Time is flying

I just realized almost an entire week has passed and I haven't updated a thing. I don't know if it is because I am getting older, am living in another country and am always on the go, or if I just never noticed it before but time is just flying by me. It is like they strapped the days on a TGV and then shot if off on a rocket ship. Seriously though - it has been almost 7 MONTHS since I arrived here in Paris and I look back and wonder, if those months went by so quickly are the rest of the months I have in front of me going to go even faster?? Eeeeek. I hope not because I am not ready for that at all. Or maybe time just feels especially fast over the last week since it has been so jam packed. Now that I think about it, it has been packed to the brim!! I gave my first speech - in front of people, not just at my reflection in the mirror, in French last week. Which was an incredible feeling, mostly because I was so nervous I hardly remember speaking and the rush after was almost exhausting. I co-hosted the first Alstom University AUtube Awards show, our very own, Oscar themed evening full of stars. Which I thought I would be just as nervous for but really actually had one of the best times ever on stage.  It helps my co-host is a pro at this kind of stuff ; ) AND I have been running around trying to get my life in order because in 6 days I am flying off back to the US, for my favorite holiday season (aside from my birthday and yes that is a holiday) to see my family and bestest friends ever. So maybe at least for tonight I will blame time taking off on all of the above mentioned.

Would you like fries (or champagne) with that??

It occured to me today as I was looking at pictures on my phone, yes I tend to take a lot of pictures of food - but I can't help it. I mean it is such a huge part of my life and I eat so much of it I feel the need to capture some of the best (and some that have turned out to be the worst) morsels and meals in my life. Just got way off track .. so let me start again - It occured to me today as I was looking at pictures on my phone that a cheeseburger in the States is quite different than a cheeseburger served here. Now the example below is a very drastic example but I am pretty sure you can't get any more opposite than this... I have to stop now becuase I am actually drooling on my keyboard looking at the Friendly's burger. That has just been added back onto the list of MUST EAT while back in the States for the holidays!!!

Paris or Massachsetts??? Hmmm... I wonder



Do I really need to ask?? As if the english writing on the paper UNDER the greasy burger didn't give it away the 
cole slaw sure did!!



Coin Coin or Quack Quack

I think I have mentioned previously that the lunch conversation here always manage to revolve around really interesting and usually non-work related topics. Not that we don't like talking about work but I have found that at lunch here people actually take a rest from the day to day and give themselves a true break. Recently the following topic has come up multiple times with multiple people and so I feel it's time to share the research I have done on this. I know this has been a burning question for many of you but it's true French animals make different sounds then US animals. Ok maybe it isn't a burning question and well actually it probably seems silly and I am sure you are scratching your head thinking, "What on earth and how does this topic even come up once, never mind multiple times?!?! " So I will tell you....even though I am studying and practicing incredibly hard to learn the language occasionally words will pop up I don't know and I will need a translation. In the case of a menu translation sometimes it is just easier to imitate what sound or action the animal made (before it became my potential entree). Or in my Mom's case (love you Mom) it's an easier way to describe the dish you want for dinner (even though we now know French ducks say Coin and not Quack...) So I have compiled a list to compare the sounds that French and US animals make. I though this would take me forever but you would be surprised by the amount of info you can find by googling animal noises!! 


 You may find it interesting to know that bee’s are the only bug/animal that won’t need to take lessons to communicate with their relatives overseas.  

Winter Wonderland

Yesterday was just that here in Paris. Although it has been rather cold here for the last few weeks and we have had snow showers almost every (gray) day,  December 8, marked the true start of winter here. Around 11am I looked out the window at the office to see GIGANTIC white fluffy flakes falling in all sorts of directions. The snow doesn't come down the same way it does at home, at least it doesn't seem to. The flakes were big and almost looked like mini snowballs falling from the sky. For the first time this winter, and after many snow flurries, the fluffy little buggers actually stuck aroudn and started to accumulate, which in turn began to throw the city (especially the airport) into a slight state of chaos. It was a risky walk home yesterday as there were people waiting with piles of snowballs to attack their friends as they turned corners and walked down stairs, the grocers on Rue de Levi (my little market street) scurried around to keep the fruits and vegetables from being covered and almost everyone had their faces covered with the scarves and umbrellas up to keep the flakes from their faces. I thought walking in the cold was a bit intense, but walking around in inches of snow (in what I thought were waterproff boots) is even more intese. One might even say it's a bit of a resistence workout!!! It was a beautiful site to see though for the day - even though this morning the sidewalks were deathtraps of ice and slush and the awnings covering the shops were dripping down icy cold drops of melting snow into my hood. I managed to find a few photos ... next time I will have to pull myself away from watchign the snow fall and my fuzzy blanket and go take some photos of my own...

People walk through the snow in Ville d'Avray, west of Paris, Wednesday Dec. 8, 2010, as a snow storm disturbs the traffic in the French capital. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

A woman and a girl are seen near the Eiffel Tower after snow fell on the French capital, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010. (AP Photo / Jacques Brinon)

A jogger runs past Notre Dame cathedral, under the snow in Paris, Wednesday Dec. 8, 2010, as a snow storm disrupted traffic in the French capital. The padlocks on the railings of the bridge are left by lovers who lock their padlocks onto the fence and throw the key into the Seine river as a symbol of enduring love. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)

Notre Dame cathedral is seen under the snow in Paris, Wednesday Dec. 8, 2010, as a snow storm disrupted traffic in the French capital.(AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)

Addiction

I was introduced to falafel a few months back and I can honestly say that it is a necessary and needed part of my life now. I have developed cravings for these fried bites of delight in a form I can only imagine is similar to those of a pregnant woman's cravings. I say imagine as I have never actually experienced pregnancy cravings but any person who wants pickles, waffles and whipcream must know what it's like to NEED something!!!! I wont lie as I'm sharing with you my very serious addiction I am on the metro just a few stop away from filling my desire!! I only hope that wherever I end up next I can find a falafel fix that even remotely compares to my favorite place here!!! Do you think there is such a thing as food rehab??

*as always all posts created on the Metro are subject to serious typos due to oversized fingers typing on an iPhone keypad!!

Please ... refrain from licking your computer screen

Stink

I love cheese and this place has some of the best cheese around but why oh why does it have to smell so awful?? I have a few pieces of delicious cheese in my fridge and every morning when I open it to get my yogurt and orange juice I almost die when the stench slithers its way out into the kitchen ...It really is just not the best way to start the day... Is there anyway to have the same kind of wonderful tasting cheese without it having the effect of a nuclear stink bomb??