Alright, I'm finally sitting myself down and putting together videos. Quickly. So they're really lame. But here are two quick ones for now:
Video 13: Obama Night (nothing too exciting, just a snippet of life as an American in Paris):
Video 14: Cute Things about Amsterdam and Utrecht
Also, two other quick interesting things to note in my life:
1. went to Madrid this past weekend with Ana R (my middle school buddy) and really loved it. It was colorful, lively, warm, historical and yet also modern, beautiful, and very interesting. We also spent a few hours in Toledo. Mmm I officially love Madrid. The town is SO CLEAN too, even the metro! How do they do it? I taught myself some last-minute Spanish to help get us around, and it worked a bit, although here is what I've learned: if you speak French, it's difficult to teach yourself Spanish quickly because you will automatically still think in French, since the languages are similar, and get really confused. I will better prepare myself for my next trip to Spain and start learning Spanish now.
2. Last night I went to a Noel dinner at the home of my dad's best friend. I celebrated Xmas for the first time-- heck, I even got gifts! Woah. But have I celebrated a single night of Hanukkah? NO. Honestly, I love my host family, but what was the point of putting me with a Jewish host family if they don't even light the candles for Hanukkah? It's quite depressing, actually. At Wellesley, we always light candles. And at home, my family and I throw big Hanukkah parties at least 4 out of the 8 nights. I wish we'd just do SOMETHING at my place here... :(
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
what I have learned this semester
With my first semester in Paris coming to a close (wait? how did that happen SO QUICKLY?), I feel it is time for a reflection on what I have learned, which is infinitely more fun than writing my paper at the moment.
1. Never tell your overprotective father where your future host family lives if he arrives in Paris before you do, because he will cause lots of drama between him, you, your future host family, and your program, all before you even arrive.
2. You must accept that no matter how hard you try to speak French, Parisians will get really excited to reply back to you in English. You must make clear the fact that you are on their soil for a year to learn THEIR language, and recommend if they want to learn English, they should go spend a year on your terf.
3. When your professors tell you what your final assignment is in late October, start working on the assignment in late October. Don't be an idiot and tell yourself you're too busy traveling to start them until December. You will regret it like crazy.
4. Always bring extra socks and an extra pair of shoes when traveling. You never know when it will be pouring rain and freezing cold.
4.5 If it is pouring rain and freezing cold while traveling, buy rum to warm up.
5. Buy your eurail pass way in advance, so your family doesn't have to spend extra money to ship it to you at the last second.
6. When your host dad regularly greets you by saying "hello baby!" know it is because he is merely repeating what he hears in songs and on TV and not because of any other reason.
7. French people expect you to do your homework in your room and can't help but feel a bit invaded upon when you do it elsewhere around their house.
8. You must pay to use the cool libraries in Paris.
9. When your professor hands you a list of books for the class, of which there are about 30, they do not expect you to buy/read all of them, like in the states. It's just a suggestion. You will probably buy one or two books that look interesting and then never find a moment to read them because of all the other reading you must do for this class.
10. Parisians do smile sometimes, are very helpful when you're stuck in a tricky predicament, are also concerned about their weight, like Americans and American culture, only sometimes wear berets, and despite what they say, can speak English quite well. However, they are still absolutely nuts, and you will learn to love them for that :)
edit: 11 (and how could I forget this one?): never give a seemingly sweet Parisian boy who stops you on the street to "faire connaissance" your number, because he will never stop calling, even when you haven't responded in weeks. In fact, he will think he is tricking you by calling from a number 'inconnu.' You will realize that he may never give up, because he is Parisian, and his mind works differently than yours. You will also get nervous every time you walk to the metro from your house because you know that he works at one of the hotels you must pass by, and you're terrified that he will see you and try and talk to you... confrontation--*shudder*
1. Never tell your overprotective father where your future host family lives if he arrives in Paris before you do, because he will cause lots of drama between him, you, your future host family, and your program, all before you even arrive.
2. You must accept that no matter how hard you try to speak French, Parisians will get really excited to reply back to you in English. You must make clear the fact that you are on their soil for a year to learn THEIR language, and recommend if they want to learn English, they should go spend a year on your terf.
3. When your professors tell you what your final assignment is in late October, start working on the assignment in late October. Don't be an idiot and tell yourself you're too busy traveling to start them until December. You will regret it like crazy.
4. Always bring extra socks and an extra pair of shoes when traveling. You never know when it will be pouring rain and freezing cold.
4.5 If it is pouring rain and freezing cold while traveling, buy rum to warm up.
5. Buy your eurail pass way in advance, so your family doesn't have to spend extra money to ship it to you at the last second.
6. When your host dad regularly greets you by saying "hello baby!" know it is because he is merely repeating what he hears in songs and on TV and not because of any other reason.
7. French people expect you to do your homework in your room and can't help but feel a bit invaded upon when you do it elsewhere around their house.
8. You must pay to use the cool libraries in Paris.
9. When your professor hands you a list of books for the class, of which there are about 30, they do not expect you to buy/read all of them, like in the states. It's just a suggestion. You will probably buy one or two books that look interesting and then never find a moment to read them because of all the other reading you must do for this class.
10. Parisians do smile sometimes, are very helpful when you're stuck in a tricky predicament, are also concerned about their weight, like Americans and American culture, only sometimes wear berets, and despite what they say, can speak English quite well. However, they are still absolutely nuts, and you will learn to love them for that :)
edit: 11 (and how could I forget this one?): never give a seemingly sweet Parisian boy who stops you on the street to "faire connaissance" your number, because he will never stop calling, even when you haven't responded in weeks. In fact, he will think he is tricking you by calling from a number 'inconnu.' You will realize that he may never give up, because he is Parisian, and his mind works differently than yours. You will also get nervous every time you walk to the metro from your house because you know that he works at one of the hotels you must pass by, and you're terrified that he will see you and try and talk to you... confrontation--*shudder*
Monday, December 8, 2008
...becoming Parisian?
This weekend I went to London, where I had a spectacular time with friends, got to see the sun nearly all weekend (have I mentioned the sun no longer exists in Paris? I was warned about this but nothing truly prepared me for the depressing reality), went shopping like crazy (oops...), went ice skating, saw 'Zorro the Musical' (ha ha ha...), drank lots of coffee... and then realized something. As much as I loved London, I didn't feel at ease there. And it wasn't just because I had no idea where to look when I crossed the street.
I was in a country where everything was in English and yet was European, filled with historical sights, great public transportation, museums, etc... and I still felt very weird, almost shocked. I was amazed at how much more London life reflected American life-- Pret a Manger= London version of Au Bon Pain, there were tons of coffee chains like Starbucks (in addition to Starbucks, bien sur) on every block, Boots was like a CVS or Walgreens, not like a French pharmacy, and let's not even get started on the fact that people are very polite and friendly and helpful (not that the French aren't nice and polite and helpful they're just... French). Yet, even this began to leave me perturbed after a bit... Why did they need to have so many coffee shops on every corner? Why did the shoe salesman approach me within seconds of my arrival to ask me if I needed help? Why do they drive completely opposite to every other country in the world, and what kind of statement are they trying to make with that? (Ok, that last question was just for kicks and really has nothing to do with this rambling blog post. But really, though...)
After a lot of soul-searching (perhaps not the right term, but we'll use it for now), I'm starting to think maybe what has become normal and familiar to me now is...call me crazy, but it's French daily life. I mean, if the British way of life is more similar to the American way of life, and I felt a bit uncomfortable living this British/American lifestyle for a weekend, that would mean that it was because I now feel comfortable living like a Parisian, right? Could it be that the reason I couldn't stand how slowly everyone moved in the London Tube was because the fast paced, spacious, insane Parisian metro has become the staple? (Even beating out my beloved T in Boston?) Have I come to regard coffee a emporter (to go) as unneccesary, since practically the only place it exists in France is at Starbucks? And why the hell did that British boy behind the counter in Pret a Manger call me "madame"-- can't he tell I'm a mademoiselle?!
Hmmm...I may be becoming Parisian-ish. curious indeed :) :) :)
In other news, there will be no video updates until I'm done with my 5 papers, quiz, film project, and final (all in French) in two weeks. Ohmygod I'm going to die...
I was in a country where everything was in English and yet was European, filled with historical sights, great public transportation, museums, etc... and I still felt very weird, almost shocked. I was amazed at how much more London life reflected American life-- Pret a Manger= London version of Au Bon Pain, there were tons of coffee chains like Starbucks (in addition to Starbucks, bien sur) on every block, Boots was like a CVS or Walgreens, not like a French pharmacy, and let's not even get started on the fact that people are very polite and friendly and helpful (not that the French aren't nice and polite and helpful they're just... French). Yet, even this began to leave me perturbed after a bit... Why did they need to have so many coffee shops on every corner? Why did the shoe salesman approach me within seconds of my arrival to ask me if I needed help? Why do they drive completely opposite to every other country in the world, and what kind of statement are they trying to make with that? (Ok, that last question was just for kicks and really has nothing to do with this rambling blog post. But really, though...)
After a lot of soul-searching (perhaps not the right term, but we'll use it for now), I'm starting to think maybe what has become normal and familiar to me now is...call me crazy, but it's French daily life. I mean, if the British way of life is more similar to the American way of life, and I felt a bit uncomfortable living this British/American lifestyle for a weekend, that would mean that it was because I now feel comfortable living like a Parisian, right? Could it be that the reason I couldn't stand how slowly everyone moved in the London Tube was because the fast paced, spacious, insane Parisian metro has become the staple? (Even beating out my beloved T in Boston?) Have I come to regard coffee a emporter (to go) as unneccesary, since practically the only place it exists in France is at Starbucks? And why the hell did that British boy behind the counter in Pret a Manger call me "madame"-- can't he tell I'm a mademoiselle?!
Hmmm...I may be becoming Parisian-ish. curious indeed :) :) :)
In other news, there will be no video updates until I'm done with my 5 papers, quiz, film project, and final (all in French) in two weeks. Ohmygod I'm going to die...
Sunday, November 30, 2008
guess who met Idan Raichel in Antwerp?
Yes, that would be me, and yes, I will continue to brag about it for as long as I can. The Idan Raichel Project is an Israeli world beat group that combines musical beats primarily from Israel and Etheopia, and here is my wonderful experience from last night:
After a day and a half in Brussels (which I liked, sure, but thought 1 day sufficed and really have no desire to run back there), Mo and I headed to Antwerp, which I really really liked, for the Idan Raichel concert. After spending a lovely afternoon walking around animated Antwerp, and then getting COMPLETELY lost (let's all give a big "up yours" to Google maps, and a big thank you to the family that owned the random bar that helped us pull up the website of the concert venue to find the actual address and called us a cab) en route to the concert, we take our seats in the FRONT ROW of this venue, the Zuidsomethingindutch, off on the left, just IN FRONT of where Idan himself sits and plays the piano and sings beautiful music. And then, the magic started. What a lovely, beautiful, concert full of music that reverberated deep into my bones. *sigh* I got about half of it on video, no joke. And, Idan winked at me twice-- I thought I imagined it but no, Mo confirmed it.
Afterwards, we stuck around, and met some other Jewish girls from the States, Europe, etc, who were working for a company that gets Jews all over Europe together to celebrate umm, Jewishness! Like European BBYO weekend get-togethers. Finally, Idan and the group came out. We shook hands, took pictures, talked, got autographs-- basically, things that made me very, very happy. I didn't know what to say so I just kept saying "thank you so much for your music." I really, truly meant it. As we were talking with Idan, one guy shook his hand and said "alright, so, we'll see you in Paris in February" (when the group's new album comes out) and Idan said "I hope so." Naturally I asked him "wait, really, you're going to Paris?" and he said "I think we are," to which I responded "I study there! I'll be there" and he smiled.
I should also put in a tiny bit of background here-- Antwerp, apparently, has one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe. Literally not even 5 minutes after leaving the train station yesterday, we saw many orthodox/hasidic men in their fur hats and long black robes walking around. We saw Hebrew written everywhere around the diamond district, and stopped in Jewish bakeries and supermarkets. It was a really comforting feeling.
with that, I just want to say, if you don't know who Idan Raichel/his group is, one, how are we still friends? and two, just go here: http://www.myspace.com/theidanraichelproject
After a day and a half in Brussels (which I liked, sure, but thought 1 day sufficed and really have no desire to run back there), Mo and I headed to Antwerp, which I really really liked, for the Idan Raichel concert. After spending a lovely afternoon walking around animated Antwerp, and then getting COMPLETELY lost (let's all give a big "up yours" to Google maps, and a big thank you to the family that owned the random bar that helped us pull up the website of the concert venue to find the actual address and called us a cab) en route to the concert, we take our seats in the FRONT ROW of this venue, the Zuidsomethingindutch, off on the left, just IN FRONT of where Idan himself sits and plays the piano and sings beautiful music. And then, the magic started. What a lovely, beautiful, concert full of music that reverberated deep into my bones. *sigh* I got about half of it on video, no joke. And, Idan winked at me twice-- I thought I imagined it but no, Mo confirmed it.
Afterwards, we stuck around, and met some other Jewish girls from the States, Europe, etc, who were working for a company that gets Jews all over Europe together to celebrate umm, Jewishness! Like European BBYO weekend get-togethers. Finally, Idan and the group came out. We shook hands, took pictures, talked, got autographs-- basically, things that made me very, very happy. I didn't know what to say so I just kept saying "thank you so much for your music." I really, truly meant it. As we were talking with Idan, one guy shook his hand and said "alright, so, we'll see you in Paris in February" (when the group's new album comes out) and Idan said "I hope so." Naturally I asked him "wait, really, you're going to Paris?" and he said "I think we are," to which I responded "I study there! I'll be there" and he smiled.
I should also put in a tiny bit of background here-- Antwerp, apparently, has one of the largest Jewish communities in Europe. Literally not even 5 minutes after leaving the train station yesterday, we saw many orthodox/hasidic men in their fur hats and long black robes walking around. We saw Hebrew written everywhere around the diamond district, and stopped in Jewish bakeries and supermarkets. It was a really comforting feeling.
with that, I just want to say, if you don't know who Idan Raichel/his group is, one, how are we still friends? and two, just go here: http://www.myspace.com/theidanraichelproject
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
quick update and quick video
I'm really behind on making videos, but you can't blame me when it takes nearly two hours to compile a 3 minute little thing (like what you're-- hopefully-- about to see). I have to cut out worthless seconds, put in titles, find a font I like, choose music (always impossible), have windows movie maker crash on me at least once, yadda yadda blahdy blah. I'm working on it, I promise.
So what is this one? It's just some brief shots of the Catacombs (The Parisian cemeteries were getting overcrowded and so they dug up bodies and put all the skulls and bones underground. Gee, what a fantastic idea!), which we went to on Halloween (ooh spooky), and then my weekend trip to Bourgogne the 1st and 2nd of November. Bourgogne was cute, really, and it's interesting to see some small towns, and ancient sights that aren't Parisian for a change.
Alors, voila:
I'm also starting to really stress about how much I have to get done at the end of the semester (December)... but it's hard to take academics seriously when Mihiri (my good friend from high school and Harvard, who I attend Yule Ball with every year) is here, or when I have plans to go traveling (Belgium this weekend for an IDAN RAICHEL CONCERT !!!, and then London the weekend after), or when we finally see the sunlight in Paris... sigh. In addition, I've been sending lots of long texts back and forth with a young, Parisian, Adrien-Brody-look-alike, which also makes it hard to concentrate on other things...
And finally, my host mom has a new granddaughter, born in Tel-Aviv today. So she will be flying down to Israel any day now. Awwww. It'll be interesting to see how my host dad and I manage... he doesn't know how to cook or do laundry, and I'm no whiz at either of them myself. Fun times ahead, I'm sure.
Oh PS- even though I feel like the last to realize this, just want to say GO WELLESLEY! hillary clinton and desiree rogers in the white house! i love being proud of my school...:)
So what is this one? It's just some brief shots of the Catacombs (The Parisian cemeteries were getting overcrowded and so they dug up bodies and put all the skulls and bones underground. Gee, what a fantastic idea!), which we went to on Halloween (ooh spooky), and then my weekend trip to Bourgogne the 1st and 2nd of November. Bourgogne was cute, really, and it's interesting to see some small towns, and ancient sights that aren't Parisian for a change.
Alors, voila:
I'm also starting to really stress about how much I have to get done at the end of the semester (December)... but it's hard to take academics seriously when Mihiri (my good friend from high school and Harvard, who I attend Yule Ball with every year) is here, or when I have plans to go traveling (Belgium this weekend for an IDAN RAICHEL CONCERT !!!, and then London the weekend after), or when we finally see the sunlight in Paris... sigh. In addition, I've been sending lots of long texts back and forth with a young, Parisian, Adrien-Brody-look-alike, which also makes it hard to concentrate on other things...
And finally, my host mom has a new granddaughter, born in Tel-Aviv today. So she will be flying down to Israel any day now. Awwww. It'll be interesting to see how my host dad and I manage... he doesn't know how to cook or do laundry, and I'm no whiz at either of them myself. Fun times ahead, I'm sure.
Oh PS- even though I feel like the last to realize this, just want to say GO WELLESLEY! hillary clinton and desiree rogers in the white house! i love being proud of my school...:)
Sunday, November 23, 2008
reflections on Aix-en-Provence
This weekend I said "au revoir" to the never ending gray skies of Paris and headed down South-- allllll the way South-- to Aix-en-Provence, the bright, happy provincale town where Wellesley bases its French study abroad program. Despite the crazy cold winds, I was very happy, surrounded by yellow and gold buildings, fountains, SUNLIGHT, and my good friends. It was just SO NICE to spend a weekend with close friends from Wellesley, who I've laughed with, cried with, stressed out with, partied with, had crazy/intellectual conversations with over the first two years of college. It just felt so comfortable with them, y'know? We drank incredible mint tea and ate Calissons (amazing pastry/candy thing. I have no idea how you make them but god I love them), had an EPIC night bar hopping and clubbing (we were "those girls" at the club that get all the boys to surround them. Apparently girls don't dance all up on each other in France like they do at Wellesley... ha ha ha. The French boys loved it), did lots of exploring, ate a delicious dinner cooked by Marion's parents (who were visiting for 3 weeks), explored Marseilles, and drank copious amounts of tea at Inci's apartment.
It was strange for me, because in my mind I was trying to make a connection between Aix and something... and I kept coming up with SoCal. Why? France is nothing like SoCal-- San Francisco, sure, a bit, but not LA/Irvine/SB/SD. what was I thinking? When Inci and I took the bus into Marseilles this morning, and I got to see the Mediterranean Sea, so sparkly, and gorgeous, and bright, and calming, I gave up trying to convince myself that SoFra (as Inci called it) is not like SoCal. If my mind wants to make me feel better by associating the two, then so be it. SoFra is SoMuch better though...:)
The most interesting thing to me was to see first hand exactly how different the Aix program and my Paris program are. I could rattle off the differences in a heartbeat (Paris vs. small town, host families vs. apartments, orientation in a small town vs. orientation in Paris, etc), but it was quite fascinating to live the differences for a weekend. It was really nice to live in an apartment only inhabited by Inci and her roommate, where two good Wellesley friends (the lively Natasha and the sweet Stephanie Buhle) lived just above them, and almost everyone else lived within 10 minute walking distance. I was a bit jealous of how easy it was to see friends all the time, and how nice it was to have a truly independent living space. But at the same time, by living with a host family, I'm forced to speak French every day, I can easily have all my language, culture, and geographic questions answered, and I don't have to cook for myself. Yes it's harder to see friends when they live on the other side of Paris, or even a 15 minute metro-ride away, but at the same time it's nice to have privacy and independence by not being with friends all the time. Although I liked all the aspects of Aix's program, I feel like the Paris program works better with who I am as a person, and what I personally wanted out of a year abroad-- but it was so nice to see the green grass on the other side.
I fear that I'm no longer making sense, because I am completement epuisee (completely exhausted), so, goodnight. A bientot, Aix-en-Provence-- can't wait to go back.
PS- a million and one thank yous to Inci Atrek, the best hostess I could have ever asked for!
It was strange for me, because in my mind I was trying to make a connection between Aix and something... and I kept coming up with SoCal. Why? France is nothing like SoCal-- San Francisco, sure, a bit, but not LA/Irvine/SB/SD. what was I thinking? When Inci and I took the bus into Marseilles this morning, and I got to see the Mediterranean Sea, so sparkly, and gorgeous, and bright, and calming, I gave up trying to convince myself that SoFra (as Inci called it) is not like SoCal. If my mind wants to make me feel better by associating the two, then so be it. SoFra is SoMuch better though...:)
The most interesting thing to me was to see first hand exactly how different the Aix program and my Paris program are. I could rattle off the differences in a heartbeat (Paris vs. small town, host families vs. apartments, orientation in a small town vs. orientation in Paris, etc), but it was quite fascinating to live the differences for a weekend. It was really nice to live in an apartment only inhabited by Inci and her roommate, where two good Wellesley friends (the lively Natasha and the sweet Stephanie Buhle) lived just above them, and almost everyone else lived within 10 minute walking distance. I was a bit jealous of how easy it was to see friends all the time, and how nice it was to have a truly independent living space. But at the same time, by living with a host family, I'm forced to speak French every day, I can easily have all my language, culture, and geographic questions answered, and I don't have to cook for myself. Yes it's harder to see friends when they live on the other side of Paris, or even a 15 minute metro-ride away, but at the same time it's nice to have privacy and independence by not being with friends all the time. Although I liked all the aspects of Aix's program, I feel like the Paris program works better with who I am as a person, and what I personally wanted out of a year abroad-- but it was so nice to see the green grass on the other side.
I fear that I'm no longer making sense, because I am completement epuisee (completely exhausted), so, goodnight. A bientot, Aix-en-Provence-- can't wait to go back.
PS- a million and one thank yous to Inci Atrek, the best hostess I could have ever asked for!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
blah, boys...
I think it's time to invent an American boyfriend for myself.
I don't care if I consider myself one of the least romantic people ever-- of course I secretly would love to go on a romantic date with one of those good-looking French boys with the intelligent demeanor, those gorgeous big eyes, that amazing hair, and that chic fashion sense. Those guys seem to have gone into hiding, or they all have girlfriends (and unfortunately, display their love for all of Paris to see...). Instead, I continue to attract attention from the same category of men, despite the different culture, language, and continent: sketchy, strange, and way too forward.
Friday night, on my way out to meet up with Natalia, I hear "excusez-moi, mademoiselle" literally not even one minute after leaving my door. This guy strides alongside me and, because I am wearing my high-heeled boots, I can't run off. Well, he's actually very sweet and he tells me he plays basketball for his university, and asks me if I'd like to see a game sometime, and what's my number? Initially alarms started ringing in my head-- don't do it Orly! Don't give in! See, this happens all the time back in Boston, where I'd give these sweet guys the benefit of the doubt, and then regret it as soon as they call 1 hour or so later asking me on a date. But I thought, naw, I'm in Paris, why not, he seems sweet.
Yeah, Jean-Marc is sweet, but he's just like every way too forward American guy who asked for my number, except worse: he's French. And therefore, he's even MORE forward. He has already called and texted a few times, and recently texted me inviting me to dinner Monday night. I am a horrible person-- I have not yet responded. Like I said, sweet guy, I'd like to be his friend, I just am not interested and I don't want to hurt him. So, comme d'habitude, I don't know what to do. So I haven't done anything yet.
Point is: there are some things that don't change, no matter how far you are from home. In my case, it's the strange men I attract...
I don't care if I consider myself one of the least romantic people ever-- of course I secretly would love to go on a romantic date with one of those good-looking French boys with the intelligent demeanor, those gorgeous big eyes, that amazing hair, and that chic fashion sense. Those guys seem to have gone into hiding, or they all have girlfriends (and unfortunately, display their love for all of Paris to see...). Instead, I continue to attract attention from the same category of men, despite the different culture, language, and continent: sketchy, strange, and way too forward.
Friday night, on my way out to meet up with Natalia, I hear "excusez-moi, mademoiselle" literally not even one minute after leaving my door. This guy strides alongside me and, because I am wearing my high-heeled boots, I can't run off. Well, he's actually very sweet and he tells me he plays basketball for his university, and asks me if I'd like to see a game sometime, and what's my number? Initially alarms started ringing in my head-- don't do it Orly! Don't give in! See, this happens all the time back in Boston, where I'd give these sweet guys the benefit of the doubt, and then regret it as soon as they call 1 hour or so later asking me on a date. But I thought, naw, I'm in Paris, why not, he seems sweet.
Yeah, Jean-Marc is sweet, but he's just like every way too forward American guy who asked for my number, except worse: he's French. And therefore, he's even MORE forward. He has already called and texted a few times, and recently texted me inviting me to dinner Monday night. I am a horrible person-- I have not yet responded. Like I said, sweet guy, I'd like to be his friend, I just am not interested and I don't want to hurt him. So, comme d'habitude, I don't know what to do. So I haven't done anything yet.
Point is: there are some things that don't change, no matter how far you are from home. In my case, it's the strange men I attract...
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Salon du Chocolat video (do not watch if hungry)
I'm serious... Making this video made me CRAVE chocolate like no other. So I hope you've got some handy. Enjoy ;)
This past weekend I went to Amsterdam and Utrecht with Mo and we had SUCH an incredible time it's not even funny. The weather was gorgeous (cold, but brisk), we ran into a ton of his friends and had a lot of fun with them, we went biking (only almost got hit by two cars. not bad. maybe I'll tackle the streets of Paris with the Velib, now...), we ate traditional Dutch food like poffertjes (AMAZING) and frites with fritesauce (yummy) and... banana pizza (ok, not traditional Dutch food but it was unique and yummy nonetheless), and bagels (ha). We didn't exactly hit the cultural sights-- I'll save museums for my next trip, when the weather will likely be worse--but we got in a LOT of traveling and walking around and enjoying ourselves. And his friends in Utrecht were really nice as well. Utrecht is a sweet, happy, beautiful town-- I highly recommend it to anyone traveling around Benelux.
I'll get up more videos eventually.
Otherwise, I got to see Inci, Alyssa, and Natasha recently and that made me really happy. Also, things are getting REALLY busy and hectic, but that's how I love it! Everything will work out eventually. C'est la vie.
One more thing: my good friend Aiala Levy was lucky enough to be in Chicago, AT THE OBAMA RALLY ON THE NIGHT OF NOVEMBER 4th, and took video. Watch it, get really jealous, and then tear up just a little bit: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3727840293850273406 . It's brilliant (if Candice is reading this... ha ha ha).
(I hope you watched that chocolate video! You know you want to ;) )
This past weekend I went to Amsterdam and Utrecht with Mo and we had SUCH an incredible time it's not even funny. The weather was gorgeous (cold, but brisk), we ran into a ton of his friends and had a lot of fun with them, we went biking (only almost got hit by two cars. not bad. maybe I'll tackle the streets of Paris with the Velib, now...), we ate traditional Dutch food like poffertjes (AMAZING) and frites with fritesauce (yummy) and... banana pizza (ok, not traditional Dutch food but it was unique and yummy nonetheless), and bagels (ha). We didn't exactly hit the cultural sights-- I'll save museums for my next trip, when the weather will likely be worse--but we got in a LOT of traveling and walking around and enjoying ourselves. And his friends in Utrecht were really nice as well. Utrecht is a sweet, happy, beautiful town-- I highly recommend it to anyone traveling around Benelux.
I'll get up more videos eventually.
Otherwise, I got to see Inci, Alyssa, and Natasha recently and that made me really happy. Also, things are getting REALLY busy and hectic, but that's how I love it! Everything will work out eventually. C'est la vie.
One more thing: my good friend Aiala Levy was lucky enough to be in Chicago, AT THE OBAMA RALLY ON THE NIGHT OF NOVEMBER 4th, and took video. Watch it, get really jealous, and then tear up just a little bit: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3727840293850273406 . It's brilliant (if Candice is reading this... ha ha ha).
(I hope you watched that chocolate video! You know you want to ;) )
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
L'election a Paris
Tonight, I decided to join thousands of other liberal American students and expats at an inexpensive, all night Barack Obama Campaign Party, which promised to serve "Barack O-bagels" at 3 am. I told my friends about it, I sent in my RSVP, I pre-gamed at a bar, and I got pumped.
That's when things started to go downhill. First, I received a call from Lola's parents-- it's been over a month and they still haven't started up my regular schedule. But, could I come over tomorrow morning to babysit Lola? Ok, it'll be a little tough, but sure, what time? Oh not too early, just 9 am-- we need to leave by then. Merde. What world do they live in when 9 am isn't early? So I already realized that I couldn't stay out all night and watch the results, I'd have to get back eventually. *sigh*
When my friends and I finally got to the Palais de Congres (just past the Arc de Triomph) at a little before 12:30, thinking we were fashionably late, we were SHOCKED by the enormous amount of people there. Soon, we were told that the entire GIANT location was full, and we had to line up in alphabetical order and wait to get in. Right... ok, like any 'S' people would get in before 4 am... that wasn't going to work for me. The people running this shindig were completely disorganized, and their idea to alphabetically organize people didn't work, obviously. They kept trying in vain, and we kept refusing, and they continued to yell at us for not cooperating. Finally, we had enough, and our large group peaced out and waited a good 15 minutes for the night bus to pick us up.
While the rest of them decided to get off around the Louvre and try and find a bar, I headed back to my house (only had to use "Laissez-moi tranquille" aka "leave me alone" once. not bad). I have a cute, hyper 5 year old to look after tomorrow for 6 hours-- I need some rest. The night failed, and there's nothing I can do about that.
My only comfort rests in the fact that I returned home to find that, as of 3 am Parisian time, Obama has 174 votes, and McCain only 49. I'm trying not to be too optimistic, because I don't want to have a literally rude awakening...
edit: no, I have had a FABULOUS awakening!!!!!!!!! Words cannot express how I'm feeling. Too bad it's pouring rain here right now, though... But even if my host dad thinks that Obama's win is not a good thing for the States and not a good thing for Israel (don't worry, he's a nice man, we'll still get along), I'm curious to see how the rest of Paris treats me today. Should I try and make my Americanism really obvious in hopes of the rare Parisian smile? Should I shout "gobama!!!" in the streets? Je ne sais pas. First, I have to play with a child though, and that makes me happy too :)
PS- Watching clips of black men and women crying and singing and hugging on the news here nearly made me cry... when we get a woman in the white house, I bet I'll be like that as well...hmm, unless it's Sarah Palin. then I'll be crying for a different reason.
That's when things started to go downhill. First, I received a call from Lola's parents-- it's been over a month and they still haven't started up my regular schedule. But, could I come over tomorrow morning to babysit Lola? Ok, it'll be a little tough, but sure, what time? Oh not too early, just 9 am-- we need to leave by then. Merde. What world do they live in when 9 am isn't early? So I already realized that I couldn't stay out all night and watch the results, I'd have to get back eventually. *sigh*
When my friends and I finally got to the Palais de Congres (just past the Arc de Triomph) at a little before 12:30, thinking we were fashionably late, we were SHOCKED by the enormous amount of people there. Soon, we were told that the entire GIANT location was full, and we had to line up in alphabetical order and wait to get in. Right... ok, like any 'S' people would get in before 4 am... that wasn't going to work for me. The people running this shindig were completely disorganized, and their idea to alphabetically organize people didn't work, obviously. They kept trying in vain, and we kept refusing, and they continued to yell at us for not cooperating. Finally, we had enough, and our large group peaced out and waited a good 15 minutes for the night bus to pick us up.
While the rest of them decided to get off around the Louvre and try and find a bar, I headed back to my house (only had to use "Laissez-moi tranquille" aka "leave me alone" once. not bad). I have a cute, hyper 5 year old to look after tomorrow for 6 hours-- I need some rest. The night failed, and there's nothing I can do about that.
My only comfort rests in the fact that I returned home to find that, as of 3 am Parisian time, Obama has 174 votes, and McCain only 49. I'm trying not to be too optimistic, because I don't want to have a literally rude awakening...
edit: no, I have had a FABULOUS awakening!!!!!!!!! Words cannot express how I'm feeling. Too bad it's pouring rain here right now, though... But even if my host dad thinks that Obama's win is not a good thing for the States and not a good thing for Israel (don't worry, he's a nice man, we'll still get along), I'm curious to see how the rest of Paris treats me today. Should I try and make my Americanism really obvious in hopes of the rare Parisian smile? Should I shout "gobama!!!" in the streets? Je ne sais pas. First, I have to play with a child though, and that makes me happy too :)
PS- Watching clips of black men and women crying and singing and hugging on the news here nearly made me cry... when we get a woman in the white house, I bet I'll be like that as well...hmm, unless it's Sarah Palin. then I'll be crying for a different reason.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
reflections on Bourgogne (Burgandy)
I got back from Bourgogne around 10 pm tonight, and, after eating dinner and watching the end of "The World is Not Enough" in French ("Le monde ne suffit pas") with my host mom, I was exhausted, and instead of sleeping, bien sur, I went online for 2 hours.
So now that it's 1 am and I should actually go to sleep because I have so much to do tomorrow (inclduing seeing Julia!!!), I feel like I need to get something out about the Bourgogne excursion:
It was nice to get out of Paris.
There. I admit it. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOOVE Paris with all my everything, but as soon as we hit the French countryside and I saw the leaves changing colors just like New England (ok, not AS beautiful but not too far, really), I just felt really happy. It's good to leave the city from time to time, and I had not left Paris since our Normandie excursion at the end of September. The thing is, sometimes I get so caught up in Parisian life that it's easy to forget that there is a whole beautiful country outside of Paris. All of France exists outside of Paris, and much of it is incredibly different. I feel very fortunate that Sweet Briar started off this Parisian study abroad experience in a smaller town, Tours, and that we spent a significant amount of time there and got to experience French life and French culture, not just Parisian. See, now I understand why our program is called Junior Year in France...
Yes I got a little more Boston-"home"-sick watching those abovementioned beautiful colors in the trees, but it was alright. I was often distracted by the pouring rain and the cold in my feet and the pretty villages and cracking mustard-related jokes in Dijon (which is actually a lovely town).
But then we got back to Paris and the bus dropped us off in front of the Opera Garnier, which is absolutely gorgeous both day and night, and, well, y'know, I remembered that Paris isn't so bad at all. Ha :-P.
I would write more, but I'm exhausted. A short video will be forthcoming, eventually. Night.
So now that it's 1 am and I should actually go to sleep because I have so much to do tomorrow (inclduing seeing Julia!!!), I feel like I need to get something out about the Bourgogne excursion:
It was nice to get out of Paris.
There. I admit it. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOOVE Paris with all my everything, but as soon as we hit the French countryside and I saw the leaves changing colors just like New England (ok, not AS beautiful but not too far, really), I just felt really happy. It's good to leave the city from time to time, and I had not left Paris since our Normandie excursion at the end of September. The thing is, sometimes I get so caught up in Parisian life that it's easy to forget that there is a whole beautiful country outside of Paris. All of France exists outside of Paris, and much of it is incredibly different. I feel very fortunate that Sweet Briar started off this Parisian study abroad experience in a smaller town, Tours, and that we spent a significant amount of time there and got to experience French life and French culture, not just Parisian. See, now I understand why our program is called Junior Year in France...
Yes I got a little more Boston-"home"-sick watching those abovementioned beautiful colors in the trees, but it was alright. I was often distracted by the pouring rain and the cold in my feet and the pretty villages and cracking mustard-related jokes in Dijon (which is actually a lovely town).
But then we got back to Paris and the bus dropped us off in front of the Opera Garnier, which is absolutely gorgeous both day and night, and, well, y'know, I remembered that Paris isn't so bad at all. Ha :-P.
I would write more, but I'm exhausted. A short video will be forthcoming, eventually. Night.
Friday, October 31, 2008
shots of Candice in Paris (instead of my homework)
It's 11:30 on Halloween night,
and I know the next sentences will give my loved ones a fright,
instead of partying and dancing and being merry with glee,
I am doing homework and gorging on candy.
Tomorrow at 6:30 am I leave for Bourgogne,
but I can't sleep until packing and homework are done,
I will not have time for my homework once I arrive back in Par-ee
for Julia will be here, and there is much she needs to see.
Alors, c'est dommage, but then again don't forget,
they don't celebrate Halloween in France-- so I'm just being more cultural, en fait.
(can you tell I don't write poetry very often?)
things I'd rather do than work on my assignment:
1. put on lipstick
2. watch music videos on youtube
3. clean my room
4. look at pictures of me and realize that I still look like I'm 17 (which is why the Bailey's lady at the Chocolate Festival asked me if I was "majeure"-- of age to drink alcohol, which is 16 in France...)
5. Make a quick video of Candice's 'weekend' (34 hours) in Paris, on the 18th of October.
Voila!
and I know the next sentences will give my loved ones a fright,
instead of partying and dancing and being merry with glee,
I am doing homework and gorging on candy.
Tomorrow at 6:30 am I leave for Bourgogne,
but I can't sleep until packing and homework are done,
I will not have time for my homework once I arrive back in Par-ee
for Julia will be here, and there is much she needs to see.
Alors, c'est dommage, but then again don't forget,
they don't celebrate Halloween in France-- so I'm just being more cultural, en fait.
(can you tell I don't write poetry very often?)
things I'd rather do than work on my assignment:
1. put on lipstick
2. watch music videos on youtube
3. clean my room
4. look at pictures of me and realize that I still look like I'm 17 (which is why the Bailey's lady at the Chocolate Festival asked me if I was "majeure"-- of age to drink alcohol, which is 16 in France...)
5. Make a quick video of Candice's 'weekend' (34 hours) in Paris, on the 18th of October.
Voila!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Louvre Treasure Hunt Video
I have just returned from a marvelous, incredible, fantastic afternoon spent at a giant Chocolate Festival. I know, I know, Orly, you have the world's weakest stomach-- what were you doing at a chocolate festival? I don't know, being happy?!?! When Auni called me up and suggested it, I thought, why not? Sure I had to pay 12 euros, but between the copious amounts of free samples of chocolate, tea, ice cream, wine (mmmm muscat), liquor (Bailey's was ehh but the lady with the boissons aperitifs wouldn't stop pouring! I got giggly and rouge-cheeked!), macarons (yes, I gave in and bought some), and coffee, I got my 12 euros worth. And what an experience!!
However, I will save more details for a future post, when I put up all the numerous videos and pictures I took (they're amazing, don't worry!). In the meantime, here is a video that I (finally) spent a good amount of time making, so I hope you watch it!
In early October, SBC organized a treasure hunt at the Louvre for us. Can you even imagine? 3 hours later, my group came in 2nd place, but it was kindof ridiculously crazy getting there. We were instucted to find a certain painting, and once we did, we would find the answer to a riddle that would lead us to the next painting, and so on, and so forth, for 3 hours, all over the Louvre.
Alors, regarde-ca, et profitez-en (enjoy) :) (edit: I royally screwed up and just realized that "Valerie" spells his name "Valery." with an accent, although for some reasons accents don't work for me on the internet..help anyone? Anyway-- WHOOPS!):
However, I will save more details for a future post, when I put up all the numerous videos and pictures I took (they're amazing, don't worry!). In the meantime, here is a video that I (finally) spent a good amount of time making, so I hope you watch it!
In early October, SBC organized a treasure hunt at the Louvre for us. Can you even imagine? 3 hours later, my group came in 2nd place, but it was kindof ridiculously crazy getting there. We were instucted to find a certain painting, and once we did, we would find the answer to a riddle that would lead us to the next painting, and so on, and so forth, for 3 hours, all over the Louvre.
Alors, regarde-ca, et profitez-en (enjoy) :) (edit: I royally screwed up and just realized that "Valerie" spells his name "Valery." with an accent, although for some reasons accents don't work for me on the internet..help anyone? Anyway-- WHOOPS!):
Monday, October 27, 2008
Morocco and my dad
This post has no video or interesting pictures-- I'm sorry, a video is forthcoming, I promise, I just have to finish my homework first-- BUT it contains VERY BIG NEWS for those of you who know me and know my history with my dad and my desire to go to Morocco.
For those of you who don't know me very well, quick update-- my dad is a Moroccan Jew, born and raised in Marrakesh, older than the average dad of a 20-year-old, and remembers how badly the Arabs in Morocco treated the Jews while he was growing up. France occupied Morocco until '56, I believe, and after that, the Moroccan government would not let Jews leave Morocco until... sometime in the mid-60s. In the early 60s, my dad joined an underground movement to help Jews escape their 'horrible' (according to my dad) lives in Morocco, by sending them on secret ships to Paris. One day, one of these large secret boats drowned, and many people (Jews) perished. Obviously this event did not go unnoticed, and an investigation followed. My dad was shortly tipped off by a friend that his name had been connected, and he had to flee or risk imprisonment and/or torture (which had happened to several of his friends in the group). Without a chance to say goodbye to his family or friends, he packed a suitcase and got on a tiny boat to Paris, which he said nearly drowned itself. Thus began his 11 years in Paris as a student, a teacher, and an artist.
I suppose it's not surprising, therefore, that my dad has absolutely no desire to return to Morocco. He still views Morocco as a Jew-hating Arabic country, and he knows that barely a fraction of the large Jewish population remains there (I believe I heard that there are far less than 1,000 Jews in Morocco... or maybe in was just in Marrakesh). Fine, it's his life. However, he has no right to tell my Mom and I that we can never go to Morocco, that it is a horrible country with nothing to see, when he fills our house with beautiful paintings about his childhood in Morocco and writes books about his childhood in Morocco and comes to my elementary school classes to teach my friends Moroccan games and throws me a Moroccan-Jewish style "mock wedding" for my 5th birthday that was on the front page of one section of the LA Times. He has no right to raise me up to be proud of my heritage and deny me the pleasure of going to this fascinating country where he passed the first twenty-something years of his life. We have argued bitterly and massively over this subject, and many, many, MANY tears have been shed and voices have been raised to deafening heights. I was finally accepting the fact that (as morbid as it is to say this), I would have to wait until after my dad's passing to go visit Morocco for myself.
And then recently... things started to change. When my dad was in Paris in September, we saw an advertisement in a travel agent window for a trip to Morocco for ridiculously cheap. "Wow, if it's really that cheap for you then maybe you should go" he commented. I couldn't believe my ears, so I didn't say anything. Just a remark. He then brought it up again at a dinner conversation with some of his friends. I, again, brushed it off. But tonight, at dinner at the house of one of his childhood friends, who moved from Marrakesh to Paris 10 years ago, he mentioned that his daughter and his wife passionately want to go to Marrakesh, and that we should all go together, and when does his friend think is the best time of the year to go?
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR TO GO?!?!?! wait... what. just. happened? when did my dad SUDDENLY change his mind?! did I mention the passionate arguments? did I mention the strong Arab dislike? did I mention the comment that 'there is nothing to see in Morocco because all the Jews are gone'? I mean, he was even offered a FREE trip to Morocco last year to give a lecture on his research into the Jewish community and he TURNED IT DOWN because he refused to go back to Morocco. SO again, WHAT. ON. EARTH. JUST. HAPPENED?!?!
I'm just going to leave it at that. I don't want to get any hopes up. But, after the little "horrible host room" and "indecent cafe" episode the night before I arrived in Paris (see my post "My overprotective dad"), I should have realized how quickly my dad is apt to changing his mind these days.
On verra (We'll see)... now back to homework
(in other news, I miss New England fall A LOT, and I miss Halloween. They only started celebrating Halloween about 10 years ago here in France, and since it's condemned by all the religious groups for being Pagan, and by all the French for being too commercial, it isn't a big hit. I want to see pumpkins and I want apple cider and pumpkin bread and I want to watch cute French children trick-or-treat. Is that too much to ask for?)
For those of you who don't know me very well, quick update-- my dad is a Moroccan Jew, born and raised in Marrakesh, older than the average dad of a 20-year-old, and remembers how badly the Arabs in Morocco treated the Jews while he was growing up. France occupied Morocco until '56, I believe, and after that, the Moroccan government would not let Jews leave Morocco until... sometime in the mid-60s. In the early 60s, my dad joined an underground movement to help Jews escape their 'horrible' (according to my dad) lives in Morocco, by sending them on secret ships to Paris. One day, one of these large secret boats drowned, and many people (Jews) perished. Obviously this event did not go unnoticed, and an investigation followed. My dad was shortly tipped off by a friend that his name had been connected, and he had to flee or risk imprisonment and/or torture (which had happened to several of his friends in the group). Without a chance to say goodbye to his family or friends, he packed a suitcase and got on a tiny boat to Paris, which he said nearly drowned itself. Thus began his 11 years in Paris as a student, a teacher, and an artist.
I suppose it's not surprising, therefore, that my dad has absolutely no desire to return to Morocco. He still views Morocco as a Jew-hating Arabic country, and he knows that barely a fraction of the large Jewish population remains there (I believe I heard that there are far less than 1,000 Jews in Morocco... or maybe in was just in Marrakesh). Fine, it's his life. However, he has no right to tell my Mom and I that we can never go to Morocco, that it is a horrible country with nothing to see, when he fills our house with beautiful paintings about his childhood in Morocco and writes books about his childhood in Morocco and comes to my elementary school classes to teach my friends Moroccan games and throws me a Moroccan-Jewish style "mock wedding" for my 5th birthday that was on the front page of one section of the LA Times. He has no right to raise me up to be proud of my heritage and deny me the pleasure of going to this fascinating country where he passed the first twenty-something years of his life. We have argued bitterly and massively over this subject, and many, many, MANY tears have been shed and voices have been raised to deafening heights. I was finally accepting the fact that (as morbid as it is to say this), I would have to wait until after my dad's passing to go visit Morocco for myself.
And then recently... things started to change. When my dad was in Paris in September, we saw an advertisement in a travel agent window for a trip to Morocco for ridiculously cheap. "Wow, if it's really that cheap for you then maybe you should go" he commented. I couldn't believe my ears, so I didn't say anything. Just a remark. He then brought it up again at a dinner conversation with some of his friends. I, again, brushed it off. But tonight, at dinner at the house of one of his childhood friends, who moved from Marrakesh to Paris 10 years ago, he mentioned that his daughter and his wife passionately want to go to Marrakesh, and that we should all go together, and when does his friend think is the best time of the year to go?
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR TO GO?!?!?! wait... what. just. happened? when did my dad SUDDENLY change his mind?! did I mention the passionate arguments? did I mention the strong Arab dislike? did I mention the comment that 'there is nothing to see in Morocco because all the Jews are gone'? I mean, he was even offered a FREE trip to Morocco last year to give a lecture on his research into the Jewish community and he TURNED IT DOWN because he refused to go back to Morocco. SO again, WHAT. ON. EARTH. JUST. HAPPENED?!?!
I'm just going to leave it at that. I don't want to get any hopes up. But, after the little "horrible host room" and "indecent cafe" episode the night before I arrived in Paris (see my post "My overprotective dad"), I should have realized how quickly my dad is apt to changing his mind these days.
On verra (We'll see)... now back to homework
(in other news, I miss New England fall A LOT, and I miss Halloween. They only started celebrating Halloween about 10 years ago here in France, and since it's condemned by all the religious groups for being Pagan, and by all the French for being too commercial, it isn't a big hit. I want to see pumpkins and I want apple cider and pumpkin bread and I want to watch cute French children trick-or-treat. Is that too much to ask for?)
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Passion for Fashion?
As many of you know (wait... are there even many of you who read this? whatever), I have never been interested in fashion. I normally throw on jeans and a t-shirt, and only try to put together something cute if I have an extra 10 minutes in my day. I buy basics and I only know if something is the latest trend because I don't understand anyone's motivation for wearing it (examples: ponchos, really really long cardigans, gladiator sandals). I love Project Runway and I see how the big labels can create art on the runway. "The Devil Wears Prada" was a great movie. But that's about where it stops...
...stopped, I mean. Then, I came to Paris, and I stuck out like a sore thumb. My Juicy jackets, the pride and joy of my second-hand shop finds, were completely unacceptable. My colorful wardrobe made Parisians automatically speak to me in English. Something had to change... and something was changing. I was noticing a growing lust-- not love, LUST-- for beautiful, incredible, precious clothing in Gallerie Lafayette, Au Printemps, and lots of cute boutiques scattered around Paris. Needing to educate myself about my new awareness of 'what looks good', I did some fashion research, and luckily for me, I didn't have to work very hard. Lo and behold, my research involved showing up outside of giant tents, watching gorgeous, well-dressed people walk and get their pictures taken, and receiving free fashion magazines. Yes, you guessed it, I stalked Paris Fashion Week. It was just like showing up to a movie premiere in LA, except you get free fashion mags and you're not forced to stand behind a railing far from the stars. I could've hopped into a picture with the latest French model, if I wanted to, but of course I'm not that crazy. Maybe in the spring... ;)
Here is a short video compilation of Fashion Week stalking (from early October. I'm really behind on everything). It's not much, but it was fun for me:
Point is: I'm gaining a greater sense of what is going on in the fashion world, at least in Paris. (Purple is the IT color--yay! Long sweaters/cardigans are in, as well as oil-slick black leggings and 70s prints, for example).
Although, really, I should've realized that here, being chic is actually very simple: black is always the new black. And if you want to be a little original chic, throw some gray in there too. Who knew it was so easy?
...stopped, I mean. Then, I came to Paris, and I stuck out like a sore thumb. My Juicy jackets, the pride and joy of my second-hand shop finds, were completely unacceptable. My colorful wardrobe made Parisians automatically speak to me in English. Something had to change... and something was changing. I was noticing a growing lust-- not love, LUST-- for beautiful, incredible, precious clothing in Gallerie Lafayette, Au Printemps, and lots of cute boutiques scattered around Paris. Needing to educate myself about my new awareness of 'what looks good', I did some fashion research, and luckily for me, I didn't have to work very hard. Lo and behold, my research involved showing up outside of giant tents, watching gorgeous, well-dressed people walk and get their pictures taken, and receiving free fashion magazines. Yes, you guessed it, I stalked Paris Fashion Week. It was just like showing up to a movie premiere in LA, except you get free fashion mags and you're not forced to stand behind a railing far from the stars. I could've hopped into a picture with the latest French model, if I wanted to, but of course I'm not that crazy. Maybe in the spring... ;)
Here is a short video compilation of Fashion Week stalking (from early October. I'm really behind on everything). It's not much, but it was fun for me:
Point is: I'm gaining a greater sense of what is going on in the fashion world, at least in Paris. (Purple is the IT color--yay! Long sweaters/cardigans are in, as well as oil-slick black leggings and 70s prints, for example).
Although, really, I should've realized that here, being chic is actually very simple: black is always the new black. And if you want to be a little original chic, throw some gray in there too. Who knew it was so easy?
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Techno Parade/ Normany video
Salut mes amis!
I know, I know, I'm really behind on these videos. So here is a quick one: Tecktonik/the Techno Parade/weekend in Normandy, all rolled into one. But it's short, I promise. These things happened last month, for crying out loud, so it was important that I get them up (so that's why they're really crappy). It would've taken me like 30 minutes to make this little video, but my computer has been going PSYCHO on me lately (in several ways), and Windows Movie Maker crashed 3 times on me last night. I hate you, windows movie maker. I also hate facebook, who only lets me upload photos 2 at a time. For the past month, it hasn't let me upload photos, so I've tried that simple upload thing... and that didn't work either. I figured out that I could only put about 2 photos on simple uploader for it to work.
Enough ranting: here's the video
now back to my piles of homework for Migration and Globalization class tomorrow!
and sorry I sound like I'm complaining so much here. I'm just stressed because I only discovered today that I had piles of homework. fun times. still, life is wonderful and I love you all :)
I know, I know, I'm really behind on these videos. So here is a quick one: Tecktonik/the Techno Parade/weekend in Normandy, all rolled into one. But it's short, I promise. These things happened last month, for crying out loud, so it was important that I get them up (so that's why they're really crappy). It would've taken me like 30 minutes to make this little video, but my computer has been going PSYCHO on me lately (in several ways), and Windows Movie Maker crashed 3 times on me last night. I hate you, windows movie maker. I also hate facebook, who only lets me upload photos 2 at a time. For the past month, it hasn't let me upload photos, so I've tried that simple upload thing... and that didn't work either. I figured out that I could only put about 2 photos on simple uploader for it to work.
Enough ranting: here's the video
now back to my piles of homework for Migration and Globalization class tomorrow!
and sorry I sound like I'm complaining so much here. I'm just stressed because I only discovered today that I had piles of homework. fun times. still, life is wonderful and I love you all :)
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Ligne 96
Examples A and B of how the simple pleasures are the best ones in my life:
Yesterday was the first day in two weeks that I woke up and said to myself "WOW! I don't feel sick AT ALL!" So, to celebrate being cured, and also the fact that the euro is 1.30-something to the dollar, I decided to go buy a pair of boots I had wanted and a fake leather jacket (I ended up buying a ton of things... whoops). The boots, I knew, were sold by a cheap shoe vendor next to the Grand Magasins next to THE Opera (y'know, the beautiful one). According to Google Maps, it would only take me a half an hour to walk there, so I did.
On this path I stumbled across the cheapest creperie stand I've found yet in Paris. For two euros, I purchased an apricot jam crepe and ohmygoodness it was INCREDIBLE! This was the best sweet crepe I'd had yet in Paris, and I found it randomly on a main street in the 10th, for half the price it would have been in any touristy area. It's a good 20 minute walk from my place, but I must go back.
So that was my happy, simple pleasure of yesterday-- finding a delicious crepe while shopping and walking and getting out and enjoying Paris. My simple, happy pleasure of today was taking bus line 96 back home from the Sweet Briar office after my Literature and Cinema class ended at 5. By some sort of miracle, line 96 stops 3 minutes away from Sweet Briar, and takes me to a stop literally 1 minute from my house, maybe less if I walk quickly. Oh but here's the kicker-- the bus travels through some of the most beautiful, interesting places in Paris. No Eiffel Tower or Champs Elysees, but that's ok, they're tourist traps anyway.
It begins in the Latin Quarter, where SB's office is located, and winds through Saint-Germain-des-Pres, a chic, rich neighborhood famous for its cafes that nourished the famous intellectuals and artists of years gone by.
It travels up Boulevard Saint Michel, passing the Place Saint Michel,
which I absolutely love for no particular reason. As you pass over the Seine, Notre Dame is on your right,
and a moment later, the Palais de Justice on your left. 
Now, you're in the Marais-- where, just like West Hollywood, "the bagels meet the fagels," (translation: filled with Jews and gay men and women). Historically, the Marais was the Jewish quarter, but then German occupation of France and the deportation of French Jews to concentration camps basically reduced the Jewish community to an ittybitty portion of what it used to be. However, I still see religious men walking the streets, and can easily find bagels, challah, and falafel on Rue de Rosiers. I can also find beautiful men... and their boyfriends.
But anyway-- through the Marais, we pass the Hotel de Ville, whose incredible beauty and detail and massive presence never fails to astound me.
Mmm just writing about it makes me want to go there right now. Eventually, we continue through the Marais along some small street covered in cafes, boulangeres, and tiny, unique boutiques, selling antique books, asian-themed children's wear, Belgian chocolates, and the likes. I keep making a mental note to walk along the street. Eventually we break free of the tiny streets of the Marais and end up in Place de la Bastille, a hip hang out filled with restaurants, cafes, bars, large chains, small boutiques, everything, including a new Opera. Back in the day, Bastille used to be a fortress.
Now it's a large pillar.
We wind up Boulevard Filles de Calvaire, and 5 minutes later, I am home, content with the beautiful view I've enjoyed for the past 45 minutes. I don't care if the metro is faster-- at 5 pm on a Tuesday, there is nowhere I'd rather be than on line 96.
Yesterday was the first day in two weeks that I woke up and said to myself "WOW! I don't feel sick AT ALL!" So, to celebrate being cured, and also the fact that the euro is 1.30-something to the dollar, I decided to go buy a pair of boots I had wanted and a fake leather jacket (I ended up buying a ton of things... whoops). The boots, I knew, were sold by a cheap shoe vendor next to the Grand Magasins next to THE Opera (y'know, the beautiful one). According to Google Maps, it would only take me a half an hour to walk there, so I did.
On this path I stumbled across the cheapest creperie stand I've found yet in Paris. For two euros, I purchased an apricot jam crepe and ohmygoodness it was INCREDIBLE! This was the best sweet crepe I'd had yet in Paris, and I found it randomly on a main street in the 10th, for half the price it would have been in any touristy area. It's a good 20 minute walk from my place, but I must go back.
So that was my happy, simple pleasure of yesterday-- finding a delicious crepe while shopping and walking and getting out and enjoying Paris. My simple, happy pleasure of today was taking bus line 96 back home from the Sweet Briar office after my Literature and Cinema class ended at 5. By some sort of miracle, line 96 stops 3 minutes away from Sweet Briar, and takes me to a stop literally 1 minute from my house, maybe less if I walk quickly. Oh but here's the kicker-- the bus travels through some of the most beautiful, interesting places in Paris. No Eiffel Tower or Champs Elysees, but that's ok, they're tourist traps anyway.
It begins in the Latin Quarter, where SB's office is located, and winds through Saint-Germain-des-Pres, a chic, rich neighborhood famous for its cafes that nourished the famous intellectuals and artists of years gone by.
It travels up Boulevard Saint Michel, passing the Place Saint Michel,
which I absolutely love for no particular reason. As you pass over the Seine, Notre Dame is on your right,
and a moment later, the Palais de Justice on your left. 
Now, you're in the Marais-- where, just like West Hollywood, "the bagels meet the fagels," (translation: filled with Jews and gay men and women). Historically, the Marais was the Jewish quarter, but then German occupation of France and the deportation of French Jews to concentration camps basically reduced the Jewish community to an ittybitty portion of what it used to be. However, I still see religious men walking the streets, and can easily find bagels, challah, and falafel on Rue de Rosiers. I can also find beautiful men... and their boyfriends.
But anyway-- through the Marais, we pass the Hotel de Ville, whose incredible beauty and detail and massive presence never fails to astound me.
Mmm just writing about it makes me want to go there right now. Eventually, we continue through the Marais along some small street covered in cafes, boulangeres, and tiny, unique boutiques, selling antique books, asian-themed children's wear, Belgian chocolates, and the likes. I keep making a mental note to walk along the street. Eventually we break free of the tiny streets of the Marais and end up in Place de la Bastille, a hip hang out filled with restaurants, cafes, bars, large chains, small boutiques, everything, including a new Opera. Back in the day, Bastille used to be a fortress.
Now it's a large pillar.
We wind up Boulevard Filles de Calvaire, and 5 minutes later, I am home, content with the beautiful view I've enjoyed for the past 45 minutes. I don't care if the metro is faster-- at 5 pm on a Tuesday, there is nowhere I'd rather be than on line 96.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
busy fun exhausting weekend (+ silly video)
Despite the double noisette I had at Indiana Cafe (yes, Indiana...) this afternoon, I am ex-haus-ted. But I feel the need to communicate with all of you friends back home, who I, sadly, rarely communicate with...
Exciting Thing #1: I'm going to be a babysitter!!! Every monday afternoon and wednesday all day (...!), I get the job of playing with Lola, an absolutely ADORABLE 5 1/2 year old. I get to take her to the pool and read to her and watch movies with her and take her to visit her cousins and I get MONEY for this! I am not going to be poor in Paris! Yes, I am taking care of her at least 11 hours a week, which does suck up a lot of time, butttttt oh well. If it's really a problem, I'll figure something out.
Exciting Thing #2: I have a French friend. His name is Jason (oh yes, soooooo French), and he is the nephew of my host mom. Today we had coffee and ended up talking for 3 hours. Ok, I messed up, I let the conversation be in English (his English is really good, actually), but I promise, next time in French! He studies computer science but writes and creates hip-hop music in his free time. He's pretty awesome.
Exciting Thing #3: Nuit blanche!!! Last night, all of Paris was alive from 7 pm to 7 am, with art shows, concerts, performances, installations, videos, etc alllllllll over the city. The most fascinating thing I saw, by far, was a video on 6 blind people touching an elephant, and their reactions. Absofreakinglutely FASCINATING!!! And it was projected in this large, beautiful church (too tired to remember the name, sorry guys) that is famous for its enormous organ. While waiting for the movie to start, the organ played for a good 10 minutes and it was incredible.
Exciting Thing #4: You get to see a short, silly video I made. Voila:
Also Friday was our Sweet Briar group's Treasure Hunt at the Louvre, which I took lots of video of. So eventually, expect a video on that, in addition to the 5 million other videos I'm really behind on. But now, on to homework...
ps happy birthday megan!!!
Exciting Thing #1: I'm going to be a babysitter!!! Every monday afternoon and wednesday all day (...!), I get the job of playing with Lola, an absolutely ADORABLE 5 1/2 year old. I get to take her to the pool and read to her and watch movies with her and take her to visit her cousins and I get MONEY for this! I am not going to be poor in Paris! Yes, I am taking care of her at least 11 hours a week, which does suck up a lot of time, butttttt oh well. If it's really a problem, I'll figure something out.
Exciting Thing #2: I have a French friend. His name is Jason (oh yes, soooooo French), and he is the nephew of my host mom. Today we had coffee and ended up talking for 3 hours. Ok, I messed up, I let the conversation be in English (his English is really good, actually), but I promise, next time in French! He studies computer science but writes and creates hip-hop music in his free time. He's pretty awesome.
Exciting Thing #3: Nuit blanche!!! Last night, all of Paris was alive from 7 pm to 7 am, with art shows, concerts, performances, installations, videos, etc alllllllll over the city. The most fascinating thing I saw, by far, was a video on 6 blind people touching an elephant, and their reactions. Absofreakinglutely FASCINATING!!! And it was projected in this large, beautiful church (too tired to remember the name, sorry guys) that is famous for its enormous organ. While waiting for the movie to start, the organ played for a good 10 minutes and it was incredible.
Exciting Thing #4: You get to see a short, silly video I made. Voila:
Also Friday was our Sweet Briar group's Treasure Hunt at the Louvre, which I took lots of video of. So eventually, expect a video on that, in addition to the 5 million other videos I'm really behind on. But now, on to homework...
ps happy birthday megan!!!
Friday, October 3, 2008
It's only taken me 3 weeks, but...
...here is my first real PARIS video, which I only finished last night because my coughing was so bad that I couldn't sleep, and I had to do something while I waited for the medicine to kick in.
Just kidding (sort of), I did it because I feel bad that I've been here three weeks and haven't shown a single clip of Paris. And don't worry, there's a lot more to come-- Techno Parade, Fashion Week stalking, Normandy excursion, fun things, I promise. In fact, I'm working on another short, silly one, which should be up soon. hehe...
I did say 'sort of' above, however, because I am actually quite sick. I've been sick for a week and a half now (I think I might have strep...uhoh...), so I'm finally going to go see a doctor tomorrow. A French doctor, arranged by my host family. I have a funny feeling that when I'm sick, I'm supposed to tell Sweet Briar, and they're supposed to find me a doctor (?), but oh well, too late for that now.
One more word before I put the video here: Comments. Guys, I really want to know what I can do to improve these videos, or what you're interested in seeing (French people? Moulin Rouge? A guy in a beret? what?)-- I just really hope I'm not boring or annoying people. So thank you :).
eh voila:
(music by Edith Piaf, ofc)
Just kidding (sort of), I did it because I feel bad that I've been here three weeks and haven't shown a single clip of Paris. And don't worry, there's a lot more to come-- Techno Parade, Fashion Week stalking, Normandy excursion, fun things, I promise. In fact, I'm working on another short, silly one, which should be up soon. hehe...
I did say 'sort of' above, however, because I am actually quite sick. I've been sick for a week and a half now (I think I might have strep...uhoh...), so I'm finally going to go see a doctor tomorrow. A French doctor, arranged by my host family. I have a funny feeling that when I'm sick, I'm supposed to tell Sweet Briar, and they're supposed to find me a doctor (?), but oh well, too late for that now.
One more word before I put the video here: Comments. Guys, I really want to know what I can do to improve these videos, or what you're interested in seeing (French people? Moulin Rouge? A guy in a beret? what?)-- I just really hope I'm not boring or annoying people. So thank you :).
eh voila:
(music by Edith Piaf, ofc)
Sunday, September 21, 2008
puis-je faire un pause?
Seriously!
My continuously hectic/busy/exhausting lifestyle has followed me from Los Angeles and Wellesley all the way to France. Thanks to the lively city of Paris, the programs Sweet Briar arranges for us, the hectic task of picking our classes and getting ready for the Parisian universities, and, don't forget, the fact that my dad is here and is constantly introducing me to his friends--- I'M ALWAYS BUSY! c'est la vie, I know, but I was really hoping French life would be more relaxed than this. Apparently not.
I haven't had time, therefore, to make a video, but I've been shooting a lot of random clips, and I hope to have time sometime this week. In a (brief) nutshell, here's my life:
video to come eventually, I promise. I've been up to fun things :)
My continuously hectic/busy/exhausting lifestyle has followed me from Los Angeles and Wellesley all the way to France. Thanks to the lively city of Paris, the programs Sweet Briar arranges for us, the hectic task of picking our classes and getting ready for the Parisian universities, and, don't forget, the fact that my dad is here and is constantly introducing me to his friends--- I'M ALWAYS BUSY! c'est la vie, I know, but I was really hoping French life would be more relaxed than this. Apparently not.
I haven't had time, therefore, to make a video, but I've been shooting a lot of random clips, and I hope to have time sometime this week. In a (brief) nutshell, here's my life:
- family/living situation: living with a SWEET Jewish couple in the 11th arrondissement, which is a nice mix of modern and ancient Paris. I have a large room with a TV and my own toilet. The couple lets me do whatever I want. I live within a 10 minute walk of some cool places and within a half hour walk of the center of Paris. though often I take the metro.
- university: what. the. hell. So here's a brief history of Parisian universities and my particular university. In 1968 there was a HUGE student riot. In able to never ever have this happen again, Parisian universities were split up alllllll over Paris. I had thought that Paris 7, where I'm studying, was in the Latin Quarter... well, it was. One day, someone discovered asbestos there. SO the building was torn down and is in the process of being reconstructed. In the meantime, classes are in the ugliest buildings in Paris, in the ultra-moden (read: gross) section of the 13th. I commented to someone "It looks like someone just said Quick! Build a university! It doesn't matter what it looks like, just take this concrete and hurry!" and received the response "well, that was actually exactly the case. They discovered asbestos and had to relocate the campus quickly." Oops. Well, I'd rather ugly concrete than asbestos.
- Life: Too American for my tastes. I need to make some French friends my age, and fast. My dad has been introducing me to all his friends, which takes up all my time and annoys me to no end. They're very nice people and I'm very happy to have them in my life but ohmygoodness I am NOT in Paris to sit in people's homes for 8 hours a day and do nothing but eat! Especially not when it's this beautiful outside... But I love my Daddy and I'm happy he's here. He leaves Thursday, so I just have to make it until then.
video to come eventually, I promise. I've been up to fun things :)
Monday, September 15, 2008
Tours, in a nutshell
I'm in PARIS! And everything with my host family and my dad worked out and is marvelous and wonderful, don't worry.
But more on that later, when I have time. For now, before I run out the door, I have the two videos I made of my orientation in Tours. The wifi at my host mother's house in Tours was crappy so I could never upload them.
But voila! Enjoy :)
Video 3:
Video 4:
But more on that later, when I have time. For now, before I run out the door, I have the two videos I made of my orientation in Tours. The wifi at my host mother's house in Tours was crappy so I could never upload them.
But voila! Enjoy :)
Video 3:
Video 4:
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
My overprotective dad... in Paris
I knew I shouldn't have been too happy when my dad announced that he would spend the month of September in Paris at his best friend's house to help me adjust to my new life here.
For those of you who don't know (and honestly, who doesn't know?), I have the world's most overprotective dad. I don't even want to begin to name the numerous examples of his insanity of loving overprotectiveness, but let's just say it's surprising that I haven't rebelled and that I don't smoke pot, dress in black, deal heroin, and prostitute myself as a result.
Now, we have the grandest and greatest example of this phenomenon: Daddy comes to Paris, asks for the address and phone number of my future host family (we arrive in Paris tomorrow, btw), goes there, pokes around, and then calls me insisting I change my family RIGHT AWAY. I explain to him that the rule is we must remain with our families for one week, to try them out. He says no way in hell (well, his equivalent of that phrase-- "never happened!!!"). I must go right away to the Sweet Briar directors (umm, it's 9 pm, dad...) and tell them to change it. Nevermind that we haven't arrived in Paris yet, this MUST CHANGE NOW.
what's so wrong with this location, you ask? Well, first of all, there's the room. On the 5th floor, no elevator, no mirror, tiny desk, tiny lamp, no closet, not acceptable for an American student, he says. Ok, understandable. That worries me too. But that I can try out for a week. However, across the street from this tiny shithole of a room is a cafe that 'is not acceptable for young girls' because it is 'full of young people who lack morals, and girls who lay out on the table.' I tried to press my dad further-- is it dangerous? sketchy? are there prostitutes? what's the REAL problem? but that's all he said.
I trust my parents' opinions in general, but I'm afraid my dad is just too scared, and is reading the worst into all this. But he is forcing me to try and talk to Sweet Briar and convince them otherwise. And Sweet Briar will be like 'umm, what? ofc we can't change it THE DAY WE LEAVE FOR PARIS, before you've even MET this family!' And then my dad will go over to Sweet Briar and fucking yell like the stubborn crazy asshole he can be sometimes (trust me, my dad is wonderful and I love him dearly. but sometimes... UGGHHHH!!!!!!). And then this whole thing will blow up and THIS IS NOT HOW I WANTED TO START OFF MY YEAR IN PARIS!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so upset that I was crying to my host mom here in Tours.
whatever, I'm going out tonight to celebrate Hannah's birthday. I'll just get drunk and dance the night away and deal with this tomorrow.
For those of you who don't know (and honestly, who doesn't know?), I have the world's most overprotective dad. I don't even want to begin to name the numerous examples of his insanity of loving overprotectiveness, but let's just say it's surprising that I haven't rebelled and that I don't smoke pot, dress in black, deal heroin, and prostitute myself as a result.
Now, we have the grandest and greatest example of this phenomenon: Daddy comes to Paris, asks for the address and phone number of my future host family (we arrive in Paris tomorrow, btw), goes there, pokes around, and then calls me insisting I change my family RIGHT AWAY. I explain to him that the rule is we must remain with our families for one week, to try them out. He says no way in hell (well, his equivalent of that phrase-- "never happened!!!"). I must go right away to the Sweet Briar directors (umm, it's 9 pm, dad...) and tell them to change it. Nevermind that we haven't arrived in Paris yet, this MUST CHANGE NOW.
what's so wrong with this location, you ask? Well, first of all, there's the room. On the 5th floor, no elevator, no mirror, tiny desk, tiny lamp, no closet, not acceptable for an American student, he says. Ok, understandable. That worries me too. But that I can try out for a week. However, across the street from this tiny shithole of a room is a cafe that 'is not acceptable for young girls' because it is 'full of young people who lack morals, and girls who lay out on the table.' I tried to press my dad further-- is it dangerous? sketchy? are there prostitutes? what's the REAL problem? but that's all he said.
I trust my parents' opinions in general, but I'm afraid my dad is just too scared, and is reading the worst into all this. But he is forcing me to try and talk to Sweet Briar and convince them otherwise. And Sweet Briar will be like 'umm, what? ofc we can't change it THE DAY WE LEAVE FOR PARIS, before you've even MET this family!' And then my dad will go over to Sweet Briar and fucking yell like the stubborn crazy asshole he can be sometimes (trust me, my dad is wonderful and I love him dearly. but sometimes... UGGHHHH!!!!!!). And then this whole thing will blow up and THIS IS NOT HOW I WANTED TO START OFF MY YEAR IN PARIS!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was so upset that I was crying to my host mom here in Tours.
whatever, I'm going out tonight to celebrate Hannah's birthday. I'll just get drunk and dance the night away and deal with this tomorrow.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Finalement, eh?
Bonjour tout le monde!
I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to post something- anything!!!- in this blog. The combination of lots of activities, jet lag, and a super slow Internet connection has made for a long period of time in between video blog posts. I'm sure you're very happy to know that the jet lag has worn off, Sweet Briar and the town of Tours keep me busy with lots of fun activities like museums (des musee) (hey, how do we do accents on this thing?) and gardens (jardins) and hanging out with friends at La Place Plumereau (the 'it' section of Tours for young people who want to hang out). So, at least it's not like I haven't been posting videos because I have nothing to show you from lack of a life. But then again, this is me we're talking about-- when do I ever lack a life? When do I ever have a moment of freedom? ... exactly.
I now present to you a video of, again, completely crap quality. Like I mentioned before, it's really hard to find time to sit down and edit a video and make it look even slightly watchable. So forgive me.
Now, this video is me basically talking in DC about leaving the next day for France. Pretend like it's me talking to you, confiding, one on one, y'know? :) I have a second one made, from when I arrived in Tours, my first impression, and my activities during the weekend. But for some reason YouTube keeps telling me ''this video no longer exists' after it spends forever uploading it... so I'll work on it. In the meantime...
Video Blog 2: Orly in DC
Tonight I'm seeing a comedy in French. Let's see how much I can understand, eh? (by the way, the French add 'eh' to the end (or even beginning) of their phrases/sentences a lot. Not like Canadien 'eyy' but really just 'eh'. "On va manger, eh? Il fait beau, eh? Tu parles bien le francais, eh. Eh, ben oui, eh.")
And instead of video 3, in the meantime, I present to you the latest Mc Solaar (a famous French rapper) hit, 'le Rabbi Muffin,' which combines two of my favorite subjects: French, and Jews. Ha. The video is a takeoff of a scene in a famous, cult-favorite French comedy, The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob. Enjoy.
I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to post something- anything!!!- in this blog. The combination of lots of activities, jet lag, and a super slow Internet connection has made for a long period of time in between video blog posts. I'm sure you're very happy to know that the jet lag has worn off, Sweet Briar and the town of Tours keep me busy with lots of fun activities like museums (des musee) (hey, how do we do accents on this thing?) and gardens (jardins) and hanging out with friends at La Place Plumereau (the 'it' section of Tours for young people who want to hang out). So, at least it's not like I haven't been posting videos because I have nothing to show you from lack of a life. But then again, this is me we're talking about-- when do I ever lack a life? When do I ever have a moment of freedom? ... exactly.
I now present to you a video of, again, completely crap quality. Like I mentioned before, it's really hard to find time to sit down and edit a video and make it look even slightly watchable. So forgive me.
Now, this video is me basically talking in DC about leaving the next day for France. Pretend like it's me talking to you, confiding, one on one, y'know? :) I have a second one made, from when I arrived in Tours, my first impression, and my activities during the weekend. But for some reason YouTube keeps telling me ''this video no longer exists' after it spends forever uploading it... so I'll work on it. In the meantime...
Video Blog 2: Orly in DC
Tonight I'm seeing a comedy in French. Let's see how much I can understand, eh? (by the way, the French add 'eh' to the end (or even beginning) of their phrases/sentences a lot. Not like Canadien 'eyy' but really just 'eh'. "On va manger, eh? Il fait beau, eh? Tu parles bien le francais, eh. Eh, ben oui, eh.")
And instead of video 3, in the meantime, I present to you the latest Mc Solaar (a famous French rapper) hit, 'le Rabbi Muffin,' which combines two of my favorite subjects: French, and Jews. Ha. The video is a takeoff of a scene in a famous, cult-favorite French comedy, The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob. Enjoy.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Au Revoir Mes Amis (Goodbye My Friends)
Alriiiiiiiiiight everyone, here is it, my first video blog type thing, posted mere hours before I board a plane for Washington DC. It chronicles some fun times during my last two weeks in LA, and is meant to be a practice for Paris.
Before you view it, please note that I've realized that it's really just something that will make me happy when I look back on it. For the rest of you, I know you're going to think that it's too long, and it's a piece of crap. Here are some explanations so I can defend the crappiness of video #1:
1) the footage is all from my digicam, and I had no idea what I was doing while filming it. I don't claim to be a filmmaker, but I hope to improve as the year goes on.
2)I used Window's Movie Maker (ugh) to edit it yesterday, the day before I'm leaving (TODAY!!!), which was obviously a stupid idea because I was doing a ton of things at the same time to prepare to leave.
3) I have never used Window's Movie Maker before, and I'm not a fan...
4) I am not a patient person... and so I got tired of editing after many hours
5) I had way too much video to work with.
What I have learned: make video blogs more often so they aren't as long and don't frustrate me as much.
With all that said, here is video blog number one. Please enjoy, and please post some (reasonable) suggestions for how I can make them better in the future.
if you cannot see the video, find me on youtube. My username is sailormmmvj.
On another note, last night Maya put together a surprise going away party for me, at her house. My parents were even in on this-- they bought a cake! Just wanted to say thank you SO MUCH to Maya and whoever else helped plan this, and thank you to everyone who came and cheered me up. Just further proof that I have the best friends in the world.
Before you view it, please note that I've realized that it's really just something that will make me happy when I look back on it. For the rest of you, I know you're going to think that it's too long, and it's a piece of crap. Here are some explanations so I can defend the crappiness of video #1:
1) the footage is all from my digicam, and I had no idea what I was doing while filming it. I don't claim to be a filmmaker, but I hope to improve as the year goes on.
2)I used Window's Movie Maker (ugh) to edit it yesterday, the day before I'm leaving (TODAY!!!), which was obviously a stupid idea because I was doing a ton of things at the same time to prepare to leave.
3) I have never used Window's Movie Maker before, and I'm not a fan...
4) I am not a patient person... and so I got tired of editing after many hours
5) I had way too much video to work with.
What I have learned: make video blogs more often so they aren't as long and don't frustrate me as much.
With all that said, here is video blog number one. Please enjoy, and please post some (reasonable) suggestions for how I can make them better in the future.
if you cannot see the video, find me on youtube. My username is sailormmmvj.
On another note, last night Maya put together a surprise going away party for me, at her house. My parents were even in on this-- they bought a cake! Just wanted to say thank you SO MUCH to Maya and whoever else helped plan this, and thank you to everyone who came and cheered me up. Just further proof that I have the best friends in the world.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Testing, Un, Deux, Trois
My hope is to make this a (mainly) video blog of my year in Paris... we'll see... first I need to figure everything out...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
