Finals start today...that means I only have two days of finals, a fete (party/lunch thing) at IES, and a very long flight standing between me and America! I've had a great time in France, but I am very ready to go home. Paris is an excellent city for a vacation, I've decided, but I do not think I could ever live here (maybe in Montmartre, but that's it).
Two more days of Metro faces, boulangeries, euros (and the evil exchange rate), the Eiffel Tower sparkling outside my window, Le M, Le Refuge des Fondus, nouilles sautees, homestays, the Metro, Muji, rue Daguerre, hearing French everywhere, natural yogurt, Amorino gelato, Pimkie, skinny jeans everywhere, unpredictable (way more unpredictable than Indiana) weather, parapluies, less than 5 minute showers, UHT milk, espresso dispensers at school, four-channel TVs, musees, jardins, sightseeing, the Champs-Elysees, rude French people, Malibu et jus d'ananas at the apartment, Indiana Club, walking everywhere, Hollywood Smile gum, Franprix, Carrefour, Monoprix, fruiteries, the 16th, trains, scarfs...
I'm coming home =)
Riley
Showing posts with label Eiffel Tower. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Eiffel Tower. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Four Days
I only have 4 days left in Paris! I've made a list of the things I've been putting off that I need to go in the next couple of days...they include going to the top of the Arc de Triomphe, visiting La Defense, visiting Jim Morrison's grave at Pere Lachaise cemetary, and going to Les Invalides and Jardin du Luxembourg. I think me and some people are planning on La Defense and Arc de Triomphe tomorrow since they're both on the same Metro line.
This weekend was pretty low-key, like my usual Paris weekends. Friday was the 4th of July...but it was weird because here it's just like any other day. I just went shopping along rue de Passy, which is not far from my apartment. Katrina eventually met up with me and we had lunch at a Chinese place (I've fallen in love with these sauteed noodle things they have here). We went to Gallerie Gaite over by IES for quite awhile. On the way there, I sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" because I was sad that no one was acknowledging the USA on our birthday. Since the French act like no one else exists in the world when they're walking down the streets, I didn't get any weird looks or anything, which was funny to me. At the Gallerie, Katrina bought a bunch of stuff at Mim and I made some incredible (and excellently priced) purchases at Tati. After shopping, we went to a bar and restaurant called The Indiana Club to celebrate the 4th with a taste of home. It was funny because this place didn't seem to have ANY idea what Indiana is like...there were Native Americans all over the walls, then all of the "Indiana Specialties" were Mexican dishes, like enchiladas and chimichangas. I got a good old cheeseburger and fries...after all, what else says "American" quite like a burger and fries? It was happy hour, too, so we got some (somewhat) affordable drinks...I had a Screaming Orgasm (which is just fun to say...but it was also delicious) and a strawberry margarita (which actually tasted like a margarita, which is weird cause the other margarita I had in France was essentially lemon juice with a hint of tequila in it). After dinner, we just hung out at my apartment. It was weird not seeing any fireworks!
I had quite a late night/early morning talking online, so I slept in quite a bit on Saturday. After finally getting out of bed, I went to Carrefour and had the incident on the Metro that I shared the other day. I again had Chinese noodles for dinner, and that was about all that went on that day.
Sunday was my final Eiffel Tower picnic. As usual, we brought bread and cheese, then some other random foods. Me, Ashley, Emily, Heather, and Katrina all just sat around talking for several hours. Our favorite topic of conversation seems to be the lack of attractive men in France. Ashley has coined the term "French googles" for when one of us says we see a cute French guy...because if you want to find a cute French boy, you have to lower your standards of what is cute. American guys definitely trump the French, for sure, for many reasons that we discussed. One of those is that French guys will never make the first movie (not that I have any experience with this, but some of the others do). And, of course, there's the fact that attractive French guys are pretty much extinct. A funny Polish artist came over and drew a portrait for Katrina and commiserated with us on our complaints about the French. It was fun. My chocolate and pistachio ice cream cone was amazing, too!
Now, I have one more day of regular class, followed by two days of finals...then, at 1:30pm on Friday, my plane will be leaving! It's been an interesting, once-in-a-lifetime experience here...it's crazy that it's already almost over! And I know I've said that like 10 times now, but it's true!
Riley =)
This weekend was pretty low-key, like my usual Paris weekends. Friday was the 4th of July...but it was weird because here it's just like any other day. I just went shopping along rue de Passy, which is not far from my apartment. Katrina eventually met up with me and we had lunch at a Chinese place (I've fallen in love with these sauteed noodle things they have here). We went to Gallerie Gaite over by IES for quite awhile. On the way there, I sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" because I was sad that no one was acknowledging the USA on our birthday. Since the French act like no one else exists in the world when they're walking down the streets, I didn't get any weird looks or anything, which was funny to me. At the Gallerie, Katrina bought a bunch of stuff at Mim and I made some incredible (and excellently priced) purchases at Tati. After shopping, we went to a bar and restaurant called The Indiana Club to celebrate the 4th with a taste of home. It was funny because this place didn't seem to have ANY idea what Indiana is like...there were Native Americans all over the walls, then all of the "Indiana Specialties" were Mexican dishes, like enchiladas and chimichangas. I got a good old cheeseburger and fries...after all, what else says "American" quite like a burger and fries? It was happy hour, too, so we got some (somewhat) affordable drinks...I had a Screaming Orgasm (which is just fun to say...but it was also delicious) and a strawberry margarita (which actually tasted like a margarita, which is weird cause the other margarita I had in France was essentially lemon juice with a hint of tequila in it). After dinner, we just hung out at my apartment. It was weird not seeing any fireworks!
I had quite a late night/early morning talking online, so I slept in quite a bit on Saturday. After finally getting out of bed, I went to Carrefour and had the incident on the Metro that I shared the other day. I again had Chinese noodles for dinner, and that was about all that went on that day.
Sunday was my final Eiffel Tower picnic. As usual, we brought bread and cheese, then some other random foods. Me, Ashley, Emily, Heather, and Katrina all just sat around talking for several hours. Our favorite topic of conversation seems to be the lack of attractive men in France. Ashley has coined the term "French googles" for when one of us says we see a cute French guy...because if you want to find a cute French boy, you have to lower your standards of what is cute. American guys definitely trump the French, for sure, for many reasons that we discussed. One of those is that French guys will never make the first movie (not that I have any experience with this, but some of the others do). And, of course, there's the fact that attractive French guys are pretty much extinct. A funny Polish artist came over and drew a portrait for Katrina and commiserated with us on our complaints about the French. It was fun. My chocolate and pistachio ice cream cone was amazing, too!
Now, I have one more day of regular class, followed by two days of finals...then, at 1:30pm on Friday, my plane will be leaving! It's been an interesting, once-in-a-lifetime experience here...it's crazy that it's already almost over! And I know I've said that like 10 times now, but it's true!
Riley =)
Sunday, June 22, 2008
It's HOT!
So, all of the sudden, it's in the 80s in Paris. Which is something I thought I wanted...but the fact that there is no air conditioning in Paris means that you are sweating and hot ALL the time when it's hot outside! Some of my friends and I are going to try to find a public pool somewhere so we can go swimming this week. We need to cool down!
Today, I went to the Pont de l'Alma tunnel, better known as the tunnel where Princess Diana was killed. It was very emotional. Memories of watching Princess Diana on TV are some of my earliest memories, and I always loved reading about her in my mom's magazines or seeing her on TV. I remember being glued to the TV the day of her funeral. It's incredible how lasting her impact on the world is, though...even today, so many years after she died, people write messages all over the walls of the tunnel about how she will never be forgotten. There are messages in dozens of languages from all over the world. It's incredible to see the impact one person can have.
Since it's Sunday, everything is closed here, so I went grocery shopping yesterday then went to the Eiffel Tower with some friends for a very French, five-hour picnic lunch. I got quite sunburnt, too! We had fun. Some French creeper who was still drunk from the Fete yesterday came over and bugged us...but we've all gotten pretty talented when it comes to getting rid of them. I don't get where the "French guys are hot" stereotype thing comes from...because all of them I've seen have just been creepy (and everyone else agrees with me). I will take American boys over French ones any day.
Riley =)
Today, I went to the Pont de l'Alma tunnel, better known as the tunnel where Princess Diana was killed. It was very emotional. Memories of watching Princess Diana on TV are some of my earliest memories, and I always loved reading about her in my mom's magazines or seeing her on TV. I remember being glued to the TV the day of her funeral. It's incredible how lasting her impact on the world is, though...even today, so many years after she died, people write messages all over the walls of the tunnel about how she will never be forgotten. There are messages in dozens of languages from all over the world. It's incredible to see the impact one person can have.
Since it's Sunday, everything is closed here, so I went grocery shopping yesterday then went to the Eiffel Tower with some friends for a very French, five-hour picnic lunch. I got quite sunburnt, too! We had fun. Some French creeper who was still drunk from the Fete yesterday came over and bugged us...but we've all gotten pretty talented when it comes to getting rid of them. I don't get where the "French guys are hot" stereotype thing comes from...because all of them I've seen have just been creepy (and everyone else agrees with me). I will take American boys over French ones any day.
Riley =)
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Don't Stop Believing: Paris Style
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pdu5392ORhk
And I promise, we are all completely, 100% sober. We just don't take ourselves too seriously =)
Monday, June 9, 2008
Tres Cher
So, life in Paris is not cheap. I just changed my plane ticket to come home July 11th instead of the 18th because I can't afford to stay in a hotel after my study abroad program ends (it was cheaper to pay the change fee than pay for a hotel and food for a week). I went to the grocery store today and bought cereal and cookies...and it was eight euro. The only somewhat food-related thing that isn't expensive is wine...I got a bottle for 1 euro 47 today! I fortunately found a cheap clothing store today, which was awesome because the weather here's been quite chilly and I needed a jacket.
Last night, me and some of my friends had what we decided to call "French Stereotype Night." We took wine, cheese, Le Petit Ecolier cookies, and bread to the Eiffel Tower and sat there for a few hours. We also took along a beret and a French flag and posed for some goofy pictures. Here's one of my pictures, featuring the beret, wine, and me pretending to smoke...
So, I think it's about time for some observations about French culture. First of all, fashion...skinny jeans are the ONLY jeans that the French wear, and they are just about always a very dark rinse. I am very glad I brought one of my pairs, because I've been wearing them a lot. As far as shoes go, the only tennis shoes they wear are black Chucks (and I brought mine, so another check for me). Other than that, it's ballet flats or heels. Their shirts are almost always one solid color, usually something neutral (but occasionally you'll see some color). A lot of people wear scarves; hardly anyone wears hats. Most everyone wears a black coat everywhere, even if it isn't cold.
Next, food. French people love to sit and eat. Their dinners are an hour long at minimum (which I know I've touched on before in here). They barely eat anything for breakfast, just bread or a croissant and coffee or tea. Then, they have a baguette sandwich or a big salad or something for lunch (and they always have dessert). Some people do the whole afternoon tea (gouter) thing, but it doesn't look like too many people do. Dinner is the big occasion...everything closes early so people can eat with their families. Dinner consists of the entree (not the main course like in the US...actually the appetizer), the plat (the main course), a fromage (cheese) course, and dessert (usually fruit and a cake or tart or something). French people DO NOT snack. Ever. They think it's really really bad for you, apparently. They also never drink anything. My old host family didn't even pour anything in their glasses until they got to the fromage course, and then it was half wine, half water. They would drink one glass, and c'est tout(that's all). Most people drink wine with their lunch and dinner here, but it's just a glass, and they don't have anything else to drink with it.
Lastly (for today at least), the shops. EVERYTHING is closed on Sunday, and most everything is closed on Monday, too. On Sunday, the only places you can find open are tourist shops. Like a few stores on the Champs-Elysees (but not any of the clothing stores except for the designer ones) and all the tourist traps around the Eiffel Tower...and that's it. We went to Laduree for gouter (tea) yesterday because it's one of the few places open at all on Sundays (because it is geared towards tourists). Grocery stores, boulangeries, cafes...all closed on Sundays. On Mondays, most grocery stores and most clothing stores are closed, save for the ones in the bigger shopping centers like Forum des Halles. On rue Daguerre, where my school is, there are like six small grocery stores...one was open today. None of the specialty food places are open, either...on rue Daguerre, that includes the fromagerie (cheese shop), several boulangeries, the poissonerie (fish store), all the butcher shops, the chocolate shops (yes, plural...there are chocolate stores EVERYWHERE), and basically any other specialty grocery-type thing you can think of. It's quite frustrating.
I don't think I am ever going to take 24-hour stores for granted ever again after this. Nor do I think I will ever complain about food being expensive.
Off to dinner with the host family!
Riley =)
Last night, me and some of my friends had what we decided to call "French Stereotype Night." We took wine, cheese, Le Petit Ecolier cookies, and bread to the Eiffel Tower and sat there for a few hours. We also took along a beret and a French flag and posed for some goofy pictures. Here's one of my pictures, featuring the beret, wine, and me pretending to smoke...
So, I think it's about time for some observations about French culture. First of all, fashion...skinny jeans are the ONLY jeans that the French wear, and they are just about always a very dark rinse. I am very glad I brought one of my pairs, because I've been wearing them a lot. As far as shoes go, the only tennis shoes they wear are black Chucks (and I brought mine, so another check for me). Other than that, it's ballet flats or heels. Their shirts are almost always one solid color, usually something neutral (but occasionally you'll see some color). A lot of people wear scarves; hardly anyone wears hats. Most everyone wears a black coat everywhere, even if it isn't cold.
Next, food. French people love to sit and eat. Their dinners are an hour long at minimum (which I know I've touched on before in here). They barely eat anything for breakfast, just bread or a croissant and coffee or tea. Then, they have a baguette sandwich or a big salad or something for lunch (and they always have dessert). Some people do the whole afternoon tea (gouter) thing, but it doesn't look like too many people do. Dinner is the big occasion...everything closes early so people can eat with their families. Dinner consists of the entree (not the main course like in the US...actually the appetizer), the plat (the main course), a fromage (cheese) course, and dessert (usually fruit and a cake or tart or something). French people DO NOT snack. Ever. They think it's really really bad for you, apparently. They also never drink anything. My old host family didn't even pour anything in their glasses until they got to the fromage course, and then it was half wine, half water. They would drink one glass, and c'est tout(that's all). Most people drink wine with their lunch and dinner here, but it's just a glass, and they don't have anything else to drink with it.
Lastly (for today at least), the shops. EVERYTHING is closed on Sunday, and most everything is closed on Monday, too. On Sunday, the only places you can find open are tourist shops. Like a few stores on the Champs-Elysees (but not any of the clothing stores except for the designer ones) and all the tourist traps around the Eiffel Tower...and that's it. We went to Laduree for gouter (tea) yesterday because it's one of the few places open at all on Sundays (because it is geared towards tourists). Grocery stores, boulangeries, cafes...all closed on Sundays. On Mondays, most grocery stores and most clothing stores are closed, save for the ones in the bigger shopping centers like Forum des Halles. On rue Daguerre, where my school is, there are like six small grocery stores...one was open today. None of the specialty food places are open, either...on rue Daguerre, that includes the fromagerie (cheese shop), several boulangeries, the poissonerie (fish store), all the butcher shops, the chocolate shops (yes, plural...there are chocolate stores EVERYWHERE), and basically any other specialty grocery-type thing you can think of. It's quite frustrating.
I don't think I am ever going to take 24-hour stores for granted ever again after this. Nor do I think I will ever complain about food being expensive.
Off to dinner with the host family!
Riley =)
Friday, June 6, 2008
Le M
So, I wasn't planning on writing anymore tonight. Especially not about a hamburger. But I just had the most incredible hamburger of my life. At McDonald's, of all places. No, I wasn't at McDo for wireless...I was there because I only have 5 euros to my name at the moment and was hungry after Megan and I had been chatting over drinks at a little cafe by the Eiffel Tower. So, we stopped by McDo cause it's one of the only food places still open at 1am here...and I decided to try this burger called "Le M." It's on ciabatta bread, with emmental cheese, and the meat is marinaded in something. It was amazing...so juicy that I had to dig through my purse for something to use as a napkin while I was eating it on the Metro because it had dripped all over my hands. Seriously, McDo...why don't you sell these things in the US?? And, by the way, McDo actually has like good quality meat here. I've only eaten a meal there once since I've been here, though, despite how many times I've mentioned it in here.
That's it. If you're ever in France, go to McDo and have Le M.
That's it. If you're ever in France, go to McDo and have Le M.
Quick Update
Just a quick update before I head out with one of my friends...
Today was a lazy day! I haven't gotten much sleep since I've been here and, since we didn't have classes today and most of the people I hang out with were going to Disneyland Paris (which I wasn't interested in going to because it's way expensive and really not that different from Disneyworld, which I've been to 100 times), I took advantage of that and caught up on sleep! I also explored my new neighborhood a bit. It's a lot more residential than my old one (which was very touristy since it was right by the Champs-Elysees), which means more grocery stores, cute unique cafes (without the Champs-Elysees price tag, too...still expensive, but still more affordable), little shops (a chocolate florist!), and little parks. I bought some groceries thinking it would be more economical to pack a lunch for school, but the groceries were so expensive that it really wasn't worth it!
In other news...Paris has far too many appealing desserts, and I think I need to cut back on sampling them all! It's still awesome seeing the Eiffel Tower out my window. The Musee d'Orsay is cool (it's all impressionist paintings, like Monet, Degas, Renoir, and Van Gogh), but I've realized I don't like to experience museums slowly like most people. Classes are classes, regardless of where you're taking them or what language they're in. Made of Honor was much better than I thought it'd be and you should go see it.
And now I'm out for the night!
Riley =)
Today was a lazy day! I haven't gotten much sleep since I've been here and, since we didn't have classes today and most of the people I hang out with were going to Disneyland Paris (which I wasn't interested in going to because it's way expensive and really not that different from Disneyworld, which I've been to 100 times), I took advantage of that and caught up on sleep! I also explored my new neighborhood a bit. It's a lot more residential than my old one (which was very touristy since it was right by the Champs-Elysees), which means more grocery stores, cute unique cafes (without the Champs-Elysees price tag, too...still expensive, but still more affordable), little shops (a chocolate florist!), and little parks. I bought some groceries thinking it would be more economical to pack a lunch for school, but the groceries were so expensive that it really wasn't worth it!
In other news...Paris has far too many appealing desserts, and I think I need to cut back on sampling them all! It's still awesome seeing the Eiffel Tower out my window. The Musee d'Orsay is cool (it's all impressionist paintings, like Monet, Degas, Renoir, and Van Gogh), but I've realized I don't like to experience museums slowly like most people. Classes are classes, regardless of where you're taking them or what language they're in. Made of Honor was much better than I thought it'd be and you should go see it.
And now I'm out for the night!
Riley =)
Thursday, May 29, 2008
At School
Bonjour! I am sitting at IES, my school, right now, enjoying the wireless Internet. I just got done talking with the IES Housing Coordinator and it looks like I may be getting moved to a new homestay on Monday. I talked to her for awhile and she asked me to describe my perfect host family...and after describing it, she said she thought she had a better match for me and wanted me to reflect until Monday, but on Monday she can do something if I still want to move. This makes me very excited because 1.) I will actually be able to sleep at night because I won't be having allergy issues and 2.) I will have Internet!
Besides talking about homestay issues, I had my first day of real classes. I am in French 301, which I think will be pretty nice. The professor seems cool and he speaks at like the perfect speed. I was afraid I'd end up with someone who spoke way too fast to understand! I am also excited that I tested into 301 because I was afraid I might not test into it, even though that's the level I should be at. I also had French Lit today, but I'm going to switch out that class for History of Paris (most likely) because the French Lit professor expects us to already know some stuff about French Lit...and I know absolutely nothing about French literature.
I know I've said it a couple of times already...but Skype is awesome. I have been videochatting and it works great! Granted, most of you probably aren't going to be up at the hours I have been videochatting (9am my time...3am in Indiana), but maybe if my new homestay has Internet, I'll be able to chat at better hours of the day!
I only have classes Monday through Thursday...so it's the weekend now! I'm eating lunch at the Eiffel Tower tomorrow!
Bon week-end!
Riley =)
Besides talking about homestay issues, I had my first day of real classes. I am in French 301, which I think will be pretty nice. The professor seems cool and he speaks at like the perfect speed. I was afraid I'd end up with someone who spoke way too fast to understand! I am also excited that I tested into 301 because I was afraid I might not test into it, even though that's the level I should be at. I also had French Lit today, but I'm going to switch out that class for History of Paris (most likely) because the French Lit professor expects us to already know some stuff about French Lit...and I know absolutely nothing about French literature.
I know I've said it a couple of times already...but Skype is awesome. I have been videochatting and it works great! Granted, most of you probably aren't going to be up at the hours I have been videochatting (9am my time...3am in Indiana), but maybe if my new homestay has Internet, I'll be able to chat at better hours of the day!
I only have classes Monday through Thursday...so it's the weekend now! I'm eating lunch at the Eiffel Tower tomorrow!
Bon week-end!
Riley =)
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