Crazy Carnival

So apparently it is the time of year for Carnival – well at least in Brazil. I’ll be honest, up until about 10 minutes ago, I really had no idea what the Carnival tradition was or why it is so important in Brazil and how important it is to their culture. Please… read on and get educated about the history of Carnival in Brazil. Apparently this tradition has been occurring since the time of the ancient Greeks. It originated as a Spring festival to honor the God of Wine (as soon as I read this I knew it could only get better, I mean a God of WINE – HELL YEAH!!) It went through a couple of tweeks and changes as time went on, the Romans adopted it and used it as a time to honor their Wine God and then the Roman Catholic Church got a hold of it and it turned into a last festival before Ash Wednesday. I am pretty sure this is still more or less the present meaning/purpose of Carnival now. Anyway, it has essentially turned into a massive celebration of indulgences (and everyone loves indulgences!)- sort of like a last fling of sex, alcohol and food before Lent begins. I am not sure that a week filled with pretty much every “sin” possible is exactly what the Catholics had in mind before starting the 40 days of sin purging. The carnival that takes place in Rio de Janeiro is one of the world’s most lavish and most famous carnivals. There are drumming groups, parties, drinking, eating and parades with singers and Samba dancers! These parades are filled with elaborate costumes, crazy colourful floats and sometimes even a few naked people (as Carnival comes from a latin term meaning Farewell to the Flesh – I think prancing around naked helps put this into perspective)…  So of course as with everything Paris had to have its own version of this crazy little festival.  Sunday afternoon I bundled up and hopped on the back of my friend and escorts scooter and we cruised the streets of Paris looking for people dancing in sequined costumes, drumming and singing. It took a little bit but after a few wrong turns we found it. An entire section of the Parisian streets blocked off and just crowded with crazy drunken Parisians celebrating their very own version of Carnival. I will be honest, there were a few points when these dancing fools marched by that I wanted to just join in and march down the streets with them… Although I am positive that this little gathering pales in comparison to the elaborate celebrations in Brazil and especially in Rio, it was quite the sight to see and I am happy I was able to take this in. Plus I got to ride around the city on the back of a scooter again and as I have mentioned many times before, this for me is one of the most amazing and best ways to take in the city. Nothing at all beats holding on while you weave in and out of cars and taking in the scenery from an entirely new point of view.

Pictures to come!!!

Joyeuse Saint Valentin

So it is the 14th of February again in Paris... I wish I had some exciting, romantic, dripping with cheese evening plans to share with you but unfortunately this chicken noodle is celebrating the day of love alone. I won't lie I may treat myself to a glass of nice wine and a delish dinner this evening (courtesy of Picard of course!! Hehe). Anyway, I got to thinking this morning as I lay awake at 4:30 am (have I ever told you how much I love jet lag?) about how different this happy little holiday is in America and France. In the states, I am pretty sure decorations and hearts and flowers and giant stuffed bears start showing up in stores pretty much right after Christmas, why would we let any significant time pass between holidays where money could be made, that would be silly!? Whereas here in Paris, there were very few decorations or even references to Valentine's until the start of this week. Here (and this is my little opinion) this holiday is really still about the love of someone and making that person feel special, instead of cramming into an over booked resto, with a price fixed menu, cheesy red roses and that box of chocolates with the (mostly disgusting) random fillings*. People aren't dressed in red and pink today and there aren't cupids hanging over the entrance to the Metro - although that would be funny to see! So all this thinking really got me interested to see what I could dig up about the history of St. Valentin in France... here is a taste of what I found...

Valentines Day Traditions in France  courtesy of Lost in France

"No one really knows how Valentines day originally came about or even who St Valentine really was - the Catholic church has three different St Valentines and in ancient Rome the 14th of February was marked as a holiday to honour the god Juno. Custom has it that in France and England Valentines day originally came to be held in mid February because this was the time of year that birds and animals started pairing off and mating. Eventually it became popular to exchange small tokens and love letters and so the day was born.

An old Valentines day custom in France and now officially banned was called the "une loterie d'amour" or "drawing for love". This entailed single people of all ages entering houses that faced opposite each other and calling out through the windows till eventually they paired off with each other. The male suitor if not particularly attracted to his partner would leave her and the women left single would build a large bonfire and ceremoniously burn images of the men that had deserted them whilst simultaneously hurling abuse and curses at the ungrateful men. Though this was probably very therapeutic for the rejected women inevitably it was a practice that soon became out of hand and was eventually banned by the French government. < I am going to add my two sense here because I find this super interesting... seriously... why ban this it sounds like a good freaking time, well I guess as long as you are chosen but if you aren't just make sure you have a bad of marshmallows handy and a good roasting stick (don't forget a cold beer or glass -actually bottle- of wine and make it a party!! >

In France Valentines cards are called cartes d'amities, the first recorded Valentines greeting was supposed to have been sent by the Duke of Orleans, a Frenchman who was held prisoner in the Tower of London after his capture at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. During his imprisonment the young duke is said to have sent poems & love letters to his wife in France."

So to close out this little lesson on VDay in France - let me share with you a few awesome les petites phrases de la drague (pick up lines) to help you and yours celebrate this day of hearts, kisses and love (en Francais bien sure!)

Est-ce que ton père a été un voleur ? Parce qu'il a volé les étoiles du ciel pour les mettre dans tes yeux.
(Was your father a thief? Because he stole the stars from the sky to put them in your eyes)

Tu as dû avoir très mal quand tu es tombée du ciel... 
(It must've hurt when you fell from heaven...)

Tu dois être fatiguée parce que tu as trotté dans ma tête toute la journée.
(You must be tired, because you've been running through my head all day)

Je viens d'arriver dans ta ville. Est-ce que tu pourrais m'indiquer le chemin jusqu'à ton appartement ?
(I just arrived in this city. Could you tell me the way to your apartment?)

*Don't get me wrong, even though that sounded a bit bitter,  I love all that stupid crap too so if anyone wants to send flowers, chocolates or jewelry - it will be accepted with open arms!! Any chance to make a person feel special today or any other day of the year should be fully taken advantage of.

Super Bowl and then some...

Are you ready for some fooooootball? some Patriot packed football?!?!?!?!

Superbowl – well for other reasons as well, but if the Patriots hadn't made it I am not sure I would have had the same vigor to try and make it back to the homestead to watch this big game with my family. Although to be honest, I think as happy as my parents were to see me, I think they would have enjoyed watching the game with a bit more silence then they had. But seriously – I hadn't seen everyone in so long and my attention span isn't what it used to be! It was a night though – everyone in their Patriots gear, eating, drinking and laughing. An evening that will be cherished in my memory bank forever – minus the fact that the Pats lost but next year baby, next year (especially because the Vegas odds are already favouring them – thanks for the tid bit of info Pa, now I sound like I know what I am talking about!! Hehe) Aside from this game I was able to catch up with most of my family, all my besties, play with the two most adorable babies EVER, see a few people from the office and just all around enjoy my time at home. It was a bit jam packed and it went much too quickly, but I think it was just enough home to get me through the next few months, which will be full of who knows what, especially now that I am waiting (and waiting and waiting) to hear about the job I interviewed for a week or so ago (I hope you all have your fingers and eyes and legs and everything else crossed for me). I also stuffed my suitcase full of American delicacies including Velveeta and blue cheese salad dressing. One of the best things about this trip aside from seeing my loves, eating lots of (disgusting and not good for you) delightful American food was that I missed an incredibly cold streak here in Paris. Don't get me wrong I grew up in New England and can handle some pretty bitter temps but the cold here is a whole new ballgame. It is so humid and bitter it freezes you to your bones, actually it was so cold when I left last week the equipment that moves the planes on the tarmac was actually frozen in place and my flight left almost two hours late!! I am hoping that I brought some of the mild temperatures back with me...

Those tired eyes are from the jetlag not the beer I am drinking... I swear ... sort of...

And... just for fun... my favorite Super Bowl commercial this year:

The next scary step.

  "When you're young, your whole life is about the pursuit of fun. Then, you grow up and learn to be cautious. You could break a bone or a heart. You look before you leap and sometimes you don't leap at all because there's not always someone there to catch you. And in life, there's no safety net. When did it stop being fun and start being scary?"

So. I mentioned last week that I applied for a job back in Windsor with the same company that I think could be a serious step in my career. After two years of being challenged everyday I have discovered so much about myself (ok side note Girls Just Wanna Have fun is playing in the taxi as I ride home and I am trying so hard to not sing along... Side note finished back to business) and one of the things I have learned is that I am truly proud of my career this far in my life. Now most would say this is a normal reaction that anyone that has been working for some time would have. But honestly if you had asked me a few years ago what my goals career wise were  I would have probably looked you in the eyes and said "I have no idea, find me a rich man and I'll figure the rest out..." Yes, I realize how that sounds and maybe it's a bit exaggerated and although I should be embarassed to admit it - I'm not. Because for me I think about it and it makes how I feel now even more valid and important. Now I can't even breathe when I think about not working (that doesn't mean I want to be a crazy, work 80 hours a week, have no life kind of girl) I truly enjoy challenging myself and seeing what I can build my own expectations to. I won't lie and say I want to take over the entire organization (even though I'm pretty sure I'd be awesome at it, insert evil laugh here) but I want to see what's next and where that could lead me... I mean Paris isn't a bad pay out for working hard and taking lots of pride in what I do. So Thursday I'll have that first step to take my next challenge. That job that I applied for had now become the job interview I am preparing for. 

Yikes!! I'm nervous and excited and I'm 87%sure I'm ready to make this next move... Yes not 100% but 87%... The truth is the choice to move my life back to the US is scary. I miss so much about it but now I'll just have to miss my life here and can't deny it my life here is pretty awesome!! What if I get back and realize I'm supposed to be here? What if I don't go and realize that I should have? So many unknowns and so many what if's ... And none of those ???'s can be answered until I move in the direction that comes my way. So at this point only time and a phone interview can tell what direction that might be. So keep your fingers crossed and I'll keep you posted. 

Sent from my iPhone

McNuggets ....

So I have an addiction to Chicken Nuggets. I always have for as long as I can remember. It is not something crazy and out of control that will cause me to seize up and have cold sweats and night terrors if I don't eat them on a regular basis -  but that is because I know I am an addict and I know how to manage it. Everything in moderation... well except the occasional drink, shopping spree or the pairs of shoes that I own - but those are all topics for another day and another time... Anyhoooooo ... my bestie has shared a few pretty funny and slighlty disturbing US headlines about nuggets in the last couple of weeks. I mean who knew that nuggets were such headline makers but apparently they are. These posts and the sharing of stories have been the jumping off point for many debates and conversations about fast food, and especially, fast food in the US vs. Fast food here in France.  Deciding I needed to stick up for my addiction and the occasional trip to MacDo (as it is called here) I did some research. Funny enough this article was just published on NPR: Why McDonald's in France Doesn't Feel Like Fast Food .

Take a glance and let me know what you think... for all you Frenchies - is it really better here? I will through my vote out there and say ABSO-EFFING-LUTELY!!! But that won't stop me from the occasional indulgence when I am back in the states....

Why McDonald's In France Doesn't Feel Like Fast Food

January 24, 2012

by Eleanor Beardsley

 
Greetings from McDonald's, or "MacDo," as they call it here in Paris, where I am comfortably ensconced in a McCafé enjoying a croissant and a grand crème coffee. I'm surrounded by people of all ages who are talking with friends, reading, or typing away on their laptops like me.The beauty of McDonald's in France is that it doesn't feel like a fast food joint, where hordes of people shuffle in and out and tables turn at a fast clip. McDonalds is the world's largest food chain. It operates in 123 countries around the world, and just this week the company said it plans to open another 1,300 restaurants in 2012.

Naturally, the U.S. is its no. 1 market, but guess who is no. 2? You got it: France. A paper out this month by three graduates of the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business says McDonald's is such a success in the land of Michelin three-star restaurants because it has adapted to French eating habits and tastes. There are now 1,200 franchises in France; the company opened 30 restaurants per year in the past five years alone.

Even in these harried times, the French spend more than two hours a day at the table. Sitting down to a meal is a cornerstone of French culture, and McDonald's seems to get that. French McDonald's are spacious, tastefully decorated restaurants that encourage people to take their time while eating. And the cozy McCafe's with their plush chairs and sofas have become an extension to many restaurants.

I remember there used to be a few Burger Kings in Paris, but McDonald's closest competitor went belly up years ago. The Wharton study says it's because they tried to transplant the total American dining experience to France, without taking into consideration French preferences.

McDonald's, meanwhile, offers all kinds of Frenchified dishes, from the Alpine burger with three different kinds of cheese to tasty little gallette des rois, or King's Cakes, popular after Christmas and sold by all the bakeries. Last year, it introduced the McBaguette.

Another reason McDonald's works so well here is that the food is locally sourced and very high quality. As we all know, France is the land of haute cuisine. But it's also the land of good cuisine. The French appreciate quality in any category, even fast food. Restaurateurs in France know they'll go bust if they offer substandard products. I've had friends from India tell me that the Indian restaurants in Paris are among the world's best.

And if you like good meat (who doesn't?!), then McDonald's France is clearly superior. In the U.S., McDonald's says its cattle are mostly corn-fed. While the company doesn't address on its site whether growth hormones and growth-promoting antibiotics are added to the animal feed consumed by the animals it buys, it's a reasonable assumption that they are.

French cattle are all grass fed, which many argue makes them tastier. Growth hormones are illegal here and each animal has a passport showing where it was born, raised, and slaughtered, according to McDonald's France. That's called traceability, and we don't yet have such a national system in place.

As for chicken nugget lovers, French chickens, unlike some of their American counterparts, are not rinsed in chlorine to disinfect them. The regular use of chlorine in the U.S. chicken industry is why poulet americain has long been interdit in the European Union.

Of course you can still find French people who dislike McDonald's because it represents American hegemony in a globalized world and the homogenization of food and culture. French anti-globalization activist Jose Bove actually served prison time a couple years back for sacking a McDonald's restaurant in southern France. For a friend of mine who lives in Burgundy — pretty much the French heartland — MacDo is the symbol of malbouffe, or bad food and bad eating — a major slur here. He says he'd never take his two young sons to eat chez Ronald.

But this McDonald's in Paris' 15th arrondissement is brimming with parents who've brought their kids in for lunch. There's a good dose of teenagers too. Like teenyboppers back home, French adolescents, or ados, love to hang out at MacDo — they just gather in the café instead of the parking lot.

Ooey, gooey and definitely low fat (HA)

After a little more thinking (and a little drooling) I decided that the "Boite Chaude" I had for dinner the other evening deserved a little more mention then number 12 in the top 12 things I have done so far in 2012 (that was a lot of 12's - and there goes another). I mentioned in my previous post that this yummy and ooey gooey cheese dish is a typical winter meal (at least I think I mentioned that) that you eat with charcuterie and a very specific type of saucisse that comes from the same region as this cheese and boiled potatoes. Intersting fact: You do not peel these potatoes until they are cooked and you are seated at the table. Apparently there are very specific ways to eat specific potatoes in France but I feel as though that is another conversation for another time. I mean we are talking cheese here - potatoes are just a detail!!

Before the wine and garlic are added. Apparently the small box is a bit "lighter" in taste than the larger box.

Scoop out a few sections of cheese, inserct cloves of garlic and cover with Jura Vin (a very strong, whiskey smelling wine) that also comes from this region of France. Side note on the wine - I love wine and I love whiskey but this strange combo of the two is a bit intense. It tastes unreal in the cheese but on its own in a glass - ummm jury is still out on this one as far as I am concerned.

Saucisse de Morteau

Bubbly, ooey and gooey - seriously it is beyond addicting.

Notice the sides of green on the table .. you have to balance out all that cheese with a few veggies

And well broccoli and cheese is an unbeatable combo

This photo obviously has nothing to do with hot cheese in a wooden box. But for dessert we surprised Eric with a custom made birthday cake (see below). Eric is the happy and proud owner/photographer/writer/editor and brains behind Paris Daily Photo. One of my favorite blogs and a great way to see things in Paris you may never pick up on just walking the streets.

 

The nice plastic man on the cake is Eric taking a photo of the grand Tour Eifel, if you look closely at the computer you can see it is screen shots of PDP!! Quite creative and incredibly thoughtful :) 

Happy New Year (a few days... ahem.. weeks late)

Well well well. Happy New Year – better a little late than never – ok so better 23 days late than never. Yes, I have fallen into yet another rut with this little baby blog of mine. I don’t know why it happens exactly because writing and sharing on here is one of my favourite things to do. I am going to blame it on all of the long hard hours I have been putting in at work and not balancing out my energy enough. So in order to make up for it I am going to try really hard to continue sharing my experiences here – on this note, you would think that after almost two years here they would be slowing down, but it is just the opposite. So for those of you who keep checking and still read this – Thanks and I will do my best to keep you entertained from now until I start to pack this road show up and head back to the good old US of A. So let me take a few on this welcome back post to share with you how my New Year has started. I think a list is in order…


1. First and foremost – I am happy to say that I rang in the New Year dressed up to the nines (why is it to the nines and not to the 10’s or the 30’s … both also very good numbers!) with a few fantastic friends and we actually lit fireworks off in a restaurant. Pretty sure that is literally starting the New Year off with a bang.

2. The Soldes of 2012 have started and yes I have taken full advantage of these bad boys – only one week left and I am sure I will be out scouring the racks at least once more before the sales are over and everything is back to normal expensive Parisian prices.

3. I found out that I am going to be an AUNT – real deal holyfied – it threw me for a bit of a loop but seriously I cannot wait to spoil this new little nugget ROTTEN the second it enters the world. I may even start before that.

4. The Patriots are going to the Superbowl – yes I know this has nothing to do with Paris but I love this game and all the fun parties and food and drinking that comes along with it and I actually want to make a special trip home just for this.

5. I made it through the holiday season alone in Paris without my family – I know this list is supposed to be New Year related but I feel like making it through the holiday season was a big one for me and being able to do it in great spirits with my amazing friends here helped get me started off right.

6. I won the fevre in this traditional French cake called the gallette de rois. It is a pastry that tastes like butter with an almond-y type filling in it. A small ceramic toy is hidden inside and the person who gets this toy (hopefully doesn’t break their teeth) get’s to be the king or queen for the night. Now maybe this seems a bit silly but after two holiday seasons here and eating way more of this cake than any normal person should I felt very attached to the thought of winning this. It was a piece of France that I knew I wanted to always have with me. Maybe the piece I received was a bit rigged but hey I am taking that toy and running with it!!!!

7. I found out that I will be lucky enough to have another visitor in the month of March. My college roommate and lovely friend miss Becca Burns. Although we haven’t seen each other as regularly as either one of us would like over the past few years, she will forever remain near and dear to my heart and I am beyond excited to waltz around the city drinking café and eating pastry and cruising the streets for cute boys.

8. Went to the most amazing house party and now officially am starting to think that I am much too old to be staying out until 5am and drinking random combo’s of alcohol and wine and whatever else is around on the counter. Seriously - the music was amazing, the company was beautiful and the evening was great. But being curled up in a ball or hugging the toilet is not the best way to spend a Sunday. I have never been so happy in my life for it to get dark outside so I could go back to bed. What used to take me a few hours to recover is now a two day process... I am pretty sure I swore to more than one person on that Sunday I was NEVER drinking ever again... let's see how long that little promise lasts.

9. The Bachelor started – again this has nothing to do with Paris, but this is one of my favourite shows, mostly because I used to spend Monday nights before I moved here watching it and analysing everything that happened with some pretty awesome people. So now instead of watching it with them, I write full recaps as if they were sitting next to me and send it via email. I am sure that my play by play commentary woudl make much more sense and be more entertaining but hey - you gotta work with what ya got!!

10. I applied to a very interesting job back in the US. It is still with the same company and it maybe a bit above my experience level but I am ready for the next challenge in my life. I had no idea updating a resume could be so annoying and difficult. Lucky for me I have the support of a great friend and mentor to help guide me. Even if he would rather I kept my blond butt in Paris.

11. I went ice skating in Paris in front of the Hotel de Ville ( the city hall) with lights twinlking, bad dance music blasting (think YMCA and It's Raining Men or I Will Survive) and surprised myself that after years of not being on two thin m etal blades, I still got the moves. I can thank my parents for always bundling us kiddos up to skate on teh pond behind our house in NH.

12. I experienced a delightful little creation called a Boite Chaude. Which is basically cheese (Mont D'or) in a wooden box that you bake (boite chaude literally translates to hot box) but you can't bake it until afte ryou scoop out chucks of it,  and then fill the holes in with wine and cloves of garlic. You eat it with a special kind of  saucisse ( Saucisse de Morteau ), charcuterie, pomme de terre and of course fresh baguette. I could have eaten an entire box by myself had I not felt like exploding, but it is one of those things that once you start you just can't stop!! I think what made this first littel experience even better was the amazing company I was with. Some people make even the most normal experiences - like eating gooey cheese from a wooden box -  feel a little magical.
I think that covers most of the exciting things that have happened so far in the first 25 days of this new and hopefully exciting and adventure filled year.

I will be sure to keep you posted though…

Busy Bee

Wow wow wow… another couple of week stretch with no update from me. Sometimes I am a serious let down. But I have to please crazy business for this lapse in writing. I just finished the biggest event I have coordinated thus far in my career and to top it off I helped to MC/Animate it. And let me tell you what – being up on stage is definitely a good time. Not that I like the attention or spotlight or power of having a room of 120+ people paying attention to me, it was because I know I was helping support the next generation at Alstom learn and grow…. Hahaha ok so it was mostly the first part but I tried to convince myself it wasn’t just that. Anyhoo… in the final weeks of planning some things have passed by here as well including Thanksgiving – which I celebrated with a traditional (and expensive) turkey dinner at a small café and again the Friday after with a French style feast at a friend’s home – complete with foie gras (one of my personal favorites). It wasn’t a typical Thanksgiving holiday by any means, mostly because we work both Thursday and Friday here but because it was the first time in 28 years, I have not spent it with a single family member. Unless you count my newest family – the French one I have made since being here for almost two years… Other than that work has sort of gobbled up my life and I do not have too many interesting stories to tell, but I think that will all change now that the big events are over and I will have the opportunity to take in Paris once again without wondering how many people coming to my next event are vegetarians or if I booked enough hotel space or debating the price of a champagne cocktail for the welcome drink… With special attention to come to the window displays that are decorating the shopping centers of Galleries Lafayette and Printemps as well as decorating my apartment and my mini tree, welcoming my first guest in a while, a trip to Barcelona for (hopefully) some sunshine and photography opportunities and enjoying the holidays here in Paris, yup that is right, not only did I just spend my first Thanksgiving here without any family but I am about to venture into the Christmas season here as well… I will keep you posted on how I am faring with this one!!

WOOOT WOOOOOOOT!!!

Although I will probably be the only one that gets excited about what I am about to write, I can't help but share it, even if I am like- oh I don't know - 6 months or so late... oops, sometimes I am a bit slow on the uptake. BUT as I was reviewing my blog stats the other day (side note about this to come below), I noticed that there was an unfamiliar link that was directing people - or at least one person, quite a few times, to my blog from A Taste Of Garlic. A blog that I have been following for awhile, because it is all about other people's blogs that are here in Paris, they could be American and here for school, families gettitng used to the culture, French cuisine blogs - there really is a serious mix of everything in this one -stop - about France - shopping -spot.  Anyway, I clicked it and what did I find - a sweet little shout out to my own personal favorite blog - Nouvelles Aventures!! WOOT WOOT for me, the best part is that the shout out is for one of my favorite posts and ever present topic of conversation - Men… French vs American. Now, I would prefer that you go and read  both of the posts yourself (use the links above) but just in case, making that extra click is too much check it out:

The whole preface of this paragraph is about a woman trying to attract Australlian or French men...

" From what I hear, she’s not doing too well on attracting French ones...

Unless she want’s to inform me.us otherwise?

Perhaps she needs to take some advice from Ksam at Totally Frenched Out or Laura at The Everyday Life of a Young American Girl in France?

Or perhaps she should ask Heather at Nouvelles Adventures who asked Why are French men so irresistible in her post on Men… French vs American?

Heather is, of course, one of the three joint winners of this week’s Award for Explaining What You Should Know About France! "

So thank you Mr. Keith Eckstein for noticing my little blog and sharing it with a few others, although, as I mentioned before, I am a bit slow on noticing in this case, it is very much appreciated and I hope my man comparision will help someone out in the long run... because we all know how my French man experience worked out... or should I say didn't work out ;)

** Side note - only because I mentioned this above when reviewing my stats for the blog. Not that I expect millions of hits or even want that. I write to share with my family or friends who need a break from work and there is nothing interesting to read on MSNBC or CNN (hehe) and could be wondering what I am up to. But mostly I write for me, because when this whole experience is over I want to be able to remember every dance with a pompier on the 14th of July, every strike I sat through on the metro, every heartbreak, every experience and well just everything. But please if you do read, feel free to comment and share, I sort of look forward to the thought that someone will!!

Thankful

It is that time of year again. a time that should come much more often than once a year, but going back and changing history would be pretty close to impossible (with that said if any one has any leads on where to get a good time machine, make sure you let me know...). It is one of the only days where most of us take some time and reflect on what we are really thankful for in our busy, complicated and sometimes overwhelming lives... and then hopefully we all take the time to share that thanks with those that deserve it and most likely need to hear it. This will be my second Thanksgiving away from home and my first with no family here visiting to help take the edge off of being alone, it seemed like it would be so easy and well honestly until this moment, right here as I sit and realise that everyone is finishing their work day and are heading off to the bar where the inevitable high school reunion will take place or are in the kitchen prepping the tasty trimmings, it was. Family and friends means something different to everyone and well to me they mean the world and not being able to be a part of the smiles, drinks, dinners and fun times (yes, this includes waiting in line at some ungodly hour, still tipsy on margaritas or whatever the drink of the evening was...) that will take place in the next 24 hours is always hard to take in BUT it only makes me more thankful for everything I do have, everything I have experienced in my 26 ... ok that is a lie, my 28 years ;)  and what I am surrounded by now... so after couting one blessing for each of my years, here is what I came up with (in no particular order).

1. My parents - because well I wouldn't be here without them (duh) but because the four of them have made me a person that I think they are proud to call their daughter and that is one of my highest priorities in life.
2. My health - even if gracefulness doesn't fit into that category.
3. My love of trying new things - because well without that, I think I would have had a pretty boring 28 years and I would be missing out on some pretty awesome things like Thai food, the view from the top of the Arc de Triumph, meeting new friends, writing this silly little blog or my Franglish skills.
4. Burlington, VT - because this town and the years I spent there changed my life, it forced me to start trying new things (see point above), grow up, make my own choices and it brought me to some of the most amazing and best friends (and one really big punk) that I will EVER have in my entire life - this I know for a fact.
5. My sisters and brothers - because even though we may not see each other all the time, they motivate me to be the best that I can be without even trying. They make me proud to say I am the oldest of 7 and I wouldn't trade any of them for the world.
6. Shoes - you all knew this one was happening and was happening early on, come on now. It doesn't even need an explination but I'll give you one - THEY ARE AWESOME.
7. My iPhone or more specifically Google Maps on my iPhone - maybe that sounds materialistic but I dare you to get around Paris on your own (especially after a drink or two) without instant access to the Metro schedule and map and without Google Maps guiding you and let me know where you end up... I dare you...
8. My iPhone (again) because it keeps the best tunes constantly pumping in my ears and music is something that has ALWAYS been able to fill me up on even my worst days. I can't live without it.
9. A certain gentleman who offered me the experience of a lifetime by believing in me enough to move me to Paris and then support me (constantly) as an honest friend and mentor.
10. The rest of my family, because well they are amazing, all of them - I have the coolest grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles and everything else in between a person could ask for, we laugh, we cry, we talk, we do it all and most of the time with a smile and someone telling some cheesy joke ;)
11. My bed - because some days well I just need it and there are some folks out there who don't know how comforting it is to have a place that really is all your own.
12. My job - even though sometimes it is beyond demanding and recently I have been spending 12 - 14 hours a day in the office, it has given me an invaluable amount of experience and I know that the amount of time I spend laughing and being happy at work is a million times more than a lot of people experience.
13. Being blond - because I always have an excuse when the occasional stupid thing slips out from my mouth, which as a surprise to most of you does happen.. .but only evey once in a while..
14. Skype - an instant connection that can dull the pain of homesickness in just a quick mimunte.
15. Peanut Butter and Bacon - another random one, ok I guess two, but seriously, they both really deserve to be on here.
16. My camera/pictures ,  because for me there is nothing better than sitting down and flipping through memories on a good day, a bad day or any day in-between.
17. My PIC (partner in crime) and her kiddos - they make me feel like even though I am thousands of miles from home that I have a home here too, they make me smile on my worst days and have completely accepted me as a part of them. I can't be thankful enough for this. (DAMN IT - I started crying again, I had been doing great since I started the list!!)
18. Tissues - for a few reasons, one being the above reference to tears and because the paper business has been keeping my family busy for as long as I can remember and we are super lucky for that.
19. Kisses good night - they are perfect and always a delightful finishing touch to the day, I may not be getting any of those currently but it doesn't even matter, I look forward to the day that I am and then I will be thankful for that.
20. Mail - not the bills and junk crap that is always coming but the handwritten cards I still get in the mail from a few people and the letters and pictures that show up under my door when I get home from work. A little letter always brings a smile to my face.
21. The last ten years I have known my bestie - No matter what she has NEVER wavered, even when she had every right to. Hell some marriages don't even last this long. She is truly a solid rock in my life and I wouldn't ever change that. 
22. Sundays - because Sundays are fundays. To me they are the one day in a week when you can go all out and crazy or just lay in bed all day and not feel bad for it. Sundays are even better when spent with some of your favorites. There really isn't anything wrong with a Sunday - you can not hold the fact that it's the day before Monday against it. It isn't Sunday's fault!!
23. Lilies - just because they are beautiful, smell amazing and can brighten up any room, any time, any where. 
24. Being able to read - yeah this is probably a given, but reading is something that truly relaxes me and can whisk me away to another place when I need an escape, so maybe I am not thankful that I can read but that I love to read. 
25. The people that I can truly call my friends - there are a lot of people I know out there and many that I care about but only a handful that I would put myself on the line for and think about every day.
26. Red Velvet Cake - I can't help it the stuff makes me crazy. Seriously I am drooling just thinking about it and I am super thankful that I can now whip up a tasty batch of my own. 
27. The time I got to spend with an amazing woman I will forever hold dear in my heart and cherish like my mother, and especially getting to tell her how much I loved her one last time. 
28. That I am only 28 and have years and years and years left to travel, laugh, read, eat, cry, visit, adventure .... you get the point!!

Sending giant Turkey hugs and stuffing kisses to my family, friends and every one in between.

 Happy Thanksgiving <3

Think, Thank, Thunk...

My very own princess Kathleen Wamser shared this awesome link the other day and after reading it, I can't seem to stop thinking about all the thoughts that were included in this article. It was originally posted here: My Random Stuff, a cool blog/website that has a little bit of everything and then some - photographs, music videos, song selections for your next work out (oh they know me so well, I am going to get right on adding that playlist to my ipod ... insert cough to cover up sarcasm here), quotes and all sorts of other random stuff - just like the title promises. After being here for almost 18 months (my anniversary is in 9 days!!) I feel as though I have spent more time reflecting, thinking, wondering and more reflecting than I ever have and recently all of that thinking has started up again. Being alone and in a brand new place causes you to seriously re-evaluate what is important to you, why you thought something was important, the kind of people you want to surround yourself with, what your goals are and why somethings seem so much harder than they need to be. Then you sort of get used to your new surroundings and they don't seem so big or scary and out of touch anymore, then you somewhat slip back into going through the motions...  This post about thought provoking questions, really got my brain back on that re-evaluating wagon - there are lots of choices to be made in the next 3 months or so, what is next, where do I go, is France my new home, is New England where I am really supposed to be, am I ever going to be able to live with someone again (this one may seem a bit dramatic, but seriously living alone gives you an unreal amount of freedom, I get to watch what I want, eat what I want, drink right from the oj container - sorry about that Mom but it's my house ;),  make my bed or not, sing as loud as my vocal cords allow me in the shower,  leave my laundry drying everywhere or be a total neat freak...) so with that said - what do these little gems leave you thinking about??

** There were 25 questions total, all totally worth asking and reflecting about, I just chose a few that really got my gears a grinding...

1.

This one is easy for me and anyone that knows me, I would be a solid 6 years old, that leaves me enough of an excuse to keep on dreaming and imaging that it is ok to sing in the metro, dance around in your underwear, eat ice cream for dinner (occasionally) and truly cherish your family and friends like they are all you have in the world.

4.

Exactly... tell me the right answer to this one, It is the exact question that played through on repeat for weeks when I was deciding whether or not to pack up my life and leave everything I knew and loved to move here... not to brag or sound snotty, but seriously - even on the hardest days, it was the best choice I have ever made.

5.

This one is a bit touchy, because I am sure someone, somewhere will judge me but I would stop ALWAYS putting everything and everyone's feelings in front of mine, I truly enjoy making my friends and family happy and smile.. but sometimes for me always making everyone happy is a downfall because it really gets in the way of what my true needs or wants are.

6.

There are a few of you out there that know exactly what I thought when I read this one...

11.

Abso-effing-lutely 

18.

Immediately I want to say no, but mostly because I think that is what you are supposed to say, but honestly I think I would be lying if I said no, there are somethings I would never give up, replace or change but there are a few in the back of mind that I wonder if I did it differently where and who would I be now??

23.

Everyday I wake up and remind myself of this... no matter how badly I miss home, don't understand something, just want a break from work and life in general I counteract it with this exact thought and almost always, I can approach the day with the right frame of mind...

24.

My family, my true friends, listening to music and singing like no one can hear me, eating a delicious meal with fabulous company or sometimes even alone, laughing so hard that it hurts, a good glass of wine, experiencing my life in a new country and being challenged everyday, a sunny day (if palm trees and the ocean are around I definitely smile at that too), a great pair of shoes at a steal of a price, cupcakes, watching my family and friends babies grow into beautiful, loved little people and knowing that tomorrow I will get to experience something else that makes me smile...

Get it on ...

FYI - This video is a bit "racy" if you will, so if you are against balloon animal intimacy then you may not want to click the play button... but seriously it's pretty funny so think long and hard before deciding to skip it!!

I mentioned a few weeks ago some crazy European news stories that I have stumbled across, I also made mention of the (almost always) more sexual film titles that the movies here in France have BUT this morning a friend shared this commercial for Durex condoms that seriously made my Monday morning.

** For those of you who are unaware - I broke up with Monday today and I am considering protesting it for the rest of my life. Monday is never any good to me unless it's a paid day off, a vacation Monday or basically unless I am getting some benefit- talk about a healthy relationship, all take and no give :)

So this little clip really made my morning. I am almost 100% positive that this would never make the airwaves in the US, maybe it can be found on YouTube, but a little bit of kidding around like this may help promote the use of condoms and safe sex, or at least inspire some giggles from the audience!! Happy Monday all!!

A Haircut and then some... seriously...

I am almost 100% positive that I have mentioned having my hair cut here in Paris before by the one and only Crazy Japanese Hair Lady - Fukiko... and let me tell you what, I don't think I'll ever be able to stop sharing my hair adventures because they just keep getting better.  

I was introduced to Chez Fukiko a little more than a year ago by the one and only PIC and I am not sure that I have ever been happier about anything (ok, maybe that is a slight exaggeration but seriously every time I go in there it is such an adventure I laugh for days every time I brush my hair after seeing her...) This last visit (yesterday) did not disappoint.  It was time for a trim and a bit of a refreshed look and so going to see Fukiko was the only rational solution. It may not look like the most exquisite salon and I am sure there are plenty of designer places where I could have my hair cut with golden scissors and be served champagne and macaroons, but nothing beats the fresh tea and coconut cookie you get while waiting to be beautified ( I think I may have just invented that word)!! Yesterday as the PIC, the two nuggets and myself entered the salon we were greeted with hugs, kisses and laughs - as she kindly reminded me it had been much too long since I had been in to visit.  After being washed and conditioned I made my way over to the cutting chair, where next to me a sweet family was also being beautified ( I am really liking this word). The family started talking to us as if they had known us for years, they became especially active in the conversation when Fukiko decided she needed to play match maker for me. **Sidenote, every time you have your hair done at the salon, Fukiko insists on taking a photo to hang up on the walls to help decorate. She insisted that PIC and I search through her boxes of photos, looking for pictures of ourselves and some young American gentleman that she thinks is my future husband. Now searching through photos for a person you have never met before if nothing but interesting and well impossible!!** With my Franglish in full force we traded stories about what had been going on since I had last been in there and she tried to sell her other young American client to me. Luckily for my hair this conversation took place while I was getting my hand massage (another fine service that you don't find everywhere) because I was laughing so hard, I am sure that if she was cutting while this was happening my blond locks would be a tad bit crooked!! Once we finally got back on topic (my hair), I really ventured out on a limb and described what my expectations were for my new cut (in French) hoping that all of hours of lessons I have had paid off ... Luckily for me (and my French teacher) I think things turned out ok and it may have been two of the most hysterical hours I have had in awhile. You see not only does Fukiko cut hair and entertain with singing, matchmaking, and photo browsing she also gives up one hell of a massage once you are finished ... she starts this massage off by aiming two hairdryers at your back to relax you with the warm current of air and proceeds to take over. This massage comes complete with a head massage, temple rubbing, spine straightening and breathing exercises (these look slightly inappropriate - see exhibit below)! She then completes the experience with a photo and carefully selected fruit bon bons as you exit. I don't care who you are or where you come from, this is one of the most eccentric hair experiences you will ever have and if I do say so myself - the haircut came out quite nice as well :)

Check out her fantastic hair rollers, I wish I had a photo of her hair Au Natural - It is UNREAL!!

The breathing exercises I mentioned earlier, I swear I could not stop laughing!!

Showing off the new do with my <3 Nova:

A few inches shorter, some bangs to play with and I think we are good to go...
Just the update/change I was craving!!

The rest of my jet setting adventure...

Ok as mentioned earlier, I just returned from the US and the 3rd Annual Alstom University People Quest event ... which took place in Philadelphia. I may have hinted at some adventerous activities that took place while I was there... While I won't bore you with major details I will provide you a quick recap:

1. A monster snow storm hits the east coast the day after I arrive (some places with 30+ inches and no power for 10+ days...) YIKES
2. 360 degree slide/ nail biting moment,  with my driver as we try and make our way to Target to get some final supplies for the upcoming event
3. A power outage while I am at the King of Prussia mall right outside of Philly - wanna see a mad house, flip the power switch at your local mall and let me know how great of a time that is...
4. A power outage at the hotel while expecting 70 participants and guest speakers - of course this happens after I promise all is well to everyone who has checked in from their powerless homes in CT and MA ... timing is certainly a bitch in this case. But with flashlights, space heaters and a positive attitude we prevailed
5. No heat on the first morning of training - revert back to space heaters and extra blankets, never letting that positive attitude fluster
6. When we finally get the heat back, whatever switched it on, also switched on some flames... in turn requiring for an evacuation of the hotel along with all my lovely participants - good times had by all. BUT any of you who know me also know I have a thing for fireman, so I turned this situation around quite quickly...
7. This is not a road block at all but something super awesome we did - our first ever Alstom Chili cook-off. I laughed so hard my face hurt for the entire night. What a blast!!

I am sure I am forgetting something somewhere, but those wrap up the major road blocks and obstacles. Leaving  me to be able to look back on this event as one of the most interesting, adventorous and challenging events I have yet to work on. Lucky for me I was lucky enough to have the most fantastic group pf participants ever, they managed to smile, support and laugh right along with me, which honestly made all of the difference in the world. I am hoping to stay in touch with most of these participants and there are a few I hope to even become better friends with. All in all, I love my job and after an event like this and seeing the excitement in the participants faces, I couldn't ask for anything better (well except for no fires, snowstorms, power outages...) Below is a little recap of our 5 days together.

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Jet Setting...

The last ten or so days have been a combination of exciting, frustrating, eye-opening, exhausting, hysterical and adventurous (and honestly that I putting it all lightly). Last weekend I took off to Philadelphia to launch the 3rd annual Alstom University People Quest event. Something I have been working on since this spring and working hard on I might add, planning a US event from Paris had been quite a challenge. The event itself is a 5-day leadership and management training for about 100 hand picked managers within the company. We have trainings, dinners, networking activities and a few other surprises throughout the week - we will get to those though...
Anyhoo... These ten days started on the plane ride over to the states. Where I met two fantastic women who were seated in the same row as me and even now over a week later, I continue to replay our conversations and laughs in my head. We shared stories about our experiences in the City of Lights, where they came from and how they ended up there, we dished about where to get the best croque monsieur, books that I should read to continue my exploration of the city, shared chocolate and I even practiced a bit of French during the flight. It truly made for an enjoyable experience and made me look back on my time here. I've always realized I am lucky and to take advantage of it but now one day when I'm sitting next to someone on the plane after visiting Paris years down the road, I'll remember to share my favorite Parisian things and words of wisdom with him/her...
This little story is only the tip of the iceberg for the trip... Stay tuned, it was a doozy!!!

Crazy European News (That will brighten any Monday!)

I don't remember exactly the words that typed into my best friend Google this morning, it was something about a hippo and macaroni and cheese (I was looking for a silly picture to send to a friend- don't ask) but anyway, the first suggestion that popped up was a story about a hippo that swallowed a dwarf. Yes, I know this sounds insane (well mostly because it is...) but I couldn't resist clicking on the link and learning just a little bit more (my curiosity to learn more about useless things, this is one reason why I retain the dumbest facts and figures and tid bits of info that anyone could retain -making me the IDEAL partner for any trivia based game)!! But boy oh boy was I happy I clicked because it led me to a plethora of other totally wacky and out there stories that someone so kindly compiled into one little blog entry about European Newspapers, giving me the laugh I needed to boost my Case of the Mondays into outerspace and continue on with a smile.

Here are a few examples that the author had included:
Stories borrowed from the blog: I Want Ice Water



Happy Reading ...

Oooops

Oooopsy ... I can not believe that is has been 2 weeks since I have written. Man oh man, I am just not keeping up with things the way that I should be. And well the thing is I have a list about a mile long with things I want to write about on here!! I guess the last couple of weeks have been so jam packed that when I get home or have a few minutes typing or even sitting in front of my computer is not what I want to be doing, we can thank work for that!! I have been one BUSY BEE!! Next weekend I leave for Philadelphia for the event that has been running my life (well one of the events, I am currently working on two, which has turned out to be quite a balancing act - yikes!) and since it has been running my life it has essentially grounded me from writing here!! Ok, excuses, excuses but planning an event totally remotely has been quite interesting. Lucky for me I have made it a priority to fill my weekends with at least one day totally away from work stuff (yes I have been working on the weekend for the last few weeks. Talk about dedication baby)! Last weekend, I experienced my first indoor swimming centre here and as nervous and well not excited at all about trying it - I grew up swimming outside with my cousins and friends in Grammy's above ground pool with floaties attached to our matching watermelon bathing suits- so a public pool and all the unknown people in it is a bit intimidating - it turned out a-ok and I actually really enjoyed myself. I forgot a few things, one being how much I enjoy being in the water and two what a great little workout swimming is. Especially when you are trying to keep yourself afloat in the deep end with two little kiddos (the partner in crimes kiddos were the reason to be at this pool) jumping all over you and asking for rides to the lane markers and back! I am definitely planning a return trip, I may even bust out the old goggles and swim cap for old times sake... This weekend I will be indulging in some LONG OVERDUE shoe shopping and on Sunday I will be attending the Rugby World Cup at a Pub in the 8th district with some good friends, who I know will make waking up at the butt crack of dawn on a Sunday totally worth it (if you are reading this, take this as your warning to be sure I have a good time) plus they promised that the rugby men on the tv will be worth it just on their own... !!

So rest assured, even though I have been a bit quiet on here,  I am not being boring and staying holed up with nothing exciting going on, it is just the opposite, I haven't had much free time to update, but I'll work on it. Promise!!

*details about the shoes I purchase today and the rugby event tomorrow to follow!!!

Another First

So there have been A LOT of firsts since I arrived in Paris...

• the first taxi ride form the airport with no idea about where I was going or if we were headed in the right direction
• the first time I went to the market for food when I arrived and ended up with noodles and butter because I was too nervous to buy anything else
• the first time the metro went on strike and I thought an angry mob would actually be taking over 
• the first picnic and stroll through the Jardin du Luxembourg 
• the first night out at a Parisian bar, trying to order a drink and wondering why on earth so many people still smoke here
• the first time I actually ordered in FRENCH at the bakery down the street and didn't wait until the little place was empty so no one would hear me to do it
• the first night out at a Paris Night Club and dancing until the sun came up and not realising it
• the first time a waiter was rude to me because of my awful franglais
• the first time I actually waited in line to go UP the Eifel Tower ... totally worth it at least once...
• the first ride on the back of a scooter, weaving in and out of traffic for dear life while laughing so hard it hurt
• the first year anniversary of me living in such a magnificent city

Well I can think of about a bazillion more firsts than just those but if I keep listing this post will be about a mile long and you will wonder why exactly I decided to write about my firsts in the first place (haha, get it ... in the first place!)... So here it is the latest first in a long line of them. Friday evening after celebrating the Partner In Crime's birthday with some friends at her apartment, three of us left to take the stroll to the metro and make our way back to our own homes for bed. Well after an evening of wine, food, and debating over which musicals had the best songs to sing too (this of course took place AFTER all the wine) I hadn't exactly been paying much attention to the time - which normally wouldn't be a problem BUT when it comes to the Metro... it is sort of an important piece of info to have when planning your transfers. Anyhoooooo ... we marched to the metro got on and began our journey home, my escorts departed after a few stops and I kept moseying down the line until I reached my station transfer... walking to the quai of the line 2 at a lovely stop we call Charles deGaulle Etoile, I noticed this normally bustling stop was dead as a door nail, and that's when the announcement came up - to make a long story short, the line 2 was closed and there was no hope of me getting a metro for the rest of my journey home. To top this off as I started the walk up to the exit, I noticed that all of the gates were closed and for a brief moment I was sure I was sleeping underground. That was until a nice, friendly (insert sarcasm here) RATP officer found me, and a few other stragglers, and so graciously walked us out to the only unlocked exit. Unfortunately I still wasn't home and the 35 minute walk ahead of me at almost 3AM was not sounding appealing, so instead I parked myself at a taxi stand and waited until my ride home approached. Yes - I made it home safe and sound and I actually laughed at myself for quite some time after realising how silly it was of me to think the metro was a good idea that late at night. BUT there was one other first, I discovered- thanks to my loud and rowdy, balding with a comb over taxi driver - a country radio station in Paris. Now to most this is not a big deal but growing up as a serious county girl this truly was the icing on my Friday night cake... especially because listening to a French broadcaster announce the Zac Brown Band and Gretchen Wilson is simply hysterical...

New Releases ....

Walking in the Metro this morning I noticed a film poster for a movie I had seen many previews for while I was visiting the states a few weeks ago – in English the film is titled “What’s Your Number” but in French they have changed the name of the movie to “Sex List” … very logical translation right? No not really, unless you want to give them credit for getting right to the point of the movie. FYI: The movie is about a single girl who decides to get back in touch with all the people she's ever dated in the hopes that "the one" is someone she's already met and dated. This obviously means someone that she has already had sex with… well at least if you are French that is what it means!! Anyway this got me thinking to other movies that have been released while I have been here or older movies I have watched where the title has been translated, actually translated isn’t even the right way to put it because most of the time they just change the title to have the word sex in it somewhere, I have noticed a lot of the titles have been changed but are still in English… I am not sure the exact reasoning behind this but I wonder if it helps the movie sales?! Here are a few other titles that I have stumbled upon with new French titles…

The Other Guys: Very Bad Cops (this one I understand because they really were very bad cops…)

Get Him to the Greek: American Trip

No Strings Attached: Sex Friends

Step up: Sexy Dance (Ok.. it does include a lot of sexy dancing… not that I have ever seen it…)

Eurotrip : Sex Trip

Cruel Intentions : Sex Intentions

Wild Things : Sex Crimes

Never Been Kissed: College Attitude

The other big difference I have found here in the way they promote movies here – the posters are much more risqué – most of the time the title and the image are a bit more than what we would see back home in the US… take a looksi!! 

Masterpieces....

I just spent this morning with two of my favourite people ever ... The PIC's little nuggets. After a tasty little breakfast of apples and peanut butter with a side of granola cereal we were off and running well at least walking really fast to the closet so we could get dressed and start the day. After they chose their outfits (which are both charming by the way) we began our mission to create the first ever Nova and Neo Art Exhibit. This exhibit was highly anticipated and much work went into the creation. After an hour of meticulous cutting and even more time scotching and drawing the next potential Mona Lisa, the design and placement of the museum began. We decided upon the parlor due to it's magnificent lighting and space... And displayed the many pieces of perfection that we created. 

But because this was such a highly anticipated event we had to be sure that it was marketed and managed properly. A ticket was required for entry and only one ticket was created specifically for their Mommy (aka. My Partner In Crime) .. who returned from her early Saturday meeting to find her apartment magically transformed into the next Smithsonian...