Days 85-92

I'll just start with the update on the host mess to get it out of the way.  It was either Monday or Tuesday when we heard Dany on the phone with ISA.  She told them that she was doing everything she could and we were just rude and ungrateful.  Considering we say thank you after every meal (gross or not) every time she does laundry, or even just simply tells us something, I think we're pretty grateful. But I don't think the lies she tells even resonate in the ears of ISA...they seem to know us better than that. On Tuesday Gabriel called us and told us he had an apartment for us to move into.  GREAT! FABULOUS! But the one thing I've learned here is to not get excited till you get all the facts. So the next morning we went in and met with them to find out that ISA Austin wanted Sasha and I to both pay $750 for the deposit...for living there 1 month.  I've been in Europe for 3 months, I really don't have an extra wad of cash laying around to throw at them for a refundable deposit.  And furthermore, why should we be paying double deposit on an apartment meant for 1 person? Nope, nope, nope. Annamaria explained to us that she had tried everything she could but ISA Austin wasn't budging.  She even offered to take personal responsibility for the apartment if anything happened.  Well last chance was she would ask if we could at least pay $750 BETWEEN the two of us. So we left in hopes that Austin would get their heads out of their asses. That night (afternoon in the states) Sasha and I received an email from the vice president of ISA in Austin stating that we would have to pay the $750 EACH if we moved. He went on to quote things from the contract and say how we had been given the chance to move in February but hadn't taken it so based on all this we would have to pay.  Well funny thing is, we were never told we could move in February. Because believe me if we had been told,  I more than likely wouldn't be in this situation. So I emailed him back.  I was friendly but still had a f*** ISA attitude about it. I closed the email saying "Conclusively, I have decided that I will not be moving into the apartment.  I do appreciate the efforts made to allow the option to even come available, but the chance of the losing more money to ISA makes it so it isn't worth it. Coming to Paris for these four months has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.  I've grown as a student but more importantly as an individual. My only regret is going through an organization that seems so focused on the money that they have lost site of the great things a study abroad program could do for its students.  I really do hope that this does not fall on deaf ears; too often the voices of young people are ignored." I honestly didn't really expect anything back.  Well on Friday Sasha and I got an email back saying how much he appreciated both of our emails and offering for us to fill out 2 credit card forms for the deposit...1 for $200 that he would exempt from the 3% normal fee for using a credit card and would also cash right away...and 1 for $550 that would be held onto in case of damages. I felt like his reply was nice but at the same time I felt like it was a kind of "oh crap I can't just push these girls around I better do something" kind of reply. Either way I've still decided not to move.  I'm nervous giving ISA anymore money & by the time we got moved in and settled it would be time to pack up to go to Denmark.  So all in all I will probably have my complaints about Dany (like when I talk about dinners this week) but I'm going to do my best to ignore how she treats us and enjoy the last weeks I have here.

As far as my week: Monday I stayed in and did some work. Nothing too exciting, Mondays never really are. Tuesday I had French and my English course. In English we discovered our final isn't this week but the week after...so it's my only class not canceled this week. That night Maggie and I ate with Dany...we sat down to a whole plate of cold salmon each. Gross..packaged...just gross salmon.  I couldn't finish it. But after we went to the big movie theater only a few stops away and saw Remember Me.  It was really good.  It's amazing how many movies are starting to reference 9-11 though. I cannot believe it's already been going on 9 years. No French person in that theater could have walked out feeling how Maggie and I did. I definitely suggest people see the movie...sad...but good. On Wednesday I met with ISA. Then I talked to Mom for a while and found out Rahjah was sick.  She seems to be better now...but being 3500 miles away this didn't add to my day at all.  That night however was when my week started to change.  Anna and I grabbed dinner near my apartment, I got the best vegetarian salad and cappuccino. Eating out of the house is relaxing. Then, for French class, we went to a hip-hop dance show.  It was really good!  They set hip-hop to like classical, opera, African, and every other kind of music. At one point they had plastic cups set up in lines across the stage and they were dancing in between them.  It was all male dancers and they were all amazing.  Nothing like a good dance show to brighten up my week.  The choreographer has another show on the 11th that I might see if Ellie wants to go to.

The only rough part was that none of us got home till at least 11 and had French again in the morning at 8:30.  After class though I hung out till Maggie was done. We thought we were going to finally get to do the hot air balloon, but Paris decided to get windy.  Instead we met up with Keshia and went to Montparnasse, the tallest building in Paris.  The view was amazing.  It was strange getting up above all the city noise.  It seemed so distant from all the craziness down below.  We spent some time taking pictures before heading down for a nice cafe.  Per usual the waitress was less than friendly so we had a nice talk about America v. France culture-wise.  There will be some things I will not miss.  The anti-American feeling does get old. But then in other cases some French are excited to see and talk to us...I don't get it. After we headed home to find that Dany was again not eating with us.  We were going to go out but instead split my bottle of champagne from Loire Valley over dinner and just hung out for the rest of the night watching entertaining videos online.  Shockingly, before bed, I got my entire chapter done for class the next night.  Better late then never I suppose. Friday Maggie and I grabbed lunch at the same place I ate Wednesday and then I headed to class. After we ate dinner the two of us, Dany was "too tired" or something.  She had combined leftover salads from the whole week, thrown green beans and corn on top, and called it something new. Less than appetizing.  Crunchy pasta to match.  Dinner is always either really good, or really not. That night we watched Pirates and just hung out before going to bed.

Saturday I, for the most part, finished the slideshow for the Alpha Phi senior farewell. I have some newer pictures to add but it's almost done.  I'm glad to not be rushing to the last minute for once.  Other than that I just walked around some and relaxed.  This week was for some reason exhausting and I just wanted some alone time.  That night Dany didn't eat with me, AGAIN. So I ate alone.  She made an entire table worth of food for just me.  Included was the gross salad so I put it right back in the fridge before even sitting down, crunchy pasta from the night before mixed with canned mushrooms, cucumber/avocado salad (the cucumbers were good but the avocados had weird black spots on them), 4 slices of toast (no baguette all week), a place of cold fish and something else. I'm glad I wasn't very hungry, though I'm sure she wasn't happy with how little I ate.  Maggie came home around 9:30 or so and by then it was too late to just go to a movie or anything so we once again stayed in.  Hopefully we'll go out more this week.

Sunday. Sunday was my favorite day this week. That morning Maggie, Keshia, and I went to brunch at Breakfast in America.  Maggie and I got their brunch special for 16 euros.  It came with a choice of egg (I got a mexican omelet), tomatoes or hash browns (hash browns of course), toast, choice of pancakes or yogurt and a pastry (PANCAKES!), and endless coffee or espresso with orange juice (endless coffee and juice).  It was amazing. The best part was they didn't bring it all at once, so besides the omelet, we finished everything.  We waited in line for 45 minutes to get in, but it was worth it.  From there we went to see the memorial for Princess Diana. I had completely forgotten she died here.  Her memorial is shaped like a flame and place on the bridge over the underpass directly above where the accident happened.  People wrote rest in peace notes all over the bridge.  It was actually kind of nice. But at the same time strange to remember the news shows videos and photographs showing that exact place.  We took some pictures there and of the Eiffel Tower before heading to Bois de Vincennes, the park.  We met up with Sasha there and it was ABSOLUTELY beautiful outside.  First we went to where the park name along with "Paris" is in huge letters.  A photo shoot there was of course necessary.  After we went and laid in the middle of the Chateau Vincennes on the grass to soak up some much needed sun.  Yup, no worries, just chillin' in the middle of a castle.  It was such an amazing day that we all just wanted to pass out in the sun.  From there we headed to Place Monge, a place Sasha and I haven't been to since February even though it's so close to us.  It was ironic because yesterday was the 3 month mark that I had been here and known Sasha and we were walking down the street we did my first night here. We grabbed ice cream that was shaped into roses on our cones and walked home. On the way however, all of our jaws dropped as we saw THE most attractive men that I've seen since I've been here.  They were walking in front of us talking about us as we talked about them.  Unfortunately our paths split but we all made eye contact for as long as possible till the other group was out of sight.  Not a bad way to end the day at all!  We came home to find Dany cooking...but she didn't eat with us again and there was no baguette again.  Dinner wasn't bad but she stil hadn't thrown away that salad, hopefully she did today.  Things have just slipped with her...she was so great at the beginning and it just got steadily worse.

Either way, yesterday was amazing.  I couldn't have asked for a better day.  I really am happy for the first time in a long time. And I think it's been the first time I've been happy that a guy hasn't been directly involved in it. I really haven't felt like "myself" since around May of 2008.  From there, it's been a slow process of piecing everything back together. Getting away and coming here has been the best thing for me and although it hasn't been all amazing times, this has been one of the best experiences of my life.  I am truly happy.  At the same time, however, it scares me to go home.  It scares me to go back to where the unhappiness I felt before originated.  I feel like I've grown as a person though and that no matter what lies ahead, I'll be able to handle it a lot better than I could before. I miss home, but it will be strange to leave this life behind me.

Only 26 days left in Paris and oh so much to do.  Today I'm finally going to the Pantheon and maybe something else, who knows. I have the whole week with no classes, so hopefully I'll get to see and do a lot that I've been meaning to.

Au Revoir <3

Days 81-85 (Loire Valley & the fabulous encounters with my host...)

Thursday night was a blast. I don't think I'd been "out" in Paris since before I went to Ireland.  Though I am in a country where I could go out and go to bars every night if I wanted to, it hasn't changed the fact that I'd rather curl up on the couch and watch a movie than be out till 5-6 in the morning.  But going out occasionally is definitely necessary. Maggie and I met up with Will, Adrian, and their two friends at Le Bar 10. I will miss that bar when we leave next month.  We hung out there for a while and Maggie and I split 2 pitchers of sangria.  From there the 6 of us went to Chatlet to check out Cafe Oz.  Everyone has talked about great night there so I guess it was about time to check it out.  I expected a bar.  This might as well have been a club.  Maggie and I got there monthly special cocktail, Just Dandy I think it was called, it had gin and orange juice along with something else.  We found a table and looked around at the crazy Paris dancing...on the floor AND on the tables. We hung out for like 2 hours I think? Then the others got food across the street, Will bought all of us girls (plus a random girl) flowers and Maggie and I made sure that they all safely got in a cab before we went venturing off to find the night bus.  I'm paying for my naviGo therefore unless it's an extreme circumstance, I'll wait for the bus and save the money from a taxi.  We made it home sometime around 3. Sasha had a date that night and was shocked she made it home before us.  Overall, a successful night out.

The next day was neither successful nor fun.  It was in fact horrible.  Dany does not know what she wants from us.  The dishwasher broke weeks ago, clearly because she stuffs the entire contents of her dish cabinet into it before running it, but she blames us.  So we're not allowed to put things in the dishwasher, really I'm 20 I swear, not 6 like she apparently thinks.  Well, she told us to leave our dishes the sink and she would put them in the dishwasher, so that's what we had been doing.  Thursday we get a note saying to wash our own dishes and not leave them in the sink because she isn't our maid, so Friday the three of us are in the kitchen washing the dishes and Dany comes in and YELLS at us for being in the kitchen and washing our dishes.  1. REALLY?!?!? 2. So basically we're not even allowed in the kitchen anymore? 3. REALLY??!?!? Every other family the students are allowed in all areas of the house.  Now we're not allowed in the kitchen OR the living room?  Okay so our rooms and that's it...yet she'll complain to the cleaning lady how we're always in our rooms?  Anyway back to Friday.  She spent the whole afternoon with a friend in the living room bitching about us.  She said how she can't wait for us to leave and complained about me being vegetarian, as if she didn't know I was MONTHS before I got here. They assigned us to her because she agreed to cook vegetarian.  I just hate how she'll talk shit about me/us in French KNOWING that I don't know enough French to defend myself back.  Basically I spent the afternoon emailing ISA that enough is enough.  I did not pay $14,400 to be treated like this. And if I hear one more time about how we were "clearly raised American" I might flip out..even in English I think she'd get the point.

ANYWAY that night Maggie and I stayed in and watched The Italian Job and I packed and went to bed. But beforehand did talk to Ellie while she BOOKED HER FLIGHT TO VISIT MEEEEE!!!! She's coming May 9th and going to Denmark with me...then flying home the 25th. I could not be more excited. It was a terrible day and I needed some good news.  We haven't worked out any of the details really from there...but what matters is that she's coming.  27 days.  I'd been kind of bummed that no one could come visit so I couldn't be more excited that she is.  Paris won't know what hit it ;)

I went to bed way too late so getting up at 5:45 to head to ISA was not fun at all.  But it was worth it. This weekend was absolutely amazing and more than needed.  We had a two-three hour bus ride first to Chateau de Chenonceau.  It was beautiful there. The castle was pretty, the problem was all the restoration going on.  There was a fake front put on it since they were redoing it. Sad day. But the gardens were amazing.  I've needed to get out of the city smog. Even spring break we were still in the cities. I miss fresh air. And I miss the space. After the guided tour of the chateau, which mostly revolved around tales of all the mistress of the various kings, we were let loose.  We grabbed lunch, the weirdest veggie burger I've ever had, went through the labyrinth, easiest one EVER I think, took some cute photos, and then I wandered off.  A twenty minute walk in the woods was exactly what I needed. I got some pretty pictures too. From there we went to Le Close Luce, Da Vinci's mansion.  The inside was cool architecture-wise, but once again the outside was what I loved. There were streams and bridges, examples of his inventions, a playground, and more. We didn't have nearly enough time to see it all. But already this trip had been much more laid back than the first to Normandy.  We had a "surprise" next which of course involved alcohol, a wine tasting. First they showed us how it was made.  It's stored in these caves made from when they removed the lime stone from the cliffs to make the chateaus.  Then we got to sample like 5 different kinds. It was delicious and not badly priced at all.  We took some lazy cute pictures outside and then all passed out on the bus due to the wine.  Our hotel was a Holiday Inn and Sasha and I continued our nap once in our room. It was already 7:30 but sleep was necessary. Poor Sasha has been terribly sick since late last week.  If the guys hadn't called I don't think we would have gotten back up. We headed to dinner. Sasha and I split a salad and mussels. The salad was amazing; corn, beats, lettuce, carrots, and more.  I miss corn a lot. The mussels were under cooked and we had to send them back once. I wish it had been more filling but it could have been worse. The guys got pizza and they didn't look so great, all of the toppings were just in the middle. I grabbed a McFlurry and then we headed home. I read Odd Thomas for a couple hours and fell asleep.

The next morning we grabbed an iffy breakfast at the hotel and headed out.  It was about 2 hours or so before we got to Chateau de Chambord.  It was again beautiful and there was no restoration going on at this one.  We got to do a self guided tour which was nice but I think I would have preferred a tour so we would have learned more about it's history.  Seeing it is great, rushing through it isn't, these places are amazing.  Sasha and I saw a good chunk of it.  The rooms just lead to more and more rooms, over 400 of them.  In the middle is a double helix staircase. The architecture was just amazing. After Sasha and I grabbed a two person bike, the side by side ones (kind of looks like a go-cart), too bad it was the hardest workout either of us had done in a while. It was still fun though. We grabbed lunch and ice cream and then set out on one of the motor boats. I love boats. So relaxing and a great opportunity for pictures. From there we had our second "surprise" for the trip, another wine tasting, this one paired with cookies. We tried a white wine and then white wine mixed with chambord liquor, once again delicious.  The bus ride home was only 2-2 1/2 hours but it was enough to sleep for a bit.  We also got to talk to one of the resident directors about our issues at home. I was impressed and felt like he actually really did listen to what we had to say.  He made no excuses for her and recognized the fact that we were trying.  We'll now have to see if anything comes of it. He said he was going to call her today to talk to her and since we haven't been yelled at yet, I don't think it's happened.

It was an amazing relaxing weekend.  It made me miss the farm back home...just getting out into the middle of nowhere and not worrying about anything. Too bad we were snapped back to reality. Dany was nasty from the start. She told us she was "too tired" to eat with us so we said okay and went to our rooms. An hour later she went to Maggie's room and yelled at her wondering why we weren't eating.  Well, considering dinner isn't usually ready till 7:30 and we had walked in at 6:30 and she never said it was ready....I really haven't gotten very good at reading minds.  But anyway we went to eat. No more than 5 minutes later she comes it yells at us for being too loud and slammed the kitchen door. Apparently we're not allowed to speak either. She claimed she was watching TV and we were disturbing her..I walked by the living room a few minutes later and yes the TV was on but she was sitting at the computer not even watching it. Then we closed the microwave and she came in to make sure we hadn't broken it...haha. We gave up on being quiet. There was no point. And then we're just sitting there talking and catching up about the weekend and Dany comes in and clears our plates while we're still sitting there. Clearly dinner was over.  I can't do this for another month.  Yeah "just a month" that's 4 1/2 weeks of hell with her.  I didn't come to Paris to be treated like shit.

Basically, this weekend was amazing. It was the getaway I really needed. But we weren't even allowed an hour to reminisce before Dany ruined it.  I just hope that issue is taken care of this week. Loire Valley was beautiful, another place people should really see, I wish, however, that I'd been able to keep the peacefulness of it with me for a bit longer. This week is just school and then a weekend in Paris.  But who knows what adventures might unfold.

Au Revoir.

Days 65-81

I consciously have not updated since Spring Break.  The post just wore me out. But I'm back :)  Thankfully not TOOOO much has happened since then so this won't be terribly long.

The first couple days back I was not feeling well at all. It started with a cough and congestion and turned into a horrible strange chest pain. It literally hurt when I moved my arms, like I pulled something, very strange.  But it only lasted a few days so I'm happy. I skipped French that Tuesday to get some extra rest and dragged myself to my English class only to find out we were just watching a movie.  Oh well, it was the Great Debators, which I definitely recommend.  It was really well done.  That night I stayed in again...no point in getting more sick.  Wednesday, March 24th, I went to my art class where we got our midterms back.  For having thought I did so horribly, I have an A- in the class. I'll definitely take it.  Not looking forward to the 10-page paper I now have to write for that class though.  Hopefully it doesn't ruin my chances of an A.  That night Mannat and I went to the Mexican restaurant I had been to before. Maggie was still gone and Sasha was working so Dany was "tired" and handed me money to go out.  Clearly dinner one on one with me wasn't okay with her...blech.  Anyway we got margaritas and burritos.  The waiter spoke Hindi with Mannat and when he asked us if we wanted another margarita Mannat said they were too expensive but he could give us one on the house if he wanted.  He gave us an "as if" look and then came back with 2 margaritas.  Gotta love free drinks that actually have alcohol in them.  The next day was French in the morning then a nap I think.  That night Sasha and I went to the sangria bar, le bar 10, for the first time in forever.  We met up with Adrian and Will whom we hadn't seen in forever.  Grace's friends, Olivia and Bridgette, were also in town and managed to find it to hang out with us.  I was impressed they found it. It is very much off the beaten path. Friday morning I woke up to men walking in my room.  Haha YEAHHHH.  We had gotten new windows the week before and they had come to paint.  Dany said it would be 10:30...yeah it was 8.  Sooo not a good way to start the day. So I met up with Keshia and worked on our presentation that we then presented that night.  It went really well. The professor is probably the hardest I have (still not hard) and he seemed to think we did well.  I actually really enjoy his class. I learned a lot about the Red Cross in the process too.  I like when I actually learn about something I'm interested in.

Saturday was not a very good day.  Let's just say some people can prove very quickly that they have NOOO idea who you really are.  It has nothing to do with anyone here.  But nonetheless Sasha and I were both in terrible moods due to both of our nights before.  We attempted to go get amazing hot chocolate from Angelina's, but the line was around the street.  Not happening when Sasha had to work.  So we gave in and got Starbucks, my first since I've been here.  We just walked along the Louvre and got some fresh air.  She had to work that night and I don't think I did anything?? I'm not really sure and if I did it was clearly not that exciting.  Sunday I met up with Keshia and went to the flea market.  It was okay. Cheap, cheap stuff, but dirty. We got lost along the path between them all and a drunk homeless guy pushed Keshia up against a car. She shoved him off and cussed him.  Luckily it didn't escalate from there.  From there we went to the Moulin Rouge.  I was so excited to finally see it.  It isn't as small as people imply, still not huge, but very noticeable.  There were sex shops all around it. We went on a walk to explore. It was pretty amusing.  From there we went on a train tour of the Montmartre area (around the Scare Coeur). It was cute and I learned a few things about the area. Keshia has literally seen everything in Paris I think and is nice enough to take me to see some of the cool things she's discovered. Monday I relaxed and did some homework.  Nothing too exciting. My naviGo (metro pass) had run out since we bought weekly because we'd be gone for a whole week (no point in a monthly) so I wanted to stay in the area and not pay 1.60 euro to go everywhere before the new month started.

Tuesday I had French and then my English class. Nothing exciting happened at all. That afternoon it was beautiful outside so Sasha and I found a tea house within walking distance.  It was founded by an American woman who married a French man.  It was adorable. They have so many different kinds of teas. I definitely want to go back.  I had one with different fruits along with rose petals. The place also sold yarn.  I wanted to get some for mom and was really excited to find a nice gift for her. However, upon further examination I found that it was all imported from the states.  Yeah so much for that.  After we hurried home because Sasha had to work.  That night Maggie and I went to see The Ghost Writer.  It was...interesting? I'm not really sure.  I didn't really like it.  Plus the mouse running up the wall of the theater didn't help. Ewwww. Not going back there. Wednesday I hung out at home because it was the last day of the navigo not working.

Thursday I didn't have French in the morning which was amazing! I had a great day and actually saw some sites. Keshia, Maggie, Sasha and I met up to try to go to the bell tower of Notre Dame. I say try because the line was about 17 years long. So we walked around in the church, my first time finally inside, and took some pictures. After we grabbed lunch. I ordered a salad in a bread bowl. Ugh. Never again.  The first two came out with mold on them and the last was so soaked in dressing that it was absolutely disgusting.  10 euros down the drain. In the states, if I'd been served something with mold I would have gotten a free meal immediately. Nope, not here. He wanted to charge me the same 10 euros and give me the salad on a plate.  When I said I wouldn't pay the full amount he went next door to get new bread.  It was a very disappointing meal. Anyway, after we went to Shakespeare and Co. so that Maggie and Keshia could see it.  I really do love that place.  From there we went to Cimitière du Père Lachaise.  There are so many famous people there it's pretty crazy.  Modigliani and his wife that died the same day, Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, and many more found their resting places there. It's really cool because the graves are all above ground.  There is a map at the beginning to help you find who you are looking for, butttt it doesn't help very much as we found out.  We did find Oscar Wilde's grave though, the one that really interested me, and somehow a tradition started for women to kiss the tomb.  It has been redone because of it and there is even a plaque asking people not to deface it.  That clearly hasn't worked. I tried to look up how it started with really no luck. The cemetery was beautiful though and I hope to go back to see more of it. By then I was exhausted and headed home. Dinner ran super late that night so bed was a must right after.

Friday I got up and did my chapter for the night class. Every week I say I'm going to do beforehand so I can do something before class. That's never successful though. I mean right now I'm updating my blog when I probably should be reading. Oh well, this did need to be done as well.  Dany was gone for the weekend (what a nice break) so when I got out of class Maggie and I warmed up our frozen meals and went to mass for Good Friday.  I had never been to a Catholic service before.  The church, Trinity, was beautiful.  The architecture was just amazing.  The service was pretty too.  The way the French echoed off the walls made it extremely religious. But it also meant I didn't understand a whole lot.  I enjoyed it, but it did remind me why I praise God the way I do.  I do not kneel before my God, but dance beside him.  He is my best friend. Not meant to be feared or admired, but the strongest shoulder to lean on.  I sing, dance, and act exactly the crazy way he intended me to be.  I miss the services I went to with Jan and Josh in Texas.  My God loves to hear me sing in his name, even if it isn't very good. I am very glad I went to the service though. I want to experience the absolute most that I can. After I grabbed a McDonalds shake and fries because it sounded amazing. They didn't have chocolate which was the first issue. The second was that it was tiny and watery.  Sad day. Haha.

Saturday.  One of the girls I met at my leadership conference for Alpha Phi last summer was in Paris for a couple days and I finally got to see her, Lauren.  Another Alpha Phi, which was amazing. We met up (Sasha, Lauren, Maggie, Keshia, and I) at the Sacre Coeur so she could see the inside.  But I might add that first Sasha and I got out at the deepest metro in Paris and didn't realize it so decided on the stairs instead of the elevator.  Poor choice.  After Sacre Couer we walked all the way back down the hill to go see the wall by the metro with love written in legit every language.  We took a few pictures and searched for it in English forever. From there we went to some of the shops near by.  I bought my first cat figurine of the trip. For those of you that don't know, I have quite the collection building.  After Lauren wanted to see Champs Elysees so we headed that way.  The weather started turning but we weren't afraid.  We went to the top of Arc de Triumph, another thing on my to do list for Paris. It was another million steps up to the top. My hips were less than happy, but it was so worth it. Such a beautiful view from the top. We got down to the bottom just in time to find the rain starting.  The rain turned into a torrential downpour.  After waiting it out the sun peaked out again, Paris weather is crazy. We walked down the street to see the shops and then searched for the bus to head home.  It turned out that the bus was far from where we thought it was, but it did mean that we got to see the high end shops that I thought would have been on the Champs.  We hit up the mall for some Easter candy which took forever but it was amazing chocolate. Anyway, we headed home and Lauren tagged along.  We ate about a three or four hour dinner because Maggie, Lauren, and I sat talking for so long. We had planned to go out but it was actually really nice to just sit and talk. I definitely got my exercise that day.  My legs were almost shaking by the end of it.

Sunday was Easter. Maggie went to church and then we met up with Lauren again to get Mexican food. Nothing like burritos and mojitos for lunch.  After we went walking to find some shops.  We tried to go to the modern art museum but the line was around the block so we wandered around and eventually stumbled on Les Halles. It was like this huge underground mall.  There were a ton of cinemas and shops.  Unfortunately everything was closed, but it was still fun. We also stumbled on the cutest little jazz group performing on the street. There was this little old woman dancing and all older men playing instruments.  I recorded part of it...it was absolutely darling. After we went to Bastille and explored the shops there. I didn't buy anything but there was a pretty cool shop that had journals, small bags, photo albums, and lamps covered in gorgeous fabrics. Lauren bought a pretty journal. After we wandered a bit more and then Lauren headed back to her hostel and Maggie and I went home.

On Monday Maggie and I discovered Bercy Village. It's this absolutely adorable little street of shops right off a big metro.  At the end was the movie theater we went to.  Finally I got to see Dear John. The movie theater was AMAZING!! The seats were like couches.  I really am going to miss the amazing movie theaters from here. (and the kettle corn)  Dear John was also amazing.  I'm sorry Nicholas Sparks but the movie kicked your book's ass. There are some parts they didn't need to change, but it was very well done.  Channing Tatum's amazing-ness did help that :) We were going to go to the Pantheon after but ran out of time. I did French grammar for the rest of the night. Tuesday I went to ISA to get mail and then worked on the senior slideshow for Alpha Phi the rest of the day. Maggie and I were going to go out that night but time flew by per usual.

And yesterday.  Sasha and I went to post-impressionism, which actually wasn't as awful as usual, after we went home to hang out till dinner. Maggie, Sasha, Casey, Taylor, Mannat, Anna, and I all went out for sushi. It was the first time since I've been here to have it. 13 euros for 18 pieces of sushi, soup, and salad. It was awesome.  We were all stuffed.  After Maggie and I went home just to turn around and go back to Nation (metro stop). We met up with Will and his friends at Will and Adrian's apartment. After we went to a small bar on the corner for a drink.  We had one and then headed home.  I got a sex on the beach and Maggie got one with grapefruit and something...I can't remember what. We both had to get up early but it was nice to get out of the house for at least a little while.

As far as today I went to French this morning, bought a pain au chocolate, and a phone card, then headed home for a nap.  The roomies and I went to get ice cream at a place right by our apartment, it was homemade, good...but didn't really satisfy any of our cravings for good ice cream.  Tonight it's off to the sangria bar with friends and then out at Bastille in theory. It's been a fast three weeks for sure but it's been relaxing too. I'm finally getting to cross things off my to-do list for Paris and with only 5 weeks left I kind of need to get on that.  I figured out my class is going to the modern art museum so I won't have to worry about the long line...but there is still SO much to see. What's funny is the week after next I have my final in the English class (super early compared to the others) and then EVERY single one of my other classes is canceled. So it's either go out of town or hit up Paris. Financially I'll probably stay in Paris. But really...one class all week. So strange.  This weekend I'm off to Loire Valley with ISA and it's supposed to be good weather...let's all keep our fingers crossed please?

Things have been interesting with our host. One day she'll barely talk to me and the next she acts like she loves me. I'm not really sure. She's been on a spree of picking on everything about Sasha...it's getting old.  For all the complaints I have though, it could be worse.  It could most certainly be better...but I know that at least I get full meals at night and they are (except for while she was gone) fresh and not frozen.  It was nice to have 4 days without her. We got to act like 20 year-olds again.  She tends to treat us like we're 13. We didn't have to tiptoe when we came home late and got to take care of ourselves for a few days.  It was nice having the place to ourselves. I miss living on my own without a 63 year old judging absolutely everything about me.  I feel like she means well but has just lost her passion after twelve years of being a host.

Today is day 81 in Europe for me and I have 81 days left.  It's crazy how much time I get to spend here with most of my friends getting ready to head home in the matter of 5 weeks or less.  I'm getting really excited for Denmark and hope to live out every day I have here to the fullest I can.  But for now?...It's homework time.

Au Revoir!  'till the next adventure.

*EDIT*

So somewhere in here I forgot to write about my not so pleasant Paris experience. On my way to meet Mannat for dinner I was on the metro when a guy sat down across from me. No big deal. Well then he turned his body away from the rest of the people, shielding his front with his back and a folder he was holding. Well from there he proceeded to stare at me and rub himself.  I've never felt so sick and wanted to go home so bad.  The car was packed so I couldn't move till I was getting out...and I had far too long of a ways to go.  I attempted to read but that was of course impossible.  This was by far my worst experience since I've been here.  Weirdly enough the same thing happened to Kirsten only a few days later...