Today was another day of exploration! So many pictures!
This morning, Jean-Mark, his mom and I went to the market. How I love Europe!
It was everything you see in the movies. There are vendors everywhere; fish, cheese, fruit meat- all fresh! There are vendors with clothes for so cheap. 5 Euro for a pair of really nice jeans, shirts, dresses, etc. Shoes, boots for 10 Euro, it's amazing. I wanted to buy so much but stopped myself because I knew it would be hard to carry everything to Grenoble. I hope they have these markets in Grenoble, and for that inexpensive price!
Jean-Mark's mom made some really good lasagna, but it's not like lasagna in the U.S... there were vegetables, onions, different meat, and of course cheese, but it tasted completely different. Of course I picked out the veggies and onions, but it was still very good.
We then went to pick up Diana and we all went to le Chateaux de Versailles! I didn't go the first time, so it was a new experience for me. Actually today was an entire new Parisian experience for me. Because after Versailles we went to a cute little Cafe on Le Champs Elysee and got a drink before going up Le Arc de Triomphe to watch the sunset. Paris is so beautiful at dusk.
More adventures tomorrow!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
A little more of Paris
Such an amazing experience already, yesterday, I met Diana to get our train tickets from Paris to Grenoble. Getting there was quite the adventure. I got lost on the metro, because for some reason only the purple line went to St. Lazare.. I found out the long way. We went to the SNRF (or something like that) and had to use our french in order to get the ticket and our 12-25carte because the teller didn't speak english. But it was okay. We made it through. We walked around quite a bit and took the metro to the 5th district? to grab a drink and sit at an outdoor cafe to people-watch. We ended up at this little bakery and talked for a while as we enjoyed Parisian life. After Diana left, Jean-Mark came to pick me up and we went to Notre Dame and walked around Paris while waiting to have dinner with a couple of his friends. We ate at a restaurant that was delicious (I don't remember the name) and I enjoyed all the french surrounding me.
Next: THE OZ. This is a bar/ dance club and Sofie, Jean-Mark and myself heading to this wonderful place where we danced the night away until 4am!
Jean-Mark and I searched for an open McDonald's but unfortunately, they're not 24/7 like in the United States. So we went to the only open place= Gyro's et Frites and finally heading back and got home somewhere around 5am.
Today was a very lazy day other than having to wake up at 9:30am to go open a bank account and try to get a phone.
Once again, I wasn't able to get a phone because I didn't have something they needed from the bank, which I don't receive for another week or so... just my luck.
We came back and took a long nap and then sat around to watch the new 90210 en francais before heading over to Fred's new flat for her house warming party.
It's already been so much fun since I've been here.
I need to start speaking french more... but I bet that will come more when I get to Grenoble.
more updates as the days unfold!
Kristi
Next: THE OZ. This is a bar/ dance club and Sofie, Jean-Mark and myself heading to this wonderful place where we danced the night away until 4am!
Jean-Mark and I searched for an open McDonald's but unfortunately, they're not 24/7 like in the United States. So we went to the only open place= Gyro's et Frites and finally heading back and got home somewhere around 5am.
Today was a very lazy day other than having to wake up at 9:30am to go open a bank account and try to get a phone.
Once again, I wasn't able to get a phone because I didn't have something they needed from the bank, which I don't receive for another week or so... just my luck.
We came back and took a long nap and then sat around to watch the new 90210 en francais before heading over to Fred's new flat for her house warming party.
It's already been so much fun since I've been here.
I need to start speaking french more... but I bet that will come more when I get to Grenoble.
more updates as the days unfold!
Kristi
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Mon Premier Jour en France!
Wow! Paris, you are truly awesome!
I made it here. Finally. After all this time and all of the troubles I went through, I'm here.
My first day here was pretty grand. After the unfortunate flight delay of my original flight that was supposed to have left at 2:55pm yesterday afternoon, I ended up being re-booked on another flight to Newark, NJ that left at 5:40pm. At least I got to spend a little extra time with my parents and my aunt and uncle. They were sad to see me go, but happy for the adventure I was about to set off on.
After landing in Newark, I waited until 9:25pm to hop on the plane to Paris. This whole mix up messed everything up. Jean-Mark was supposed to pick me up at the airport at my first flight's arrival time of 6:55am, but instead, once I arrived, I ended up having to take a taxi all the way to his work. I felt so bad intruding, but he was kind enough to take me back to his place on his lunch break.
Even though I slept some on the plane, I was completely exhausted, so I passed out for about 2 hours to catch up on the time difference. (I guess it hasn't kicked in yet, because it's 3 something AM and I'm still awake)!
Once I woke up, I took a shower, got ready and decided it was time to explore the city. Before I left, I met JM's dad on the way out and discovered that my french is VERY bad. Remember: all of this is on my own. JM was at work. I had no help and was trying to communicate completely in french, since JM's parents don't speak any english.
So I set out and head to la Defense. It's a HUGE mall that connects to the metro/train. Let's just put it this way. la Defense stresses me out. I went around in circles trying to find this one store called l'Orange, so I could purchase a phone. I finally found it... an hour or so later and then ended up having to wait another 45 min just to be seen in the store.
True story: When my name is called to be seen in the store, I'm praying she speaks english. "Bonjour!" "Bonjour...Anglais?" "Non, a very little." (Thinking in my head- Oh crap! This is Not going to be good!) So, I suck it up, take a deep breath and Go for it! Little did I know, she actually understood me! Hot dog! So we discuss a few more things, en francais, and then she tells me I have to have my bank account open before I can get the plan. FML. I just spent all this time for nothing!? The bank is already closed, I'd been waiting for quite a while and the errand day seemed pointless. So I go back to JM's and have dinner with him and his parents and then we venture out to the night life of Paris. This city has so much culture. It's been 4 years since I've been here, and it continues to show me something new. We walked along Les Champs Elysee and headed over to Le Arc de Triumph. We ended up at this bar where I had my first drink in Paris and toasted to my French Adventure! More walking along Les Champs Elysee and made our last stop JM's favorite bridge, where we sat and laughed and watched the Eiffel Tower as it glowed in the night. The wind was chilly and the air cold, but nothing could numb the blessings of being in this beautiful city, rich of architecture and adventure!
And now, here I am still awake, wondering what the next year of my life is going to be like. I'm not sure words could even describe how much it means to me to be over here. It's like a dream come true. A dream that will become a new chapter of my life.
Notes of the Day:
1. Limonade- isn't really Lemonade
2. Soldiers are still walking around with guns
3. La Defense- causes me to go crazy
4. MUST improve my french
5. Need to eat cheese ASAP!
Tomorrow awaits me and so does Paris!
Woot!
Kristi
I made it here. Finally. After all this time and all of the troubles I went through, I'm here.
My first day here was pretty grand. After the unfortunate flight delay of my original flight that was supposed to have left at 2:55pm yesterday afternoon, I ended up being re-booked on another flight to Newark, NJ that left at 5:40pm. At least I got to spend a little extra time with my parents and my aunt and uncle. They were sad to see me go, but happy for the adventure I was about to set off on.
After landing in Newark, I waited until 9:25pm to hop on the plane to Paris. This whole mix up messed everything up. Jean-Mark was supposed to pick me up at the airport at my first flight's arrival time of 6:55am, but instead, once I arrived, I ended up having to take a taxi all the way to his work. I felt so bad intruding, but he was kind enough to take me back to his place on his lunch break.
Even though I slept some on the plane, I was completely exhausted, so I passed out for about 2 hours to catch up on the time difference. (I guess it hasn't kicked in yet, because it's 3 something AM and I'm still awake)!
Once I woke up, I took a shower, got ready and decided it was time to explore the city. Before I left, I met JM's dad on the way out and discovered that my french is VERY bad. Remember: all of this is on my own. JM was at work. I had no help and was trying to communicate completely in french, since JM's parents don't speak any english.
So I set out and head to la Defense. It's a HUGE mall that connects to the metro/train. Let's just put it this way. la Defense stresses me out. I went around in circles trying to find this one store called l'Orange, so I could purchase a phone. I finally found it... an hour or so later and then ended up having to wait another 45 min just to be seen in the store.
True story: When my name is called to be seen in the store, I'm praying she speaks english. "Bonjour!" "Bonjour...Anglais?" "Non, a very little." (Thinking in my head- Oh crap! This is Not going to be good!) So, I suck it up, take a deep breath and Go for it! Little did I know, she actually understood me! Hot dog! So we discuss a few more things, en francais, and then she tells me I have to have my bank account open before I can get the plan. FML. I just spent all this time for nothing!? The bank is already closed, I'd been waiting for quite a while and the errand day seemed pointless. So I go back to JM's and have dinner with him and his parents and then we venture out to the night life of Paris. This city has so much culture. It's been 4 years since I've been here, and it continues to show me something new. We walked along Les Champs Elysee and headed over to Le Arc de Triumph. We ended up at this bar where I had my first drink in Paris and toasted to my French Adventure! More walking along Les Champs Elysee and made our last stop JM's favorite bridge, where we sat and laughed and watched the Eiffel Tower as it glowed in the night. The wind was chilly and the air cold, but nothing could numb the blessings of being in this beautiful city, rich of architecture and adventure!
And now, here I am still awake, wondering what the next year of my life is going to be like. I'm not sure words could even describe how much it means to me to be over here. It's like a dream come true. A dream that will become a new chapter of my life.
Notes of the Day:
1. Limonade- isn't really Lemonade
2. Soldiers are still walking around with guns
3. La Defense- causes me to go crazy
4. MUST improve my french
5. Need to eat cheese ASAP!
Tomorrow awaits me and so does Paris!
Woot!
Kristi
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
8 Days Until Departure!!
It's getting close.
Only 8 days away until I officially leave for France.
I'll be flying into Paris, France on September 2, 2009 and staying with Jean-Mark for about a week before heading to Grenoble, France!
I have so much to do, so much packing, getting things organized, figuring out what the heck I'm going to pack and how I'm going to fit everything for a year into 2 suitcases.
I'm also worried about this whole language thing.. ehh.
At least I have my plane ticket, my visa and all my documentation I need for France taken care of..
On another note: I'm so ready for this new adventure.. this new chapter of my life. I'm ready to leave all the sour past memories behind and start something new!
I'm back on track ladies and gents and will be updating frequently now!!
Wish me luck and say some prayers for my travels.
Love,
Kristi
Only 8 days away until I officially leave for France.
I'll be flying into Paris, France on September 2, 2009 and staying with Jean-Mark for about a week before heading to Grenoble, France!
I have so much to do, so much packing, getting things organized, figuring out what the heck I'm going to pack and how I'm going to fit everything for a year into 2 suitcases.
I'm also worried about this whole language thing.. ehh.
At least I have my plane ticket, my visa and all my documentation I need for France taken care of..
On another note: I'm so ready for this new adventure.. this new chapter of my life. I'm ready to leave all the sour past memories behind and start something new!
I'm back on track ladies and gents and will be updating frequently now!!
Wish me luck and say some prayers for my travels.
Love,
Kristi
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