In short, all of the adventures I've had these past two weeks.
I flew into Bologna from Paris and found myself up a creek without a paddle having missed my train. Luckily, I met two guys on the flight (an Argentinian and an Italian) who were kind enough to drive me the hour drive to Rimini. It was a comical flight; as you know I speak French and English, whereas these two gentlemen spoke Italian and Spanish. No common language meant relying on what little (and I mean little) knowledge I still retained on Spanish and theirs on English. It was great to meet them both- very sweet and friendly. I also met another ultimate team based in Paris during my flight. I think I will start playing with them this upcoming week!
The hotel I stayed at was beautiful, but Paganello was so special because my teammates were such exceptional people. Girl Drink Drunk (my team) was comprised of players from all over the world, I like to refer to as the UN actually. And it was such a great tournament. 4 days of crazy beach ultimate- 5 crazy parties that ended around 8am and a team full of wonderful people. I saw some incredible beach ultimate, met the author of one of my favorite ultimate books, met the creaters of FiveUltimate (a big brand of ultimate gear), and played some decent ultimate myself. I can honestly say it was one of the best experiences of my life. I was so impressed by the sheer numbers of players- over 1,500! I can't quite explain how silly and crazy my team was, but I recommend you check out facebook pictures if you're interested in a visual aid.
Then I moved on to Florence that Tuesday with one of my teammates Peter, a Chicagoan! We situated ourselves in a very swanky hotel (only for one night though) and then he moved on. In Florence I saw two replicas of Michaelango's David, Il Duomo (a gorgeous cathedral) and adored the beautiful architecture. It seems as though the city itself has progressed into the 21st century, but the buildings themselves savor the traditional architecture of the 1700s. Very beautiful. I had the lucky chance of meeting an excellent gentleman from Holland over my trip and we found a high point in the city overlooking all of Florence. Later on in the trip I also met another Paganello player from San Diego- very cool guys.
Moving (quickly) onto Rome, I met up with a high school friend who is originally German but is currently studying there in Rome. Worked out well for me, I was happy to see my friend, and he was kind enough to show me Rome and the Vatican City. Unfortunately, I have no pictures of the Vatican City because my camera batteries died! Unlucky huh? But I got great shots of the Pantheon and the Colosseum. It's always such a shocker when, after studying these huge monuments in school, you finally witness them for yourself. Quite a shock!
Gelato itself deserves its own paragraph. It is God's greatest gift to humankind (and the greatest curse to my waistline). However, it is an incredibly delicious dessert. I credit the best gelato I had to that I ate in Rimini... Stratiacella (or something) forever! Thankfully they don't have gelato like that in Paris because I would immediately substitute for all of my meals and be happy gaining 2390721 pounds!
Although I enjoyed my Italian vacation I was just happy to come back to Paris. I was homesick for Paris, forgive me for saying so, but I have really discovered my nitch here, at least for this point in my life. I can't be happier to be back. I'm getting ready for a dinner party tonight with some friends I haven't seen in a while (the two weeks I've been gone) and just feel happy to be back in my element.
I miss everybody from home, as well. There's nothing like home and hugs, but I find it easy to be apart because I remember something that my Daddy has told me since the day he started traveling. "I don't miss you because I take you with me everywhere I go in my heart". And that's exactly where you all are, in my heart.
mardi 21 avril 2009
lundi 6 avril 2009
Chez Francoise, on mange bien
After a 3-day weekend in a sweet little town (less than 1,000 people) in the French countryside, it's safe to say I've gained at least 5 pounds from eating better than I have my entire stay in France. My auntie (however much removed) played a magnificent hostess to myself and about 15 other family members over the weekend. My arrival on Saturday started off with a delicious beef roast with carrots and potatoes- it reminded me of a dish my mom makes and that I love. Then I took a well-needed nap (I was out a little late the night before) and woke up to find out that everybody was already there! So, I quickly descended to meet my extended french family members. We drank and ate (steak, shishkabobs, vegetables, etc) well into the night. I enjoyed cheeses of many flavors, wines, champagne, only to get up on Sunday and to do it all again. It was wonderful to meet (and re-meet) some of my cousins. My aunt and uncle have two sons- 25 and 22. I can't forget about Caline- their sweet little puppy! I won't spend the rest of this blog recounting the smaller details (if you want to know, ask me) but everyone sends big hugs and kisses back to the States. I already miss my family, however removed they may be. It was just like coming home. I also received beautiful gifts from the families- it was such a pleasure to be there for the weekend and I hope to go back soon.
mercredi 1 avril 2009
Springing into Action
I know it's been too long since I've last written, so forgive me for making this blog ridiculously long (and I'll forgive you for not reading it all).
A few weeks ago I was at the Louvre, where we were introduced to some less well known, but still impressive, masterpieces. Our guide, a witty and charming Frenchman described the Louvre as "wider than Chicago!" Another hilarious reference to home.
Other than attending classes, I was disappointed to miss two of my favorite people celebrating their birthdays this past week- my awesome dad Frank and my great friend Manny. Lucky for me, Manny and I celebrated together shortly after his actual birthday- he spent spring break in Paris! After picking him up Saturday morning we spent the day roaming around Paris in glorious sunlight and after a delicious dinner we went to a concert of a band called The Blue Embers.
The next day Manny and I ventured to an indoor ultimate tournament in Poissy with Les Phoenix de Montrouge and it was honestly magic to play together again; the French style of ultimate is in no way inferior to that of the US, but it is certainly different than that to which we are used, so Manny and I made many beautiful connections and just had a blast. For those of you who play ultimate, you'll have to ask him what "Le Knife" is. Ha! Many of my teammates and fellow ultimate players admired his speed and quickness, and also dubbed him "Manu" for the weekend. I'm still not sure how Manny wasn't affected by jet lag- magic? The week was crazy- we threw a disc at Champs de Mars infront of the Eiffel Tour, spent hours at Gilbert Jeune (a multi-building bookstore that has books in every language about everything!), hung out with friends, enjoyed home-cooked french meals (believe it or not, I was cooking!), go to cafes, went to Montmartre/Sacre-Coeur, discovered a quaint and spectacular park similar and more private than Montmartre, and just had fun.
I had a program outing that Wednesday to the Galerie Ballet to see the spectacle "Le Parc", which is a modern and interesting ballet. I certainly can't dance with that much beauty and grace! I also ventured to the Musee de l'art et deco. There, our guide demonstrated the progression of furniture throughout the late 17th century up through modern day furniture. I personally enjoyed a beautifully sculpted chest full of string instruments (the cello was the most beautiful and ornate I have ever seen). Oh! After the ballet, I was treated to a home-made Italian cuisine by a friend. It was delizioso!
Alas, Manny's time here was far too short. He left Friday as I was leaving for a group excursion to Marseille. I was sad to see him go and felt the lack of his presence for Manny days after he left. In Marseille, we saw one of the biggest ports of France; it is a beautiful coastal city in the South of France (what is referred to as Midi) and it was very lovely. Unfortunately, all of the city was destroyed during the Second World War and as a result of the reconstruction, Marseille lacks the winding roads and allies which I love so much in Paris. Although the weather was not that pleasant, we still enjoyed the port- I saw fish markets (cool but SMELLY), spring flowers in bloom, and had an excellent tour of a church whose history spans over 2,000 years of different religions and demoninations. That was by far my favorite part of Marseille. Oh! And we enjoyed some delicious orange-infused chocolate in the oldest patisserie of Marseille. Yum!
The following week was dreary, not only because Manny was gone, but because the sun went with him! Unfortunately, it rained and it was overcast for the majority of last week. This past weekend I had the pleasure of meeting up with the McDonalds- Jen and Mac- who are parents of a friend from Bradley, Maggie. We spent the day touring Paris, munching on yummies, and enjoying each other's company. The next day they departed to take their nephew to a study abroad program, so their visit was short. However, it made me very happy. Mac and Jen are wonderful people.
The Friday night beforehand, my friend and I stopped by a local bar and made friends with the barman who happens to be a very hospitable Frenchman. We now frequent Xavier's to enjoy a cafe or just to say hi since the first night we met him. The next night a bunch of friends had an evening of aperos (including home-made pizza) and then attended another Blue Embers concert at the Trabendo, a concert venue in the 20th. After a crazy night, I was beat!
Finally catching up to the somewhat present, I spent the afternoon with some Americans outside of the Centre Pompidou enjoying an assortment of live musicians. Among the performances, I was ecstatic to witness a violinist play one of my favorite Hungarian Dances numbers by Johann Brahms! The sun was out today and along with it Parisiens enjoying ice cream, eating lunch, outside drinking coffee and so on. It was a beautiful spring day in Paris.
Well, I'm exhausted, all this thinking wears me out. A bientot. Love, Lauren
A few weeks ago I was at the Louvre, where we were introduced to some less well known, but still impressive, masterpieces. Our guide, a witty and charming Frenchman described the Louvre as "wider than Chicago!" Another hilarious reference to home.
Other than attending classes, I was disappointed to miss two of my favorite people celebrating their birthdays this past week- my awesome dad Frank and my great friend Manny. Lucky for me, Manny and I celebrated together shortly after his actual birthday- he spent spring break in Paris! After picking him up Saturday morning we spent the day roaming around Paris in glorious sunlight and after a delicious dinner we went to a concert of a band called The Blue Embers.
The next day Manny and I ventured to an indoor ultimate tournament in Poissy with Les Phoenix de Montrouge and it was honestly magic to play together again; the French style of ultimate is in no way inferior to that of the US, but it is certainly different than that to which we are used, so Manny and I made many beautiful connections and just had a blast. For those of you who play ultimate, you'll have to ask him what "Le Knife" is. Ha! Many of my teammates and fellow ultimate players admired his speed and quickness, and also dubbed him "Manu" for the weekend. I'm still not sure how Manny wasn't affected by jet lag- magic? The week was crazy- we threw a disc at Champs de Mars infront of the Eiffel Tour, spent hours at Gilbert Jeune (a multi-building bookstore that has books in every language about everything!), hung out with friends, enjoyed home-cooked french meals (believe it or not, I was cooking!), go to cafes, went to Montmartre/Sacre-Coeur, discovered a quaint and spectacular park similar and more private than Montmartre, and just had fun.
I had a program outing that Wednesday to the Galerie Ballet to see the spectacle "Le Parc", which is a modern and interesting ballet. I certainly can't dance with that much beauty and grace! I also ventured to the Musee de l'art et deco. There, our guide demonstrated the progression of furniture throughout the late 17th century up through modern day furniture. I personally enjoyed a beautifully sculpted chest full of string instruments (the cello was the most beautiful and ornate I have ever seen). Oh! After the ballet, I was treated to a home-made Italian cuisine by a friend. It was delizioso!
Alas, Manny's time here was far too short. He left Friday as I was leaving for a group excursion to Marseille. I was sad to see him go and felt the lack of his presence for Manny days after he left. In Marseille, we saw one of the biggest ports of France; it is a beautiful coastal city in the South of France (what is referred to as Midi) and it was very lovely. Unfortunately, all of the city was destroyed during the Second World War and as a result of the reconstruction, Marseille lacks the winding roads and allies which I love so much in Paris. Although the weather was not that pleasant, we still enjoyed the port- I saw fish markets (cool but SMELLY), spring flowers in bloom, and had an excellent tour of a church whose history spans over 2,000 years of different religions and demoninations. That was by far my favorite part of Marseille. Oh! And we enjoyed some delicious orange-infused chocolate in the oldest patisserie of Marseille. Yum!
The following week was dreary, not only because Manny was gone, but because the sun went with him! Unfortunately, it rained and it was overcast for the majority of last week. This past weekend I had the pleasure of meeting up with the McDonalds- Jen and Mac- who are parents of a friend from Bradley, Maggie. We spent the day touring Paris, munching on yummies, and enjoying each other's company. The next day they departed to take their nephew to a study abroad program, so their visit was short. However, it made me very happy. Mac and Jen are wonderful people.
The Friday night beforehand, my friend and I stopped by a local bar and made friends with the barman who happens to be a very hospitable Frenchman. We now frequent Xavier's to enjoy a cafe or just to say hi since the first night we met him. The next night a bunch of friends had an evening of aperos (including home-made pizza) and then attended another Blue Embers concert at the Trabendo, a concert venue in the 20th. After a crazy night, I was beat!
Finally catching up to the somewhat present, I spent the afternoon with some Americans outside of the Centre Pompidou enjoying an assortment of live musicians. Among the performances, I was ecstatic to witness a violinist play one of my favorite Hungarian Dances numbers by Johann Brahms! The sun was out today and along with it Parisiens enjoying ice cream, eating lunch, outside drinking coffee and so on. It was a beautiful spring day in Paris.
Well, I'm exhausted, all this thinking wears me out. A bientot. Love, Lauren
dimanche 8 mars 2009
Une semaine dure...
Unfortunately, I was hit with what I refer to as the plague (aka the stomach flu) this past week and weekend, so I did nothing. I'm much better now, but still tired, so nothing new here. Hopefully I'll have something more exciting to say soon. (And I think I will, seeing as I have a trip to the Louvre and a photo exhibit planned for this week.) Much love.
mercredi 25 février 2009
Et oui, je reviens à Paris
Oh what a wonderful weekend. On the 20th I left (with my fellow CCA friends) for Nice for the weekend to celebrate Carnival and discover the beautiful Cote d'Azur. Wow, it was so beautiful in southern France. I definitely enjoyed everything about Nice- the food (canolis, pizza, gelato, yum!), the beach (there was no sand, just rocks!), the scenery, everything. We took two tours of Nice and took an adventure up along the biggest chateau there. Nice has a very strong Italian influence because it's so close to Italy, but the French there are very affirmative stating that they are French, not Italian in heritage, seeing as how France was a country before Italy was... Oh, and Carnival is this huge masqueraded festival that celebrates (in older times) the freedom that accompanies disguise before Lent/Ash Wednesday. So, yes, we celebrated in wonderful fashion.
Leaving the beautiful beaches of Nice was a bit of a drag, especially when I came back to dreary Paris. Now that's not exactly true, you know, Paris is glamorous, but not when it rains, and the sun doesn't shine here like it does in Nice. After a day or so, though, I found myself just as happy to be here as the first day of my arrival. It's good to be back.
Last night I went out with a friend to a bar to watch the soccer match between Lyon (France) and Barcelona (Spain). I learned who Thierry Henry (a Frenchman who currently plays for Barcelona) was when the entire bar erupted when he scored a goal; apparently he's really good (arguably the best player in the world, to be exact). After the game was over, we went to a cafe in the more residential corners of the Bastille where some musicians were performing a small concert. It was acoustic guitar like I'd never heard before, and something I'll never forgot. This is the sort of thing I can see my dad just loving, and it was nice to be reminded of him though I'm so far away.
On tap this week, I have scheduled another trip to Pere Lachaise Cemetary, a few museum trips (the first Sunday of every month grants free admission to all museums in Paris), some more ultimate frisbee (yay!).
Speaking of which, I didn't give my update of my first practice. (For those of you uninterested in ultimate, I would suggest moving onto the next paragraph, seeing as this will be detailed.) My first practice with Les Phoenix was last Wednesday night, and it was great! Though ultimate is an American game, the French have adopted their own vernacular for conserving the purity of the language (they try to keep English out of their language wherever and however they can). So, I had to learn a whole new set of terms for concepts I'd already understand, but in French. I found it rather difficult to remember what a "foul" (fault) was in French, or how to say "home" (gren...oulie?) versus "away" (horlage). I admit I'm a little out of shape, so after 3 hours of indoor ultimate, I was beat, especially since I had run earlier that day (bad idea maybe, but brilliant to play). But I left with such a big smile on my face. I notice that although there is a small language barrier between the players on my team and myself, no matter where you go, ultimate kids are still ultimate kids. Goofy, weird, happy. I felt at home with them. The ultimate scene in Paris is very active so I'm really looking forward to becoming a part of it. Wish me luck for my upcoming practices this Friday and Sunday!
Alas, I'm getting tired so I'll head off to bed for the night. Bonne nuit et à plus.
Leaving the beautiful beaches of Nice was a bit of a drag, especially when I came back to dreary Paris. Now that's not exactly true, you know, Paris is glamorous, but not when it rains, and the sun doesn't shine here like it does in Nice. After a day or so, though, I found myself just as happy to be here as the first day of my arrival. It's good to be back.
Last night I went out with a friend to a bar to watch the soccer match between Lyon (France) and Barcelona (Spain). I learned who Thierry Henry (a Frenchman who currently plays for Barcelona) was when the entire bar erupted when he scored a goal; apparently he's really good (arguably the best player in the world, to be exact). After the game was over, we went to a cafe in the more residential corners of the Bastille where some musicians were performing a small concert. It was acoustic guitar like I'd never heard before, and something I'll never forgot. This is the sort of thing I can see my dad just loving, and it was nice to be reminded of him though I'm so far away.
On tap this week, I have scheduled another trip to Pere Lachaise Cemetary, a few museum trips (the first Sunday of every month grants free admission to all museums in Paris), some more ultimate frisbee (yay!).
Speaking of which, I didn't give my update of my first practice. (For those of you uninterested in ultimate, I would suggest moving onto the next paragraph, seeing as this will be detailed.) My first practice with Les Phoenix was last Wednesday night, and it was great! Though ultimate is an American game, the French have adopted their own vernacular for conserving the purity of the language (they try to keep English out of their language wherever and however they can). So, I had to learn a whole new set of terms for concepts I'd already understand, but in French. I found it rather difficult to remember what a "foul" (fault) was in French, or how to say "home" (gren...oulie?) versus "away" (horlage). I admit I'm a little out of shape, so after 3 hours of indoor ultimate, I was beat, especially since I had run earlier that day (bad idea maybe, but brilliant to play). But I left with such a big smile on my face. I notice that although there is a small language barrier between the players on my team and myself, no matter where you go, ultimate kids are still ultimate kids. Goofy, weird, happy. I felt at home with them. The ultimate scene in Paris is very active so I'm really looking forward to becoming a part of it. Wish me luck for my upcoming practices this Friday and Sunday!
Alas, I'm getting tired so I'll head off to bed for the night. Bonne nuit et à plus.
lundi 16 février 2009
Not Quite Nice...
What, another week has gone by already? I just can't believe it! I've been busy doing, well, whatever I've wanted- kidding. I started classes last week at the Sorbonne and after about 3 minutes in class I realized that I was in the wrong class so after a week of annoying moving-around-sort-of-business I am finally in an appropriate level and already enjoying everything about my class. I'm sure I've already mentioned it, but I must express yet again the diversity that I have experienced here. In my class this morning, there were kids from Taiwan, Ireland, China, the States, Japan, Germany, and get this- there is a girl in my class who grew up in Elmhurst which is the town I was born in. It's just so cool!
Besides studying, I've been exploring the beautiful city of Paris. I've been passing the afternoons and evenings reading or hanging out at cafes (the coffee is so yummy) and grabbing an occasional pastry- the apple or apricot tarts are probably my favorite, or going running (yes, can you believe it? seriously though!). Also, I love catching foot matches with my foyer mates because they get so pumped about the games.
This Valentine's Day weekend started on Thursday; I went to the Opera Bastille to see Madame Butterfly, and wow, it was such a moving show. It's an Italian tragedy that has received fame from all masters of opera, so needless to say it was a real treat. To be honest, though, I watched the orchestra more often than I watched the opera itself. I just can't help loving orchestra after spending countless years in orchestra myself. After perusing the bar scene on Friday night with a friend in Bastille, we called it an early night.
I spent Saturday throwing a frisbee (sigh!) in the Luxembourg Gardens- it was about 40 degrees Farhenheit- perfect! A guy from my program also plays ultimate so you can imagine that this he has often been the object of my persistent nagging of "hey, wanna throw?" anytime it's nice out. Thus far, he has yet to punch me. :) After grabbing yet another coffee (man, if I don't come home with a serious caffeine addiction I will be amazed), I attended a black-and-white/Valentine's Day/birthday party for a friend that I've recently made in Paris. Without going into too much detail, all I can say was that it was a blast. I can't help but notice again the difference between the way American and French kids typically party- they are just more responsible drinkers. So, after a glamorous night of drinking (in moderation, cough cough), dancing, and making more friends, I spent Sunday recovering.
Now the school week is back and with it my procrastination. Damn. I thought I left that in the States. Nah, I'm kidding; school work isn't that bad. Since starting the blog I have now joined 2 ultimate teams in Paris, and I'm going one of my first practices on Wednesday night- wish me luck! Then this weekend is dedicated to a trip to Nice to celebrate Carnival! The south of France is typically warmer than Paris (ugh it's so rainy and cold right now) so I'm pretty stoked for the scenery change.
I'll keep you posted. Much love, Lauren
Besides studying, I've been exploring the beautiful city of Paris. I've been passing the afternoons and evenings reading or hanging out at cafes (the coffee is so yummy) and grabbing an occasional pastry- the apple or apricot tarts are probably my favorite, or going running (yes, can you believe it? seriously though!). Also, I love catching foot matches with my foyer mates because they get so pumped about the games.
This Valentine's Day weekend started on Thursday; I went to the Opera Bastille to see Madame Butterfly, and wow, it was such a moving show. It's an Italian tragedy that has received fame from all masters of opera, so needless to say it was a real treat. To be honest, though, I watched the orchestra more often than I watched the opera itself. I just can't help loving orchestra after spending countless years in orchestra myself. After perusing the bar scene on Friday night with a friend in Bastille, we called it an early night.
I spent Saturday throwing a frisbee (sigh!) in the Luxembourg Gardens- it was about 40 degrees Farhenheit- perfect! A guy from my program also plays ultimate so you can imagine that this he has often been the object of my persistent nagging of "hey, wanna throw?" anytime it's nice out. Thus far, he has yet to punch me. :) After grabbing yet another coffee (man, if I don't come home with a serious caffeine addiction I will be amazed), I attended a black-and-white/Valentine's Day/birthday party for a friend that I've recently made in Paris. Without going into too much detail, all I can say was that it was a blast. I can't help but notice again the difference between the way American and French kids typically party- they are just more responsible drinkers. So, after a glamorous night of drinking (in moderation, cough cough), dancing, and making more friends, I spent Sunday recovering.
Now the school week is back and with it my procrastination. Damn. I thought I left that in the States. Nah, I'm kidding; school work isn't that bad. Since starting the blog I have now joined 2 ultimate teams in Paris, and I'm going one of my first practices on Wednesday night- wish me luck! Then this weekend is dedicated to a trip to Nice to celebrate Carnival! The south of France is typically warmer than Paris (ugh it's so rainy and cold right now) so I'm pretty stoked for the scenery change.
I'll keep you posted. Much love, Lauren
vendredi 6 février 2009
My how time flies...
I can't believe my 3rd week in France is coming to an end already. Here's a small update on what I've been up to...
I took my entrance exam to the Sorbonne on Wednesday, and of course, ended up getting lost on the way. Not a surprise and usually not a big deal, but seeing as this was an important exam, I had to get there before it started. So I hailed a cab, and it turns out I was only 6 or 7 blocks away from where I needed to be anyway. Not bad, right?
The next few days I've spent with friends from CCA getting lost in random parts of the city, stopping in random places for a small bite or quick drink, and getting the feel for life in Paris. It has certainly been busy, and I have loved walking around everywhere, not to mention talking French whenever possible.
The foyer, as I think I've already stated, is really great. My only issue is that I have yet to meet my roommate, whom I think is named Isabel. She doesn't sleep or spend any time at the foyer. Under normal circumstances, I would be happy to have a room to myself; however, I am disappointed because I would like a French-speaking roommate. Oh well. Other than that, I can't complain.
I spent yesterday with Lucie, a girl from the foyer who is Czech (Dad, that made me think of you, of course!). She and I voyaged to Montmartre and Sacre Coeur- beautiful! Paris is a relatively flat city, and seeing as Montmartre is one of the highest points of the city, you can see all of Paris from the top. It's quite breathtaking! As we were walking up the winding hill to the church, we also passed the Moulin Rouge- not so scandalous anymore- and many artists trying to sell paintings or paint pictures of us.
We also passed the Cemetary of Montmartre. I can't recall, in my life, seeing cemetaries as beautiful as these in France. They are so mysterious and awe-inspiring, and kind of eerie too.
After a long morning of walking, Lucie and I grabbed lunch at a "Resto-U" which is a cafeteria-style restaurant for college students that sells lunches/dinners for about 3 euro (cheap). All I have to say about this cafeteria food is that it has something in common with US cafeteria food- it's rather disgusting.
Last night, I met my fellow CCA friends at a bar in the 20 arrondisement, which is pretty much on the outskirts of Paris, and far away from my foyer. No sweat, though. I arrived fashionably late (no surprise). So, the featured band that night played a mixture of Spanish, French, and Arabic music. Different, but beautiful. Although I couldn't understand what they were saying (I think they were singing mostly in Arabic), it seemed that much of their audience followed the music and sang along with them.
Alas, like most travelers, I have finally fallen sick to some sort of bug going around. I'm trying to rest up before school starts on Tuesday and hope to see a few more touristy sites. I'll keep you posted. A bientôt!
I took my entrance exam to the Sorbonne on Wednesday, and of course, ended up getting lost on the way. Not a surprise and usually not a big deal, but seeing as this was an important exam, I had to get there before it started. So I hailed a cab, and it turns out I was only 6 or 7 blocks away from where I needed to be anyway. Not bad, right?
The next few days I've spent with friends from CCA getting lost in random parts of the city, stopping in random places for a small bite or quick drink, and getting the feel for life in Paris. It has certainly been busy, and I have loved walking around everywhere, not to mention talking French whenever possible.
The foyer, as I think I've already stated, is really great. My only issue is that I have yet to meet my roommate, whom I think is named Isabel. She doesn't sleep or spend any time at the foyer. Under normal circumstances, I would be happy to have a room to myself; however, I am disappointed because I would like a French-speaking roommate. Oh well. Other than that, I can't complain.
I spent yesterday with Lucie, a girl from the foyer who is Czech (Dad, that made me think of you, of course!). She and I voyaged to Montmartre and Sacre Coeur- beautiful! Paris is a relatively flat city, and seeing as Montmartre is one of the highest points of the city, you can see all of Paris from the top. It's quite breathtaking! As we were walking up the winding hill to the church, we also passed the Moulin Rouge- not so scandalous anymore- and many artists trying to sell paintings or paint pictures of us.
We also passed the Cemetary of Montmartre. I can't recall, in my life, seeing cemetaries as beautiful as these in France. They are so mysterious and awe-inspiring, and kind of eerie too.
After a long morning of walking, Lucie and I grabbed lunch at a "Resto-U" which is a cafeteria-style restaurant for college students that sells lunches/dinners for about 3 euro (cheap). All I have to say about this cafeteria food is that it has something in common with US cafeteria food- it's rather disgusting.
Last night, I met my fellow CCA friends at a bar in the 20 arrondisement, which is pretty much on the outskirts of Paris, and far away from my foyer. No sweat, though. I arrived fashionably late (no surprise). So, the featured band that night played a mixture of Spanish, French, and Arabic music. Different, but beautiful. Although I couldn't understand what they were saying (I think they were singing mostly in Arabic), it seemed that much of their audience followed the music and sang along with them.
Alas, like most travelers, I have finally fallen sick to some sort of bug going around. I'm trying to rest up before school starts on Tuesday and hope to see a few more touristy sites. I'll keep you posted. A bientôt!
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