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...
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