Such Sweet Sorrow

So here it is, the last time I write from France on this blog. How is it already here? I cannot believe my bags are (mostly) packed and ready for the haul back to Long Island. It is time to go home, no matter how much it hurts me to leave here. Time to go home.


























Home is where the heart is. Problem is, part of my heart belongs to Paris. It'll be an adjustment once I get back, but I need to be with my family. I need to be with my friends. I need to be with my puppers. That's where my real home is.





























I've made a home for myself here, but I'll be content to live with my memories of it until the next time I return. It won't be the same, of course. I won't have Carmen there, and I won't be picking out the pastry of the day to eat in class, but it'll be wonderful all the same. It's Paris. How can it not be?











I've had some pretty rough days here. But all the same, a bad day in Paris is better than no day in Paris at all. I've grown and learned.





























The little clarinet player who lives above me is playing Jingle Bells. Squeaking Jingle Bells. Same difference. (Ugh, maybe it's bagpipes??) Well, my dears, this is it. I am going to go zip up my suitcase and get ready for sleep, because tomorrow is going to be a wicked long day. It's been a pleasure sharing my travels and experiences with everyone.






















And so, unless you are the fam, (in which case I will be seeing you in a little over twenty-four hours) happy holidays, be healthy, be happy, say hello once I'm home, et...

















AU REVOIR!!! ♥

Déchirais en deux

Please


















don't













make













me













leave.

Histoire de Paris

In honor of finishing and handing in my Histoire de Paris dossier, I thought I would write about the course. It was hands down my favorite class this semester. We would walk around Paris and learn about different architectural styles and the history of that building. For my dossier, I wrote about Gothic architecture. Namely, Notre-Dame. Because it's awesome.






Sun or ran, cold or freezing, we would trek around. We learned about Pont Neuf, which is actually the oldest bridge in Paris.

SO. COLD.

Sometimes we goofed off. But it was the only way to keep our brains from freezing....

We learned about Fontaine St. Michel, and architecture during the Haussman/Napoleon area.

We went to Place Vendome...

Place des Vosges, where Victor Hugo once lived.

Hotel Soubise...

Les Invalides...

Entertainment on my part was provided by taking tons of pictures of Carmen whenever I darn well pleased.

We had such a great teacher. She was very knowledgable as well as generous. We would stop in cafes when it was cold, and she would recognize certain people, including one time some French actor.

I can now describe architecture to you. Well, in French. But I think that's even cooler. I love being able to identify different styles and elements in the city where I live. Too bad I won't be able to apply any of it to architecture on Long Island.

One class down. One dossier down.
Five days until home. Five pages until I'm finished with my other dossier.

xoxoxoxoxoxox

Thanksgiving

I have a LOT of updating to do. Has it really been a week since I last wrote? Of course it has, my FAMILY WAS HERE!!!

I am so glad they got to be here for Thanksgiving. I love thinking about the good things in life, and the autumn, and being with my family, and the food...

Obviously Thanksgiving is not a Parisian holiday, but the resteraunt I go to which has pancakes and maple syrup did a Thanksgiving meal. Karen, we missed you so much!!!

Behold the dinner... BEHOLD THE MASHED POTATOES. Nom nom nom nom nom.

And the wicked good apple pie, oh my goodness, so delightful.

The mashed potatoes were put on the plate how a cake is normally frosted. It was rather amusing to watch.

Peter making fun of someone looking at mom's driver's license. Hehehehe.

<3

High On A Hill

High on the hill of Paris lies the district of Montmartre. The arrondisment of artists, performers, and cabarets. I live on the opposite bank of Montmartre, so when AIFS offered a tour of the area I went, because I don't get up to the 18th very often.









Here are some of the things we saw. This is one of the original moulins. Moulin in French means windmill. Moulin Rouge, Red Windmill. This shabby windmill is more impressive than the Moulin Rouge, though. Surprised? I was too.

This is a statue of Saint Denis, approximately at the place he was beheaded. Legend has it, after he was beheaded, he picked up his head, rinsed it off in the water, and walked north to a sacred land where he could die. That land is now known as.... Saint Denis. It's in the outskirts of Paris, where the Stade de France is (where the match de foot was).

This is where Rodin, one of theeee best Impressionists lived and worked. Totally up there with Monet and Degas.

There's a whole story with this, which I was going to put into my own words, but it's just too long. Here it is condensed: Man could walk through walls. Now he's stuck. Forever.

I miss painting.

Steps by Sacre-Coeur.

On the right: Jeanne d'Arc. On the left: Louis IX, aka Saint Louis (although he was an intolerant fool.) They hang out on top of Sacre-Coeur.

Eiff, you're so far away from Montmartre!!! But still so pretty.

Paris. <3

Je retornerai pour Noel...

I'll be home for Christmas. 29 days and I will be on a plane headed for JFK. Home for the holidays. With the people I love, the people I have missed so much.

In 29 days I leave Paris behind. I don't know when I'll be back. In June I knew for sure I'd be back. Now I don't know when I'll see this city again.

I cannot believe how quickly my time here has gone by. I really believe part of me belongs here. Part of me feels like this is... home. Home is where the heart is, and I know part of my heart will always, always be here. Despite all the challenges, I love Paris.

29 days? How can I enjoy everything this city has to offer in only 29 days??! So much time is taken up with classes, then studying for exams and preparing for these dossiers (term papers, 10 pages in French, death). I guess I will really master time management, because I am determined to do it all.

Don't fret, my readers aux Etats-Unis. I shall return. And I will be so excited to see you. I'll be home for Christmas... and leave Paris to my dreams.

Pere-Lachaise

So Paris and I are okay again. We are learning the future tense in class which is very frustrating, but I'm getting through it. I expected a challange here, and I am getting it. Sometimes I would give anything to be home. Other times, I wish I could live here. Something about this city feels so right with me.








Over the weekend, Carmen and I went to Pere-Lachaise cemetary, which is like a little village within our city. There are so many graves, it is seriously insane. We have to make a second trip back because we spent half the time looking for Bizet, whom we could not locate. Carmen sang "Carmen" to him in hopes of us all of a sudden being able to find him, but no such luck.






It was rather eerie to be in a cemetary on an overcast day. Fallen leaves covered graves. Crows cawed. Cobwebs were in corners. Spooky.
















Not really sure what else to say about Lachaise.













So just enjoy the rest of the pictures.













I will update again when I can, but I should get my devoirs finished and study for my controle Wednesday. Booooo.