Le vandalisme

D'accord, I apologize for the lack of updates as of late. I did not do much picture taking during the week since classes have been starting up and I have been spending time getting organized for them. I found a pseudo-Barnes and Noble to hold me over until I get home (it has 4 FLOORS!) and a cafe to go to for breakfast. Oh, and did I mention that in order to get to my cours pratique class which is held every day, I walk past the Pantheon? No joke. My life is incredible. So, here is an update!!!


Aujourd'hui Carmen and I woke up and climbed the Eiffel Tower. Talk about a morning workout. We get up to the observation level, and I find, a picture of New London?? What the heck, that's where my ferry docks!!




























The weather was like a spring day this morning.








































I love this city.








































Shadow of the Eiffel Tower across the Seine. There's a lot of itty bitty people because they were running a race. Of course it ended in the 15th district where I live, so taking a metro to see anything else was next to impossible. Sweaty, gross, smelly runners, grr.








































La Tour.

Devaloo, I lovee youu!!















As promised...


















"I called you from Paris to tell you that I
wrote our names on the observation deck
of the Eiffel Tower." Je te manque!!! :)












So after the best toning workout ever, Carmen and I went up to Monmartre to see the Moulin Rouge and had the best lunch EVER. It was a burger with an egg on top. I didn't even ask for the egg, they just gave it to us. I was so incredibly happy. I do enjoy eggs.









So now I have to do devoirs (homework), and then tonight is dimanche (Sunday) alors we eat with Monsieur et Madame. All that shall be done after a petit sieste, parce que I am incredibly tired. A bientot!

Toujours

As promised, pictures of the Tour lit up.























































Karen, this one goes out to you. I am glad that you are okay. I mourn the Jeep, but goodness I'm just really glad you're okay.


































While at the Tour, Carm and I sat a distance away waiting for it to sparkle at midnight (every hour it sparkles for five minutes). While we were sitting a man and his huuge English Sheepdog walked by. When I said "hi puppy!" the dog ran over to me and I had my first pupper interaction for two and a half weeks. The dog's name was Guzel, which means 'beautiful' in Turkish. The man was very sweet for letting me hug his dog.
















Alors, my placement exam was today. It was not that long at all, but I think I was mentally prepared for a test like the SATs or the Praxis exams where there are 50 questions for 4 or 5 sections. I am not sure I did that well by my standards, but I evaluated things. Intermediate by the Sorbonne level does not necessarily match intermediate for Salve. If I need to be in an elementary class to help me communicate better, so be it. I realize my writing needs a buttload of help (where did that expression ever arise from?!) so if that's what needs to be done, cool! Either way, I am in Paris. I get to ride the metro every day, which I love. I have fresh baguette and St. Moret cheese at my disposal. I can see the Eiffel Tower from my window!! I can legally drink wine!! I really really love my life right now, and I'm not going to let this silly exam get me down! Phew, it felt good to get that out.







Anyway, this is the Eiffel Tower. Again.

Poking the Eiffel Tower!














Dear Mommy, hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.



















Sparkling at midnight :)



















Oh, if anyone wants to write to me, ask for my address! I finally got it, so I'll send it to you!













C'est moi. Merci, Carmen! Anyway, it's wicked cold here today. Picture the classic overcast, chilly, gray drizzly Parisian day. That's today. Don't get me wrong, fall is my FAVORITE season but I'm quite content with sitting in bed today watching Blades of Glory. I don't start classes until the 9th (wtf France) so I have plenty of time to explore. Going to go continue my movie. Pictures of l'apparetement will be up soon mama smudge, I promise. Tout le monde: BISOUS!

The last time I saw Paris...

Leaving Cannes, Evan pulled out his French/English dictionary and started reading, starting with "a", then "abraisser", followed by "abandonner" (why do I remember this??)

We had a 5 hour train ride on the high speed TGV (Note: G in French is pronounced J. J is pronounced as G. So it's really the "Tay Jay Vay"). I read a bit of my book (I'm up to page 100 already!) and listened to... oh goodness... Paramore?! Yes, that is Misery Business shown in the picture on the right. (Dear readers, unless your name is Ben, please continue on to the next paragraph and do not worry about your confusion.)

It feels so good to finally be in Paris. I have literally been counting down since I got back from France in June. Being in Cannes was like a giant sieste (nap) with a beach and palm trees. But Paris, oh my goodness. The lights! The people! The architecture! The museums! The FOOD! Maybe I won't come back in December... kidding !!!

I'm living in the 15eme arrondisement in an apartment practically under le Tour Eiffel. Well, I may as well. I do have a view of the incredible structure from my bedroom window. AM I DREAMING?!?! I will write all about the family and living situation tomorrow.

Today Carmen and I woke up, ate breakfast of Frosties (Frosted Flakes, der) and then went to the market across the street. There were vendors with fresh baguette, vegetables, flowers. The smells were overwhelming. It was like living in a story. A delightful story.

Afterwards, we took a short promenade (walk) over to the Eiffel Tower. May I emphasize short? Because, I do live right there. HAHAH. I let Carma lead the way since this is her first time in Paris and I am teaching her to orient herself around. How cool is that?!

We took goofy pictures and had fun running around the giant map of Europe. If you notice on the one picture of la Tour there are stars, at night the whole tower is lit up blue (which I will soon be visiting after finishing writing!!) It looks like the European Union flag. You'll see it soon. PROMISE!

Yet again, for Ben: I went to Germany!! Thumbs up.

Proof Carmen is real! She and I are going to go be toursists again. Tomorrow we have a meeting and get our suitcases (Friday we handed out suitcases to AIFS people so they could drive them up to Paris. I had to bring a duffel with all my stuff up here, and I would like fresh clothes!!). I will update with pictures of the apartment soon! With love, from the 15eme <3