Fair-trade Honduran coffee (even better, I know). I couldn't taste the sweat and tears of impoverished farmers a bit.

Le musée Rodin was fantastic! Bear with me... I was moved by the sculptures. Each one had a wonderful story behind them. It's one of those things I can't really describe...but when I saw these statues right in front of me, I knew I would never forget them.
SO. All of you should visit this museum A.S.A.P. so you can know what on earth I'm talking about.

Becca, Kate and I grabbed a crepe (I got Nutella. Nom) and went to the catacombs. Which are morbid and fascinating.

I didn't bring my camera with me today. I only regretted it when were in the garden of le musee Rodin and I was standing in front of le Penseur and the Eiffel Tower and the Hopital des Invalides were both in the distance.
Usually, when I'm on a trip, I bring my camera everywhere I go and it kills me when my memory card is full or my battery goes dead mid-museum or tour. But so far, I've used my camera a few times to photograph the people I'm with and a few key things I want everyone back home to see. Other than that, I think the things I see that mean a lot to me don't need to be photographed, because I'll remember them and want to visit them again. Basically, I just have it in the back of my mind that I'll be back in Paris many more times, so pictures aren't really my priority. Like DEAL.

...like I don't have pictures because I didn't actually visit these places.

So I mean, if you were WONDERING.
I got a new pillow yesterday.
Last night was the best night's sleep ofmylife.

This is what happens if you google.fr image search "oreiller". For the indecisive:

Montmatre, je t'aime.

Montmarte!

I love this neighborhood. It's the highest point in Paris, and the most lovely...in the quiet areas. It attracts beaucoup de tourists because of Le Cathédral Sacre Cœur at the very peak to the steps of Montmatre.

I love it for it's quiet and indescribably quaint sections. I mean, yes, it may be one of the most, if not the most, expensive neighborhoods in Paris, but all I want is to live there. Everyone does, that's why it's so expensive.

But prices aside, I spend last night in Montmarte on a tour with our group. I got to see a lot of where Amelie was filmed, which made me giddy to say the least. After the tour, we all spilt up and went to get dinner. I ended up with my first Cosmopolitan. I loved the girls I went to dinner with--I spent time with them tonight too. Like BFF?

After dinner, we went to a bar and got beers from the most handsome bartender. I tried to tip him to steal his heart monetarily, but alas, tips aren't accepted here, and he refused to take it. My advances turned into an awkward financial dispute.

We met a bunch of French guys on "holiday" who refused to speak French to us, because they wanted to practice their English. Conundrum.


Today and tonight were wonderful as usual. I woke up early to go to H&M and shop a bit before an internship meeting, then a bunch of us went to Notre Dame and got ice cream. Nom.
After that, Becca, Evangeline, Kate and I went shopping for dinner food and wine. You can find good wine at any grocery store chain for about 3 euro. Parfait!

We all got together and shared appetizery food and wine until midnight. I love them gals : )

Bonne nuit mes amis. Vous me manquez!

How to Survive in Paris

How to Survive in Paris.

1. Drink wine.
2. Meet friends to laugh with.
3. Laugh at yourself.
4. Know how to say, "Excusez-moi pour vous dérangez, Madame/Monsieur. Pour aller a la(insert destination here), s'il vous pliâtes?"
5. Drink wine.