My French Adventures So Far and My Plans for the Weeks Ahead:

So I've been here in Paris for over a month now. I absolutely hate the idea of having a virtual life (aka a blog). But since Facebook does not allow me to upload any photo albums AND since I want to keep all my friends and family up-to-date on my experiences in Paris, I guess this blog is my best alternative. I have a little over a month of catching up to do, so below you will find my 1st entry (which took a few days to put together because the wireless internet in my bedroom is temperamental - it works when it feels like it). This first entry includes some things I've seen and done so far and what's to come. I may edit this entry after I publish it because I know I haven't included everything that I've seen & experienced thus far but until then, enjoy =) 
my apologies for any spelling errors =/

Août

Thursday 26th - Arrived in Paris 

Me @ 4:45 in the morning leaving SFO for. Yup, I had 3 pieces of luggage, and I don't regret it!

Sunday 29th - Morning: My 1st Trip to a French Market ~ Afternoon: Picnic under the Eiffel Tower ~ Evening: Moved into host family

Random man playing music @ the Ledru-Rollin open air market. There many markets in Paris, which are similar to the concept of Farmer's Markets in the States.

(props to Devin for taking this lovely pic)

The picnic under the Eiffel Tower was nothing less than a cultural experience:

First, as the girls and I searched for a grassy area to sit and have our picnic, I saw a group of Michael Jackson impersonators. They varied in age from about 7yrs  to 30 yrs, but they were all wearing the classic MJ get up (sparkly black jacket, hat, glove, and black pants that flood just enough to see their white socks). I instinctively thought of my bestie Danielle who loves Michael with a passion =) Although I already knew that MJ was popular internationally, it was interesting to see people in Paris, under the Eiffel Tower, moon walking and reppin' for MJ. 

Next, as we were eating our lunch, tons of Roma (aka Gypsies) were walking around from one group of picnickers to the next, asking for money, food, etc. Before I left the states, people jokingly warned me of the "Gypsies".  I had never seen a Roma prior to this trip to Eiffel Tower and my only image of what a "gypsy" looked like were based on some animated characters in Disney's Aladdin. [Just to briefly sum up the Roma and their social position in Paris: they are a group of wanders from Romania who left their homeland. They usually do not integrate themselves into the main cultural and tend live in packs. On a very superficial  level, the Roma that I've seen in Paris are the equivalent of homeless people in the USA - they usually don't bother anyone, they ask the public for food & money, and the public tends to ignore them =(. Its pretty interesting to be in Paris right now because France has been making headline news recently due to their political aims to literally kick the Roma out of France]....Anyways, from what I saw, most of the Roma at the Eiffel Tower were older women, draped in layers of cloth. During the picnic, I had an interesting encounter with one of the Roma who came up to our group: She came up to me and presented me with a card that she wanted me to read (keep in mind that my study abroad program told us to just ignore them if they ever approach us). When I did not respond, she started pointing to some of the grapes I was eating (still, doing as I had been warned to do, I did nothing). Then, she picked up a piece of french bread that one of the other girls had laying around, look at it, dropped it down onto the grass, and walked away. At first, I felt really guilty for not giving her some of my grapes, but after she picked up the french bread and decided to throw it down on the ground, to me that meant she really wasn't all that hungry. Also, I'm thinking there's a good reason why my program warned students to not engage in conversation with the Roma so until I'm told differently, I'm just going to follow my programs advice... And if you are still shaking your head @ the fact that I didn't give her some of my grapes, I ended up giving the rest to a homeless man in the metro later that day and he was really grateful=)

Lastly, there were sOoOoo many couples sitting in the park making out around us. PDA is so frequent in Paris, its not even funny: on the side walks, in restaurants, on the metro, in a metro station, and I could go on and on. PDA in Paris is like dog poop in Paris - you find it everywhere you go... but I'll save the discussion about all the dog poop in the streets of Paris for another blog entry. No joke, Paris is the city of love, and what better way for me to witness this first hand than under the iconic and phallic symbol of the Eiffel Tower =)

My bedroom window, balcony, and desk.

I have a fireplace in my bedroom - kinda baller

My Bed & Closet. My overseas program told students to bring something that reminds us of home to Paris so I brought my USC teddy =) Fight On!

My host family is really nice: there's a mom, a dad, 3 sons, and a daughter. Two of the sons and the daughter go to school in the south of France, so I usually only see the mom, dad, and oldest son on the regular. Breakfast is provided everyday, and I have dinner with the family Monday-Thursday (my host mom is a really good cook so I'm happy). I have my own room (you'll find pics of my bedroom above) and its pretty comfy. There's a sink and shower adjacent to my room but no toilet - the French believe in what's called "water closets" (rooms with only a toilet and/or a sink). SooOOoO I have to leave my room, and cross the creaky and noisy hardwood floors in the living room whenever I have to use the restroom. Needless to say, having to use the restroom in the middle of the night is always a dilemma because I'm pretty sure me walking across the living room floor to access the W.C wakes everyone up =/

 Septembre 

Thursday 2nd - Tour of l'Opéra Garnier

Beautiful Gallery @ l'Opéra Garnier. The extravagance of l'Opéra Garnier made me want be a french woman in the late 1800's just so that I could go to a ball or an opera here lol. Its incredible to think that one person (Charles Garnier) supervised the orchestration of such beauty - literally everything in the l'Opéra Garnier is a work of art. 

Fireplace @ l'Opéra Garnier 

Saturday 4th - Took a day trip to Giverny to see Claude Monet’s home and gardens

Pretty flower in Monet's garden =)

Claude Monet's Home. It was very interesting to tour Claude Monet's home because I didn't know that influenced Japanese culture influenced his art - there were tons of Japanese paintings in every room of his home. 

Sunday 5th -  Afternoon: ate at "Breakfast In America" for a well deserved American style brunch ~ Evening: Museum of Erotic Art

The French believe in eating a small breakfast that usually does not include any warm foods... I know I'm supposed to be immersing myself into French culture, but I was craving my good 'ole fashion Sunday Brunch. yummm, pancakes, eggs, and bacon never tasted so good! And the French like to boast about how much the love their culture and about how French culture is better than this one or that one, but there were TONS of french people in this restaurant - it took about 30mins-45mins for us to be seated! The owner of "Breakfast in America" is a USC alum who moved to Paris after he studied aboard here - he's def making bank!

@ the Museum of Erotic Art. The acts captured in the black and white picture framed at the bottom (a pic taken in the late 1800s) led to public health announcements such as the one that's framed on the top of this picture: SYPHILIS!!... This was the most PG 13 pic I could have taken in this museum.... The Museum of Erotic Art was quite interesting and is def not for the prude... that's all I'll say about that.

Monday 6th - First day of classes. The classes I'm taking this semester are listed below:

• 4 units Art History: Studies in Baroque Art  - I absolutely love this course because every other lecture is a field trip to Le Lourve or another historical sight in Paris. 
• 4 units International Relations: European Union
• 8 units French Grammar:  French Grammar Course Taught through Paris' La Sorbonne University

Saturday 11th - Morning: Accent Day Trip to the Notre-Dame in Chartres with Malcolm Miller as our Tour Guide ~  Afternoon: Walked along  Le Seine and saw some folks tangoing along the river ~ Night: bars in Latin Quarter

Morning:

My camera died on me this day, so I don't have any pics to share =/. Malcolm Miller is a G though - he has spent the past 50 years of his life, yes thats right, the PAST 50 YEARS OF HIS LIFE, studying the Notre-Dame in Chartres! There tons of stain glasses windows with minuscule depictions of biblical stories in the Notre-Dame and for each one Malcolm Miller can tell you, frame by frame, the story from beginning to end, the significance of the story to the time period, and who paid for the window to be made... who knew that guilds of bread makers in the 1100s paid to have some windows made...  Since my camera died, I ended up buying his book on the Notre-Dame in Chartres, which is probably better because the book includes pics of way better quality than any photo I would have taken with my Nikon. 

Late Afternoon...

Walking along Le Seine this afternoon was so relaxing. Towards the late afternoon, the girls and I stumbled upon a group of folks in their 50s tangoing. It seemed like it was a dance class that decided to get some real experience dancing in front of others because each dancer varied in skill - there were some who had great form and others who had two left feet. They were legit tho - they had their stereo playing tango music and they even had a little pile of chalk to place on the sole of their shoes before they started dancing. Some partners seems to be couples, which was really romantic - what a great way to spice up your relationship/ marriage in your 50s =)

And Night...

The night out in the Latin Quarter interesting. The girls and I decided to go to this square in the Latin Quarter where there are tons of bars and students who go to La Sorbonne University. The night was fun until our run in with what I call the "French Ninjas".... There were a group of people giving out free massages to raise money for what I think is a student organization @ La Sorbonne. Anyway, me and and a couple of the girls decided to get a massage. While one of the girls in my group was getting her massage, this random French teen, dressed in all black, came up to her and starting saying something to her in French. Another girl in my group said something to him (what, I don't know), but as soon as she engaged in conversation with him, literally 7+ of this guy's friends surrounded us with in 2 seconds. They literally came out of no where and surrounded us. I think as soon as they heard us talk (aka as soon as they realized we were American) that was their cue to harass us. They starting asking us if we could give them "massages" and started touching our shoulders and hands. After us telling them to stop and to go away didn't work, we all just walked away from them. As we started to walk away from them, they all starting cursing at us in broken English. If I were in America, this would have never happened because in my 22 years of being a female, I've learned how to (1) steer clear of creepy men and (2) fend for myself when I do encounter the crazies and/or persistent men. But none of that works in Paris because when the girls and I are all together, French people can tell just by looking at us that we are foreigners and as soon as we open our mouths to speak, they know we're American... The signals you send to an American guy that translate into "get the hell away from me" do not register with French men. Of course, the guys who harassed us this night were obviously looking for prey and this isn't the way that all French men act, but it was a good reminder I'm far away from home. On the bright side, hearing them trying to say f*$k you and B*$#h in their broken english, french accents was pretty funny.

Sunday 12th - Morning: 1st Trip to Bastille Market ~ Afternoon USC Picnic (because us Trojans are international) 

Me and my fellow Trojans in Paris 

Friday 17th - 19th: Visited my Cousin Daniel & Family in Mulhouse, France. My first ride on the T.G.V. (aka, the fastest train in the world that travels up to 120 mph)

So in short, my grandmother's brother (my great uncle) served in WWII as a french interpreter for the U.S.A. army. While he was in France, he met a french woman. One thing led to another, and after my great uncle returned to U.S. after the war, this french woman gave birth to my Cousin Daniel. So thanks to WWII, I have a beautiful and loving French family. They visited the States when I was little to see all of my family in Louisiana, but since I lived in California at the time I did not get a chance to met them - this weekend was the first time I met them =). I contacted them earlier this summer to let them know I was coming to study in Paris and that I wanted to see them during my stay. They have been more than caring, supportive, and loving.... calling me nearly every night since my arrival in Paris to make sure I am doing well, giving me suggestions on this and that, and letting me know that I come visit them whenever I wanted. So, when I finally had a free weekend, I visited them.

They live in a small town called Mulhouse, which is located in the Alsace region of France (far east of France, right on the France:Germany border). For my weekend visit, they took me around Alsace: we visited the small towns of Colmar and Eguisheim, where there were tons of historical houses made in the 14th and 15th century. It was a wonderful visit and I plan to visit them again in November - they said they will take me into Germany and Switzerland then =).

My French Family =)

My Cousin Daniel and I in the small (and old) town of Colmar, France

Saturday 25th: Morning: Visited the Perfume Museum ~ Afternoon: Visited the Luxembourg Gardens ~ Evening: Ate at a Mexican Restaurant in Paris 

The sign on the left hand side reads:
"Perfume Organ: this sided piece of furniture containing precision scales and a large number of bottles used by the perfumer known as the nose to create perfumes. this is called an organ since perfumes are composed like music.
- Grasse XXth Century" 

My summer internship preceptor suggested that I visit the Fragonard Perfume Museum in Paris. The museum itself was so so, but I am more than happy I went because the museum sells the generic scents of popular perfumes such as Angel. Needless to say, I was in perfume heaven. Now, every time I spray one of my fragrances (because I bought a lot), I think of my
summer preceptor - Thank you for the suggestion!!  

Me standing in front of the Luxembourg Palace. I can hardly image that the Luxembourg Palace and Gardens was someone's (Maire de Medicis') personal home in the mid 1600s. Forget the suburbs or the Oakland Hills - I'm trying to live like this when I grow up (I can dream, right?!?! lol)

Standing in front the Statue of Liberty in the Luxembourg Gardens. If you didn't already know, the Statue of Liberty in New York was a gift to the United States from France and I know there are at least two miniature models of Miss Liberty in Paris. The sculptor of the Statue of Liberty was Auguste Bartholdi (1834-1904). Behind this State of Liberty, there's an oak tree that the French planted in memory of those who were killed in the 9/11 attacks in the USA. 

And Mexican Food for Dinner....In Paris??

I know at first glance that eating Mexican food doesn't seem like a big deal, but considering there are very few people of Mexican decent who live in Europe combined with the fact that I was born and raised in San Francisco and went to college in Los Angeles, this was a pretty big deal for me. My taste buds were very happy lol. The only thing that would have made my night that much better is if I would've ordered Horchata with my meal. But instead, I had a crepe for dessert... I think a nutella crepe is always a good way to end a night in Paris

Sunday 26th: Afternoon: Market run to Bastille Open Air Market and Visited the Garde Republique's annual open house ~ Evening: Visited Le Parc Floral to see classical music concert (piano duets of the Romantic period)

Members of the Garde Republique (which is something like the National Guard in the U.S.) riding their horses.

France's Garde Repubilque spends some of its funds on motorcycle acrobats and tricks. If I were a French citizen, I'd be upset that my tax dollars where paying for this...They performed motorcycle tricks to techno music - it was pure comedy. 

In Le Parc Floral right before the concert....

Taken @ Le Parc Floral before the classical concert...

Sitting in the park, listening to classical+jazz piano duets with the rain as a backdrop was more than wonderful =)

~AND What's To Come ~

Octobre 

Friday 1st-3rd: Accent Weekend Excursion to Normandy & Brittany

Friday 8th-10th: Weekend Trip to Amsterdam

Saturday 16th-17th: Art History Trip to Fountainbleu and Chateau de Vaux

Friday 22nd: Art History Trip to Chateau de Versailles

Saturday 23rd: Day Trip to Disneyland Paris (I'm a kid @ heart) 

October 30th - Nov 7th (Winter Vacation): Trip to Italy and Greece (So Excited!!!)

Novembre 

Thursday 11th-14th (Armistice Weekend):  Visit to Daniel & Family. Since they live in the east of France I believe they are going to take me to visit Switzerland and Germany =)

Friday 19th-21st: Accent Trip to Provence

Friday 26th-28th: International Relations Trip to Brussels (Belgium Waffles and Belgium Chocolate, here I come!!!!!!!)

Décembre

Saturday 4th-5th: Trip to Strasbourg, France to see their Christmas Markets (yay Christmas!) 

Thursday 9th-12th: Trip to London

Saturday 18th: Return to U.S.A.

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I'll have to blog about my trips to Normandy & Brittany and Amsterdam when I get back on Sunday night =) ....


Thanks for reading!


<3 Keesh