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Published: June 15th 2008
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Watch your Step!
Just something they say on the metro...or at FnP I left off on Tuesday having taken my fabulous (not so much in reality) architecture test, followed by the regular student's night at FnP. The next day I was able to meet Thomas, Maggie's Parisian boyfriend (they met in Dublin and he's been helping me with everything Paris/French) and have tea and walk around the Buttes Chaumont in the 19th arrondissement. Very cool park and nice conversation with the company! From there I went to a barbeque that I was invited by my Swedish friend. She warned me that we would be the only women there, however walking into a room of 20 computer engineers I was a bit shocked still haha. Of course they all mainly spoke French, so it was very interesting watching everyone interact and it took a long time into the evening before they realized I spoke French decently and eventually had conversations with me. However, it was very good practice and a good cultural experience endeavor at that!
Thursday I had my final for my phonetics class and it went really well. After some much needed laundry I got ready for my Friday. I was invited by some friends for homemade fondue, so we made
Petit Violon
On Rue de Rome near a friend.. most famous musical street in Paris! cheese and chocolate fondue and discussed everything we loved about the semester here! Saturday I met up with Elizabeth for lunch at an English pub and watched the rather bizarre opening of the Euro cup. Thomas invited me to one of his Parisian friend's birthday parties, and I was excited to delve into more social experiences. The reaction to 'this is my American friend' is met very oddly, especially with people my age. The room was packed with intelligent students and to me, the French culture tends to appreciate intellectual abilities more than fortune and fame. Some friends wanted to speak english, so we spoke and the way they came off was... interesting. I didn't mean to take a certain American joke so harshly, but it's difficult not to when you're in a foreign country trying your best in their language for the duration of 4 months. After take a breathe from that, I spoke to some others in French, and at about midnight someone decided Pictionary would be a great game to play! Of course I was terrified because it was inevitably in French, and tons of cultural references I didn't understand, but I surprised myself decently at trying
to adapt quickly. It was exhausting on so many levels, but what you need in order to successfully play Pictionary and endure a situation like that is NOT something they teach you in any class. Eventually we left, and me and my mixed feelings were walked alll the way from the Latin Quarter to my home by Thomas, a good 2 hour walk but I did enjoy discovering new areas like Cirque d'Hiver.
Sunday was relaxing, went to a very packed Notre Dame for mass with a friend and saw a familiar Parisian cheering for Poland's soccer team down the streets? Oh, Paris is the most lovely small town in a big city hehe. I really do run into people I know all the time, coincidences are never a match for me. Monday I went to my second to last economics class, followed by my language final on Tuesday. Later that day, we watched the Euro Cup of Russia vs. Portugal (go Portugal!) at the FnP , and I vented to Thomas about the French IMPOSSIBLE grading system of 20. I was pretty bummed that day, but it eventually got better! Wednesday morning I met up for breakfast with
a Parisian friend of mine who interned with me at the EU last semester. She's very busy with her work so it took a while to get a chance to meet with her, but it was great catching up and chatting. We walked around for a while and she showed me some great little streets and niches of the city. I wandered around to the Musee Carnavalet (history of Paris) and Maison du Victor Hugo in the Place des Voges.
THAT NIGHT, I convinced Elizabeth to come to my arrondissement for a concert of a singer that I really enjoy. Joshua Radin was playing at the Cafe de la Maroquinerie, and it was such a great and small venue. He plays very calm soft music on an acoustic guitar accompanied by a bass. We were maybe 10 feet away from him, and while he started asking us songs we wanted to here, I embellished in the opportunity and asked to play my favorite 'Sundrenched World.' He, however, hadn't played it in a while and actually ended up asking ME the lyrics in the middle of it hahaha. We stayed after to talk to him and he was a great
guy, and I got to take a picture with him. It's pretty cool to know that you can hit it off with one of your favorite singers!! That night we had a great adventure getting sushi and our favorite Alimentation vedette Mohamed catering. Thursday's class we went over our final and I got my TEF results- I did really well!!! For lunch I went with some friends from class into the Beaumarchais (upscale department store here) and ate in the cafeteria and drooled over Parisian wardrobe I haven't dared to try and pay for. My LAST Phonetics class was fantastic (I really didn't enjoy that class!) and I joined up some of the other girls to enjoy a quiet night on the Seine.
Friday I had Thomas over for a last time and had tea and snacks, followed by getting ready to go out under the Pont d'Alexandre. The next day, Elizabeth and I got ready and met up for delicious gyros at Saint Michel and enjoyed a long walk to the Musee du Quai Branley (museum of primitive art). The layout was cool because it is reinforced with gardens and clear exterior wall that blockout the sound of
the bustling Parisian streets so nearby. It is also famous for its vertical garden adorning and sprouting on the streetside wall. Afterwards we took a short walk down to the Eiffel Tower and back to my place, where we got ready for going out to Oberkampf and L'Orange Mechanique for a quiet night with locals and late-night crepes. I wish I had gone out more in this area, but there's always more time to return I hope!!
Sunday I woke up early to Maggie's phone call (yayyy I love hearing from her in DC!) and went to my last mass at Notre Dame! I'll really miss the beautiful gregorian choir they have in the mornings, followed by brunch in the Marais at my favorite little cafe. We had a huge group join us, and several hours and satisfied appetites later we strolled over to enjoy (yet again) some Amareno gelato! Walked around a bit with Elizabeth and then FINALLY went into the Pompidou museum. There were some gorgeous views of the city along with some modern art works that I recognized because of Laura (roommate who is an art major) and an interesting architecture exhibit. I'm wishing HAPPY FATHER'S
DAY to everyone and you all deserve to have a great day!
I leave Saturday (and no I don't want to talk about it, I'm already trying not to be overwhelmingly sad while preparing to pack, etc) and have a LOT to do in the meantime. I'm attempting to visit where I want to and coordinate seeing everyone- wish me luck! It's been a long journey, not over yet, but close.
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