To the land of wine & beer

After leaving Brussels, our group spent a week in Paris. Our site visits were pretty cool, but my favorite by far was IFRI – Institut Français des Relations Internationales. It’s a French think tank.

I was so happy once again to be able to go back to the Marais. I did a little shopping there, and bought another pair of Bensimons! As well as the cutest shoes from Andre! This Parisian visit, I lived in the 15e arrondisement, minutes away from the Eiffel Tower. It’s crazy how after spending so much time in Paris last summer, I did not know this area at all!

My grandpa shoes from Andre.

I also went on a hunt to find the lock that Lee and I had put up two weeks before. It took me two visits before it was actually found. Note to self: Don’t go looking for locks in the dark, especially when your lock looks just like everyone else’s!!!!

This time around I also avoided tourism like it was my job, although I did go to the Pantheon and see some famous graves. When it came time to leave Paris, I was almost devastated. I kept saying that I won’t get on the train to Berlin and instead just spend the rest of my summer in Paris. My wallet, however, really appreciated that I got on the train.

Other things I saw in Paris/France: 

• Fête de la Musique 2012 (no dancing in water fountains this year)
• Normandy
• Bayeux Tapestry

So then off to Berlin. I speak no German, but thank god Germans are pretty good at English. Probably my favorite thing to see in Berlin was the East Side Gallery.

East Side Gallery & I

In Berlin we stayed at Hotel Kurfurst, near Kurfurstendamm. The internet was anything but fast and convenient, but the rooms were huge in comparison to Paris.

We had a cute tour guide two of the days being here, Stevie Bloomquist. She’s an American who moved to Germany in the 60’s and was here when the wall was torn down. It was really cool to hear some stories from someone who experienced life in a divided Germany. One of the places we visited with her was Checkpoint Charlie.

"You are now leaving the American sector."

One regret of Berlin is that I didn’t go to the DDR (East Germany) museum. I meant to go on the last day of being here, but when it’s almost 30C and there is no A/C anywhere, the last thing I want to do is even move. But I can always come back. Who knows, maybe then I will be speaking German!

Other significant visits in Berlin: 

• Charlottenburg Schloss
• Coca Cola Deutschland
• Building where they held the Wannsee Conference
• Cecilienhof in Potsdam
• Holocaust Memorial Museum
• Typography of Terror Museum

Also Café Bleibtrau is freakin’ delicious (near Savignyplatz). I went there 7 times in 7 days. Good cheap food and American sized portions. But I must say, I was a bit disappointed with the beer in Germany. I actually like Belgian beer better. (Not that I am a beer expert by any means, but I miss my Leffe.)

Today I'm off to Poland. Krakow, Poland. I never thought I’d be going there (although I never really saw myself in Croatia either). We leave for the train station in 4 hours, and then it’s 10+ hours of travel. While my group only has one week left in Europe, and I realized that I still have 7 more. I feel like I'm never going home. 

My life as a Parisian tour guide

Last week flew by. After having Monday off, it turned out that the trip on Friday was optional, a.k.a. I got a ticket to Paris a day earlier. This is where things got a little interesting. I had to somehow meet up with people who were coming in from London, when none of them had phones. After sending a couple of "FYI" and "GET A HOLD OF ME NOW" emails, I was able to get a response and set up a meeting time at noon at the Paris Nord train station.

I arrived three hours earlier, so I took the morning and went into town. I headed straight for Marais, my old neighborhood. I walked by the MIJE, picked up a quiche lorraine from Manon, and went to enjoy my breakfast at the Notre Dame. Since it was so early in the morning I was able to sit inside (sans beaucoup de touristes) and just take in the beauty of the church.

Third Floor, Middle Window. Mine. 

Notre Dame

Meeting up went a lot more smoothly than planned. We went immediately to the hostel, checked in, and off we were to explore Paris. Let me start out by saying, we accomplished a lot more than I thought humanly possible, but our feet definitely suffered because of it.

On day 1 we saw: Moulin Rouge, Sacre Coeur, the Montmartre neighborhood, Notre Dame, Louvre (outside of it), the Tuilleries Gardens, Concorde, Arc de Triomphe (from a far, from Concorde), the Petit Palais & Grand Palais (walked by), les Invalides (again, walked by), and the Eiffel Tower + Champs de Mars (while enjoying pastries and a bottle of wine!). I literally showed them all of the highlights in one day. (Now considering becoming a Parisian tour guide.)

Quiche Lorraine at the Eiffel Tower

This picture makes me smile. :)

On day 2: The Catacombs, and climbed up the Arc de Triomphe.

Never ending maze of bones underground.

On day 3: The Louvre and climbed up the Eiffel Tower.

The Mona Lisa

Can't you tell we got a little worn out after day 1? I just wanted to make sure they saw it all!!!!

So originally I was supposed to leave the night of day 3. That didn't happen. I stayed one more night and left around lunch time on day 4. This made things a little interesting since I had to be in a suit meeting up with my study abroad group at 2 PM. Thanks to the best roommate ever this was made possible though. She met me at the train station with my suit + heels + passport.

I was so sad to leave Paris. My friends were off to Germany and I headed back 'home' to Belgium. Ready to tackle another week of school, keeping in mind that I am returning to Paris in 2 weeks. But before that happens, I will be hitting up Croatia for the weekend!!!

Already planning the return

"Everyday is a Journey, and the Journey itself is Home."

Been back in the good old USA for a couple months now, and I sat still just long enough to figure out where I'm going next...

Summer 2012

Brussels, Belgium

+

Paris, France

+

Berlin, Germany

+

Krakow, Poland

=

European Union Studies 

I can't wait! I've only been to Paris out of those places, so I will actually be able to experience new places (and even knock off two countries on my world map). I've only flown through Belgium, which I guess you can count those, but I have never been to Poland.

♥ Jonna

Last night in Paris

On a more serious note, this is my last night in Paris. Actually since it's 12:40 AM, its my last day in Paris. I have now lived a summer in France. And all I wish is that it would have been longer. I'm not ready to go back home yet. I'm scared of forgetting the French I've learned, and loved picking up French customs that I hope to bring back with me.

My journey continues back up to the North Pole tomorrow as I venture around my homeland even more. Next stop? Helsinki, Finland.

Also, being the last night in Paris, Katherine, Alison and I, have planned our spring break. Can you say backpacking through Eastern Europe for 10 days. I mean, I've never been to Slovenia before. Apparently Ljubljana is supposed to be beautiful!

And Paris, I hope to see you again in October.

Oddly, one of the things I'm most proud of after living a summer in Paris?

I never...
- climbed the Eiffel Tower
- climbed up l'Arc de Triomphe
- went inside the Notre Dame

But I did...
- learn the metro system
- use a velib
- went out in Montmartre with the locals
- made French friends
- ate baguettes daily
- DANCED IN THE SAINT MICHEL FOUNTAIN!
- rode a TGV
- rode the Euroline
- took Parisian showers and did laundry the Parisian way (spray perfume everywhere because there wasn't time for a shower or laundry)
- never bought the same bottle of wine twice
- learned how to get a table in a café

And that's how I know I actually LIVED in Paris and wasn't just a tourist. :)

Ça c'est fini?

J’ai pris mon examen. Et voilà, le LBAT est fini. Je pense que je pleurerai. Comme MAINTENANT. Paris a pleut encore. Après mon examen, Shannon et moi sommes allées au café près de MIJE et ont bu du vin. Je vais boire BEAUCOUP de vin. Bref, j’adore Paris, et il me manquerait – toujours. 

Comment appropriée - How appropriate

Aujourd’hui en classe, on doit écrire un blog faux. Le topique ? Des soldes en France. Parfait pour moi. Je sais beaucoup de choses des soldes à Paris. Pourquoi ? Je faisais trop du shopping. Juste un peu. En France, il n’y a pas des soldes pour toute l’année. C’est seulement deux fois par année, mais quand il y a des soldes, les magasins deviennent fous ! Comme moi, je faisais beaucoup de shopping à Paris. Presque trop. Je dois acheter une autre valise, je pense. Alors je vais faire du shopping encore ! À Longchamp – ENCORE. Je voudrais acheter un grand sac gris. Ça, c’est coute seulement 70 euros. Ma mère va me tue. Eh, ça va. Au moins j’aurais un nouveau Longchamp.

London and Centre Pompidou

Went to London last weekend. Saw some friends like Ross, Doug and Richard. Our hostel was straight up ghetto. Went on a pub crawl. Realized that London may in fact be the most expensive city in all of Europe. Literally double the price of the USA. It sucked. Had a horrible motto for the trip: Pack nothing, buy everything. Took a ferry across the English Channel in the middle of the night. Slept horribly. Was super tired. Saw Elizabeth's humble home. Saw the London Tower and London Bridge. London was everything I expected. Cold. Rainy. Expensive.

Came back home to Paris Sunday morning. Went to Centre Pompidou. Realized that the President of France in the 1970s must have been on some kind of drugs. (See picture below: It was a room in the Elysées)

Obama needs to get on that and revamp the White House.

J'ai couru 11 km aujourd'hui!!! (I ran 7 miles today!!!)

En Français:

Aujourd’hui j’ai couru 11 km. Je pense que c’était seulement 5 km parce qu’il y a beaucoup de chose qui m’ont distrait. Comme le Louvre, Hôtel de Ville, Notre Dame, Concorde et l’Arc de Triomphe. Je suis fière de moi ! Demain serai le dernier jour de classe pour cette semaine. Et jeudi serai jour de Bastille ! Et jeudi soir, Shannon et moi allons aller à Londres pour 2 jours. En France, pendant le jour de Bastille, il y avait beaucoup de fêtes avec des pompiers ! Et ils sont très beaux en France. TRÈS TRÈS beaux. Shannon et moi avons fait une nouvelle coutume – étudions au bar avec notre vocabulaire ! Donc, je le ferai maintenant avec elle à Auld Scottish.  

En Anglais:

(GOTTA LOVE ME SOME GOOGLE TRANSLATE - This is why google translate never worked for me in HS French)
Today I ran 11 km. I think it was only 5 km because there are lots of thing thatdistracted me. Like the Louvre, Hotel de Ville, Notre Dame, Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe. I am proud of myself! Tomorrow will be the last day of school for that week. And Thursday will be Bastille Day! And Thursday night, Shannon and I willgo to London for two days. In France, during the Bastille Day, there were manyparties with fire! And they are very beautiful in France. Very very beautiful.Shannon and I made a new custom - look at the bar with our vocabulary! So, I will do now with her Scottish Auld.

Qu'est-ce que je faisais hier soir?

Hier soir, au théâtre, nous nous sommes amusés quand nous n’avons pas compris tout ce qu’ils ont dit à la scène. J’ai assise au premier rang. À mon avis, c’est un peu trop près de la scène. La salle du théâtre était très petite aussi. Juste pour environ 30 personnes ou quelque chose comme ça. La pièce était par Eugène Ionesco et elle s'appelle "La Cantatrice Chauve". La pièce a été un peu bizarre et court. Au début, j’ai compris les conversations, mais à la fin j’ai réalisé que je n’ai pas compris pourquoi le deuxième couple fait les mêmes choses que le premier couple. Mais nous le discutions juste après la pièce. Ensuite on est allé au restaurant avec notre professeur. Nous avons dinés les repas très bons. Je mange du saumon, et pour le dessert j’ai choisi une tarte framboise. C’est magnifique ! Quand le diner est fini, le group de « pub crawl » - Shannon, Anton, Christian et moi, sont allés au bar. Christian a acheté 4 bières au premier bar et nous les avons bu. Après cet, nous avons commencé marcher chez nous, mais quand nous avons arrivé au métro de Saint Paul, nous avons décidé d’aller pour une autre boisson à notre bar locale – Le Auld Scottish. J’ai acheté une bière pour chaque personne là-bas. Et à 1h30 ou quelque chose comme ça, nous avons retourné chez nous. Ce matin, il était un peu difficile se réveiller, parce que je ne dormais pas beaucoup. Mais j’ai dû aller à la classe près de Bastille. Pour le petit déjeuner, j’ai acheté une baguette de Manon qui était très bon. Pour le déjeuner, Shannon et moi avons marché à une boulangerie et acheté des baguettes du jambon fromage pour 3 euro. Après la classe, je faisait mes devoirs un peu et a pris un sommeil. Le diner va être à 19h45. Je ne sais pas ce quoi je vais faire ce soir. Demain nous devrons nous réveiller très tôt parce que nous allons visiter la maison du vitrail.

Alors… je sais que cet ici n’est pas mon meilleur français, mais je suis fatiguée maintenant et je ne le veux pas corriger maintenant. J’ai faim aussi. J’ai toujours faim à Paris. 

et en anglais, comme toujours:
Last night at the theater, we had fun when we did not understand anything they said at the scene. I sat in the front row. I think it's a little too close to the scene. The auditorium was very small too. Just for about 30 people or something like that. The room was by Eugene Ionesco and it is called "The Bald Soprano." The play was a little weird and short. At first I understood the conversations, but in the end I realized I did not understand why the second pair does the same things the first couple. But we were talking just after the play. Then we went to dinner with our professor. We Diné meals very good. I eat salmon, and for dessert I chose a raspberry tart. It's beautiful! When dinner is finished, the group of "pub crawl" - Shannon, Anton, Christian and I went to the bar. Christian bought four beers in the first bar and we drank. After that, we started walking home, but when we arrived at the Metro Saint Paul, we decided to go for another drink at our bar local - The Auld Scottish. I bought a beer for each person there. And at 1:30 or something like that, we returned home. This morning he was a little hard to wake up, because I did not sleep much. But I had to go to class near Bastille. For breakfast, I bought a loaf of Manon was very good. For lunch, Shannon and I walked to a bakery and bought the ham and cheese sticks for 3 euro. After class, I did my homework and took a little sleep. The dinner will be at 19:45. I do not know what I'll do tonight. Tomorrow we will wake up very early because we will visit the house of stained glass.

So ... I know that this here is not my best French, but I'm tired now and I do not want to fix now. I'm hungry too. I'm always hungry in Paris.

Musée d'Orsay

Aujourd’hui nous avons visité Musée d’Orsay. J’ai décidé c’est ma nouvelle musée favorite. Il y a des tableaux de Renoir et de Monet. Nous avons dû un petit projet de Musée d’Orsay pour classe, et écrire quelque chose de cette musée. J’ai écrive de 2 tableaux de Monet. Une avec des nymphéas, et une avec le parlement de Londres.

C’est ici :
Mon tableau favorite au Musée d’ Orsay est « Le bassin aux nymphéas, harmonie verte » par le peintre impressionniste, Claude Monet. C’est un peintre français, qui habitait en France. Il est né à Paris et avait Édouard Manet comme ami, qui est également un peintre célèbre. Le tableau était au Musée d’Orsay depuis 1986. Avant cela, de 1914 à 1947, il était au Louvre. Dans le tableau, nous pouvons voir un pont japonais et devant le pont il y a beaucoup de nymphéas. La technique que Claude Monet utilisait est la peinture à l’huile. Il a peint ce tableau en 1899. J’aime beaucoup ce tableau parce qu’il donne une impression de calme. On retrouve la même vue dans le jardin de Monet à Giverny. En effet il peignait souvent plusieurs tableaux avec la même vue, mais avec des couleurs différentes. Par exemple, il y a un tableau comme celui-ci au Modern Museum of Art à New York City et un autre au Musée d’Orsay, qui est dans les tons verts. Je pense que Monet aimait bien les nymphéas, parce qu’il a peint un grand tableau seulement avec des nymphéas qui est exposé à MoMa. Dans le tableau, la verdure autour du bassin est vraiment magnifique et le bassin est complètement recouvert de nymphéas. Il y a beaucoup d’autres tableaux de Claude Monet que j’aime, comme le tableau de « Londres, le Parlement ». Il est un peu difficile de reconnaître tout de suite ce que représente le tableau, mais si on regarde plus précisément on y voit le Parlement de Londres dans le brouillard. Il n’y a pas beaucoup de couleurs dans ce tableau. Monet a utilisé beaucoup de gris et de violet. Il l’a peint en 1904. Je l’aime parce que c’est une vraie représentation de Londres car il pleut souvent donc il fait gris et triste là-bas.

Ce soir, nous irons au théâtre et dîner avec tous le group. Il sera très intéressant parce que je ne sais pas si je comprendrai beaucoup de cette pièce.

And in English...

Today we visited the Orsay Museum. I decided this is my new favorite museum. There are paintings by Renoir and Monet. We had a small project of the Musée d'Orsay in class, and write something of this museum. I write of two paintings by Monet. One with water lilies, and with the parliament in London.

Here:
My favorite painting at the Musée d'Orsay is "The Water Lily Pond, Green Harmony" by the Impressionist painter Claude Monet. It is a French painter, who lived in France. He was born in Paris and Edouard Manet was a friend, who is also a famous painter. The picture was the Musée d'Orsay since 1986. Before that, from 1914 to 1947 he was at the Louvre. In the table we can see a Japanese bridge and before the bridge there are many water lilies. The technique used is the Claude Monet oil painting. He painted this picture in 1899. I love this picture because it gives a sense of calm. The same view in the garden of Monet in Giverny. Indeed he often painted several paintings with the same view but with different colors. For example, there is a table like this at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and another at the Musée d'Orsay, which is in green. I think that Monet liked the water lilies, because he painted a large painting only with water lilies that is exposed to MoMa. In the table, the greenery around the pool is really beautiful and the pool is completely covered with water lilies. There are many other paintings by Claude Monet that I love, as the table of "Houses of Parliament." It is somewhat difficult to recognize immediately what is the picture, but if we look more specifically it shows the British Parliament in the fog. There are not many colors in this picture. Monet used a lot of gray and purple. It was painted in 1904. I like it because it is a true representation of London as it often rains so it's gray and gloomy out there.

Tonight we will go to the theater and dinner with all the group. It will be interesting because I do not know if I'll understand much of this piece.

Retour à la réalité - en français. (Reality check - in French)

Nous avons dit "bonjour" à notre nouvelle professeure aujourd'hui. Maintenant on doit parler en français seulement ET avec des phrases complètes. Je pense que ce serait mieux pour nous. Je devrai apprendre à répondre plus rapidement que maintenant en français. Au début de la classe c’était un peu difficile mais à la fin c’est facile. Je pense que mon français serait mieux après les trois semaines prochaines avec Dr. Cottille-Foley. Elle nous a donné beaucoup de devoirs, donc j’ai fait ma grammaire aujourd’hui. Je vais faire mon cahier et livre de texte demain après Musée d’Orsay et le théâtre. Pour la reste de ma visite à Paris, je vraiment essaie d’écrire seulement en français. Je serai très fière si je peut le faire.

J’ai réalisé aujourd’hui que je devrai acheter des souvenirs pour ma famille aussi ! Quelque chose pour mon frère et quelque chose pour mon père. Je ne sais pas quoi, mais quand je l’ai trouvé, je l’achèterai. Peut-être une tire-bouchon ou quelque chose comme ça. Ou un t-shirt qui dit ‘Paris’.

Le photo est moi devant le Moulin Rouge à Montmartre

Same in English: (google translated- got the idea from Christian, a fellow techie in my group, since it's how his entire blog is written - translationliteral.blogspot.com)

We said "hello" to our new teacher today. Now we must speak French only and with complete sentences. I think it would be best for us. I will learn to respond more quickly now in French. At the beginning of the class was a little difficult but in the end it's easy. I think my French is better after the next three weeks with Dr. Cottilla-Foley. She gave us a lot of homework, so I made my grammar today. I will do my notebook and textbook tomorrow after the Orsay Museum and the theater. For the rest of my visit to Paris, I really try to write only in French. I will be very proud if I can.

I realized today that I will buy souvenirs for my family too! Something for my brother and something for my father. I do not know what, but when I found it, I'll buy. Perhaps a corkscrew or something like that. Or a t-shirt that says 'Paris'.

The picture is me in front of the Moulin Rouge in Montmartre!

Oh where to begin...

Experienced Montmartre night life. Which turned into breakfast the next day. Went out last night with some of my roommates friends and got home at 8 AM. We left our place at 9 PM the night before. Also went to the erotic museum in Pigalle, which was rather interesting to say the least. I of course found something Finnish in there.

Then we went to a bar area where locals go to drink. It's crazy how it's just on the other side of Sacre Coeur. We went to this cool bar that had a terrace, and indoor bar as well as a full club in the basement. It was packed, but everyone was French. There were no tourists.

By staying up until 8 AM we at least saved money on a cab ride, since the metros opened up at 5:30. Best part? Line 1 to get home is closed Sunday mornings until 10 AM. So Shannon and I got our daily cardio in. Everytime we have to walk somewhere we get lost. But you can't say we haven't seen Paris.

I will also love my washing machine when I get back home. I've been doing laundry in the sink and hanging clothes up to dry in the window. Très french.

Lame old Saturday

Today was embarressingly spent mostly in bed recovering from the night before- in the sense of lack of sleep. And I officially have no self control when it comes to shopping. I bought ANOTHER pair of shorts. But they were super cute, so I had to get them. And only 15 euros. I think tonight a group of us is going out. We have to enjoy the fact that we have no homework!

My Wallet is Going into Hibernation

I'm officially not leaving my room with my credit card anymore. Just 20e of cash at a time. But today was a good day of site seeing. Went and saw Les Invalides and Napoleon's tomb and L'Arc de Triomphe. I now understand why local Parisians avoid all tourist attractions. Even after living here for an entire summer, I doubt I will ever climb up the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame or L'Arc de Triomphe. The lines are just way too long, and I have better things to do with my time- like sit in the park next to it and just people watch.

Today I realized once again how nice it is to be an EU citizen. If you're under 26, you get into some museums for FREE. So some of us went out this morning and at Les Invalides, Alison, her brother and I got in for free, while others paid 9e. Not big savings, but still.

Also learned why Napoleon's grave is the way it is. It's in this huge room with an opening in the center, so that when people look down, they can see his grave, and bow their heads to him. Well Alison told us this before we went, so we DELIBERATLY did not bow our heads.

Midterm is over, let the weekend commence.

We had our midterm this morning. 10 pages of French grammar?!? Oh mon dieu. My brain was fried. But I treated myself to buy 5e sandals afterwards. They're actually pretty cute. Also went to the Eiffel Tower- again. Have yet to clumb up it, but it was my 4th time there since I've been in Paris. I just like going and sitting in the park at night with all of the lights lit up. In all fairness I've seen it from a different angle every time I'm there. Tonight we sat by École Militaire- Me, Shannon, Katherine, Alison and her brother who's visiting Paris.

I have officially stuffed my face with a whole jar of Nutella since being in France. And found the most delicious bakery ever!!! Baguettes are only 1e. So I buy one daily. And eat it with my Boursin cheese or Nutella. Today I also got a Tartelette aux Fraises, which was so so so so good!!!!

Catacombs are in the plans for tomorrow along with Invalides perhaps and visiting some graves. We'll see. Play it by ear. Now that we actually have free time with no homework hanging over our heads, I don't know what to do. I feel like I could find some trouble to get into on a Friday, especially in Paris.

Comment on dire 'procrastination' en français?

Procrastination at it's finest begins now. I have my midterm tomorrow, so what have I done today? Walked around the city for 2 hours. I did go to Jardin Luxembourg to study for like 30-45 minutes with Shannon and looked at all of the cute French boys, but some studying did get accomplished.

I also made my first 100% on a quiz in class! After going out to the Auld Scottish pub by our place the night before and playing a drinking game to our vocabulary. But hey- it worked. I spelt everything correctly.

This weekend we also get a free weekend of homework AND it's a 4 day weekend, so the possibilities of things to do are endless. On the list? Eiffel Tower, Euro Disney, Catacombes, Thrift Stores, Chambord, day trip to London, who knows. I'll let you all know when I'm in Africa come Saturday morning basically. They speak French in some places there! :)

On an even better note though, the heat wave for Paris passed, and I can comfortably sit in my own room again. From what I hear though, this is just un petit pause, because there is more chaleur to come.

-------

Also I meant to comment about this in the beginning of the summer but forgot. Research the engagement ring situation in countries you go to visit, because apparently France doesn't work like the USA. Wearing a ring on your right ring finger means your engaged (which is where I wear one and did wear one for the first week or so in Paris). Wearing a ring on your left ring finger means your married. So at least that rule still stands. But just for future reference- FYI.

Il Fait Chaud. Juste un petit peu...

Bienvenue en France. Le pays où il n'y a pas de climatisation quand il est 34 C (90+ F) dehors. Je ne peut pas penser en français! C'est incroyable. Hier, Shannon et moi, cherchons à un lieu où nous pouvons faire notre devoirs avec le climatisation. Nous avons trouvé Starbucks. Au sous-sol nous avons lu notre devoirs. Pas très français, mais il faisait froid, et je suis heureuse.

Je suis du pôle Nord, pas de la Sahara!!!

Longchamp

Not only do I know the address of the closest Longchamp store by heart (404 Saint Honoré, Paris, France), but they're also having a sale. So naturally, I paid a visit. Then I walked in to the large department stores comme Galeries Lafayette and Printemps. There were just way too many people to really go through anything. But it was nice to just walk around on my own.

Both of my roommates are in Barcelona, so I have the room all to myself this weekend. Time to focus on some school - as soon as I go get my hair done in Paris. I found a place called 'Jean Louis David' that is like a 10 minute walk away. I'm going to go check it out.

------

104 euro later. I have pretty hair again. Also learned how to say "roots" and "blow dry straight". I think I'm ready to live in Paris.

Also learned that going out to do homework along the Seine River is probably the least productive thing ever. Me and Katherine went to go buy a baguette and wine and just chilled along the river people watching. I did one problem out of my grammar book- out of the 30 pages that were assigned.

We're going to eat some famous ice cream tonight on Ile Saint Louis, which apparently is delicious!

Also went to a book store. Bought Pippi Longstocking, Eat Pray Love, and some Finnish book in French. Also found a Finnish store so I got to speak Finnish today. :)

Happy Juhannusta all you Scandinavians!

Le Weekend Commence Maintenant

The weekend is FINALLY here, and to accompany it, there is SO much homework. So being a Tech kid, I'm going to miss out on a weekend

in Barcelona and stay and do some studying in Paris. Not a bad alternative, but still. No Barca for me. It should be a good weekend though, because Anton and I are GOING to find something to do for midsommar - juhannus. This week was fête de la musique. Which was AWESOME! We went to the Saint Michel fountain and danced in it. Apparently that's illegal, but everyone was doing it, so we joined in. The French National Guard showed up 15 minutes after we left. Yea, no big deal, we would've waged war against the French National Guard. Imagine that phone call to our professor the next morning on why we wouldn't be attending Versailles with the class... "euhhh, professor... nous sommes en prison."

Apparently this weekend is un festival de ciné or qqc comme ça. je ne sais pas.

Oh, and it's going to be ridiculous to go back to the States and throw in French words mid convo. Because all we speak here is franglish.

Juste un autre lundi

Alors... aujourd'hui on avait la classe, mais il était à Ecole IFOPI donc on avait l'internet aussi. Je n'ecoutais pas beaucoup de notre professeur. J'ai beacoup de devoirs ce soir qui je devrai finir pour demain. Mon ami Michel m'aide et c'est fini tout de suite! Et je mangerai de gateau chocolat aussi! :)

Demain il y a une festival de musique. On parlait de cette festival à la classe. Beaucoup de gens de ma classe irai, et Michel irai aussi!!! La weekend prochain je pense que je travaillerai à Barca, mais je ne suis pas sûr.

Doing laundry for the first time in Paris. Learned that soupline is NOT laundry detergent but actually fabric softener. See if I forget that word ever in my life.

But I seriously have so much homework. I stayed up until 5 AM last night 'working on homework'- a.k.a. procrastinating and planning out my life. Like looking for an internship in Paris.