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Published: January 24th 2007
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Assemblee nationale
On my way to school each morning I pass la Dame de la Republique presiding over the National Assembly building (see frieze). I did my final exposé of the semester yesterday and it went well, although Victor DID interrupt me numerous time to interject a "parenthèse" to clarify or expand upon certain issues, which he has a BAD habit of doing. I felt rather charitable towards him, though, because he did apologize for interrupting me...and he can explain technical things like the functioning of the thermohaline conveyer belt a lot better than I can in French! Anyway, he said it was good, which is all that counts (and that in itself is kind of unusual for him) and my classmates complemented me. So I am now DONE DONE DONE! Hooray! That was my last piece of academic work for this semester, except for classes next week and my 2 four-hour-essay finals (which will be torture) but which I’m not particularly worried about. So I have basically a month to relax, travel, enjoy Paris and kick up my heels. (As though I haven’t been doing that already?) Who cares! I’ll take it.
Today I went back to see the Corkrans for the first time in a month to "tutor" them in french (read: babysit them for 1 1/2 and play card games and
View of the Carrousel du Louvre
The building is a work of art in and of itself... other fun things) and it was nice to see them again. We had fun. They moved to an AMAZINGLY gorgeous huge apartment only 15 minutes from my school, on the closer side of the Jardin de Luxembourg near Rue de Vaugirard, and I am really jealous. Their other apartment was nice but this is SO nice. And big. Don't even WANT to know what the rent is!!! I wonder what Mr. does??? And it gets better! They gave me a Christmas present! It's a nice blue Christmas tree ball ornament with my name written on it in green sparkles...Ali made it special because she remembered my favorite colors! It was really sweet. It made me happy : ) So basically I got paid today to a) get a present; b) play ‘Mille Bornes’ and Mankala with Max and Ali; and c) play with Max’s super-cool kinesthetic clock that he got for his 8th birthday from his grandpa (way to go gramps, the thing it awesome!) Sweet deal, huh?
After that I had class, chatted with my friends, and walked home along the river. Paris was beautiful tonight, although cold and overcast. There were even a couple snow flurries! Everywhere
Pyramide du Louvre
Another "common" site. Really! else in northern Europe got snow except for us. Boo hoo. But it was nice to have that real "brrr, cold" feel finally. I got GREAT use out of my new jacket and scarf yesterday taking an hour-long walk over to the Ile-Saint-Louis and back from ScPo...I felt so sophisticated! Hehe. Tomorrow I might go back to the soldes with my friend Nell, who hasn't been yet, but I don't (plan) to buy anything. I am going to do my finances now so that'll make me tighten my pursestrings!
In other news...Victoria (good friend from Georgetown) has arrived in Paris! Yay! We are going to get together this weekend. She lives on the other end of my metro line, in the far south of the 15th. Can't wait to see her! And I found a bar to watch the Superbowl in...that oughta be fun. Also, the SOTU was on Sky News Int'l tonight...interesting that Bush finally acknowledged global warming. Lame duck. That's the label he got over here. 35% approval. He should resign. Won’t get into politics now. Let’s just say that I’m thrilled to see the Democrats acting quickly to try to mitigate his damages.
And lastly...Yazi,
Shady Noctilien Crowd
Not really. It's just us coming home on the Night Bus (Noctilien) last Friday from Favela Chic. I LOVE Paris' public transport system! a friend of hers, and I will be going to the French Open in early June! SO exciting. The friend was supposed to buy tickets today. That will make THREE different Grand Slams that I've seen in person! Am I a lucky, spoiled girl or what? Now about another trip to Australia...I'll have to pay a visit to my relatives Down Under. It’s been too long since we’ve seen them, anyway.
As you can see, I now have lots of free time to waste and write long emails. Don't feel compelled to reply in length! But I appreciate all blog comments and occasional emails.
So don’t hold back : )
I have effectively 4 1/2 weeks of no work. Two of which I will spend traveling, one week in Verbier, Switzerland to ski with Yazi, and then a second week in Istanbul for 5 days with Bryony. Until I leave, I plan to "profites-en" (take advantage of it) and visit this Egyptian exhibit at the Grand Palais I've been dying to see, walk in the Bois de Vincennes (if it's not freezing) and go to the Institut du Monde Arabe. Track down my carte de sejour (maybe). And
Jess, me and Dorothy
At Favela Chic. My 21st birthday celebration! take more long walks like yesterday's and today's. Maybe I'll go see another opera for 5 euro…last week I got to see an open rehearsal of Don Giovanni for FREE with my opera class and sat in the second row. Saw the orchestra musicians in their “civvies” and watched the lead tenor walk right past me during the entre-acte to go chat with the chef d’orchestre. How cool is that?
Life is great! Work is done. Love from Paris.
~Robyn
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