I'm baaaaaaack!!

aaahhh...it feels so good to be able to type without having to look at the keys!!

I was hoping to post my pictures here, but with the way that this blog is set up, it would take a really long time. So, students, you'll get to see them in class on Tuesday, and friends and family, I'll show you them the next time I see you. I prefer this platform anyway, since it allows for extensive commentary. ;-)

I will post one picture, though, and it's of the French keyboard, so you can see why I didn't post as much as I would have liked.

See/talk to you all soon! I have plenty more stories, pictures, and realia to share!

Last post de France?

Well, this will probably be my last post from France, since I leave tomorrow.

Here are my observations/stories from today:

1. Today was the first day that my body has demonstrated any sort of adjustment to the time change (décalage horaire en français). This was good because I wanted to get a full day of sightseeing in, it being my last day here and all. So I got up a little before 9:00 (btw, the sun doesn't rise until about 8 and it's light until about 6). This was the first morning that I was up early enough to partake in "le fooding"--I'm not making it up...that's what my hotel's breakfast bar is called. It was very decent, with scrambled eggs, sausage, fruits, sliced mystery meats, and of course, croissants and pain au chocolat.

2. So, with a full tummy I headed into the city...I feel very comfortable with the trains & métro systems now! My first stop was the Centre Pompidou, the modern art museum. I like modern art because I feel like I could replicate a lot of the works, and those that I couldn't, I don't understand anyway. Pictures forthcoming...I had a ham & cheese crepe for lunch @ a café. Even though the temperature is just a little above freezing here, you can still eat outside at every café because they all have a plastic sheet surrounding the patio and space heaters--it's great! The birds think so, too, as there were cute little sparrows in the heated area, scavenging for crumbs!

3. After lunch, I just walked around for a while--taking in the culture, shopping, etc. Here are some new words that i learned during that time: verglas = ice (the kind that forms on the ground in the winter); barbe à papa = cotton candy.

4. I have also observed that the Paris métro system offers something similar to the EZ Pass...it's called Navigo and you just hold your Navigo up to a detector and walk right onto the platform. It would be a very useful thing to have if you lived in Paris!!

5. Gas costs 1.09€ per liter.

6. Oh, and I went to see the Eiffel Tower. I didn't go up it because the line was too long and I'll be going up it this summer. That has been my philosophy about a lot of things this trip btw...I've decided to save time, frustration, and money by not standing in line to do things that I'll be doing with my students this summer. Again, pictures forthcoming.

I think that's all for now...I have to decide where to have my last French dinner! Be sure to check back because i will be editing my entries, adding pictures, and I'm sure I'll have at least one more entry before i go back to school.

Thanks for following me on my trip!!! (Special shout-out to Mom, Dad, and Matt for leaving comments...thanks you guys...je vous aime!)

Bonsoir! I really wish I could post ,ore than I have been, but its really difficult because i cant use my own computer!! :-/ So, what ive been doing is keeping a written list of things i want to remember, so i'll begin to transfer that list now (at least until a line forms to use the computer).

1. Ive noticed that when Parisians do the double-kiss, they start on the right cheek. Good to know in order to avoid awkwardness!

2. The other night at le réveillon i said "knock wood" and found out that the French say the same thing--"touche bois"--but Italians say "touch metal"

3. In Paris, the bill is often called "la note", not "l'addition"

4. When you use the possessive article with the word "copain(e)", it means boy/girlfriend

5. If anyone reading this is planning to visit Paris, I strongly suggest NOT getting a hotel by the airport (which i did)...i didnt realize how far away it is from the city...its about a 45 min/10 dollar train ride ONE WAY!!! it is neat; however, watching planes land from my room. however, the distance and cost kept me out of the city the past two days (which is honestly ok, because ive explored Roissy AND ive been EXHAUSTED from being sick--blah!)

6. Since I didnt go into the city yesterday, i decided to hqve dinner at the marriott up the road. it was; of course, really good food and excellent service. i took my time, à la française, and spent about 2 1/2 hours at the table. I read & people-watched (which, by the way, isnt sketchy en France...its expected!). Ready to be grossed out by what i ate? For an appetizer i had this pumpkin & mussels gratin...we're not talking pumpkin pie flavored, it was real pumpkin squash with mussels and cheese. it was good until about 1/2 way through and then i had had enough. my dinner was a chicken stew. i had forgotten that French chicken stew is a thin broth with vegetables (thank goodness for the potatoes!) and WHOLE chicken parts. like i had to cut the meat off the bone. it wasnt bad;;;but it had too many olives for my taste. the bread was GREAT, as was the coffee i concluded the meal with. i LOVE french coffee!!!!! after dinner, i went to the marriott's gift shop to buy some water, and the guy working at the counter saw my change holder (which has a horse & buggy on it because im cool like that) and so i tried to explain to him who the amish are. that was fun...kind of like explaining groundhog day to my french host parents in college...there's just some vocab you never learn...sorry, kids!

7. So, more about food, since im sure that that4s everyone's top concern...the other day i had an EXCELLENT croque-madame (which is basically a really good grilled ham 1 cheese with a fried egg on top of everything. i didnt take a picture of it? but i have pics of other meals, so i wont go into describing them now...fyi, when i get home ill post my pics asap and correct my horrendous typing (although i'm feeling a little more comfortable with this keyboard!) also, despite the good/interesting cuisine ive been eating, i cant wait to have some wings, a chicken quesadilla, and a tropical smoothie smoothie when i get home!!!

8. Something great about French TV is that they dont run commercials during shows...all commercials are shown between shows. I've been enjoying "n'oubliez pas les paroles"...the French equivilent of "don't forget the lyrics"...i also watched a special on carla bruni last night, and jerry maguire dubbed en français this afternoon..."Gagne-moi le blé!!" = "show me the money!"--very slangged up.

9. The first song that i heard when i got to france was "Womanizer." i have since learned that the French (in general of course) really like her, Pink, and Rihanna.

10. And the final important observation i've made over the past several days...the most modern toilets here (and throughout europe ive been told) have two buttons...one you use to flush the little jobs, the other for heavier loads. enough said. (although i must add that i am extremely impressed by the environmental focus).

Actually, here is my final observation of the day: I have not yet encountered a single rude French person. The stereotype that the French are cold and unfriendly is absolutely false. I have had nothing but positive encounters not only with people in the hospitality industry? but everywhere...on the subway, in shops, etc. I really notice a difference from the last time i was here...maybe it's because i'm older and wiser ;-) but i really think that both globlaization and the european union have impacted the French demeanor. i know, heavy stuff to end a post with, right?

ok, well, that's all for tonight then...i'm going to try really hard to get up early tomorrow and get a full day of sightseeing in. see you all soon!

Happy 2009! I got to take part in the French custom of a New Year's Eve réveillon last night at Luca's Parisian friend4s apartment. Samira (the friend) warned me that it wasnt exactly a traditional réveillon because of what we ate. She explained that it's usually appetizer-like foods and you just graze. However, we had cheese puff-pastries, salad, lasagna that Luca made ( so it was authentic), crepes, and chocolate fondants (which are like gooey cupcakes). We were at the table for about 4 hours, which is how le réveillon usually works. Then, at midnight, we opened all of the windows and joined in the screaming coming from the streets and other appartments. (Samira lives in a heavily-populated area, and can see the Eiffel Tower & >Notre Dame from her appt...especially Notre Dame, it's like right across the street...CRAZY!!! I didnt quite get how people knew it was midnight without Dick Clark & Ryan Seacrest, but all of a sudden, it just got loud 1 everyone was yelling Bonne Année! After we cleaned up from le réveillon, we joined the throngs of people in the streets. Apparently, Parisians just party in the streets all night long. There was craziness...guys jumping on cars, people yelling...so we walked around for a while and decided to go to q café for a bit, and then we headed home around 230. The trains all run for free on New Years Eve, and what a circus that was!!

So anyway, that was New Year's Eve. I didnt do much of anything today bc i was sooooo tired, and i've managed to catch a French upper respiratory infection. I cough differently here than I would at home. ;-)

ok, enough of this French keyboard...if my computer were working, id write more...that just means more stories to tell in person when i get home i guess!

Bye for now!!!