Sometimes Parisians completely boggle me.
First off, they have no idea of personal space like people do in America. I really don't have a probelm with it, I just find it interesting. For instance, on the metro, people are as close to you as possible, I guess so they can get as many people as they want on the metro. Also, an offshoot of that, Parisian men are completely certain with their sexuality. They stand close to other guys and dance to techno even if they are completely straight...and I find that really cool. I'm definitely not into the guys at home that have to be so macho.
Everyone says that the Parisians are the best dressers in the world...which is somewhat true. I feel somewhat underdressed everytime I walk around (of course, that could be because I'm walking around in my boot for my bum foot and a sandal on the other). But the Parisian teens dress almost exactly like American teens...I guess if I had to give them a qualification, it would be EMO. Parisian teens dress so emo! It's really funny to see them on the metro, walking around like they own the city and sometimes smoking as well.
You know what completely boggles me? Parisian weather! The last time I was here it was extremely hot, and so I figured it would be this time around too. Nope! It is the weirdest weather ever! It has rained and been extrememly hot all in the space of about a day...it completely boggles me!
And Parisien drivers! If you are in their way, they will let you know it! Don't you dare walk out into the crosswalk when the little man is red, because they will mow you over, no kidding. Also, there really aren't any intersections in Paris. So you can have cars on either side of you as you walk across the street, all ready to go once their light turns green. It's a very interesting city to watch.
But, I LOVE Paris! I love that they love people-watching (which I love to do!), and that they take ti,e out their day to enjoy food, and that they put chocolate on EVERYTHING! Bread and chocolate, what could get better?
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Mon Première Week-end
Bonsoir à tous!
I'm just finsihing up my first weekend in Paris, and I've done so much! I'm quickly adapting to life as a Parisian, and I don't think I'll ever want to leave!
Yesterday (Saturday) I spent the morning with one of my friends searching for the local Monoprix, which is a grocery store. Well, my map said that the Monoprix should be on one street when it wasn't, so that ended up taking us a good hour to find. And when we did find it, it happened to be about five blocks from our place in the opposite direction that we had taken! Mon Dieu! And, let me tell you, the Monoprix itself was an adventure. I was slightly scared, just because I had never bought food in a Monoprix before...but it turned out alright. I bought a baguette from their boulangerie (Bakery)and some cereal and crackers. Afterwards a huge group of us headed to the Arc de Triomphe to meet up with some people and go shopping. However, our metro stop was on strike! So, we had to take a tram to another metro stop and transfer lines, and we ended up being nearly an hour late to meet with our friends.
Saturday also ended up being the Gay Pride Parade through Paris. My friends and I went down to the Bastille around 2 pm and there was already a huge crowd! Around the Bastille monument is a large round-aboutand the police had completely cut it off fro, cars, as well as the streets leading to it. It was awesome! There was a DJ and at least 1000, if not more, people dancing. So, we hung out there because we found out that the parade had started that morning and was ,aking its way to the Bastille and would be there around 5...we grabbed some food ( where I learned that sometimes the food can be outrageous! I paid €7 for some food and a water! It just seemed like a lot to me when everything else I had eaten had been pretty cheap comparitively), and hung out in the area. We were waiting for the parade, and happened to walk into a Franprix (another type of grocery store), and came out and the parade was about to walk right in front of us! Perfect seats! It was really cool...people from all different origanizations in support for gays, lesbians, and transexuals. We stood there for at least an hour watching the parade go by and there had to be another hour at least to go.
After the parade, we walked to another friends apartment and had a "Wine and Bread" night, pretty much opening a €2 bottle of wine and eating a baguette and fruit. It was really nice just to get to know some new people. Afterwards, the girls who live in the dorms came back to the dorms and we had a Bread and Cheese fest, where we ate bread, cheese, and Nutella! I have no idea how I went through live without Nutella, it is the most amazing thing to eat in the world!!!! Nutella is a chocolate-hazelnut type spread that is absolutely AMAZING! I know you can find it in the States, but I had never eaten it before and my goodness it was good. Especially when you put it on a crèpe and it's all melted and gooey....mmmmmmmm.
Today all of the CEA kids went to the Paris Jzz Festival, which was an awesome place to be. We went to a park near the Chateau Vincennes and listened to two live bands play, and we had a pic-nic and watched the bands. It was a pretty cool time.
We are now off to find a place where we can watch the Euro Cup for footbal (soccer to us Americans)...I really don't follow it, but it's something fun to do!
Oh yes! If you would like for me to send you a postcard while I am here in France, send me your address and I will try to do so!
Au revoir et à demain!
I'm just finsihing up my first weekend in Paris, and I've done so much! I'm quickly adapting to life as a Parisian, and I don't think I'll ever want to leave!
Yesterday (Saturday) I spent the morning with one of my friends searching for the local Monoprix, which is a grocery store. Well, my map said that the Monoprix should be on one street when it wasn't, so that ended up taking us a good hour to find. And when we did find it, it happened to be about five blocks from our place in the opposite direction that we had taken! Mon Dieu! And, let me tell you, the Monoprix itself was an adventure. I was slightly scared, just because I had never bought food in a Monoprix before...but it turned out alright. I bought a baguette from their boulangerie (Bakery)and some cereal and crackers. Afterwards a huge group of us headed to the Arc de Triomphe to meet up with some people and go shopping. However, our metro stop was on strike! So, we had to take a tram to another metro stop and transfer lines, and we ended up being nearly an hour late to meet with our friends.
Saturday also ended up being the Gay Pride Parade through Paris. My friends and I went down to the Bastille around 2 pm and there was already a huge crowd! Around the Bastille monument is a large round-aboutand the police had completely cut it off fro, cars, as well as the streets leading to it. It was awesome! There was a DJ and at least 1000, if not more, people dancing. So, we hung out there because we found out that the parade had started that morning and was ,aking its way to the Bastille and would be there around 5...we grabbed some food ( where I learned that sometimes the food can be outrageous! I paid €7 for some food and a water! It just seemed like a lot to me when everything else I had eaten had been pretty cheap comparitively), and hung out in the area. We were waiting for the parade, and happened to walk into a Franprix (another type of grocery store), and came out and the parade was about to walk right in front of us! Perfect seats! It was really cool...people from all different origanizations in support for gays, lesbians, and transexuals. We stood there for at least an hour watching the parade go by and there had to be another hour at least to go.
After the parade, we walked to another friends apartment and had a "Wine and Bread" night, pretty much opening a €2 bottle of wine and eating a baguette and fruit. It was really nice just to get to know some new people. Afterwards, the girls who live in the dorms came back to the dorms and we had a Bread and Cheese fest, where we ate bread, cheese, and Nutella! I have no idea how I went through live without Nutella, it is the most amazing thing to eat in the world!!!! Nutella is a chocolate-hazelnut type spread that is absolutely AMAZING! I know you can find it in the States, but I had never eaten it before and my goodness it was good. Especially when you put it on a crèpe and it's all melted and gooey....mmmmmmmm.
Today all of the CEA kids went to the Paris Jzz Festival, which was an awesome place to be. We went to a park near the Chateau Vincennes and listened to two live bands play, and we had a pic-nic and watched the bands. It was a pretty cool time.
We are now off to find a place where we can watch the Euro Cup for footbal (soccer to us Americans)...I really don't follow it, but it's something fun to do!
Oh yes! If you would like for me to send you a postcard while I am here in France, send me your address and I will try to do so!
Au revoir et à demain!
Friday, June 27, 2008
Un Nouvelle Jour
Bonjour!
I want to start off this blog by noting that I am now using a French computer and keyboard, so my spelling may look kind of weird.
It's been a very long day...seeing sights, hanging out with new friends, and so much fun stuff!
I started out the day doing orientation for CEA about Paris, housing, and cell phones. On that note, should you wish to call me and talk to me on my phone, tell me and I will give you le nombre. All of the staff at CEA Paris are super nice...I especially like Hélène, who is the student services coordinator. She is really nice, and has been giving us all tips on good places to eat and good places to go at night, stuff like that.It was funny, because she was the person who met me at the airport yesterday after my flight, and she was wearing jeans and a t-shirt, so she looked like she was about 22 or so. Then today she breezes in in a cute summer dress and heels and starts talking about her husband and baby! So, I'm guessing she's at least 26 or 27. On that note, I also feel so under dressed here in Paris. I was so worried about my bag going over limit that I really didn't pack anything that I didn't need...so I don't have a lot of nice clothes. And I def. look like an American.
I've made a lot of nouvelle amis and I am having so much fun with them exploring Paris! Today, after our orientation, we all went to L'Arc de Triomphe and then walked down to La Tour Eiffel. This was at around 9 pm, but it was still extremely bright outside! At 10 pm, the coolest thing happened! At the Eiffel Tower, lights flashed for about ten minutes...it was absolutley gorgeous.
I am starting to get the hang of the metro system. I know that it is super easy to use for getting around Paris, and it is...it's just expensive. It was really funny today when on the metro I was talking to one of the girls in my program and we were talking about one of the stops that we always take -- Chatelet - Les Halles -- and we couldn't figure out how to pronounce it. This French guy on the train next to us was super nice and corrected out prononciation...everyone says the Parisians are mean to foreigners, but it's just because no one tries to speak French to them, they just assume everyone can speak English. Therefore, if you talk at least a litte bit to the French en frençais they have no problem with you, even if you switch to English after that.
I have had so much bread and chocolate today, and I am in absolute heaven! pain au chocolat, crèpes chocolat, le mousse au chcolat and les madelines avec le chocolat. J'aime beaucoup la nourriture français!
Sorry for all of the French phrases, but my new friends and I are all trying to speak as much French as possible. Of course, a lot of it is peppered with "americanisms" but it's so much fun to speak it! I mean, that's what I'm here for, right?
Well, now that I've figured out how to use the computers here at the dorms and also at CEA, I will be posting more. Feel free to send Me an email, no matter how mundane that you may think it is. I really enjoy reading emails, something different from everything else!
During June and July here in France, the stores have a government mandated sales period. And I arrived just in the middle of it :D Therefore, some of us are heading out to shops tomorrow to see what we can find. I'm really not going to spend very ,uch, as I only have a limited amount of funds while I'm here. But, I can still have fun shopping!!
Au revoir, et à bientot!
Lesley
Paris Paris Paris!
Well, here I am in Paris!!
I've been in Paris for a day and half now, and I am quickly adapting to this city. I absolutley LOVE the metro and public transporation -- it is so easy (except for when I was on it thsi morning at 8:30 with a thousand other people!).
I left San Francisco Wednesday morning...I left my house at 3:30 am! I had a long flight to Philadelphia, but it was made better because I was sitting next to these two older ladies who were a hoot to talk with! They had me explain my iPod to them, it was really funny. The flight frmo Philly to Paris wasn't as good. I swear, they must think that 6' tall people don't exist, because I sat down and my kness were already completely in the back of the person in front of me. And then he decided to put his seat back for the ENTIRE flight! So, I couldn't sleep very easily, and my knees hurt, and my little TV didn't work either. That didn't bother me as much, because I had just started a new book and ended up reading almost all of it on the flight.
I didn't end up doing much yesterday. I was picked up from the airport by the CEA people, and then taken to the CEA office for a little orientation, then was taken to my dorm. I am living at Cite Universitaire, Fondation des Etats-Unis at the International Cite Universitaire. It's a U.S. dorm that is surrounded by dorms from all other countries. The Argentinian dorm is right next door to mine. I live on the 4the floor, which I quickly found out is actually the 5th! floor because these use the "ground floor" instead of 1st floor here. Also, I found out that "si l'ancensuer ne marche pas" means I have a lot of walking to do to get to my room. I have my own room, and it's pretty spacious, and it opens up onto a balcony that overlooks Le Parc Montsouris...perfect for future study sessions :D I am right across the hall from Les Douches et le W.C. (showers and toilets to all of you non-French people). So, I spent the afternoon sort of exploring my neighborhood, and then I went back to my place and was going to read a little but ended up sleeping for three hours. It's alright, I definitely had no problem sleeping later that night either.
After taking my nap and trying to get over jetlag, I went to CEA office again (yay for metro!) for an "aparatif", or appetizers. I met some more people in my program, and we all went out to dinner together at a cute little bistro right across the street from Le Centre Pompidou, which is the coolest building. It is a sort of "modern art" which has all of its pipes and stuff outside the building, all different colors depending on what it means.
So, now today I am sitting in CEA, waiting to go to a "Parisian Lunch".
I have decided that I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE French food and food practices. I had a pain au chocolat this morning and it was AMAZING! And it only cost a Euro (aka, $1.60).
I have a few more days of orientation, and then I start classes at La Sorbonne next Thrusday. I am very excited for all of that to happen. My classes are only for a few hours a day, so my goal is to visit at least two "tourist" spots a week after my classes are done for the day.
Well, that's all there is for now. I will post with more info as soon as I can!!
---Lesley---
lltelford@gmail.com
Monday, June 23, 2008
On My Way!
Paperwork, Packing, Preparation....so much to do and so little time! I feel like there's still so much to do, but I don't have enough time to get it all done. I spent time at Target today, as well as the mall getting some last minute stuff...like talking to the people at the Apple store, asking them how my iPod would charge while overseas (fyi, they didn't tell me anything I already didn't know, but I really liked all of the shirts they wore!).
I just realized that I'm leaving in a day and a half. I haven't packed yet, I haven't gotten anything together! I've at least made photocopies of everything, but I still have so much. Well, I guess I've "packed", but not really. I spent Saturday night putting aside clothes that I want, and then cut some of them out...I probably need to cut more out. I just like clothes! I always hate packing, I always feel like I'm going to forget stuff.
So I leave bright and early Wednesday morning! My flight leaves San Francisco around 6 am, and then I get into Philly around 3 pm (Philly time) and then leave around 6 pm for Paris. I'll get into Paris at 8 am Thursday morning, bright eyed and bushy tailed! I'm not really worried about flying alone, as I flew alone to Florida earlier in May...but I guess this is about 3000 more miles! I just know I'll get extremely bored on the flights, and waiting at the airports. At least when traveling with family/friends there's someone to keep you company. I have four new books right now, but that definitely won't keep me occupied for my trip. I'll probably go through at least one book on the flight, most likely two. Hope the flights have good movies!
I am super excited for my trip...and super nervous. I know once I get there almost all of my nervousness will go away. I'm really excited to be in the city that I fell in love with three years ago and have not let go of since. The last time I was there, everything was amazing...the sights, the city, the food...especially the food! I can't believe that I get to return to Paris, and I can't wait to get there.
I'll most likely talk to y'all before I leave...but I've still got some packing, paperwork, and preparation to do!
---Lesley---
lltelford@gmail.com
I just realized that I'm leaving in a day and a half. I haven't packed yet, I haven't gotten anything together! I've at least made photocopies of everything, but I still have so much. Well, I guess I've "packed", but not really. I spent Saturday night putting aside clothes that I want, and then cut some of them out...I probably need to cut more out. I just like clothes! I always hate packing, I always feel like I'm going to forget stuff.
So I leave bright and early Wednesday morning! My flight leaves San Francisco around 6 am, and then I get into Philly around 3 pm (Philly time) and then leave around 6 pm for Paris. I'll get into Paris at 8 am Thursday morning, bright eyed and bushy tailed! I'm not really worried about flying alone, as I flew alone to Florida earlier in May...but I guess this is about 3000 more miles! I just know I'll get extremely bored on the flights, and waiting at the airports. At least when traveling with family/friends there's someone to keep you company. I have four new books right now, but that definitely won't keep me occupied for my trip. I'll probably go through at least one book on the flight, most likely two. Hope the flights have good movies!
I am super excited for my trip...and super nervous. I know once I get there almost all of my nervousness will go away. I'm really excited to be in the city that I fell in love with three years ago and have not let go of since. The last time I was there, everything was amazing...the sights, the city, the food...especially the food! I can't believe that I get to return to Paris, and I can't wait to get there.
I'll most likely talk to y'all before I leave...but I've still got some packing, paperwork, and preparation to do!
---Lesley---
lltelford@gmail.com
Saturday, June 21, 2008
5 Days Until Leaving
Hey Everyone!
So, due to popular demand, I have decided to start a blog of my travels while in France this summer!
As the title of this post suggests, I haven't even left the U.S. yet. I'm leaving for Paris on Wednesday the 25th, and arrive in Paris on Thursday the 26th (don't you love the 17-hour flight and the 9 hour time difference?!). I am super excited about going, but somehow it feels like it's not quite real. I have been so stoked for this trip ever since before I even applied to the program, and now it feels so surreal that I actually get to go! I think I always kind of thought that it wasn't going to happen one way or the other, so now it's super excited and I don't know where to start!!
Just to give you a little background on what I'm doing, I'm traveling to Paris, France for a 4-week study abroad program through CEA (Cultural Experiences Abroad), which is a study abroad program for college students that is affiliated with Cal Poly. I will be studying French Language (which some of you know is my true love in life...) at Universite Paris IV - Cours de la Civilasation de Sorbonne, or simply known as La Sorbonne. How awesome is that? I get to study at the oldest university in Paris (established in 1257)! I love studying architecture, and my Pre-historic to Middle Ages History of Architecture class will finally come in handy!
I will be in France from June 26th to August 1st. It's been a long road to get to going abroad for the summer...It's taken awhile to convince my parents that this was a good idea, instead of me doing an engineering study abroad (which were NOT in France, where I wanted to go). I originally wanted to do a whole semester abroad, but that wouldn't work out financially. So, I decided on a summer abroad, and once I saw the program at the Sorbonne I was hooked. SO I applied and got in (obviously), but that was just the beginning. Just so anyone who is considering studying in France has a heads-up, getting a Student Study Visa is extremely hard and somewhat easy at the same time. How is that so?? Well, you must have a myriad of paperwork to be able to apply for a visa...Such as proof of enrollment here and in France, proof of financial security, proof of lodging, and so much else! And not to mention that for San Francisco, you must be present (you can't just mail in your stuff)...so there goes at least one day of school. However, once you're at the Consulate, it takes just a few hours to get the visa! Once I got that three weeks ago, I realized that it was finally going to happen, that I was going to France.
So my main worries now are figuring out what to pack. I know everyone says that you always think you need more clothes than you'll actually wear...but then they haven't met me. I like clothes, and I like wearing different clothes! I'm going to have to figure out how to fit five weeks of clothing in a bag and keep it under 50 pounds! I got some of those space-saver bags, and I really hope that those work well.
I'm also trying to decide on electronics. The iPod is a must, as I constantly use it here at home (though it has been getting very little action this past week while I worked 12-hour days at the pool). I don't have a laptop, but my mom offered me her's. I don't think I'll take it, because that's one more thing I have to constantly worry about, constantly make sure I lock up when I'm not using it. But I've been thinking about getting a cell-phone while abroad. I know I'm only there for a month, but it would be nice to have so I can meet up with people when we go out, and stuff like that. There is a cell phone plan through CEA that allows me to rent a phone in my host country (FRANCE!) and I don't pay any charges for incoming calls. So I could text and call people in my program to meet up, and then use a calling card at a pay phone to call home if needed. It's the trying to get my parents to see the benefits that I'm having trouble with...
That's all for now. I have a few days to pack still, and I won't panic until Tuesday if I don't have everything I need! If you have any advice about traveling/studying abroad, I'd love to hear it!
While I'm in France, I can be reached at my email: lltelford@gmail.com and that will be checked every few days. I will try to get on as much as possible to chronicle my adventures here as an American in Paris!
Thanks,
Lesley
So, due to popular demand, I have decided to start a blog of my travels while in France this summer!
As the title of this post suggests, I haven't even left the U.S. yet. I'm leaving for Paris on Wednesday the 25th, and arrive in Paris on Thursday the 26th (don't you love the 17-hour flight and the 9 hour time difference?!). I am super excited about going, but somehow it feels like it's not quite real. I have been so stoked for this trip ever since before I even applied to the program, and now it feels so surreal that I actually get to go! I think I always kind of thought that it wasn't going to happen one way or the other, so now it's super excited and I don't know where to start!!
Just to give you a little background on what I'm doing, I'm traveling to Paris, France for a 4-week study abroad program through CEA (Cultural Experiences Abroad), which is a study abroad program for college students that is affiliated with Cal Poly. I will be studying French Language (which some of you know is my true love in life...) at Universite Paris IV - Cours de la Civilasation de Sorbonne, or simply known as La Sorbonne. How awesome is that? I get to study at the oldest university in Paris (established in 1257)! I love studying architecture, and my Pre-historic to Middle Ages History of Architecture class will finally come in handy!
I will be in France from June 26th to August 1st. It's been a long road to get to going abroad for the summer...It's taken awhile to convince my parents that this was a good idea, instead of me doing an engineering study abroad (which were NOT in France, where I wanted to go). I originally wanted to do a whole semester abroad, but that wouldn't work out financially. So, I decided on a summer abroad, and once I saw the program at the Sorbonne I was hooked. SO I applied and got in (obviously), but that was just the beginning. Just so anyone who is considering studying in France has a heads-up, getting a Student Study Visa is extremely hard and somewhat easy at the same time. How is that so?? Well, you must have a myriad of paperwork to be able to apply for a visa...Such as proof of enrollment here and in France, proof of financial security, proof of lodging, and so much else! And not to mention that for San Francisco, you must be present (you can't just mail in your stuff)...so there goes at least one day of school. However, once you're at the Consulate, it takes just a few hours to get the visa! Once I got that three weeks ago, I realized that it was finally going to happen, that I was going to France.
So my main worries now are figuring out what to pack. I know everyone says that you always think you need more clothes than you'll actually wear...but then they haven't met me. I like clothes, and I like wearing different clothes! I'm going to have to figure out how to fit five weeks of clothing in a bag and keep it under 50 pounds! I got some of those space-saver bags, and I really hope that those work well.
I'm also trying to decide on electronics. The iPod is a must, as I constantly use it here at home (though it has been getting very little action this past week while I worked 12-hour days at the pool). I don't have a laptop, but my mom offered me her's. I don't think I'll take it, because that's one more thing I have to constantly worry about, constantly make sure I lock up when I'm not using it. But I've been thinking about getting a cell-phone while abroad. I know I'm only there for a month, but it would be nice to have so I can meet up with people when we go out, and stuff like that. There is a cell phone plan through CEA that allows me to rent a phone in my host country (FRANCE!) and I don't pay any charges for incoming calls. So I could text and call people in my program to meet up, and then use a calling card at a pay phone to call home if needed. It's the trying to get my parents to see the benefits that I'm having trouble with...
That's all for now. I have a few days to pack still, and I won't panic until Tuesday if I don't have everything I need! If you have any advice about traveling/studying abroad, I'd love to hear it!
While I'm in France, I can be reached at my email: lltelford@gmail.com and that will be checked every few days. I will try to get on as much as possible to chronicle my adventures here as an American in Paris!
Thanks,
Lesley
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