A Parisian Weekend

This little weekend recap post, should have gone up yesterday but in evidence of a VERY good weekend. I fell asleep, computer on my lap with not much typed at all. So here it is today. After being here for almost 10 months I am still having lots of firsts. Including my Friday night adventure to my first Parisian nightclub… interesting and awesome to say the least. I had to dig way back into my college days of not even leaving to go out until after midnight, but I pulled it together like the champ I am, got myself dressed up and made it happen. We then spent the night in the VIP area with our own bottles, mixing our own drinks and dancing the night and the morning away. The music selection was a bit interesting for me – at one point the DJ really had me concerned when he began a medley with “We Will Rock You” not at all what I expected, but I think it was just to get everyone warmed up and that it did. I think one of the craziest things was the fact that this little club (ok, it wasn’t little at all but… ) is pretty much underground and so there are no windows, making it very easy to not pay any attention to time. What I am trying to say is that it was actually light outside by the time we left to have our nightcap (I guess it was technically a morning cap at that point). Yup – that is right, no last call at 1:45 for these crazy Parisians. It really was a lovely way to kick off what ended up being one of the best weekends I have had since my adventure in Paris began. After a brief nap – because there is no way you could say I went to bed at 930am on Saturday… it just sounds wrong – I woke up and made my way to a basketball game with some friends and ended the evening feeling about as Parisian as one could by going to the movies on the back of a little scooter. Yes my dear family – I had a helmet on and no it is not as scary as it might seem, buzzing in and out of the cars and busses on the incredibly busy streets of Paris.  I wrapped it all up by soaking up the sun reading all day Sunday in front of my huge windows with the pigeons happily chirping in the streets. It is funny how the littlest things like dancing all night and cruising around on the back of a scooter that make you feel like you have finally accomplished things the same way someone who is from here would.

I'll Take It ....

The gorgeous weather that is! The last few days in Paris have been unbelievable (aside from the fact that I can not stop itching my eyes because everything is turning green and blooming and prospering like it should be). But there is no comparison to a gorgeous Spring day here. It is like the entire mood of every Parisian changes ... this morning on my walk to the office I actually saw some people smiling with a slight bit of happiness in their step. Not to elude that all Parisians walk with a frowny face BUT they do tend to be much less expressive then people cruising around the streets of new England! Keep the sunshine and warm weather coming...

And we are back in action...

This entry is dedicated to my friend Nina <3

It has been brought to my attention that I have been a serious slacker on this little blog of mine and I need to change my bad habits and get back on updating it. Especially since the last month or so has been one of the most intense I have had since I have arrived in Paris. Not only is this small documentation interesting for anyone of my family and friends to read, but I am hoping that one day I can print it all out like a nice little diary and have it to look back on. So again with that said… it is time to get back into the swing of things. In order to quickly recap the last month I will do a Top Three most interesting things list… starting now:


1. Riding Elephants in Kuala Lumpur – while in Kl for an Alstom University event, we had the opportunity to spend a weekend there and travelled out to the jungle to visit an elephant reserve. Not only did we get to meet the elephants, feed them and ride them, we were able to take a quick dip into a river (which on any normal day I would have said HELL NO to going into) where the elephants rolled over with us on their backs and we got to play and splash around with them.


2. Exploding Curling Iron – So after many months here ( I can’t believe it is at almost 9 to be exact) I decided that I needed a little change in my hairstyle, mostly because it is getting really long and I am sick of it being all boring and straight. So I purchased a nice little curling iron from the BHV (the one stop shop for ANYTHING you could ever need). I immediately took it home and plugged it in ready to play around. About ¾ of the way finished with my hair – it was delightfully curly and cute- I heard the most awful popping sound and felt quite the surge in my hand and all of this happened as every light in my apartment went out and all of my music stopped. After spending about an hour trying to figure out just how to turn my electricity back on I managed to find a small orange knob that had to be turned behind the multiple fuse boxes in my apartment. Needless to say the curling iron was shot and so the remaining straight hair was tied in a knot on the top of my head to be hidden from the curls. No worries the burning smell in my apartment was taken care of with a splash of perfume and a nice breeze from the windows and my date had no idea that I had almost electrocuted myself just an hour before he picked me up.


3. Disneyland – WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO that pretty much describes that one in a nutshell. My lovely little sis and her boyfriend came to visit for a week and aside from all of the normal sightseeing we did – we dedicated an entire day to acting like 5 year olds at Disneyland. It was beyond awesome. Although the park has many similarities, it is a bit smaller and the colors a bit brighter – I have been told this is because the sky is always gray so it is to make it look more appealing. Space Mountain 2 at Euro Disney – can not be beat though. I would and will be going back as soon as I can…


Other super interesting things:


Singapore – this city is unreal and I highly recommend that if you have a chance you make the bes to fit and go. I will be returning for some vacation time… there is such a great mix of cultures plus for me being American I had everything I could have ever missed – Burger King, Hooters, Tiffanys, Palm Trees and beaches all in one place. Not to mention the airport, which you could spend an entire weekend in getting massages, shopping and eating. Try it out.

Catacombs – Creepy yet really interesting. This underground city of bones is really just something that you should do at least once. The story behind it will give you goose bumps.


Falafel – No matter how many times you eat it, going a Sunday without some is tragic ; )

Superbowl? What....

This time last year and this time for many many many years before I would be cooking, cleaning and getting the beverages cold for one of my favorite days - the Superbowl. This Sunday has always had a nice warm fuzzy place in my heart. A day you can get together with friends, family, eat, drink, laugh at commercials or groan at how awful they are, and yell at the tv. Yet as so many things have been this year - this Superbowl Sunday - just won't be the same. Actually to be totally honest I didn't even realize it was Superbowl until I was reminded while talking to my mom on the phone the other day. So on this lovely Parisian Sunday I am catching up on True Blood and practicing my passé compose and imparfait tenses of Francais, while remaining in my comfiest clothes ever. Yes that's right french homework on a Sunday afternoon, maybe surprising but.... Somedays this language thing ALMOST makes sense and I have found some good motivation to really start speaking French. Go - ha wow realized I don't even know who is playing the big game today- so go whichever team you want!!!! And please feel free to pass along the best YouTube clips of the commercials this way.

I am not sure...

That I actually love Ikea as much as I initially thought. Ok so maybe that is a bit exaggerated because I spent hours yesterday constructing various things from there but some of those products I was raving about were a bit more difficult once I saw them in lots of pieces, in lots of boxes all over my friends new apartment yesterday. See the thing with Paris, and I am not sure how it is throughout the rest of the country, is that when you move into a new apartment here unless it is furnished it has NOTHING. And the NOTHING is not an exaggeration. No sink, no fridge, no dishwasher, no washer, no dryer just a whole lot of nothing. In a way it is exciting because you have the opportunity to really customize your space but then there is the whole process of putting it together. Case in point - yesterday. I am not sure I have ev seen so. Many boxes, screws, and styrofoam ever in my entire life. But with a few sets of hands, some pizza and a lot of swearing - everything came together quite nicely. The work yesterday has also lead me to a day of nothing today. Movies, couch, Francais homework and trying to make all the nails I broke yesterday look somewhat pretty again....

Jammin.

Woke up in a lovely mood today and when trying to figure out how to say it in French, a friend was instantly reminded (SIDENOTE:: and he is very often instantly reminded when someone says a word or phrase that just so happens to be in a popular song... take "hello ... is it me your looking for......" It's classic and one of the most hysterical things ever) of this little tune:

So not only was I informed how to say "Good, good mood this morning (bonne bonne humeur ce matin)" in French, but I was introduced to a little piece of French pop cultural and who doesn't love the awesome Batman shirts??!!!

Sunday in Paris

I have no idea why but I woke up this morning with this overwhelming feeling of "I cant believe I live in Paris!" Nothing significant or life changing happened in the last 48 hours to cause this revelation it just sort of set in and woke me up thinking. Maybe it was the exploration of a new area last night, filled with restaurants and jazz clubs, maybe it was the sun coming through my bedroom window this morning, or the sound of the pigeons fighting outside (the big one definitely won) but whatever it was it just reminded me how lucky I am to be HERE!  So to celebrate that this morning I am lounging on my window seat, with the windows opened, sun coming in, drinking my coffee and reading my new favorite book "Dirty French". I am sure you are wondering what exactly Dirty French is and I have to be honest it is exactly what it sounds like. The guide to every bad word, French pick-up line and insult you could ever possible need in this pretty little city. Who said studying French had to be serious????

the SOLDES are back

It is that time of year again here in Paris. SOLDES!!! That’s right – this time for the goodies of Hiver (winter) and let me tell you they are in full force. It is actually crazy how many more people are packed into le magazines (shops) around town and the bigger stores are just a disaster waiting to happen. But when you think about it why wouldn’t they be?? When there are that many pairs of boots and jackets on sale – who wouldn’t want to be in the store reaping all of those benefits?? I have decided that since I have done NO shopping since I returned here after Christmas that I deserve a little treat. Friday – I have taken the day off and I plan on marching myself around this city to find the best of the best deals. I won’t lie I don’t have anything specific that I am on the market for but that will make this be a fun little adventure …. searching for the kind of prices and things (most likely shoes) that I cannot live another day without!!

Ikea

So. I am exhausted ( one too many late nights- sometimes I feel like I am back to my 20 year old self staying up all night here)and stuck on the Metro. I'm not sure what is going on even though the man keeps making announcements over the tin can they call an intercom. But some dude just tossed half a baguette and started swearing ( these are French words I picked up early on in my stay here). Of course I finished my book this morning so why not pass the time with a little update on life in Paris. Had my first Ikea trip this weekend and let me tell you: BRILLIANT. Simply brilliant. I left and haven't stopped thinking about that place since the automatic doors almost closed me and my giant blue bag filled with goodies in between them. It is like a giant playgroun with fake kitchens and bedrooms and bathrooms taking over the top floor. I can only imagine the bad ass game of hide and seek you could play there. The lower level is a treasure hunt of just about everything you could possibly want from candles, clocks, bedding, toliet brushes, kitchen appliances to candy!! unreal. I am still dreaming about everything I left there. The thought of lugging new dishes back to Paris by train, bus and foot was lessthan appealing. Why do we not have Ilea everywhere in the states?? I woulblike to think it would be beyond a lucrative business!!

Oh joy. Bread throwing and swear screaming man left and the train is back on the move. Bed here I come!!

The River Seine

Cofffee break time, along with lunch time and well just about all the times we have lead to very interesting conversations. Over coffee a few days ago I was chit chatting to everyone about the MONSTER blizzard everyone at home (well in the US, I've found myself refering to Paris as home a few times...) was experiencing. 2 feet of snow in some places, I don't remember the last time or if I have ever seen that much snow at once. And I digressed as usual but back on track, the snow conversation led to a conversation about how the Seine was overflowing here and flooding some of the banks in Paris. The river is quite big and along most places it is surrounedd by benches and pathways for people to walk. I am secretly hoping it keeps flooding over the weekend so I can go take some photos. For me when I think of a river or a lake or anythign flooding it is because of th esnow melting and causing a big rush of water. So my mind began racing and racing and I became curious as to why this river was overflowing, is there snow melting somewhere (it has been in the 40's here for days on end now) causing this normally calm body of water to take over?? So I asked and being surrounded by French I figured it would almost be a "silly" question. Turns out...it was a very good one!! Google quickly became our friend as we searched. Interested to find out where the Seine begins????

Click Here  --->  The Seine - How Stuff Works!! OR Click Here  ---> Bonjour to the Seine

Expat Expo

Confession - I love the Flag for Follow up option on our Lotus Notes email at work. Without this nifty little feature I think I would drown when it comes to answering important emails or remembering the emails I open when I am super busy but would LOVE to go back to. Now the other confession is that sometimes I use it to flag some very important maybe not so work related things... like the one I had set today. About 2 months ago I was forwarded a link to an Expat Expo that will be taking place in Paris during the first week of  February. Now two months ago this was definitely the last thing on my mind - exactly why the reminder feature is so useful - but today I was more than happy to see it pop up and did a little exploring. The expo will take place for three days in February and covers pretty much ANYTHING an expat here in Paris would want to know. You would think that after almost 7 months here (GULP - I just realised that by the time this rolls around it will be over 8 months since I arrived!!) I would know everything that I need to know but it simply does not work like that. If I had to break it down I would say I spent the first 3 months just trying to get adjusted to the fact that I live in Paris ( 1 month was spent just trying to sleep at night), the next three months I was finally comfortable enough to get started with my French lessons, actually go into a bakery when there were other people in line, start to go out with some friends, meet new people and even travel a little, that leads us to about a month ago when I realized that it is time to really get settled in because I am not going anywhere for awhile!! So after a little exploring on the website I think that this could be the perfect little kick in the right direction.

This little expo offers everything from:

• Conferences on Successful Integration (I am working on this one but I am sure they will tell me to speak more quietly in the Metro!)
• The Challenges faced When Learning French (This one really caught my eye and I am pretty sure I could actually lead this conference)
• Cooking Demonstration (Ok.. this is obvious... We all know I will be at this one, need volunteers for taste testing? YES please!)
• A Guide to your Style Profile (This one is about as obvious as the one above - shoes, bags, jackets, shopping in general, I am SOOOO there)
• How to Make the Most of Paris (This one just seems like it would be silly to not attend)

 Now that you have seen all that I am sure you agree it would be incredibly silly for me NOT to attend. If not for myself but for everyone that has been dealing with me and my French lessons, getting lost everywhere I go and enteratining me : )  Anyone want to join?????

Blah

Why is it that I can be a fully functioning grown up who has been living on my own for years, works a full time job, I support myself and do just fine but when I start to not feel well all I want is my pj's, Mac and cheese and my Mommy? It is like every ounce of adultness leaks out of my body and I go back in time like 15 years. Someone should invent some sort of teleportation thing to send Mommy's to their sick daughters. Now I am not sure if this same digression happens in men (do they sneeze and all the sudden want their mom too?) but if it does then I'd be willing to share this teleportation plan with them too. The worst part about all of this is that it's my first weekend back in Paris and it is actually almost nice out (well it looks almost nice out) and I haven't moved from my bed for almost 18 hours. Blahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Blahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Blahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Bonne Année

Ahhhhhh. Back home after the first day of work for 2011. I have to be honest it actually felt really good to wake up and get back into my little routine. Especially walking to work. I didn't realize how much I missed using my two little feet (ok so they aren't so little but that is beside the point!) to get myself around town. Now when it comes to missing the metro and my seriously close morning encounters I can not say the same. Don't get me wrong, I loved being home and relaxing more than anything but I think I will keep those vacations as a treat. So anyway apparently along with kissing everyone hello upon a return from the New Year holiday you also should greet them with two little phrases. Normally I would be all for this but after almost two weeks of no French and some jet lag it just seemed really intimidating. The little expression goes as follows:

Bonne année et bonne santé !

The first part which I heard many,many,many times today honestly sounds like a person saying banaknees. Sort of part banana and part knee. I'm sure I won't forget that saying now!

Happy New Year

Ok. So it has been awhile. It is a New Year and I am deciding I need to get back in blog action. I am currently standing at the baggage claim of terminal 2 at the airport in Paris. Waiting and waiting and waiting to pick up my TWO incredibly over packed bags from my journey back to the states. I am fresh off of an almost two week vacation/visit. A very good time. The holidays were beyond fantastic and it was refreshing and eye opening to be back in NH. I guess I'll have to finish this one later. The baggage belt is a rocking and I want out, a taxi and my apartment!!!

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??