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...
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