Geeta's

Tonight I met an American. The conversation was great... grand... AMAZING! (well let's not go that far). He lives near us and has a TV... bonjour Project Runway! Ps. I think I'm developing a taste for red wine. Fancy that.

First French Date

Tonight Sari, Summer, Julie and I went out for dinner... to Le Royal. We saw waiter-friend-guy. It was fun, we didn't make quite as big of a spectacle as we did last time. Except for when Julie said, "Ask for more water and let's just finish off this pitcher" as she poured the remaining water into my glass (that was already full) and overflowing it, getting water all over the table. Way to go Julie ;) Perhaps it was a "ya had to be there" thing... either way, we looked pretty cool, like usual. :D

All right, so anyway... Sari could communicate with this guy, which was kinda cool. I didn't say much; apparently I looked "serious," according to waiter-guy. But finally, after our plates were cleared and we were ready to boogie, I built up my lil courage to ask in French, what his name was and if we could get the bill (great combo, eh?). So... waiter-guys name is (drum roll)... Yaneck (yen-eek). When he brought us the bill, he asked if we wanted to go out later that night. Sari didn't want to go, but Julie and I said we would. So we met him at the metro station an hour later. It was kinda cool/awkward without someone there translating, but still fun in a strange way.

We went to a bar and it was a very nice bar in fact, with lots of good-looking European men... although I avoided eye contact. Julie and I both ordered a drink called Monaco; it had Stella, lemonade and s. grenadine in it. If anyone knows what kind of alcohol Stella is... holler, because all we could find was beer, even though that could very well be, any additional information would be excellent. Thanks. I'm sure we looked uber dorky, we had a French/English dictionary and we used a lot of jesters and facial expressions.

It was a short date, but that was fine by me, because we have to be at school at 9:20 tomorrow. Yes, a Saturday... wtf. On the way back on the Metro, I think he asked for a phone number, but I wasn't sure. Although I am interested in another "date", I played it conservative/dumb and didn't give him my number. I mean... what do people do on the phone? That's right, talk... obviously verbal conversing isn't our strong suit...yet. I think a phone number would be a little much, besides, we know where he works...

Le Royal

So.... I'm waiting for my mom to get home, so I can talk to her. I'd really like to go back to bed though. Today was long... good, but long. For FIVE HOURS I had a color theory class. It was good, there were some boring times--there were some not boring times. Apparently, during the bored times, I looked bored. :( That makes me feel kinda bad. Then we had French lessons for two hours. FINALLY! I've been here two weeks and this is the first one! I'm so happy!... Yet so conditioned to not talking to anyone because I don't know how. Hopefully I'll bust outta that shell.

The story of the evening has to somewhat do with the whole French thang... somewhat. Summer and I went to the University Cafe' tonight. Side note: everything I ate was "low" in the "weird" category. And by weird I mean /good. Anyway, on the way to this lovely dinning establishment, we have to walk past the lovely Le Royal. Le Royal is where the waiter guy works that I have a semi-crush on. I have a green coat. I've seen one other person in Paris with a green coat. So if you see a green coat, you see me. Anyway, the point is, we walk past there a lot...he sees us a lot. Usually we wave and giggle to ourselves and he'll do the same (minus the giggling). Except last night he gave us this look like, "Are you ever going to come back in here? Because if you don't pretty soon then I'm gonna stop waving to you." Yeah, all that in one sleek look. With this knowledge, I say to Summer, "I think we're going to eat at Le Royal tomorrow. Let's walk on the other side of the street so we don't run into anything awkward and/or feel obligated to go inside." And Summer replies, "You're going to make me walk across the street?" We continued to walk...right past Le Royal and guess who is TWO FEET away from the window. That's right, Mr. Waiter Guy. Of course, I get a "confused puppy/why aren't you ever going to come in here again.." look. This is where my story differs from Summers, but w/e because her version is inaccurate. By this time, we have to go in. Which kinda sucks, because we're hungry for our cheap food and we're supposed to go tomorrow with Sari and Julie. However, unspoken social obligation calls... we go in.

Part two
The smooth, comprehendible conversation ends at "Bonjour." Summer and I sat down and had a glass of vin blanc. Apparently pronounced "vah-blanc" or something incredibly not like "vin" but hey, no big deal. Btw, our stomachs: empty. His English seemed to be better than last time. I know, it probably appears that I'm one of those jerk Americans who don't attempt French. That's false...kinda. Like I said, I've become conditioned to just not talk if it's not absolutely necessary. And I'm timid, I feel like I shouldn't say anything unless the accuracy is exact or damn close. I realize that is probably a big problem. I picked up a few words here and there. Summer can speak better that I can, so she talked a bunch more than I did. Oh, and there was this older guy in the corner that tried to translate for us. God bless his attempt, unfortunately his English wasn't that great or good... maybe satisfactory, maybe. A nice man never the less. It was communicated that we're not on vacation... we're students, living on Rue Saint Jacques (hehe, that's not where I live though... :D) and we study fashion at Paris American Academy... we're here for 4 months and we're American. Oh and we like it here. Oui.

So anyway, the wine wasn't bad and the guy was still cute. We finished up and left (b/c the dinning center was gonna close soon!). I blame Summer not listening to me about crossing the street. I also blame her for disrupting all proper transitioning and timing. It was a good laugh... perhaps we'll actually return tomorrow. The goal for tomorrow: apply what I learned today. 1. Comment tu t'appellles? 2. Tu es marie' ou tu es celibtarie? Jk on the second one. *sigh* Baby French steps. Ahhhhhh...anyway, Summer and I were glad to get to the dinning center, where she proceeded to pick a bad spot to sit. This guy next to us listened (and stared) as we bickered about the pervious events. *sigh* Oh well... there's always a story at dinner time. We took a different route back home. :D I hope my mom

p.s. There are a few errors in probably every post, but I don't feel like looking for them... so that's all.

Ketchup

Currently I am doing laundry with Sari and Julie. There is a 24 hour laundry mat right across the street from us. I decided to join some wireless network and even though I have a signal, I can’t go online… boo. Anyway, sitting right behind me is some cute guy reading a book. He’s cute, but I can’t play my music since he’s reading—I’d feel bad being a disturbance, because I know how much people love their reading.

Tonight we found the closet thing to the UDCC that there is in France. (Oh and side note: at this moment some weird guy is looking in through the window at us..ekk!). It’s a University Café’, I’m under the impression that it is available to all university students (duh!) and it’s uber cheap…only 2.70 Euro! And ALSO, the guy girl ratio was excellent! I would estimate about 5 guys to every 1 girl. Sari, Julie and I sat at the furthest table so we could look at all of them. Sari goes to an all girl’s school, so she was excited about the males congregating in one area. Quote of the evening from Sari, “It is raining men.” On our way back we walked past Le Royal and through the window I saw my favorite monsieur (waiter)… and he saw me, sigh.

Today we had a sewing class and it was excellent. We’re making a corset. Sewing class brings back memories of TC 121. It’s always dreadful at the beginning and I never think I’ll be able to complete the project, but some how I get through and I have to admit… I do enjoy quite a large portion of the process. :D Although I did feel like a dumb ass, but on the optimistic side, I’d say it turned out alright considering I only knew what she was saying 5% of the time. Then we went on a tour at a museum Cluny. It had a bunch of art from the middle ages. I’ll be honest, our “guide”/teacher talked WAY TOO MUCH and kept repeating herself + it was cold. But the jewelry from that time period was cool.

So I’ve realized, that I’m letting a lot of little details and stories slip by without documenting them on here or anywhere else. I’m going to try my best to recap fun events that happened since last Thursday.

It all started with my salmon pannini. Julie, Sari and I stopped at the boulongerie (bakery) to get a late lunch. I thought I'd venture outside my box and try a salmon pannini... it tasted like CRAP! There were eggs and some sort of weird sauce. Oh did I mention, it was uncooked salmon...I think, otherwise it tasted like it wasn't cooked, because it was all slimy and grody. On top of being disgruntled that my highly anticipated lunch sucked, it gave me a tummy ache. So I took a nap for 3 and half hours.

When I woke up from my name, Summer and her friend Bethany were here. Summer taught Julie and I how to knit. Btw, Bethany is from Wis. and has lived in Paris for about a year being an Au Pair (Nanny). At midnight Bethany said she was going to a party and off the cuff; Summer, Julie and I decided to go with. The last metro left at 12:30. We made it half way there before the metro closed for the night. Eventually we found this club called “Wagg” with sketchy directions and no means of communication to the person that’s supposed to get us in. Anyway, we get to the door and there are to large bouncers that asked us of we were on the list. Summer—the suave one she is, gazes over the list and says (like she owns the place), “Yeah, we’re on the list… Shantell…” and the bouncers said, “Of course” and move out of the way. I’d just like to note that I’m not really sure if any of us knew Shantell from a box of rocks. :D So we danced… some how got up to the VIP room (even though it was INCREDIBLY boring up there)…danced some more…got a drink (7 Euro from a Smirnoff (sp?) smaller than from a six pack at home!).. and kept dancing. We noticed that the French are terrible dancers, so we didn’t have any problem going out and bustin’ a move, because there clear was not any standard we couldn’t hit (and we all know how good of a dancer I am). ;)

Hokay, then on Friday orientation started. Julie, Summer and I were exhausted because we didn’t get to bed until 5 in the morning and orientation started at 9 bells. We had a welcome lunch where they served us wine. Julie and I got a kick out of it. We don’t have too many people in our school. It’s pretty much a school for foreign students.
There are two people from Australia, a girl from India, on from Egypt, a BOY from Greece, and a hippy chick from Virginia. After our wine and dine we went to the Louver…it was huge. We have student passes that get us in for free for a year. So that’s cool. Saturday we went around the area looking at the street market in our area. Again—good-looking dudes, that are more “forward” than guys at home. That’s always nice for a good laugh and at times self-esteem booster. We also took a look-see at the fabric stores and a really old school area of the city. We even saw were Amelie was filmed…too bad I didn’t fall in love with the movie like the rest of the world…perhaps someday.

Now for a little story… One of these past days Julie, Sari and I were walking through the tunnel under the Arc de Triomphe (sp?) and this English woman stops me and says, “Do you speak English?” Of course I stop and say yes, thinking perhaps she needs directions (like I could give them anyway) and before I know it, this bitch had a Jamaican colored bracelet tied around my wrist. It all happened so fast and I just wanted her to get away from me (before I got pick pocketed) so I decided, I’ll count this as a 3 Euro lesson and never let myself get screwed again. So like… 45 minutes later, we’re walking to the Louver and this Middle Eastern lady comes up to me and says, “Do you speak English?” and I CLEARLY didn’t learn my lesson, because I said yes, thinking… perhaps this woman needs directions. She hands me this card, and it says something about how she has a little brother and no food and doesn’t speak French… etc (but you speak English??). So what am I supposed to do? Tell this woman to stick it? I wish, but I just couldn’t tell if it was sincere and I’d already been roped in. So I told her two Euros, gave it to her, and walked away. Turns out it was 5 Euro to learn my swindling lesson. The two days later we were somewhere doing something and I spot a whole gang of the Jamaican bracelet people. And this time it wasn’t a bubbly weird ass English chick, it was big guys who followed me and stood 6 inches from me heckling me. But like a good lassie, I kept my head down and said, “No Marci, no Marci.” Sigh. Then they just got on my nerves and I turned around and said, “NO THANK YOU!!!!1!” After that they stopped following. I win. Point me. :D

Yesterday we took a bus tour around Paris. It was 2.5 hours and I fell asleep for 5-10 minutes of it because the driving there makes me sick. I’ve gotten motion sick in everything but the metro. Oh well. We stopped to snap a few pixies by the Eiffel Tower. Later we stopped at a flea market and it was crazy. There was the antique part and then all of a sudden there was the modern market. It felt like we walked into the ghetto. I won’t elaborate, but Lynn—if you were there, you’d be eaten alive. :D And then I got some shoes.

All right, that should wrap things up for now.

Bonsior.

Booties!

Today I got new boots and a pair of yellow Chipie shoes. Also, I got some green yarn for a knitting class. Nothing exceptional happened today, except I saw an older lady (in her 50s-ish) riding a Razor scooter... it was funny.

SUNday

So... eventhough blogging is tons of fun and this blog-site is the shiz... it's just NOT that Mac friendly. Or perhaps it is, all I need is Christopher to assist me. Unfourtunatly he's not here. What really erks me is that I can't post pictures. One night I did and I made a cute little, EXTREMELY informative caption about the picture and shortly after realized that probably wasn't a good idea. SO... I took it off and though, "Oh, I'll repost it later." Now is later and it's not working!!1!1! Also, I want to go to bed, but I emailed my family some pictures of the flat (which YOU can't see, because I can't post them right now!) and I want to make sure they got them. That means I have to wait and wait and wait, because we have dial up at home. And yes, I want things right now because I've only been here 3 days and the European waiting thing hasn't sunk in yet. Xang.

Anywho, today our other roommate moved in. Her name is Sari. She is a fashion student that attends St. Mary's College in Madison, WI. She is a lovely girl and perhaps (with her permission and assuming technology will allow) she'll let me post a picture of her. If you didn't know, you'd think she was a neitive.

Today we went to a museam... the name has sliped my mind, I'll document that later. Victor Hugo's tomb was there. Who's he? He wrote Les Miserables. It was mildly exciting. Then we ate.. it was good. We also found a cool shoe store that was closed, so we're gonna look for some kicks tomorrow. :D

Alrightly... Goodnight/Bonsior

Day 2

Currently, it is 4:40 a.m.; I think it's time for me to go to bed. Before I do, I must document my day or I might forget the details... except I need to go to bed, so hopefully I can nut shell it. :D

Hookay so...

Julie and I had to be at school for a presentation about Madden Gres. (side note, due to the time, I cannot guarantee spelling French or English will be completely accurate). We weren't quite sure who she was, but we found out that she is an old high fashion (houte' couture) designer. The lady that spoke to us worked with Madden Gres for 24 years. During WWII Madden Gras was shut down by the Germans because she included two dresses, one red and one blue, in her collection. At that time, those colors of fabric were not available, so the German's inquired where she found it. Gres didn't tell them and the shut her sealed her house for a year (she paid rent, but was not allowed to go in it). After a year, her fashion house was closed. Anywho... she returned in 1944 and re-opened her fashion house and went on to be the bomb diggity. One dress we saw represented 250-300 or work and cost around $40,000-$50,000... in the 30s and 40s. Over all it was a pretty interesting presentation, interesting enough to wake up for. : D they also showed us some draping techniques, but I'll skip any elaboration on that.

Julie and I made a new friend named Summer. She's from Texas, but recently graduated from Arizona State University in Theater and Design. We hung out with her all day. After the presentation we ate lunch, went back to school for a little meeting with a teacher and proceeded to go shopping. We took the metro down to the shopping district, (Printemps and other stores of the such). It was fun; the metro was an experience, read my facebook quotes for that story condensed.

After our metro adventure, we ate. The first restaurant we stopped in, the owner told us he was only open for another 30 minutes and that we should leave (except it took 5 minutes to understand that) and he was drinking, because I could smell it. After that we went to a different one, with a much better looking and more sober person to wait on us. The language barrier was hilarious, for the first time. He was cute and kept speaking in French; I kept smiling really big (and turned red) and pointing. Summer ordered a dessert, but never got it. After the man looked at her surprised when she requested dessert after finishing her dinner! (Bonjour! we're hungry!) Then he left, he put his coat on and left. So we waited and waited for the bill... and eventually got up to see if we could pay up front. Right when we did that, he walked in and looked at us and most likely thinking, "Are you going to leave without paying for your meal?" We were confused... laughed, smiled... etc and then Summer left him a 5 euro tip and apparently that's rude, but ya know, she was kinda pissed about not getting her dessert. Oopsy daisy.

So anyway, those were the highlights.

En Route

Sometime between Central and Paris time
Most likely February 2, 2006

Alrighty, It’s 11:51 p.m. Central and 6:51 a.m. Paris (I’m not sure what their time zone is called). I’m on the plane. I have a window seat and no one sitting next to me. :D The plane isn’t even half full. I did a head count earlier. There are approximately 50 people in coach and 20 or so in first class. I heard through the grapevine that there are 260 seats… so pretty much, the plane isn’t full at all.
Now that that’s clear, I’m BORED! Mom strung FIVE pearl necklaces for me to knot and I forgot them at home! I’m incredible bummed. So here’s what happened: I got this massive book-bag on Sunday and it just so happened to be ridiculously on sale, so my mom picked up 2 extra, because they’ll be visiting in April. She started putting crap in the pink one, but I took the red one. Well anyway, the beads are relitivly small, so pretty much, we assumed they were packed when they really weren’t. And that blew almost my whole entertainment plan. Lift off was neat/intense. I could defiantly feel the altitude change. I’ve watched a movie: In Good Company, took a nap, ate dinner (pretty marginal, but I still ate it). And that’s about all.
There’s a girl sitting straight across from me, she looks like Jessie Bouche. Also, I think she thinks that I’m weird, because I keep looking at her. However, the way I’m sitting, she’s the first think I see when I look up. I’d think I’m weird too, but oh well. There’s a guy a few rows back that keeps looking at me… but maybe that’s because I keep looking at him. :D There’s a couple with a young baby (Xang!) It’s a cute baby, but it likes to cry. And there was defiantly a diaper (dirty) in the isle. It made me laugh; it was probably only funny because it didn’t smell. And somewhere on this plane, is someone with a Julian laugh, because I’ve heard it three times. I laugh too. :D
Julie flew in from Omaha and we met up with her almost right when she disembarked from the plane. AND! She called me before she was in Omaha and told me her seat number, 36J. Then later, I was randomly assigned to 35J. What a cowinkidink.
/Sigh* I could keep typing for another hour, because I’m just not tired and there are so many little details to comment on. I think there’s only one other person besides myself that is still awake… oh and the baby. Ya know, not to be critical or anything, but there are quite a few open seats in first class and I think that it would have been very nice of American Airlines to offer the adorable family (they really are cute) first class seats. I’m not just saying that so they wouldn’t be sitting by me. :D
SOOOOO…. Some miscellaneous details before I rap this puppy up. I cried when I said good-bye to the parents (they got to go through security with me). I wore my moose hat, my mom said a lot of people stared at me and I stuck out like a sore thumb. :D My IPod is acting weird and it’s PISSING ME OFF! (Kinda, and if it keeps acting weird, then I’m gonna get a new one… provide the budget allows.) I have about two more hours until I land. And I’m hungry. :D
Tchow.