Haha Days 18-24

  So I suck basically.  It's been a roller coaster the past couple days so yeah I haven't quite figured out how to write about it and not seem completely anti-Paris, because I'm really not...but in some ways I really do miss my own bed, my pets, and some other things from home.

It's interesting how as soon as one thing goes wrong we all are so quick to say we want to go home.  I know it's purely human nature but it's like we expect it to be perfect.  And I mean I have to say it's a little different when you're paying $14,000 to be somewhere; you shouldn't be complaining about things like food and housing.  Being just straight-up homesick or just really missing parts of home is totally understandable.  But this last week has definitely tested my strength.

Last Thursday was the worst of it.  I did have my nap and my escape to the museum.  But it wasn't quite the escape I had been looking forward to.  Two words - Guided Tour.  Yeah I mean he tried to throw in little jokes appropriate to our age group, but I really just wanted to wander and clear my head.  I did get to see some of my favorite paintings though like some Renoirs, Monets, and Degas.  I could get lost with Degas ballerinas.  And Renoir...my so so favorite just immediately made my day better.

That however did not last long.  Thursday nights Dany goes to yoga and therefore makes our dinner and leaves it for us to warm up. When Sasha and I got home we thought that it was tofu patties she had made us.  That was until Maggie told us they were in fact turkey, would have been okay for Sasha, but when she cut into them they had ham inside.  I lost it.  Either way it was another night of salad for dinner.  At this point I hadn't had a full dinner in 3 days.  I called my mom bawling and just wanting to come home.  I know Dany doesn't approve of us being vegetarians, but how many times can she forget that I don't eat anything but fish.  She came home a few hours later and it just got worse.  Sasha tried to talk to her about it and she claimed she didn't know I don't eat turkey and then just totally went off on us.  She said we were ungrateful and rude.  Went on about how hosts don't like hosting American girls because they won't adjust.  I'm sorry I'm not willing to eat meat to make you happy. I could really have forgiven all of that but then, thinking I didn't understand, she went on about how I don't know enough French and how she shouldn't have to speak English to me. Basically calling me rude because I can't speak French.  Like really?  I don't even know how to put down in text how this made me feel.  And I know it makes it hard on Sasha because she ends up being the middle ground for herself, Maggie, and me...but either way I've never felt like such a hassle for someone.  We were supposed to go out that night but taking a walk with Stephen and getting some 11% alcohol beer sounded better.  We drank one between us and had Stephen's spicy chips for dinner.

Oh how could I forget.  We went through the kitchen trying to find something to eat and Sasha found pudding...I took 2 pictures of us eating such pudding for dinner...no memory card. fantastic the pudding broke my memory card. So I try attaching it to my laptop...works fine except the pudding pictures aren't there.  Put it back in my camera.  Play with it a little more...then it suddenly won't even go in my camera.  Memory card = broken.  Fabulous.  Then my computer charger stopped working.  So yeah an all over miserable night. Let's move on.

Friday:  I got up as a note was being slid under my door.  Apparently this was how Dany was going to communicate with me.  She said that there would be no meat in the house for the next four months.  And I know there was so much more behind it.  In the way that we expected to be respected for our choices we respect that she eats meat.  But whatever floats her boat.  We went the whole day without her saying a word to me, even when I tried to say hi.  She actually even called Maggie into the bathroom to show her water spots on the sink (right after I got home) and ask her if she knew who had made them because it was rude to the rest of the people in the house...I mean REALLY?!? Nonetheless Maggie and I left to meet up with people at the frog and princess to visit Sasha.  It was pretty busy but I have never enjoyed a veggie burger more, even though I felt sick because my stomach hadn't been that full in a while.

After we went to a party on the Seine that the school threw.  Can I just first point out the fact that our SCHOOL threw this.  And in the ticket price was an included drink.  I don't know any schools in the states that would take that risk, especially on the water.  I was slightly impressed.  We had fun but Casey and I were convinced that there was not really alcohol in the drinks considering we both drank plenty and I didn't even have a buzz.  I know I have a high tolerance, but 1 beer from the frog and then like 5 or 6 on the boat...yeah shouldn't still be sober.  We danced and had fun.  This guy came up behind me and whispered in my ear "Are you American? [yes] I've been watching you all this party. [okayyy] I'm a singer.  I sing songs.  I write music.  You inspire me to write.  I need to write about you. [okay...] I need to write about my kiss with you"  Then a girl walked up, grabbed his arm, and pulled him away...most hilarious thing ever.  Like does that HAPPEN in real life? Pretty much made my life.  But we finally headed home around 3?  And the noctillien was an adventure as always.  We waited forever. Casey's feet were killing her and this guy kept telling her to put her shoes on...pretty funny. But when the bus finally came we somehow left her at the stop...she was on the phone. And these dumb ass guys came up and surrounded her. Luckily the rest of us had gotten off the next stop and Stephen ran up just as things could have gotten bad.  And of course they were on the next bus with us.  Casey and I were ready to kick some ass...but Stephen preferred we keep our mouths shut.  Maybe he is a saving grace. Haha. So I think I finally crawled in bed around 430 or 5.  What a night.  But it did half way make up for the two shitty days...even though I would say I wouldn't go back to a party on that boat.

Saturday morning was a pain.  We were going to Versailles and when Stephen called me...as I had slept through my alarm...I noticed all the rain outside.  Totally was not up for going, but was convinced either wise.  We got to the RAR train around 10:05 or so and were getting rushed along as all we wanted was a croissant form across the way. And when we got down to the station we had TWENTY minutes before it even left.  Annoyed.  I was glad I went to say I had seen it.  But I was not really impressed.  The architecture was amazing, especially the chapel, but it had become such a tourist scene.  They had even printed large text and covered some of the walls with it.  Like REALLY?  I liked Russia a lot because when we walked through rooms they were the same, or close to it, as they were years and years ago.  Some of the furniture and paintings were amazing..but overall?  I wouldn't go back.  Except to see the gardens that is.  The gardens weren't in bloom at all so all we really looked at was the swans.  I would go back to see them as long as we don't have to pay 18 euros to get in.

After we went to get some food and hung out around the town? city?.  We got food and then went searching IN THE RAIN for dessert.  A few of us ended up stumbling on a little courtyard that looked like it fell right out of a story book.  Eventually we found a small patisserie which was delicious and headed back. Definitely slept the whole afternoon away.  That night I just stayed in because there was no chance I could survive a night out...still ended up staying up half the night nonetheless.

Sunday was the laziest day.  Sasha had been working and staying out all weekend so she was just as exhausted as us if not more.  We ended up going out for a late lunch to a small place on the corner which was delicious.  I finally found a vegetarian croque monsieur...for those of you back in the states a regular one has like ham and cheese in the middle and then like grilled cheese on the outside too...this one had tomatoes and mozzarella on the outside and the cheese in the middle. Served with a salad, for 7 euros. Freakin amazing.  Sasha got a crepe...that turned out to be two crepes...for 4 euros.  Definitely going back there, but not so close to dinner.

That night we went to the Frog and the Princess to watch the superbowl...were supposed to go to the Irish pub but never made it.  Maggie and I watched about half the game before finding our way home.  Sasha getting 1 euro beers was not necessarily a good thing, but we had a lot of fun.  I stayed up talking to people back in the states until the game was over.  Someone clearly had me rooting for the wrong team.  Either way it was fun to watch such an American sport in France.

Monday morning I slept in...Sasha worked that night...I feel like we did something else in the afternoon but I definitely have no idea what that was.  That night I just did homework which was done pretty early but stayed up half the night talking to people...of course. I suck at going to bed early.

Yesterday I had class allllll afternoon. French class went pretty well this time.  But like she plays these old tapes and we have to repeat what they say.  I pretty much think I suck at it. We took a quiz, and it went alright I suppose.  My English class was retarded per usual.  We went around the room to tell about current events; I did mine on Michael Jackson's doctor being charged with killing him.  And then we went over how to read quickly.  Like really?!? And anyway the novel is really good so I would hope people don't waste their time on just trying to get through it and actually read it for what it is.  It's Reading Lolita in Tehran if anyone is interested.  The end of class she glanced at some people's essays...AKA everyone's but mine...think that's a good thing? But either was I don't like becoming a spectacle.  She spotted my kindle and made me present it to the whole class.  Fabulous. Not.

We got home from our classes and definitely took like three hour long naps...woke up just in time for dinner.  It was Julie's birthday so we were all supposed to go out to the club but no one was really up for it so we ended up going to the frog with the intention of going to the irish pub again.  Again we never made it.  Must say I'm getting sick of the frog.  Like 1 euro beers are fabulous, but I want to experience as many places as I can while I'm here.  Plus the language thing sucks sometimes.  I don't want people to feel like "Oh we have to talk in English for Jenn" like really I'm fine with people watching or pretending I understand...and every once in a while, actually understanding.  I headed home, catching the very last metro with Tanuja at 12:30.  She had to take the 7 and I had to take the 5 after...must say I'm not down for going home like that again.  Taking the metro alone so late is for sure sketchy.  Oh well, I survived.

At 8:00 am this morning the neighbors thought it was okay to start working on the construction on their apartment...my bed was shaking from them drilling. So not impressed, especially since my class got canceled today. I tried to get up but was still exhausted so crawled in bed with my head under the sheets until noon.  Today was another blah day.  We did go to ISA though and I booked a trip to Ireland with Julie and Tanuja.  I'm pretty excited about it and my mom is fairly jealous.  It's going to be beautiful.  I think spring break is going to be spent in Italy; Aj will be proud.  I really want to get to London too though!

But anyway we found a nice crepe stand on the way back home for a nutella and banana crepe...ate dinner...and now are just being lazy.  So there's my last week in a nutshell.  Some ups...quite a few downs to be honest.  But I know that I'm in Europe and I should just make the best of it while I can.  I know that there are plenty of people that may never make it here and I'm truly blessed to have this chance.  That however does not mean that you would read me complaining on here because part of the memories are the bad ones too.  Europe is beautiful but definitely not perfect. leave a comment if you actually read this...even if it just says "Jenn I read this"...just because I'm curious.

Au Revoir. <3